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Identifying sub-surface Triassic salt diapirs under domal structures in the Tunisian Atlas: exploration targets for potential mineralization

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Abstract

The aim of this study is to propose a conceptual model explaining the geometry, origin, distribution of three selected domal structures, namely Jerissa, Bou El Haneche and Bir Es Solâa and associated mineralization. These structures, located on the border of the NW–SE Kalaa Khasba graben (Tunisian Atlas), had not been extensively investigated and only inferred—but not positively identified—as salt diapirs. For this goal, a multi-disciplinary method based on satellite images, digital elevation models (DEMs), morpho-structural analysis, hydrochemistry and seismic data was used. The domal structures are clearly expressed in the DEMs, drained by radial hydrographic networks and affected by radial faulting. Under the Jerissa dome, the aquifer water samples contain high strontium values (546–598 mg/l) and also have high Sr2+/ Ca2+ ratios (between 10.59‰ and 11.22‰). This aquifer water chemical characteristics coupled to the interpretation of a seismic line crossing this structure suggest the presence of Triassic evaporitic materials in the sub-surface. The Triassic evaporitic sediments beneath the Bir Es Solâa structure were detected in the BS-1 drill hole. The results provide arguments for the existence of sub-outcropping Triassic rock which may be interpret as sub-surface diapirs under these domal structures, located preferentially at the intersection of regional NW–SE, E–W and NE–SW striking fault networks. At the three selected structures, the Aptian limestone forms the main mineralization traps for Pb–Zn–Ba and Fe. These sub-surface diapirs can be targets for mineral exploration in effort to discover potential mineralized bodies with economic concentration in central–northern Tunisian Atlas.

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I hereby confirm that all the data and interpretations are new and have not been published elsewhere. Every datum used in this research can be asked to the authors with transparency.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Dr. Karst LaMoreaux, Editor, for his constructive comments and for handling this manuscript. The authors are very thankful to Dr. Mohamed Ali Tagorti and the anonymous reviewers for their constrictive suggestions that improved the final version of this manuscript substantially. We are grateful to Dr. Ammar Mlayah (Water Research and Technologies Centre (CERTE), Tunisia) and Dr. Karim Hosni (The National Institute for Research and Physico-Chemical Analysis (INRAP), Tunisia) for the realization of the hydrochemical analyses. We would like to express our sincere appreciations to the Tunisian Company of Petroleum Activities (ETAP) for providing seismic data. We would also like to express our gratitude to Dr. Larbi Rddad (City University of New York), Dr. Benjamin Brunner (University of Texas at El Paso), Dr. Elhoucine Essefi (University of Sfax) and Ing. Claude Duplessis (Canada) for their invaluable comments and useful critiques on the draft of the paper.

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Laboratory “Geomatics of Geosystems” LR19ES07, University of Manouba-Tunisia.

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  1. Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte, University of Carthage, 7021, Bizerte, Tunisia

    Yassine Selmani, Lassaâd Chihi, Ali Kadri, Nouri Hatira & Kamel Regaya

  2. Department of Inventory and Mineral Exploration, National Office of Mines, 1080, Tunis, Tunisia

    Yassine Selmani

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YS, LC and AK: fieldwork, analysis and interpretation of the data; YS, LC, AK, NH and RK: drafting the manuscript; and YS and AK: prepared all figures All authors read and approved the manuscript.

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Selmani, Y., Chihi, L., Kadri, A. et al. Identifying sub-surface Triassic salt diapirs under domal structures in the Tunisian Atlas: exploration targets for potential mineralization. Carbonates Evaporites 39, 28 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13146-024-00935-8

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