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Integrating gravity data for structural investigation of the Youkous-Tebessa and Foussana-Talah transboundary basins (North Africa)

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Abstract

The Algerian–Tunisian border area is affected by active tectonics that have resulted in the creation of significant collapsed basins. Here, we present a case study in which gravity data were used to investigate the subsurface structure of the Hammamet-Tebessa and Foussana-Talah collapsed basins (Tunisia–Algeria). This included the computation of the Bouguer anomaly (BA) and the horizontal and vertical gravity gradients (HGG and VGG), the application of the upward continuation (UC) technique and Euler deconvolution (ED), and lineament interpretation (LI). The reduction density (RD = 2.4 g/cm3) provided information on the variation in underground density, with the BA map showing a strong regional gradient. Deep faults and folding under the sedimentary cover were revealed. A deterministic analysis highlighted a number of structures by combining the calculated HGG and VGG and the UC technique. The results of our study established a structural map of the study area that confirmed the presence of some hidden geological structures previously recognized by earlier models and detected new anomalies and faulting. The resulting map displayed geological structures, tectonic faults, and the sedimentary cover thickness. Statistical treatment of the gravity data provided details on dips, depths, and directions of major basement faults (with E–W, NE–SW, and NW–SE trends observed). Statistical treatment of the gravity data provided details on dips, depths, and directions of major basement faults (with E–W, NE–SW, and NW–SE trends). This unveils different degrees of strain characterizing the Algerian-Tunisian bounding zones

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Acknowledgements

This work was overseen by the International Association of Water Resources in the Southern Mediterranean Basin—Tunisia and the Water and Environment Laboratory, Tebessa University, Algeria. The authors are indebted to the National Office of Geological and Mining Research of Algeria National and the Office of Mines of Tunisia for providing the gravity data used in this study. We are greatly indebted to the editor and reviewers for their valuable improvement of the manuscript. All the authors would like to sincerely thank the numerous people who helped to evaluate this paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Water and Environment Laboratory, University of Tebessa, 12002, Tebessa, Algeria

    Amor Hamad, Djamel Boubaya, Smail Brahmi, Fethi Baali, Radhia Legrioui & Ilhem Abdeslam

  2. Department of Earth Sciences, Institute of Architecture and Earth Sciences, Laboratory of Applied Research in Engineering Geology, Geotechnics, Water Sciences, and Environment, Ferhat Abbas University, 19137, Setif, Algeria

    Riheb Hadji

  3. International Association of Water Resources in the Southern Mediterranean Basin—University of Gafsa, Gafsa, Tunisia

    Amor Hamad, Riheb Hadji, Bassem Hidouri & Younes Hamed

  4. Laboratory for the Application of Materials to the Environment, Water and Energy (LAMEEE), Faculty of Sciences of Gafsa, University of Gafsa, City Campus Sidi Ahmed Zarroug, 2112, Gafsa, Tunisia

    Bassem Hidouri & Younes Hamed

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  1. Amor Hamad
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  2. Riheb Hadji
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Correspondence to Riheb Hadji.

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Hamad, A., Hadji, R., Boubaya, D. et al. Integrating gravity data for structural investigation of the Youkous-Tebessa and Foussana-Talah transboundary basins (North Africa). Euro-Mediterr J Environ Integr 6, 62 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41207-021-00270-7

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