Callovian−Kimmeridgian palynology and palaeobiogeography of the Essaouira−Agadir Basin (Moroccan Atlantic Margin)

The Jurassic formations within the Essaouira−Agadir Basin are of considerable interest for petroleum exploration, owing to their reservoir facies and hydrocarbon potentiality. These formations exhibit a scarcity of macrofossils, and their age is determined through lithological correlation. The Agadir−Essaouira Basin is a Mesozoic−Cenozoic sedimentary basin, part of the Tethyan Realm, precisely belonging to the Central Atlantic province which extends the Tethys westward. The material studied originates from five boreholes (GTE-1, MKL-110, NDK-2, NDK-3 and ESS-1) located at the center the basin along an East−West axis. The organic residue of the studied samples revealed a diverse dinoflagellate cyst assemblage with specific associations incorporating globally recognized marker taxa. The Early Callovian is distinguished by species such as: Ctenidodinium combazii, Ctenidodinium continuum, Ctenidodinium cornigerum, Dichadogonyaulax sellwoodii, and Impletosphaeridium varispinosum. The Late Callovian is characterized by the presence of marker cysts including: Compositosphaeridium polonicum, Endoscrinium galeritum Gonyaulacysta centriconnata, Liesbergia liesbergensis, Wanaea thysanota. The Early Oxfordian is marked by the association of species including: Gonyaulacysta jurassica subsp. jurassica, Rhynchodiniopsis cladophora, Scriniodinium crystallinum, Systematophora areolata, Systematophora penicillata, and Trichodinium scarburghense. The Late Oxfordian to basal Kimmeridgian is characterized by an association of dinoflagellate cysts including: Cribroperidinium globatum, Dichadogonyaulax? panneum, Downiesphaeridium polytrichum, Egmontodinium polyplacophorum, Endoscrinium galeritum, Gochteodinia mutabilis, Perisseiasphaeridium pannosum, Prolixosphaeridium anasillum, Scriniodinium crystallinum, Systematophora areolata, Systematophora penicillata, Surculosphaeridium vestitum, Systematophora? daveyi, and Wallodinium krutzschii. Our associations have been correlated with those in contemporary basins within other paleogeographic realms, contributing to the formulation of a global paleobiogeographic pattern. This pattern complements previous research on the distribution of dinoflagellate cysts during the Callovian−Early Kimmeridgian time interval. •Jurassic sections of five boreholes in Essaouira−Agadir Basin of Moroccan Atlantic Margin were studied palynologically.•The studied wells are palynostratigraphically correlated with that in other palaeogeographic areas.•Contri