CRETACEOUS CORAL-RUDIST FORMATIONS IN TUNISIA Paleogeography and paleoecology

摘要

Coral-rudist formations in Tunisia are known from Upper Jurassic and Cretaceous outcrops. The main Cretaceous examples are located in Central Tunisia (from 36°N to 34°N) and developed to varying extents around an emerged land known as Kairouan Island or Kasserine Island. These formations were developed intermittently during the Cretaceous (principally Aptian, Cenomanian, Turonian and Late Campanian). They were situated mainly on the outer shelf. The extensive shallow marine carbonate deposits were rich in rudists formations especially since the Aptian. Sometimes, algae, sponges, corals, and rudists were associated. Many Cretaceous coral- rudist formations illustrate a biological zonation.