Application of correspondence analysis to palaeobathymetric reconstruction of Cenomanian and Turonian (Cretaceous) rocks of Eastern Algeria

The vertical succession of facies is used to characterize the hierarchy of stratigraphic cycles, depositional sequences, and systems tracts in Upper Cretaceous rocks of the Aures Mountains (Eastern Algeria). Correspondence analysis was used to identify the main palaeontological associations and the systems tracts linked to them, resulting in a tentative reconstruction of the changing palaeobathymetry through the succession. The results were corroborated by comparison with a eustatic curve and subsidence data. Comparisons of bathymetric and eustatic curves can help calibrate and scale regional bathymetric curves and verify if the water depths derived by other palaeoecological methods agree with those determined from correspondence analysis. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.