Small-scale sedimentary structures and their implications in recognizing large-scale ancient tidal bedforms. Example from Dur At Talah outcrop, Late Eocene, Sirt Basin, Libya

As a prime aim of this article, all these sedimentary structures are described, interpreted, and discussed for the first time from this outcrop. Their style of association and the quality of their preservation provide an outstanding ancient example of tide-dominated siliciclastic systems. Such structures are rarely found together in one outcrop as they are in Dur At Talah, and they provide a significant indicators in identifying ancient bedforms of tidal origin. Evidences of subtidal and intertidal depositional environments are afforded by these structures. Criteria indicative of semidiurnal regime of the tide are also presented. These criteria are especially well-preserved in the bundled foresets of the spring tides, the neap tide record is also distinguishable but it provides no discernible structures. Moreover, sedimentary features that can be used to infer a macrotidal range during the depositional time are also afforded by a combination of these structures. Above all, this study also concludes that one of the most reliable sedimentary structures for recognizing the tidal bedforms are the ripple-scale (centimetric) sedimentary structures. These are preserved inside and at the base of the cross-sets.