The Neogene-Quaternary Mitidja Basin (North central Algeria): magnetotelluric investigation and structural implication

Naïla Kerbadj^1,2, Abderrezak Bouzid³ & Said Maouche^4
1Centre de Recherche en Astronomie, Astrophysique et Géophysique (CRAAG), 16340, BP 63, route de l’Observatoire Bouzaréah, Algiers, Algeria.
²Université des Sciences et de la Technologie Houari Boumediene (USTHB), BP 32, El Alia Bab-Ezzouar, 16111, Algiers, Algeria.
³Centre de Recherche en Astronomie, Astrophysique et Géophysique (CRAAG), 16340, BP 63, route de l’Observatoire Bouzaréah, Algiers, Algeria.
⁴Centre de Recherche en Astronomie, Astrophysique et Géophysique (CRAAG), 16340, BP 63, route de l’Observatoire Bouzaréah, Algiers, Algeria.
Corresponding author e-mail: nailaker@gmail.com

Several studies have demonstrated the active compressive regime in the Neogene-Quaternary Mitidja Basin (north Algeria), as documented by thrust focal mechanisms, geological and geomorphological evidence. Due to the lack of in-depth geophysical data, the knowledge of the crustal structures and architecture of the Mitidja Basin is still limited. The aim of this study is to highlight the underlying geoelectric structures beneath the Mitidja Basin and to contribute to a better understanding of the tectonic activity in the region. In this work, a magnetotelluric survey was carried out through ten measurement stations distributed along an eleven km-long, NNE-SSW trending profile, to derive an electrical resistivity model. The inversion of the magnetotelluric data combined with geological, geomorphologial and gravimetric information allowed to characterise the tectonic architecture of the Mitidja Basin. The results also highlighted the presence of several faults, the most important of which is the blind fault of the Sahel anticline.

Magnetotellurics, 2D MT inversion, Active faults, Mitidja Basin, Algeria.