Carboniferous Wadi Malik Formation
 in the Wadi Talh area
 Source: KLITZSCH & WYCISK, 1987

At the Wadi Abdel Malik respectively at the western foreland of the Abu Ras Plateau (Wadi Talh area), shallow marine sandstone, siltstone and shale prevail, containing - apart from plants - brachiopodes, lamellibranchiates and different ichnofossils. These strata reach more than 100 meters of thickness and they are called Wadi Malik Formation (KLITZSCH 1979). Here they are overlain by a tillite of up to several 10 meters in thickness. Southward in the southern parts of Wadi Abdel Malik, the stratigraphical position of the tillite is taken by crossbedded sandstone containing irregular large blocks. This sandstone seems to be of fluvial-glacial origin.

The sediments of the Wadi Malik Formation lie over an eroded base of the Devonian Tadrart sandstone unconformably. They were deposited during a transgressive expansion of the Kufra basin in the Lower Carboniferous age from the northwestern direction.

A rich flora was discovered in the Wadi Abdel Malik type area, including: Archaeosigillaria minuta, Lepidodendropsis cf. sinaica, Lepidosigillaria intermedia, Prelepidodendron lepidodendroides, P. rhomboidale, Rhacopteris ovata, Triphyllopteris gothani. This flora proves a Tournaisian to Visean age.

At Wadi Abdel Malik, were found this flora several meters below intercalations containing remains of different brachiopods, for example Camerotoechia sp. as well as abundant marine ichnofossils (SEILACHER, 1983) including Asteriacites gugelhupf, Bifungites fezzanensis, Spirophyton sp., Cruziana sp. and many others.

The upper part of Carboniferous strata, which is mainly made up of diamictites, occurs in three different facies, which interfinger and which all rest unconformably upon the Wadi Malik Formation. At central parts of Wadi Abdel Malik, the formation rests above an erosional contact on sandstone of Lower Carboniferous age. The uppermost parts of the underlying strata contain plant remains like Triphyllopteris gothani. The upper part of the formation, which is here approximately 50-55 m thick, is overlain by a thin conglomerate followed by sandstone, containing among others Cordaites angulostriatus, which, according to LEJAL-NICOL (1987) indicates Stephanian age. Moreover, the upper part of the northern Wadi Malik Formation - directly below the conglomerate - contains Rhodea lontzenensis, which indicates Namurian age for the glacial formation.

Pushed zone of diamictic deposits at northern Wadi Abdel Malik
Source: Klitzsch & Wycisk, 1987

Erratic blocks in diamictic deposits (Tillite)
Source: Klitzsch & Wycisk, 1987

Striking horizons of red marine shales and white sandstones

Carboniferous in the northern Gilf area

Massive fine-grained sandstone contains small ferruginous bands

Bioturbation