Campanian age of the rudist Vautrinia syriaca : paleogeographic implications ; syria

Abstract EN

The Rudist Vautrinia syriaca (VAUTRIN) was considered so far as characteristic of the Maastrichtian of the northern margin of the Arabian platform, but new research shows that it is not possible to retain this consideration.

Indeed, in both types localities (J.

Abd Al Aziz and Yeyla) this rudist is present in breccia.

The biostratigraphic analysis of the environment in the first locality can assign a Campanian age or precampanien age.

The study demonstrated also that the presence of the Rudist Vautrinia syriaca (VAUTRIN) within breccia and conglomeratic sediments above the ophiolitic complex in the north-west of Syria (Al Bassite - Yella hill) shows that the ophiolite emplacement along the northern Arabian Platform has happened in the Campanian time or in Precampanian time and not during the Maastrichtian time.

The presence of huge blocks of ophiolite on the surface of the Turonian limestone layers near Saarinjek village in Afrin Mountains (Kurdag) confirmed that the ophiolitic complex emplaced on the edge of the Arabian Platform at the end of the Turonian / early Coniacian, and not during the Maastrichtian.

The obduction of the ophiolitic complex explains the big marine transgression on the Arabian Platform since the beginning of Senonian.