Skip to main content
Log in

Preliminary structural configuration of the Goubellat Upper Cretaceous carbonate aquifers using gravity method (Northwestern Tunisia)

  • AGIC 2017
  • Published:
Arabian Journal of Geosciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Gravity method can help locate hidden structural blocks bounded by faults related to the Upper Cretaceous carbonate aquifers of Goubellat region (Northwestern Tunisia). The Quaternary deposits are present over the majority of the Goubellat plain basin and cover the Upper Cretaceous carbonate. The produced residual gravity map supported by vertical and tilt angle derivatives was used to reveal the subsurface structural framework of the study area shaped by uplifted (high gravity anomalies) and downlifted areas (low gravity anomalies). The horizontal gravity gradient and Euler deconvolution maps were elaborated in order to locate major faults. These faults are primordial for the subsurface water recharge pathways. Finally, the presented lineament/structural map is very useful for large-scale structures and lineaments mapping giving the principal keys of the preliminary structural configuration of the Goubellat Upper Cretaceous carbonate aquifers.

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
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bhattacharyya BK, Leu LK (1975) Spectral analysis of gravity and magnetic anomaliesdue to two-dimensional structures. Geophysics 40:993–1013

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Biely A (1973) Le problème de la conception du Miocène nord tunisien, pp.257–2616,61

  • Bouaziz S,  Barrier E, Soussi M, Turki MM, Zouari H (2002) Tectonic evolution of the northern African margin in Tunisia from paleostress data and sedimentary record. Tectonophysics 357 (1-4):227–253

  • Bournas N, Galdeano A, Mohamed M, Baker H (2003) Interpretation of the aeromagneticmap of Eastern Hoggar (Algeria) using the Euler deconvolution, analytic signal and localwavenumber methods. J Afr Earth Sci 37:191–205

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Briggs I (1974) Machine contouring using minimum curvature. Geophysics 39(1):39–48

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burollet P-F (1956) Contribution à l’étude stratigraphique de la Tunisie centrale. Ann Mineset Géol, Tunis, n°18, 352p

  • Castany G (1951) Etude géologique de l’Atlas tunisien oriental. Thèse Doct. Sci., Ann. MinesetGéol. Tunis, n°8, 632p

  • Cooper GRJ, Cowan DR (2006) Enhancing potential field data using filters based on the local phase. Comput Geosci 32(10):1585–1591

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Djebbi M, Gabtni H (2018) A contribution of gravity and seismic data in understanding the geometry of the Zouaraa - Ouchtata dune (NW Tunisia): hydrogeological implications. J Afr Earth Sci 137:91–102

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dobrin MB, Savit CH (1988) Introduction to geophysical prospecting. McGraw-Hill, New York 867p

    Google Scholar 

  • El Ouardi H (1996) Halocinèse et rôle des décrochements dans l’évolution géodynamique dela partie médiane de la zone des dômes. Thèse Sci., Univ. Tunis II, Fac. Sci. Tunis, 242 p

  • El Ouardi H (2002) Origine des variations latérales des dépôts yprésiens dans la zone des dômes en Tunisie septentrionale. Compt Rendus Geosci 334:141–146

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hammami M (1999) Halocinèse et mise en place des minéralisations dans la zone des diapirs(Tunisie septentrionale). Thèse Sci., Univ. Tunis II, Fac. Sci. Tunis, 183p

  • Jauzein, A., 1967. Contribution à l’étude des confins de la dorsale tunisienne (Tunisie septentrionale). Ann Mines et Géol, Tunis, n°22, 475p

  • Keating PB (1998) Weighted Euler deconvolution of gravity data. Geophysics 63:1595–1603

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Khattach D, Keating P, Mili EM, Chennouf T, Andrieux P, Milhi A (2004) Apport de la Gravimétrie à l’Etude de la Structure du Bassin des Triffa (Maroc nord-Oriental): implications Hydrogéologiques. Compt Rendus Geosci 336:1427–1432

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Khomsi S, Echihi O, Slimani N (2012) Structural control on the deep hydrogeological and geothermal aquifers related to the fractured Campanian-Miocene reservoirs of north-eastern Tunisia foreland constrained by subsurface data. Compt Rendus Geosci 344:247–265

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Masrouhi A, Bellier O, Ben Youssef M, Koyi H (2014) Submarine allochthonous saltsheets: gravity-driven deformation of north African cretaceous passive margin in TunisiaBled Dogra case study and nearby salt structures. J Afr Earth Sci 97:125–142

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maurizio F, Antonio R, Guido R (1999) Upward continuation of scattered potential fielddata. GEOPHYSICS 64(2):443–451

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morelli C (1976) Modern standards for gravity surveys. Geophysics 41, p 1051

  • Rabhi et M, Hammami M (1999) Notice explicative de la carte Mejez el Bab. Par Rabhi M (zone a) El Ghali A, Hammami M, El Ouardi H, Ben Ayed N, Turki M M (zone b). Édition du Service Géologique de Tunisie. Office National des Mines

  • Rabhi M, El Ghali A, Hammami M, El Ouardi H, Ben Ayed N, Turki MM (1999) Carte géologique de Mejez el Bab, 1/50.000, N27. Édition du Service Géologique de Tunisie. Office National des Mines

  • Redhaounia B, Aktarakçi H, Ilondo BO, Gabtni H, Khomsi S, Bédir M (2015) Hydro-geophysical interpretation of fractured and karstified limestones reservoirs: a case study from Amdoun region (NW Tunisia) using electrical resistivity tomography, digital elevation model (DEM) and hydro-geochemical approaches. J Afr Earth Sci 112:328–338

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Redhaounia B, Bédir M, Gabtni H, Batobo OI, Dhaoui M, Chabaane A, Khomsi S (2016) Hydro-geophysical characterization for groundwater resources potential of fractured limestone reservoirs in Amdoun Monts (North-western Tunisia). J Appl Geophys 128:150–162

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reid AB, Allsop JM, Granser H, Millett AJ, Somerton IW (1990) Magnetic interpretation in three dimensions using Euler deconvolution. Geophysics 55:80–91

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

ONM is thanked for providing the gravity data. The authors thank Dr. Mohamed Gharbi for the collaboration and valuable help.

Funding

This project was funded by CERTE (Tunisia).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Aymen Nefzi.

Additional information

This article is part of the Topical Collection on Geology of North Africa and Mediterranean Regions

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Nefzi, A., Dhaoui, M., Gabtni, H. et al. Preliminary structural configuration of the Goubellat Upper Cretaceous carbonate aquifers using gravity method (Northwestern Tunisia). Arab J Geosci 11, 256 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-018-3613-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-018-3613-4

Keywords

Navigation