Mississippian rocks are common in the Moroccan Meseta. They have been studied and described by French geologists since the beginning of the twentieth century. The Mississippian stratigraphic successions are clearly different in the western and in the eastern parts of the Meseta. The succession was considered quite continuous from the Devonian to the Serpukhovian. However, sedimentation in the eastern part of the central Meseta (Azrou-Khenifra Basin) is more complicated. It took place in both a shallow-water carbonate platform and a deeper water flysch basin, within a tectonically active setting, involving movements of blocks, and transgressions and regressions that produced some gaps and unconformities. Sedimentation during the Tournaisian, early and mid Visean in the basin is regarded as being absent by some authors, whereas continuous or sporadic sedimentation during that time interval is suggested by others.
In a paper published in the Journal of Palaeogeography on 11 February 2020, Sergio Rodríguez of the Universidad Complutense de Madrid and the Instituto de Geociencias at the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Ian Somerville of the School of Earth Sciences at University College Dublin, Pedro Cózar, also of the Instituto de Geociencias at the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Javier Sanz-López of the Departmento de Geología at the Universidad de Oviedo, Ismael Coronado of the Institute of Paleobiology, Felipe González of the Departmento de Ciencias de la Tierra at the Universidad de Huelva, Ismail Said, also of the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, and Mohamed El Houicha of the Laboratoire de Géodynamique et Géomatique at the Université Chouaïb Doukkali, report the recent discovery of a relatively rich Mississippian (early Visean) Coral fauna in the southern part of the Azrou-Khenifra Basin, describe the Corals in detail and their host limestone rocks, and comment on their comparison and affinity with other coeval Coral assemblages in North Africa, Europe and southwest Asia. The microfossil content was also studied to enhance the biostratigraphic discussion and significance of the Coral fauna.
The beginning of Carboniferous sedimentation in the Khenifra region, which lies in the southern part of the Azrou-Khenifra Basin and contains the largest Mississippian outcrops in the eastern central Meseta, is usually considered to occur within the widely known late Visean transgression. However, two early Visean transgressions have been cited. The first one is imprecisely located as “to the north of Ba Moussa (point 1)”. The second one was equated with the base of V2b of mid Visean age.
In the southwestern margin of the Azrou-Khenifra Basin at Sidi Lamine and Tabainout, a thick shallow-water carbonate succession with basal Mississippian conglomerate and sandy limestone can be seen to rest unconformably on older (Ordovician) tilted siltstones and sandstones. A similar relationship is seen at the southeastern margin of the basin at Tiouinine where shallow water sandy limestones rest unconformably on red Ordovician sandstones.
(a) Location of Khenifra in central Morocco; (b) Geological map of Azrou-Khenifra Basin with Ba Moussa West coral fauna locality and other Coral localities mentioned in the text; (c) Simplified geological sketch map of Ba Moussa West area and the location of the studied limestone horizons BMW1 and BMW2. hV-Fm1, Lower Visean; hV-Fm2, Upper Visean. Rodríguez et al. (2020).
The eastern part of the Azrou-Khenifra Basin, northwest of Khenifra, is a region of mostly deep-water rythmic mudstones. However, recent field investigations at Ba Moussa West, northwest of a nappe folded as a north-south trending syncline, and approximately 3 km northwest of Khenifra city margins, have discovered two pale gray weathering limestone units within a thick dark gray siltstone and shale rhythmic succession. These limestones contain abundant corals that form the focus of this paper. The limestone units form two distinct parallel ridges, some 50m apart, and traceable laterally for over 200 m. They form prominent features on the landscape, compared to the subdued topography of the more easily eroded mudstones which encase the limestones. The beds dip steeply to the east (70°) and in places can be vertical. The two ridges expose respectively, 4.90m and 4.10m thicknesses of well-bedded limestones (with beds ranging typically from 10 to 40 cm thick) with thin dark gray shale interbeds.
(a) View looking south of limestone ridge (BMW1) about 5 m thick showing steeply dipping beds overlain and underlain by softer shales; (b) Limestone bed with large angular quartzite and sandstone lithoclasts (beside coin) succeeded by thin laminated sandy limestone and black shales, in turn overlain by bioclastic limestone rich in Corals; solitary Rugose Coral Siphonophyllia (black arrows) and Cerioid Tabulate Coral Turnacipora (white arrow), coin diameter is 2.5 cm; (c) Close-up view of richly bioclastic limestone bed with sharp base, showing abundant transverse sections of Siphonophyllia and Sychnoelasma (black arrows), hammer length is 40 cm; (d) Coarse-grained crinoidal limestone with longitudinal and transverse sections of Siphonophyllia khenifrense; (e) Thin section of rudstone at BMW1 showing bioclasts and lithoclasts. Abbreviations: br, brachiopod; bz, bryozoan; co, coral; cr, crinoid; gr, gastropod; st, sandstone; (f) Thin section of rudstone at BMW2 showing bioclasts and lithoclasts. Abbreviations: br, brachiopod; co, coral; cr, crinoid; sl, siltstone; st, sandstone. Rodríguez et al. (2020).
The limestones are variable in composition and texture, comprising coarse-grained, bioclastic and lithoclastic calcirudites, rich in crinoids, thick-shelled Brachiopods and relatively abundant Corals. The limestone beds consist of numerous sedimentary events. Some have sharp, erosive bases and show grading with laminated tops. Large angular lithoclasts of sandstone and siltstone (up to 20 cm in diameter) occur in some beds. Other limestones are buff weathered, fine-grained, laminated calcarenites. Under the petrological microscope two microfacies are differentiated. The first microfacies, which is less common, is a laminated Crinoidal wackestone-packstone containing small fragments of Crinoidal plates, Corals and Bryozoans. The second one, which is dominant, is a polymictic rudstone with fragmented Corals, Crinoids, Bryozoans, Brachiopods, Trilobites, Gastropods, Bivalves, Foraminifers and angular to subangular grains of quartzite sandstone and siltstone. The disposition of siliciclastic clasts and bioclasts is random in some beds, suggesting rapid sedimentation, but in some beds, most clasts are disposed mainly parallel to the stratification. The fragmentation of bioclasts is also variable.
The limestones can be regarded as proximal debris flow and multistorey high-density turbidite bodies, with numerous event beds, deposited in a prevailing succession of distal turbidite beds. Thus, the coral assemblage is allochthonous and may have been transported far from its original depositional shelf setting.
The two limestone horizons (BMW1 and BMW2) were sampled and corals were collected. Samples from BMW1 contain almost entire Brachiopods and Corals, whereas in BMW2 most bioclasts are completely broken and very few Coral specimens are identifiable at generic or specific level. The coral assemblage is relatively rich, but their diversity is quite low (5 genera and 7 species). The assemblage comprises solitary Rugose Corals and Tabulate colonies. Many corals are well preserved and nearly complete, missing only the apexes and showing sometimes compressed calices when they show few skeletal elements and are filled with muddy sediment. However, others are completely fragmented or crushed or have lost much of their dissepimentaria. Fifty specimens were collected, of which 38 have been definitively identified.
Thin sections of samples were studied to describe the microfossil content. Owing to the brecciated character of many beds, including boulders of large size, only the fine-grained limestones yield Foraminifers. Assemblages are relatively abundant in those fine-grained limestones, although specimens are commonly crushed, and diversity is limited to a few genera. Assemblages from BMW1 are slightly richer than BMW2, although this may be the result of more intense sampling and sectioning.
A large sample from limestone BMW1 (3.8 kg weight) was etched with 8%–10% buffered formic acid solution, following the standard technique to avoid damaging. The low abundance of Conodont elements includes one complete P1 element and six broken elements with upper surface damaged and a few with surface dissolution, which could be in relation to significant transport and resedimentation of elements. The colour of Conodonts shows values of 4.5 to 5 for the alteration index. Reworking of Conodonts may be causing a higher colour alteration index value, but small recrystallised apatite surface is observed in Conodonts. Some specimens preserve a smooth surface, but etched surfaces with pits are often discerned. It suggests short heating on proximity to an igneous intrusion.
Conodonts from samples of BMW1. (a)–(b) Fragment of element of Kladognathus sp., DGO 15624, and detail of the face where breakage shows a lamellar inner structure and small apatite crystal 2–3 μm in size interpreted as recystallized and, later, slight dissolution; (c)–(e) Aboral and oral views of Mestognathus cf. beckmanni, DGO 15625, and detail of the margin of the platform with a strong dissolution located on the ornamentation of ridges and carina causing the inversion of surface relief; (f) Oral view of Polygnathus lobatus with pits due to dissolution of the Conodont surface, DGO 15622; (g) Gnathodus pseudosemiglaber, DGO 15623; (h)–(i) Oral and aboral views of Polygnathus inornatus, DGO 15621. Conodonts are stored in the Museum of Geology of the University of Oviedo. Rodríguez et al. (2020).
The allochthonous shales embedding the limestone horizons were sampled for palynomorphs. A total of 12 shale samples were crushed and dissolved following the classical extraction techniques. After complete removal of carbonate and silicate minerals, the organic remains were oxidized with Fuming Schulze solution and mounted in slides for microscope analysis. Palynomorphs recovered from shales are dominated by phytoclasts and, in minor proportions, by spores, whereas organic-walled marine microphytoplankton and amorphous organic matter are virtually absent. The reduced number of spores and their irregular state of preservation precluded further taxonomic identification. The large proportion of equidimensional to lath-shaped phytoclasts and the absence of marine components may be explained by the intense reworking and effective dilution associated to low-density turbidity currents. The brownish-black to black colour of spores and phytoclasts points to a thermal alteration index which essentially agrees with the colour alteration index values observed for conodonts from the limestone sample.
The Coral assemblage from Ba Moussa West contains a new species of Siphonophyllia, with other solitary Rugose Corals, such as Sychnoelasma urbanowitschi, Cravenia lamellata, Cravenia tela, and Cravenia rhytoides. Colonial Tabulate Corals recorded include Turnacipora megastoma, and Pleurosiphonella crustosa. Themost abundant specimens collected belong to the genus Siphonophyllia (20) and Turnacipora (7). Most other species are represented only by three specimens or less.
The assemblage is similar to that described from lower Visean (Arundian) Moel Hiraddug Formation in North Wales, UK. In both regions the large Siphonophylliid Corals represent the dominant component in dark gray bioclastic limestone and shale lithofacies, in which colonial Rugose Corals are absent. However, the Ba Moussa succession has a lower diversity Coral assemblage and the specimens are not as well preserved. This may be explained by the sedimentological setting at Ba Moussa, with the Corals occurring in graded limestone beds containing large exotic clasts, interpreted as debris flow and proximal turbidite deposits.
The stratigraphic range of Sychnoelasma urbanowitschi, and the three species of Cravenia (Cravenia lamellata, Cravenia tela, and Cravenia rhytoides) is very restricted, typically diagnostic of the early Visean throughout Western Europe. Turnacipora megastoma occurs also, typically in the early Visean.
The Ba Moussa West assemblage has similarities with Tafilalt in Eastern Morocco, where a richer early Visean solitary Rugose assemblage is recorded including Cravenia, Siphonophyllia and Sychnoelasma, but where colonial Rugose genera are also absent. Similar assemblages containing dominant Cyathopsids plus Sychnoelasma, Pleurosiphonella and Micheliniids have been reported in Canada and United States, and in Mid-Asia.
The Ba Moussa limestone beds are clearly older than other Mississippian sections in the Khenifra area, as confirmed by the associated Foraminifers and Conodonts. Coral assemblages from Tabainout and Sidi Lamine, 20 km and 30 km respectively, further west of Ba Moussa West, at the western margin of the Azrou-Khenifra Basin, contain fasciculate and massive colonial Rugose Coral genera (Siphonodendron and Lithostrotion) of late Visean (Asbian) age. Both sections have basal transgressive deposits with in situ shallow-water limestones containing ooids and Calcareous Algae. At Tiouinine, 8 km southeast of Khenifra on the eastern margin of the basin, very rich and diverse late Visean (Brigantian) Coral assemblages form a reefal tract. The early Visean age of the Ba Moussa West limestone correlates with the early Visean age of the transgressive point 1, located to the north of Ba Moussa.
The assemblage in samples from BMW1 contains the Foraminifers Earlandia vulgaris, Earlandia elegans, Endothyra spp., Endothyra similis, Endolaxina sp., Endothyranopsis (Eosinopsis) sp., Eosparastaffella sp., Eosparastaffella concinna, Eosparastaffella evoluta, Eosparastaffella interiecta, Eosparastaffella macdermoti, Eosparastaffella aff. macdermoti, Eosparastaffella ovalis, Eosparastaffella simplex, Eosparastaffella tumida subsp. 1, Eosparastaffella vdovenkoae, Eotextularia diversa, Granuliferella sp., Globoendothyra sp., Lapparentidiscus sp.,? Lituotubella sp., Mediocris mediocris, Mediocris ovalis, Mediocris aff. ovalis, Omphalotis sp., Pseudoplanoendothyra sp., Septabrunsiina sp., Septaglomospiranella sp., Spinobrunsiina sp., Spinolaxina sp., Tetrataxis sp. and Urbanella (Brenckleites) fragilis. The Algospongia recorded are very common Kamaena delicata and Palaeoberesella lahoseni, as well as Stacheoides spissa and Exvotarisella sp.
(a) Eotextularia diversa, BMW1, Pc4367; (b) Latiendothyranopsis sp., BMW2; (c) Omphalotis sp., BMW1, Pc4364; (d) Eoparastaffella tumida, BMW1, Pc4364. (e) Granuliferella sp., BMW1, Pc4364; (f) Mediocris aff. ovalis, BMW1, Pc4366; (g) Eoparastaffella simplex, BMW1, Pc4366; (h) Eoparastaffella ex gr. simplex (Eoparastaffella tumida subsp. 1), BMW1, Pc4367; (i) Eoparastaffella aff. concinna, BMW1, Pc4365; (j) Eoparastaffella evoluta, BMW2; (k) Eoparastaffella vdovenkoae, BMW1, Pc4366; (l) Eoparastaffella macdermoti, BMW1, Pc4364; (m) Eoparastaffella ovalis, BMW1, Pc4367; (n) Endolaxina sp., BMW1, Pc4367; (o) Pseudoplanoendothyra sp., BMW1, Pc4364; (p) Endothyranopsis (Eosynopsis) sp., BMW1, Pc4364. Scale bar same for all figures. Rodríguez et al. (2020).
The assemblage is characterized by a high diversity in Eoparastaffella species, and in particular, the first species with pointed periphery in the last whorl, Eoparastaffella tumida subsp. 1 and Eoparastaffella ex gr. simplex. Although the marker for the base of the MFZ9, as well as the marker for the base of the Visean, Eoparastaffella tumida subsp. 1 is derived from Eoparastaffella simplex from the basal levels of the MFZ9, and thus, the assemblages can be attributed to the base of the Visean. It is noteworthy for the occurrence of Eoparastaffella concinna and Eoparastaffella evoluta, also derived from Eoparastaffella simplex in more advances stages of the MFZ9.
The foraminiferal assemblage recorded in BMW2 is composed of Earlandia minor, Earlandia vulgaris, Endothyra spp., Endothyra ex gr. bowmani, Endothyra prisca, Endothyra similis, Eotextularia diversa, 'Glomospira' sp., Eoparastaffella sp., Eoparastaffella concinna, Eoparastaffella interiecta, Eoparastaffella macdermoti, Eoparastaffella simplex, Eoparastaffella tumida subsp. 1, Eoparastaffella vdovenkoae, Mediocris mediocris, Latiendothyranopsis sp., Omphalotis sp., Plectogyranopsis sp., and Pseudoplanoendothyra sp. This assemblage also contains the pointed and slender Eoparastaffella, including Eoparastaffella. concinna, which is a more evolved form than the ancestral stock of pointed Eoparastaffella. In consequence, the assemblage is also assigned to an advanced stage in the MFZ9. The Algospongia recorded in those levels contain Palaeoberesella lahoseni, Kamaena delicata, Issinella sp., and Exvotarisella sp.
The Conodont fauna studied in samples from BMW1 includes Polygnathus inornatus, Polygnathus lobatus (that is usually related with the first species), and a fragment of Polygnathus sp. These taxa were usually described in the early to mid Tournaisian Siphonodella–Polygnathus inornatus Assemblage Zone in the British Isles. However, it has been indicated that Polygnathus inornatus ranged up to the upper Tournaisian Gnathodus typicus Conodont Zone in Cornwall (UK). Polygnathus inornatus have been reported in the upper Tournaisian Scaliognathus anchoralis Zone of the Moravia-Silesia and the Dinant-Namur basins, and in the earliest Visean, just at the first occurrence of Pseudognathodus homopunctatus in the Belgian area. A late Tournaisian to early Visean age is supported by the occurrences of one P1 element of Gnathodus pseudosemiglaber, one P1 fragment of Mestognathus sp. and one P2 element probably corresponding to Kladognathus sp. The fragment of Mestognathus sp. shows dissolution of the carina and ornamentation of the platform, and the blade and the dorsal part of the platform are broken. The parapet area is close to that described in Mestognathus praebeckmanni. The secondary keel seems to be formed with a basal groove, as in Mestognathus beckmanni, but the specimen is broken. The first occurrence of Mestognathus beckmanni was indicated just below the lower boundary of the Visean Stage at the Global Boundary Stratotype Section in the Pengchong section, South China and in a few localities of Western Europe, although it is often recorded in Visean beds. The early Visean Pseudognathodus homopunctatus species is lacking in Rodríguez et al.'s sample.
The new species of Siphonophyllia is named Siphonophyllia khenifrense, which refers to the town of Khenifra within the Azrou-Khenifra Basin in Morocco. Seventeen whole specimens were recovered, all from Ba Moussa West, as well as 29 transverse sections and 15 longitudinal sections.
The whole specimens are cylindrical Corallites between 20 mm and 40 mm in alar diameter and recorded fragments are up to 20 cm long, often without calice. The dissepimentarium is often abraded. The outer wall is thin.
Siphonophyllia khenifrense. (a)–(c) Holotype DPM BMW1-1: (a) DPM BMW1-1A, transverse section., (b) DPM BMW1-1B, transverse section., (c) longitudinal sections; (d)–(e) DPM BMW1-6: (d) transverse section, (e) longitudinal sections; (f)–(g) DPM BMW1-20: (f) longitudinal sections, (g) transverse section.; (h) DPM BMW2-16, transverse section; (i) DPM BMW2-4, transverse section; (j) Wall microstructure in Siphonophyllia khenifrense, DPM BMW1-1, L, Lamellae; (k) Septal microstructure in Siphonophyllia khenifrense, DPM BMW2-16, Gr, Granular axial septum; F, Fibronormal middle zone; L, Lamellar external zone. Black arrows indicate the position of the cardinal septum. Corals are housed in the Geodinamica, Estratigrafía y Paleontología Department of the Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Rodríguez et al. (2020).
The tabularium diameter varies from 17 mm in immature stage to 31 mm in adult stage. The tabularium is wide, 3/5 to more than 4/5 Corallite diameter; the variation in tabularium width is a function of the age of the specimen (immature vs mature Corallite) and variation in the width of the dissepimentarium, which although generally narrow, can also be variably preserved. The number of major septa ranges commonly between 42 and 61, but up to 68 may be present. The septa are long, almost reaching the axis in immature stage but withdrawn from the centre in mature adult stage. They are straight to slightly flexuous in the tabularium, thinning axially and straight to sinuous in the dissepimentarium. Major septa are strongly thickened in the tabularium but are thin in the dissepimentarium; septa can be slightly thicker in cardinal quadrants and thinner in counter quadrants. The minor septa are also thickened where they penetrate slightly into the tabularium, but not as thick as majors; in the dissepimentarium they are thin. They are variable in length, from 1/4 to 1/3 length of majors. The cardinal septum is slightly shorter in most mature Corallites and located in a closed small cardinal fossula. It is often flanked by two major septa which are shorter than the others. Counter septum is inconspicuous, but shorter in late adult stages.
The dissepimentarium is narrow (typically 1/10 to 1/5 Corallite diameter) and mainly composed of interseptal regular dissepiments. The dissepiments are more irregular in the external part of the dissepimentarium, with occasional lonsdaleoid dissepiments. Typically 3 to 6 rows of slightly angular concentric dissepiments are present in the dissepimentarium. In longitudinal section, the dissepiments are small and elongate. They are declined to the tabularium from 60° to 70°.
The tabulae are mostly complete flat domes with some splitting; horizontal, medially sagging and convex tabulae can be present, sloping down peripherally to prominent gutters. They are relatively widely spaced numbering between 6 and 12 each centimetre.
The wall microstructure is microlamellar, as well as the septal stereoplasm and thickenings of tabulae and dissepiments. The septal mesoplasm is granulofibrous with incipient development of microtrabeculae. The tabulae and dissepiments are microgranular.
At least four transgressive phases have been differentiated in the Azrou-Kenifra Basin which were related with fault activity and resedimentation on the margins of tectonic blocks. The early Visean Corals at Ba Moussa West are the oldest occurrence in this basin, and are an important fauna differentiated from the commonly described faunas in late Visean beds of the western margin of the basin at Sidi Lamine and Tabainout, as well as in the northern part of the basin at Adarouch.
The early Visean age in the MFZ9 is older than the previously considered age for North Ba Moussa point 1 (Zone 11 or equivalent MFZ10), in spite of Foraminifer species that was based on their zonal correlation, Earlandia vulgaris and Eotextularia diversa, are also occurring in samples from BMW1 and BMW2 (assigned here to the MFZ9).
The Ba Moussa West succession is a resedimented body of shale, siltstone and limestone with early Visean microfossils and Corals, indicating that the probable age of sedimentation was very close to that of skeletal growth of the components. The corals and microfossils correspond to shallow-water taxa dwelling on a neighbouring sedimentary relief. The coralline assemblage shows a distinctive dominance of solitary rugosans, the absence of colonial Rugosans and occurrence of colonial Tabulate Corals. Moreover, the solitary forms are dominated by Siphonophyllia khenifrense and Sychnoelasma urbanowitschi, and the Tabulate Coral Turnacipora megastoma. A similar association of Siphonophyllia aff. garwoodi and Sychnoelasma urbanowitschi is known from the early Visean of the Laval syncline in Normandy (north France), although with colonial Rugosans there (Solenodendron spp.). This colonial genus is not recorded in the Azrou-Khenifra Basin first until the late Visean.
This colonial genus is not recorded in the Azrou-Khenifra Basin first until the late Visean. However, none of the seven listed key taxa of this subzone are recorded in Morocco, although the genera Siphonophyllia, Cravenia and Sychnoelasma are present. Perhaps of greater significance though, is that whereas Siphonophyllia hawbankense is only recorded in the underlying upper Tournaisian RC4ß1 subzone, a new taxon Siphonophyllia hawbankense subsp. A which starts in this subzone, extends into RC4ß2 subzone. The strong possibility exists though, that this corresponds to the small Siphonophyllia urbanowitschi of Ba Moussa, which represents the transition to larger typical forms in RC5 Zone.
The Ba Moussa West Coral fauna, although quite restricted in its diversity, nevertheless, contains typical elements of the Western European Coral province (which includes North Africa and Nova Scotia). In particular, the dominance of solitary Rugosa and Tabulate Corals is a feature of the early Visean assemblages which are recognised in northwest Europe: Normandy (north France), southern Belgium, southwest Province, North Wales, Craven Lowlands and South Cumbria (Great Britain), and Dublin Basin (Ireland). Similar early Visean faunas with solitary rugosans are known in the eastern part of the Anti-Atlas region at Tafilalt in eastern Morocco and in the Béchar Basin in Algeria. The late Tournaisian to early Visean Rugose Coral fauna from Tafilalt is richer than that from Ba Moussa. It is dominated by solitary genera, both undissepimented (Sychnoelasma, Cravenia) and dissepimented (Bifossularia, Cyathoclisia, Clisiophyllum, Siphonophyllia, Palaeosmilia, Amygdalophyllum), and is lacking colonial Rugosans.
Palaeogeographic distribution of the Coral taxa recorded in Ba Moussa West in the Palaeotethys region and around Laurentia and Baltica. (s) Siphonophyllia, (u) Sychnoelasma urbanowitschi, (c) Cravenia, (t) Turnacipora, (p) Pleurosiphonella. (1) Ba Moussa West, (2) Tafilalt, (3) Midcontinent, (4) Western Interior, (5) Canadian Rockies, (6) Carnic Alps, (7) Western Europe, (8) Eastern Europe, (9) Moscow Basin, (10) Ural Mountains, (11) Tian-Shan (Northwest China), (12) Turkey, (13) Transcaucasia, (14) Iran, (15) Himalaya, (16) South China. Rodríguez et al. (2020).
It was previously considered that since the Azrou-Khenifra Basin only had late Visean and younger Coral assemblages, so too the Jerada Basin in northeast Morocco, they were isolated from other marine basins in the early Visean. Connections among the Azrou-Khenifra Basin, northwest Europe, Tafilalt, and other Saharian basins in Algeria (Béchar Basin) were open from the Asbian and Brigantian (late Visean). The Ba Moussa West Corals, Foraminifers and Conodonts suggest that marine seaways were available for migrations between the Azrou-Khenifra Basin and other regions from the early Visean. Similar early Visean faunas with solitary Rugosans are known in the eastern part of the Anti-Atlas region at Tafilalt, in eastern Morocco and in the Béchar Basin in Algeria. The marine connections between northwest Europe and the southern part of the Azrou-Khenifra Basin is supported by similar early Visean assemblages recognized in northwest Europe with abundant solitary Rugose and Tabulate Corals, but with colonial Rugosans: Normandy (north France), southern Belgium, southwest Province, North Wales, Craven Lowlands and South Cumbria (Great Britain), and Dublin Basin in Ireland.
In relation to the tabulate corals, the Tabulate Turnacipora megastoma in the Ba Moussa West assemblage was also known from Central Saharian basins, but also from the Chadian-Arundian (early Visean) locations in northwest Europe (UK, Ireland, France, Germany?). The occurrence of Pleurosiphonella crustosa is the first report in North Africa and suggests marine connection with the Urals. It was first described from the upper Tournaisian of Transcaucasia and its age range extends here slightly into the early Visean. The dispersion between southwest Asia (Armenia, Taurides and Alborz) and the Azrou-Khenifra Basin, via Tafilalt, Béchar and Sinai, is poorly established. Some solitary Rugosans (Siphonophyllia) are common to all areas, but others, such as Kueichouphyllum and the colonial form Eokoninkocarinia, indicative of Asiatic affinity are clearly absent in Morocco.
A new early Visean Coral assemblage has been discovered transported in the rhythmic facies deposits of the southern part of the Azrou-Khenifra Basin, northwest of Khenifra, Morroco. The Ba Moussa West coral fauna includes the new species Siphonophyllia khenifrense, as well as Sychnoelasma urbanowitschi, Cravenia lamellata, Cravenia tela, Cravenia rhytoides, Turnacipora megastoma and Pleurosiphonella crustosa. The early Visean age of the Coral assemblage is supported by microfossil data, which confirms a previous hypothesis that indicated a first transgression during the early Visean in the Carboniferous of the Meseta. The allochthonous coral assemblage was recovered from coarse-grained proximal limestone debris flow and turbidite beds within a fault-bounded rhythmic unit in the eastern part of the basin. No evidence remains of the former early Visean shallow-water platform from which the Corals were derived. All other in situ platform carbonate rocks around the southern margin of the Azrou-Khenifra Basin are of late Visean (Asbian–Brigantian) age. The early Visean Ba Moussa West Coral fauna can be compared with that from the Saharian basins of southeast Morocco and Algeria. Most of the genera and species in the Ba Moussa West assemblage are identical to those in Western Europe, indicating possible marine connections. The new Rugose species described, Siphonophyllia khenifrense, is probably endemic to North Africa. Its ecological niche in northwest Europe was occupied by Siphonophyllia cylindrica or Siphonophyllia aff. garwoodi.
The microfossil determinations provide greater precision in the age dating of the Ba Moussa West limestones. The foraminiferal assemblages from BMW1 can be attributed to the lowermost Visean (MFZ9). Similarly, the Conodont fauna recovered from the same beds, although sparse, suggests a late Tournaisian to early Visean age.
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