Characterisation and stratigraphy of upper Miocene volcaniclastic marker beds in the Melilla lower Kert Basin (eastern Rif, Morocco)

Pumice-rich volcaniclastic layers of primary (eruptive) origin belonging to the Gourougou volcanic complex are interbedded in the Tortonian-Messinian sediments of the Melilla-lower Kert Basin. Ten tuffs have been identified by combining field criteria and petrographical and mineralogical fingerprinting. The extents of the tuffs have been mapped and their relative stratigraphy has been established. This tephrostratigraphy provides a potential tool for stratigraphic correlations in the Gourougou volcanic complex and in the basin. ((C) Acadimie des sciences/ Elsevier, Paris.).