Elaboration of the Hydro-Geophysics GIS Showing the Volubilis Depression and the Prerifains Ridges Structuration (Morocco North Occidental)

Asma Ben Moussa^1,2, Abdelaziz Mridekh¹, Bouabid El Mansouri¹, Ahmed Manar³, Mohamed Chibout⁴

¹Laboratory of Applied Geosciences, Technology Team of Water Resources, Faculty of Science, IbnTofail University, Kenitra, Morocco.
²International Institute of Water and Waste Water, O.N.E.E—Water Sector, Chellah, Morocco.
³Ministry of the Energies, Mines, Water and the Environment, Rabat, Morocco.
⁴Laboratory of Geodynamic, Faculty of Science, Dhar Mehraz University, Fes, Morocco.

DOI: 10.4236/ijg.2015.66050                

Abstract

We present a comparative analysis of electrical and gravity data on the Geographic Information System of the prerifaines ridges. At the Meso-Cenozo?c sequence, the geometry of the prerifaines ridges is fairly well known. However, the post-Miocene series remain to be characterized. In this perspective, we use a database composed of gravity and vertical electrical sounding profiles and geo-electrical sections in order to characterize this structuration. These data are calibrated by many oil and hydrogeological boreholes. Preliminary results lead to better understanding of the organization of its underlying structures in this area. The Gravimetric filtering results show that the area may be dissected by tree major faults striking NW-SE, NE-SW and N-S. All these faults have contributed, since Hercynian to Alpines orogenies, to the structuring of this area, being proved to be the deepest and can reach 4500 m. The comparison of gravity maps, geological and structural maps under Geographic Information System allows the identification of major structural directions and trends of the study area. It confirms some structural elements gathered from outcrops and define new ones. Results from this work show the importance of using various filtering and interpretation techniques in the analysis of gravity data. They also provide news insights into the deep structure of the study area.

Keywords

Prerifaines Ridges, Volubilis, Miocene, Electric, Gravimetric, GIS Hydro-Geophysics

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	Faugères, J.C. (1978) Southern Rifan Ridges. Sedimentological and Structural Evolution of an Atlantico-Mesogean Basin of African Margin. Thesis, University of Bordeaux I, Talence, 480 p. (In French)
[2]	Dauguin, F. (1927) Contribution to the Geological Study of the Prerifaines Region (Morocco Central Part). Note of the Service of Mines and the Geological Map, Morocco 1, p. 413. (In French)
[3]	Vidal, J.C. and Faugères, J.C. (1975) New Interpretation of the Southern Rifian Ridges (Rif, Morocco): Role of Strike-Slip Faults. Report of Scientific Academic, Paris, pp. 281, 1951-1954. (In French)
[4]	Haddaoui, Z. (2000) The Influence of the Jurassic Geometry Basin on the Neogene over Thrust Propagation: Meso-Cenozo?c Geodynamic of Southern Ridges (Morocco). Geometrical and Numerical modeling. PhD. Thesis, University Mohammed V, Rabat, 425 p. (In French)
[5]	Bargach, K. (2011) The Plio-Quaternary Deformations in the Frontal Part of the Thrust Belt of the Rif (Prerifaines Ridges and Sais Basin), an Example of the Tectonics in Expelled Corners. Thesis, Mohammed V University, Rabat, 215 p. (In French)
[6]	Zizi, M. (1996) Triassic-Jurassic Extensional Systems and Their Neogene Activation in Northern Morocco, the Ridges Prerifaines and Guercif Basin. Ph. D. Thesis, Rice University, Houston, 280 p.
[7]	Levy, et al. (1952) Septentrional Morocco (Rif thrust belt). 19ème Congress Geol. Inter. Alger, Part B, Livre-Guide, SCP, Morocco, No. 8 A31, et C31, 65 p. (In French)
[8]	Suter, G. (1965) The Region of Average Ouargha (Rif, Morocco). Preliminary Study on the Stratigraphy and the Tectonics. Notes and Memory of Geologic Service, Morocco, No. 183, 7-11. (In French)
[9]	Morley, C.K. (1986) A Classification of the Thrust Fronts. Bull. A.A.P.G.70, No. 1, 12-25.
[10]	Leblanc (1986) Strike-Slipe Plats in the Rifan Front, a Model for the Deep structure of Prerif (Morocco). Review of the Dynamic, Geologic, Geography and Physical; Paris, 27, 3746. (In French)
[11]	Telford (1990) Applied Geophysics. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 770 p.
[12]	Vanié, L.T.A., et al. (2005) Contribution of the Filterings of the Gravimetrics Anomalies in the Study of the Deep structures of Oriental Morocco. Bulletin of the Scientific Institute, Rabat, Section Sci. Earth, 27, 29-40. (In French)
[13]	Company Cherifienne of Petroleum (1955) Note about the Plan of the Residual Anomaly Map Drafted by Diemer for the Company of Prospecting Geophysics Executed by the African Company of Geophysics. (In French)
[14]	Thompson, D.T. (1982) A New Technique for Making Computer-Assisted Depth Estimates from Magnetic Data, Geophysics. EULDPH, 47, 31-37.
[15]	Hydraulic Basin Agency of Sebou (2001) Report of the Geophysics Study by Electrical Method in the Moulay Driss Zerhoun Region, Unpublished Report. (In French)
[16]	Faugères, J.C. (1978) Southern Rifan Ridges. Sedimentological and Structural Evolution of an Atlantico-Mesogean Basin of African Margin. Thesis, University of Bordeaux I, Talence, 480 p. (In French)
[17]	Dauguin, F. (1927) Contribution to the Geological Study of the Prerifaines Region (Morocco Central Part). Note of the Service of Mines and the Geological Map, Morocco 1, p. 413. (In French)
[18]	Vidal, J.C. and Faugères, J.C. (1975) New Interpretation of the Southern Rifian Ridges (Rif, Morocco): Role of Strike-Slip Faults. Report of Scientific Academic, Paris, pp. 281, 1951-1954. (In French)
[19]	Haddaoui, Z. (2000) The Influence of the Jurassic Geometry Basin on the Neogene over Thrust Propagation: Meso-Cenozo?c Geodynamic of Southern Ridges (Morocco). Geometrical and Numerical modeling. PhD. Thesis, University Mohammed V, Rabat, 425 p. (In French)
[20]	Bargach, K. (2011) The Plio-Quaternary Deformations in the Frontal Part of the Thrust Belt of the Rif (Prerifaines Ridges and Sa?s Basin), an Example of the Tectonics in Expelled Corners. Thesis, Mohammed V University, Rabat, 215 p. (In French)
[21]	Zizi, M. (1996) Triassic-Jurassic Extensional Systems and Their Neogene Activation in Northern Morocco, the Ridges Prerifaines and Guercif Basin. Ph. D. Thesis, Rice University, Houston, 280 p.
[22]	Levy, et al. (1952) Septentrional Morocco (Rif thrust belt). 19ème Congress Geol. Inter. Alger, Part B, Livre-Guide, SCP, Morocco, No. 8 A31, et C31, 65 p. (In French)
[23]	Suter, G. (1965) The Region of Average Ouargha (Rif, Morocco). Preliminary Study on the Stratigraphy and the Tectonics. Notes and Memory of Geologic Service, Morocco, No. 183, 7-11. (In French)
[24]	Morley, C.K. (1986) A Classification of the Thrust Fronts. Bull. A.A.P.G.70, No. 1, 12-25.
[25]	Leblanc (1986) Strike-Slipe Plats in the Rifan Front, a Model for the Deep structure of Prerif (Morocco). Review of the Dynamic, Geologic, Geography and Physical; Paris, 27, 3746. (In French)
[26]	Telford (1990) Applied Geophysics. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 770 p.
[27]	Vanié, L.T.A., et al. (2005) Contribution of the Filterings of the Gravimetrics Anomalies in the Study of the Deep structures of Oriental Morocco. Bulletin of the Scientific Institute, Rabat, Section Sci. Earth, 27, 29-40. (In French)
[28]	Company Cherifienne of Petroleum (1955) Note about the Plan of the Residual Anomaly Map Drafted by Diemer for the Company of Prospecting Geophysics Executed by the African Company of Geophysics. (In French)
[29]	Thompson, D.T. (1982) A New Technique for Making Computer-Assisted Depth Estimates from Magnetic Data, Geophysics. EULDPH, 47, 31-37.
[30]	Hydraulic Basin Agency of Sebou (2001) Report of the Geophysics Study by Electrical Method in the Moulay Driss Zerhoun Region, Unpublished Report. (In French)