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The Relationship between Brittle Tectonics and Hydrothermalism: A Case Study of the Aïn Ouarka Area in the Saharan Atlas, Western Algeria

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Abstract

The present work is based on the multidisciplinary geo-structural analysis of the hydrothermal zone of Aïn Ouarka. Located in the Western Saharan Atlas of Algeria, this region presents a very good example where geothermal sources are largely controlled by tectonics events. Employing 114 fracture segments (faults, open fractures, joints) were identified especially in the Mesozoic formations. These faults lineaments are analyzed in terms of frequency, geometry and kinematics. Our results show that the structural patterns consist of two conjugate strike-slip fractures: (i) the dextral component on the WE and NW faults and (ii) the sinistral component on the NS faults. Statistical analysis shows that these fractures correspond to the Riedel shear style where the transformation zone is WE oriented and it compartmentalizes blocks. Under the effect of NW‒SE compressive, the stress collapsed zone appears as a pull-apart graben. This zone is affected by deep fractures, which are accompanied by an uplift of Triassic material. The transtension lead the formation of shearing, these fractures become as active over times. Riedel fractures, synthetic (Y, P and R) oriented 90° N, 70° N and 120° N but also the anthetic fractures (R') oriented respectively 160° N show that there were reactivated during later tectonic episodes. Correlation with surface geothermal manifestations, aeomagnetism, and tectonic fracturing reveals that fractures are distributed along three main directions NNW/SSE and WNW/ESE and the atlasic direction oriented 70° N. For the faults depth, we relied on the processing of aeromagnetic data. Our results show that the depths of the tectonic structures argue in favor of a collapsed zone along the WE fault of Aïn Ouarka where the depths increase from 0.5 km to more than 2 km approaching the central zone. In this zone an emergence of sources of hot water is noted. The results obtained show that the distribution of the basement depth on the two flanks of the WE fault reaches almost 100 m thus revealing the vertical throw of the WE fault. The hydrodynamic model elaborated shows that under the regional tectonic regime probably recent, a collapsed zone has been highlighted. This cataclysm engendered uplift of plutonic reservoir at shallow depth. Rainwater infiltrates through permeable Mesozoic formations, flows towards the cataclysm zone. Subjected to high temperatures of plutonism, these waters warm up and rise under the effect of the low density to reach the surface in the form of hydrothermal springs.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We are very grateful to our colleagues from the Hydraulic Drilling (Hydrogeological Services of Algerian National Company of Geophysics, Algeria) of the Aïn Sefra region for providing us with important data on the hydrochemistry of the Aïn Ouarka area. We are thankful the reviewer Prof. M.D. Khutorskoy (GIN RAS, Moscow, Russia) and an anonymous reviewer for time devoted to reading and approving and editor M.N. Shoupletsova (GIN RAS, Moscow, Russia) for thorough editing.

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  1. University Oran II Mohamed Ben Ahmed, Bir El Djir, 31000, Oran, Algeria

    F. Hadjou, H. Mansour & M. Bendella

  2. University of Mascara, Mustapha Stambouli, 29000, Mascara, Algeria

    S. Refas & M. Zaagane

  3. BRGM (Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières), 45000, Orleans, France

    F. Asfirane

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Hadjou, F., Refas, S., Asfirane, F. et al. The Relationship between Brittle Tectonics and Hydrothermalism: A Case Study of the Aïn Ouarka Area in the Saharan Atlas, Western Algeria. Geotecton. 57, 230–250 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0016852123020036

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