Skip to main content
Log in

Paleogeographical restoration and ramp tectonic evidence in Tunisian Tellian domain: Ain El Bey-Bou Awen area

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Arabian Journal of Geosciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The imbrication’s area in northern Tunisia is the most external segment of Alpine range, where several associated folds types with thrust ramps are recognized within imbricate units beneath Numidian front slope. Their presence help to understand thrusting mechanisms installation through studied area. In fact, this zone was considered as a result of Paleogene gravitary slop (Kujawski (Ann Miner Géol Tunis (24):281, 1969); Caire (Ann Min Géol Tunis 26:87–110, 1973); Rouvier 1977), which is proved to be affected by major deep decollement, given rise to various structures, some are propagation folds, specific of foreland front, limited to this area, and those in more external position: Tunisian Atlas (Creusot et al. (C R Acad Sci Paris 314(Sér II):961–965, 1992); Ouali and Mercier (PII: S0191-8141(97):00048-5, 1997); Ouali 1984; Ahmadi et al. (J Struct Geol 28:721–728, 2006)). Various categories of fold ramps could be identified: frontal folds ramp NE–SW and others as lateral or oblique ramp with NW–SE trend (Aridhi et al. (C R Geosci 343:360–369, 2011)). The relation between various structures has been used as recognition tools of thrusting sequences and to propose a new deformation chronology. Delimited outcropping of these structures between two both parallel faults strikes with regional displacement, leads to interpret these faults as cogenetic tear faults of propagation thrusts; this fault separates two domains with different deformation styles from each other side.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ahmadi R, Ouali J, Mercier E, Mansy JL, Van-Vliet Lanoe B, Launeau P, Rhekhiss F, Rafini S (2006) The geomorphologic imprints of hinge migration in the Fault-related folds. A case study in Southern Tunisian Atlas. J Struct Geol 28:721–728

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aridhi K, Ould Bagga MA, Abdeljaouad S, Zargouni F, Mercier E (2011) Lateral ramp-related folding evidences in the Tellian domain of Tunisia: tectonic implications. C R Geosci 343:360–369

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bayona G, Thomas WA, Van-der-Voob R (2002) Kinematics of thrust sheets within transverse zones: a structural and paleomagnetic investigation in the Appalachian thrust belt of Georgia and Alabama. J Struct Geol 25:1193–1212

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Caire A (1973) Les liaisons Alpines précoces entre Afrique du Nord et Sicile, et la place de la Tunisie dans l’arc Tyrrhénien. Livre jubilaire M. Solignac. Ann Min Géol Tunis 26:87–110

    Google Scholar 

  • Castany G (1953) Le style tectonique de Hedhil et de la région de Béja (Tunisie septentrionale); ses rapports avec la « zone des flysch». C R Acad Sci Paris 236(7):728–730

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen CR, Schamel S, Boyd-Kaygi P (1993) Neogen deformation in northern Tunisia: origin of the eastern Atlas by microplate-continental margin collision. Geol Soc Am Part 1(91):225–237

    Google Scholar 

  • Creusot G, Mercier E, Ouali J, Turki MM (1992) Héritage distensif synsédimentaire et structuration chevauchante: apport de la modélisation du chevauchement alpin de Zaghouan (Atlas tunisien). C R Acad Sci Paris 314(Sér II):961–965

    Google Scholar 

  • Dhalstrom CDA (1970) Structural geology in the eastern margin of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Bull Can Petrol Geol 18(3):332–406

    Google Scholar 

  • Durand-Delga M, Fontboté JM (1980) Le cadre structural de la Méditerranée occidentale. 26th International geological congress, Paris. Mem BRGM 115:67–85

    Google Scholar 

  • Frizon de Lamotte D, Guezou JC, Mercier E (1994) Contrôle tectonique de la sédimentation détritique aux pieds de structures frontales et latérales. Application à la chaine bético-rifaine (Espagne-Maroc) Alpine. Géol Sér Spéc Colloq Excursions 40:46–47

    Google Scholar 

  • Frizon De Lamotte D, Guezou JC, Averbuch O (1995) Distinguishing lateral folds in thrust-systems; examples from Corbières (SW France) and Betic Cordilleras (SE Spain). J Struct Geol 17(2):233–244

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jamisson WR (1987) Geometric analysis of fold development in over thrust terranes. J Struct Geol 9(2):207–219

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kujawski H (1969) Contribution à l’étude géologique de la région des Hedhil et du Béjaoua oriental. Ann Miner Géol Tunis (24):281

  • Masrouhi A, Ghanmi M, Ben Slama MM, Ben Youssef M, Vila JM, Zargouni F (2008) New tectono-sedimentary evidence constraining the timing of the positive tectonic inversion and the Eocene Atlasic phase in northern Tunisia: implication for the North African paleo-margin evolution. C R Geosci 340:771–778

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mc Clay (1991) Thrust tectonics. Proceedings of the thrust tectonics conference. Univ. London

  • Mercier E (1992) Une évolution possible des chevauchements associés aux plis de propagation: le transport sur le plat (modélisation et exemple). Bull Soc Géol Fr 163:713–720

    Google Scholar 

  • Mercier E, Mansyj L (1995) Le blocage de transport sur le plat des plis de propagation: une cause possible de chevauchement hors séquence. Géodin Acta 8:199–210

    Google Scholar 

  • Mercier E, Outtani F, Frizon De Lamotte D (1997) Late stage evolution of fault-propagation folds: principales and exemple. J Struct Geol 19(2):185–193

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morley CK (1988) Out of sequence thrusts. Tectonics 7:539–561

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ouali J (1984) Structure et évolution géodynamique de la chaine Nara-Sidi Khalif (Tunisie centrale). Thèse 3ème cycle, 120 pp

  • Ouali J, Mercier E (1997) The Neogene structural evolution of the western margin of the Pelagian platform, central Tunisia: discussion. PII: S0191-8141(97)00048-5

  • Ould Bagga MA (2003) Evolution tectono-sedmentaire et analyse structurale d’un segment des Maghrebides orientales: la région de Ghardimaou-Fernana (Tunisie Nord-occidentale). Thèse de 3ème cycle, Univ. Tunis II, Fac Des Sci Tunis, 507 pp

  • Ould Bagga MA, Abdeljaouad S, Mercier E (2006) La « zone des nappes » de Tunisie: une marge méso-cénozoïque en blocs basculés modérément inversée (région de Tabarka/Jendouba; Tunisie nord-occidentale). Bull Soc Géol France 177(3):145–154

    Google Scholar 

  • Rouvier H (1977) Géologie de l’extrême Nord Tunisien: tectonique et paléogéographie superposées à l’extrémité orientale de la chaine maghrébine. Thèse Doc Sci, Univ Paris VI, 898 pp

  • Solignac M (1927) Etude géologique de la Tunisie septentrionale. Dir Gén Trav Pub Tunis, Thèse Doct. Sciences, Lyon, 756 pp

  • Suppe J (1981) Mechanics of mountain building and metamorphism in Taiwan. Geol Soc China Mem 4:67–89

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas WA, Bayona G (2001) Planispatic restoration of the Anniston transverse zone in the Appalachian thrust belt, Alabama. J Struct Geol 24:797–826

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thomas WA, Bayona G (2005) The Appalachian thrust belt in Alabama and Georgia: thrust-belt structure, basement structure, and palinspastic reconstruction. Alabama Geol Surv Monogr 2:16–48

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilkerson MS, Medwedeff DA (1991) Geometrical modeling of fault-related folds: a pseudo three-dimensional approach. J Struct Geol 13:801–812

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilkerson MS, Apotria T, Farid T (2002) Interpreting the geologic map expression of contractional fault-related fold terminations: lateral-oblique ramps versus displacement gradients. J Struct Geol 24(4)

  • Wilkerson MS, Smaltz SM, Bowman DR, Fischer MP, Higuera-Diaz IC (2006) 2-D and 3-D modeling of detachment folds with hinterland inflation: a natural example from the Monterrey salient, northeastern Mexico. J Struct Geol 29:73–85

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zargouni F (1985) Tectonique de l’Atlas méridional de Tunisie. Evolution géométrique et cinématique des structures en zone de cisaillement. Thèse de doctorat ès Sci Univ de Strasbourg. Rev Des Sci Terre 3:304

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kais Aridhi.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Aridhi, K., Aridhi, S., Bagga, M.A.O. et al. Paleogeographical restoration and ramp tectonic evidence in Tunisian Tellian domain: Ain El Bey-Bou Awen area. Arab J Geosci 6, 1591–1599 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-011-0447-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-011-0447-8

Keywords

Navigation