Mississippian coral assemblages from Tabainout mud-mound complex, Khenifra area, Central Morocco

Abstract

Analysis of Mississippian coral assemblages from the Khenifra region of Central Morocco has demonstrated the presence of a rich and diverse coral fauna. Rugose coral assemblages from the Tabainout mud-mound complex comprise abundant colonial and solitary taxa, particularly in the basal bedded limestones, as well as the upper bedded flank and coquina capping beds. The massive core facies with stromatactoid cavities in contrast has rare solitary corals. The overlying shales, marls and limestone bands which buried the mud-mound are dominated by small non-dissepimented solitary rugosans. The age of the Tabainout mound based on foraminifers is established as upper Viséan (late Asbian-late Brigantian). The coral assemblage strengthens correlations with the Adarouch area in the northern part of the Azrou-Khenifra Basin where similar mud mounds occur. These assemblages also show similarity with coeval coral faunas from the Jerada mud-mounds (buildups) of NE Morocco and together represent part of the same palaeobiogeographic province (Western European Coral Province).