Geodynamic Evolution of Northeastern Tunisia During the Maastrichtian–Paleocene Time: Insights from Integrated Seismic Stratigraphic Analysis

Thick‐skinned tectonics within the intracontinental easternmost Atlas foreland‐and‐thrust belt (Tunisia): Meso‐Cenozoic kinematics and implications for regional geodynamics

“…On the other hand, the steeply E‐W trending faults of Kairouan‐Sousse and Sbikha‐Enfidha acted as transfer zones associated with a right‐lateral displacement during the NW‐SE shortening phases (Figure b). These shortening phases resulted in the reactivation of inherited Jurassic‐Early Cretaceous faults, basin inversion, and significant erosion of the Upper Cretaceous and Paleocene‐lower Eocene sequences that affect the Atlas [ Ben Ayed , ; Ouali , ; El Ghali et al , ], the Sahel block, and eventually the Gulf of Hammamet [ Sebei et al , ; Abidi et al , ] and further to the east in the Pelagian block within the Lampedusa shelf [ Grasso et al , ] and Ragusa‐Malta Plateau [ Gardiner et al , ]. By contrast, during the mid‐Miocene‐Pliocene period, seismic data indicate ESE‐WNW minor extensional faults forming tilted blocks and half‐graben structures along E‐W shear zones within the Sahel block.…”

“…From a kinematic point of view, the observed variation of the late Miocene stress field between western and eastern Tunisia is probably due to a drastic change in deep dynamics. Considering the same NW‐SE shortening axis of the dominant paleo‐stresses, the compressive Eocene event is recorded overall the Atlas system from Morocco to Tunisia [ El Ghali et al , ; Boussiga et al , ; Sebei et al , ; Abidi et al , ] and the pleagian block [ Grasso et al , ], while the prominent Miocene compression is obvious in Northern Tunisia and western Atlas and less important in the Sahel. Therefore, the basin inversion within the Sahel block is mainly controlled by the Eocene event.…”