ABSTRACT
In Northwest Libya Triassic to Cretaceous sediments are exposed along the Jifarah escarpment for a distance of 350 km (Fig. 13.1). They also occur in the subsurface of the Jifarah Plains and northern Ghadames Basin and extend westwards into Tunisia. The Triassic-Early Cretaceous succession consists of the Bir el Jaja, Ouled Chebbi, Ras Hamia, Azizia, Bu Sceba, Bir el Ghnem, Bu Gheilan, Bu en Niran, Abreghs, Tocbal, Giosc, Khashm az Zarzur, Scuicsiuch, Cabao and Chicla formations, followed by the Late Cretaceous Sidi Asid, Garian, and Gasr Tigrinna formations. Most of these units extend into the offshore of northWest Libya (Hammuda et al., 1985). Assereto & Benelli (1971), Fatmi et al. (1980), Bellini & Massa (1980) reviewed the stratigraphy of the Jabal Nafusah area and Busson (1967) gave an excellent discussion on these sediments, especially in relation to similar sequences in Tunisia. Koehler (1982) carried out a detailed work on the Cenomanian Ain Tobi Formation Adloff et al. (1985, 1986) conducted an elaborate study of the Permian-Early Jurassic sediments in the subsurface of the Jifarah Plains. Their age datings will be used in this work.
