Zaouïa Formation

The Zaouïa Formation, also known as the Zaouïa Schists,^[1] is a Middle Ordovician (Darriwilian) geologic formation in Algeria. The formation crops out in the Aïssa Mimoun Massif near Zaouïa of Stita at the confluence of Wadi Stita and Wadi Seba at about 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) northeast of Tizi-Ouzou in the municipality of Makouda,^[2] in the Kabylian Mountains of northern Algeria. The type locality is about 29 kilometres (18 mi) away from the Katian outcrops of northern Djurdjura.^[3]

Zaouïa Formation
Stratigraphic range: Middle Ordovician 468–461 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Type	Geological formation
Underlies	Djurdjura Limestone
Overlies	Akaoudj Tuff
Lithology
Primary	Metamorphosed mudstone
Other	Tuff
Location
Coordinates	36.9°N 4.0°E / 36.9; 4.0
Approximate paleocoordinates	72.8°S 98.3°E / -72.8; 98.3
Region	Tizi Ouzou Province
Country	Algeria
Extent	Localized west of Aissa Mimoun Mountain
Type section
Named for	Zaouïa of Stita
Location	Sidi Namaane
Coordinates	36°46′05″N 004°01′54″E
Zaouïa Formation (Algeria)

Description

The Zaouïa Formation consists of slightly metamorphosed green or grey micaceous mudstones with many intercalated tuff beds.^[3]

Fossil content

The following fossils were reported from the formation:^[2]

• Blastozoa
  • Lepidocalix pulcher^[4]
• Trilobites
  • Colpocoryphe arago
  • Pharostoma pulchra
• Hydrozoa
  • Inocaulis gigas
• Pterobranchia
  • Thallograptus barbieri
  • Dendrograptus sp.
  • ?Airograptus betieri
• Strophomenata
  • Actinomena orta
  • ?Strophomena barbieri

See also

• Fezouata Formation
• Ordovician radiation