Geology of North Africa and the Mediterranean: Sedimentary Basins and Georesources

Preface
First Thematic: Geodynamic Evolution of the Mediterranean and Peri-Mediterranean Sedimentary Basins and Regional Geology
Second Thematic: Stratigraphy and Sedimentary Record
Third Thematic: Tectonic Evolution, Structural Styles, and Oil/Gas Traps of the North African Foreland Basins
Fourth Thematic: Geology and Water Resources in Northern Africa: Case Studies
Contents
First Thematic: Geodynamic Evolution of the Mediterranean and Peri-Mediterranean Sedimentary Basins and Regional Geology
1 The Mediterranean Sea: A Laboratory to Characterize Micro-Continental Drift and Oceanic Basin Formation Processes
Abstract
1.1 Introduction
1.2 The Geodynamic Problem
1.2.1 Eastern Mediterranean (Levant Margin)
1.2.2 The Western Mediterranean (Alboran-Algerian-Adria Basins)
1.3 Pre-existing Wide-Angle and Reflection Seismic Surveys
1.3.1 Levant Basin
1.3.2 The Western Mediterranean Sea
1.4 Similar Variations on Other Margins: The Proto-Oceanic Crust
1.5 The ARCMAL Survey
1.6 The BasAlg Survey
1.7 Expected Results
References
2 The Westernmost Tethyan Margins in the Rif Belt (Morocco), A Review
Abstract
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Geological Setting
2.2.1 General
2.2.2 External Zones
2.2.3 Maghrebian Flyschs
2.2.4 Internal Zones: The Alboran Domain
2.3 The Southern Margin of the Maghrebian Tethys
2.3.1 Ocean-Continent Transition in the Eastern Rif
2.3.1.1 Beni Malek Serpentinites and Metabasites
2.3.1.2 Correlative Outcrops
2.3.2 Tracking the Southern Tethys Margin in the Central Mesorif
2.3.2.1 The MSZ Gabbros and Their Envelopes
2.3.2.2 The Mesorif Basalt-Limestone Breccias
2.3.2.3 Latest Stages of the Passive Margin Evolution
2.4 The Northern Margin of the Maghrebian Tethys
2.4.1 General
2.4.2 Stratigraphic Record of the Rift-Drift Stages
2.4.3 Maghrebian Tethys Conjugate Margins
2.5 The Beni Bousera Incipient Paleomargin
2.5.1 The Beni Bousera Marbles
2.5.2 Geodynamic Significance of the Beni Bousera Marbles
2.6 Discussion
2.6.1 Paleogeography of the Alboran Domain
2.6.2 Up-Down-Up Movements of the Subcontinental Peridotites
2.7 Conclusion
Acknowledgements
References
Second Thematic: Stratigraphy and Sedimentary Record
3 The Tellian Units, the Sellaoua Window and the High Medjerda Foreland in the Souk Ahras Area, NE Algeria
Abstract
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Geological Setting
3.3 Material and Methods
3.4 Stratigraphic Results
3.4.1 Ouled Driss Sector
3.4.2 Boukebch–Dekma Sector
3.4.3 Interpretation and Correlation of Stratigraphic Results
3.5 Surface Structural Data
3.5.1 Ouled Driss Sector
3.5.2 Boukebch–Dekma Sector
3.5.2.1 Boukebch Nummulitic Tellian Thrust Sheet
3.5.2.2 Dekma Tellian Thrust Sheet
3.6 Discussion
3.7 Conclusion
Acknowledgements
References
4 Facies Analyses and Basin Evolution of the Cretaceous-Tertiary Rift-Related Sedimentary Succession of Haddat Ash Sham Area, West Central Arabian Shield, Saudi Arabia
Abstract
4.1 Introduction
4.1.1 General
4.1.2 Aims and Methods of Study
4.2 Geologic Setting
4.3 Facies Analyses and Basin Evolution of the Sedimentary Succession of Haddat Ash Sham Area
4.3.1 Lower Fluvio-Lacustrine Clastic Member
4.3.1.1 Fluviatil Sandstone-Conglomerate Unit
4.3.1.2 Lacustrine Mudstone-Sandstone Unit
4.3.2 Shallow Marine Middle Oolitic Ironstones-Carbonate Member
4.3.2.1 Oolitic Ironstone Unit (Cycles 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8)
4.3.2.2 Thick Tidal Flat Sandstone Unit (Cycles 9, 10)
4.3.2.3 Phosphatic Carbonate Unit (Cycle 11)
4.3.3 Upper Tidal Flat-Fluvio-Lacustrine Clastic Member
4.3.3.1 Tidal Flat Sandstone Unit (Cycles 12, 13)
4.3.3.2 Lacustrine Sandstone Unit (Cycles 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
4.3.3.3 Lacustrine Mudstone Unite (Cycle 21)
4.3.3.4 Fluviatil Sandstone Unit (Cylce 22)
4.3.3.5 Fluvio-Lacustrine Tuffaceous Sandstone-Mudstone Unit (Cycle 23)
4.4 Depositional History of the Study Area
4.5 Discussion and Conclusions
Acknowledgements
References
Third Thematic: Tectonic Evolution, Structural Styles, and Oil/Gas Traps of the Northern Africa Foreland Basins
5 Petroleum System Evaluation of Upper Cretaceous and Eocene Plays, Offshore and Onshore Southern Pelagian Basin, Tunisia
Abstract
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Petroleum Geology of the Southern Pelagian Basin
5.2.1 Source Rocks
5.2.2 Reservoir Rocks
5.2.3 Seal Rocks
5.3 Data Sets, Methodology and Observations
5.4 Conclusion of Evaluated Plays in the Southern Pelagian Basin
5.4.1 Turonian Play
5.4.2 Turonian to Coniacian Play
5.4.3 Campanian to Maastrichtian Play
5.4.4 Ypresian Play
5.4.5 Lutetian to Bartonian Play
Acknowledgements
References
6 Mesozoic and Cenozoic Tectonosedimentary Evolution and Subsidence History of South-Eastern Tunisia: Jeffara Basin Petroleum Prospectivity and Hydrocarbon Provinces
Abstract
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Lithostratigraphy and Major Unconformities
6.3 Structural Analyses
6.3.1 Available Data
6.3.2 Syn-Sedimentary Deformations Analysis
6.3.2.1 Syn-Sedimentary Deformations During the Jurassic
6.3.2.2 Syn-Sedimentary Deformations During the Lower Cretaceous
6.3.2.3 Syn-Sedimentary Deformations During the Upper Cretaceous
6.3.2.4 Syn-Sedimentary Deformations During the Cenozoic
6.4 Paleo-Stress Summary
6.4.1 Paleozoic-Triassic Extensive Episode
6.4.2 Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous Extensive Episode: Syn-Rift
6.4.3 Aptian-Albian Period
6.4.4 Upper Cretaceous Episode
6.4.5 Paleocene-Eocene Extension
6.4.6 Eocene–Oligocene: Atlasic Event
6.4.7 Oligocene–Miocene Extension
6.4.8 The NNW-SSE Event (After Villafranchian Compression)
6.5 Synthesis and Discussion
6.5.1 Structural System of the Jeffara Basin
6.5.2 Structural Style of the Jeffara Basin
6.5.3 Discussion
6.6 Petroleum Interest
6.6.1 Jeffara Basin: Structural Architecture and Stratigraphic Evolution
6.6.2 Jeffara Basin Petroleum Geology
6.6.3 Exploration History
6.6.4 Evidence of Stratigraphic Traps and Potentiality
6.7 Conclusion
Acknowledgements
References
7 Ordovician–Upper Silurian–Triassic Petroleum System Assessment in the Chotts Area
Abstract
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Geographical, Geological and Structural Settings
7.3 Materials and Methods
7.4 Lithostratigraphic Correlation
7.5 Petrophysical Characterization of Reservoirs in the Study Area
7.6 1D Modelling of the Fegaguira Formation in the Southern Region of the Chotts Basin
7.7 Conclusions
Acknowledgements
References
8 An Overview of the Eastern Atlas Fold and Thrust Belt and Its Foreland Basin Along the North–South Axis and Chorbane–Ktitir Platform: Surface/Subsurface Major Structures and Tectonic Evolution (North Africa)
Abstract
8.1 Geological Framework of the Eastern Maghreb and Tunisian Atlas
8.2 Stratigraphy Overview
8.2.1 Clansayesian–Cenomanian: Fahdene Formation
8.2.2 Turonian–Santonian: Aleg Formation
8.2.3 Campanian–Early Maastrichtian: Abiod Formation
8.2.4 Late Maastrichtian–Paleocene: El Haria Formation
8.2.5 Ypresian (Early Eocene): Metlaoui Formation and Its Equivalents
8.2.6 Middle–Late Eocene: Souar Formation and Its Equivalents
8.3 Structural Framework of the Eastern Atlas and Its Foreland Basins
8.3.1 The North–South Axis (NOSA)
8.3.2 The Sahel Foreland Domain
8.3.3 Pre-Cretaceous Period
8.3.4 The Late Cretaceous–Eocene: Tectonic Inversion and the First Atlas Phase
8.3.5 Post-inversion Phase: Oligocene—Early Miocene Period
8.3.6 Studied Area
8.4 Wells Data and Lithostratigraphic Correlations
8.4.1 Lithostratigraphic Correlation (C1): Kairouan–El Hancha
8.4.2 Lithostratigraphic Correlation (C2): Nasrallah–El Hancha
8.5 Presentation and Interpretations of Representative Seismic Sections
8.5.1 Section L1
8.5.2 Section L2
8.5.3 Section L3
8.5.4 Section L5
8.5.5 Seismic Section L6
8.5.6 Section L9
8.5.7 Section L10
8.5.8 Section L11
8.6 Subsurface Isochrone Maps of the Turonian–Coniacian, the Campanian–Maastrichtian, and the Early Eocene Formations
8.6.1 Isochron Map of the Top of Turonian–Coniacian Horizon: Bireno–Douleb Formations
8.6.2 Isochron Map of the Top of the Abiod Horizon (Campanian–Maastrichtian)
8.6.3 Isochron Map of the Top of Ypresian: Bou Dabbous/El Gueria Horizon
8.7 Discussion: Structural Style and Integration in the Structural Evolution of the Atlas
8.7.1 Major Structural Styles
8.7.2 Balanced and Restored Transects
8.7.3 The Triassic Salt Tectonics Related to the Major Faults Activities
8.8 Conclusion
References
Fourth Thematic: Geology and Water Resources in Northern Africa: Cases Studies
9 Aquifer Structuring and Hydrogeological Investigation in North African Regions Using Geophysical Methods: Case Study of the Aquifer System in the Kairouan Plain (Central Tunisia)
Abstract
9.1 Introduction
9.2 Geographical and Geological Setting
9.3 Hydrogeology Context
9.4 Materials and Methods
9.5 Results and Discussion
9.5.1 Gravity Interpretation
9.5.2 Wireligne Logging Data Analysis and Aquifer Lithology
9.5.2.1 Sidi El Hani Platform
9.5.2.2 Chorbane Platform
9.5.3 Seismic Reflection Profiles Interpretation and Seismic Stratigraphy Study
9.5.3.1 L1 Seismic Reflection Profile
9.5.3.2 L2 Seismic Reflection Profile
9.5.3.3 L3 Seismic Reflection Profile
9.5.3.4 L4 Seismic Reflection Profile
9.5.4 Electric Resistivity Tomography Study
9.5.4.1 ERT Data Acquisition
9.5.4.2 ERT Data Inversion and Interpretation
9.5.5 Hydrodynamics of the Shallow Aquifer in the Kairouan Plain
9.6 Conclusions and Perspectives
References
10 Use of Geochemical Tracers for the Characterization and Quantification of Water Leakage at the Joumine Dam Site, Tunisia
Abstract
10.1 Introduction
10.2 Main Features of the Study Area
10.3 Material and Methods
10.4 Results and Discussion
10.4.1 Water Levels in the Dam Site
10.4.2 Electric Conductivity
10.4.3 Determination of Magnitude of Groundwater Contribution
10.4.4 Temperature
10.4.5 Water Quality
10.4.6 Tracer Injection
10.4.7 Stables Isotopes of Water (2H, 18O)
10.4.8 Carbon 13
10.4.9 Tritium
10.5 Conclusions and Suggestions
Acknowledgements
References
11 Determination of Suspended Sediments Using Nuclear Probe in the Medjerda River, Tunisia
Abstract
11.1 Introduction
11.2 Method
11.2.1 Principle of a Nuclear Gauge
11.2.2 Determination of the Water Depth in the River
11.2.3 Determination of the Flow Rate of the Wadi
11.2.4 Determination of the Concentration of Suspended Elements
11.2.5 Determination of the Solid Flow Gs of the Elements in Suspension
11.2.6 Determination of the Amount of Sediment Crossing the Section of the River
11.3 Results and Discussion
11.4 Conclusion
Acknowledgements
References