THE CRETACEOUS OF THE NORTHERN RANGE OF THE CHOTTS (SOUTH CENTRAL TUNISIA) - BIOSTRATIGRAPHY AND COMPARISON WITH NEIGHBORING REGIONS

In the northern range of the Chotts (South Tunisia), middle and Upper Cretaceous outcropping series are typical of a shallow and usually inner limestone platform. Biostratigraphic characterization of the series based on the study of several fossil groups leads to the following conclusions: 1, all the middle and Upper Cretaceous lithostratigraphic units have been recognized, partially at least; 2, the Paleocene El Haria Shales have been identified for the first time in the northern range of the Chotts; 3, some local and widespread gaps are recorded: Upper Aptian ('Clansayesian'), Lower and Middle Albian, middle Turonian-Santonian p.p. and uppermost Maastrichtian; 4, biostratigraphic ranges for the several fossil groups identified can be proposed; 5, on a palaeogeographic scale some associations of ostracod, foraminifers, echinoids and ammonites reveal that connections exist between the Jerid area and other sectors in the meridional Tethys, the Middle East, central and South Africa, and Western Europe. (C) 1995 Academic Press Limited.