Shallow marine trace-fossils from the Middle Miocene of the Tebessa Basin (NE Algeria) and their paleoenvironmental implications

Abstract

The northeastern part of Algeria is characterized by Meso–Cenozoic fossiliferous deposits. All the previous studies have been focused on invertebrate and vertebrate body fossils from this region. In the present paper we provide the first ichnological study from the region of Ouenza, Tebessa Wilaya (northeastern Algeria). An ichnoassemblage composed of eight ichnotaxa, namely cf. Archaeonassa isp., Arenicolites isp., Diplocraterion isp., Helminthopsis isp., Palaeophycus tubularis, Skolithoscf. linearis, cf. Taenidium isp., and Thalassinoides isp., reported from the lower Langhian (Middle Miocene) of Aïn Sidi Salah locality (Tebessa Basin) is discussed. These trace-fossils belong to the Skolithos and proximal Cruziana ichnofacies indicating deposition within a shallow marine (littoral). The large size of Thalassinoides suggests well-oxygenated setting, under moderate- to high-energy conditions, with occasional storm events. Keywords: trace-fossils, paleoenvironments, shallow marine, Middle Miocene, Tebessa.