Geological Description and Modeling of Djebel Kerdada in Saharan Atlas–Bou Saada, Algeria

Abstract

This paper presents stratigraphic and structural descriptions of Djebel Kerdada in the studied areas of Bou Saada in Algeria. The choice of Djebel Kerdada is due to its geological complexity that can provide more detailed information about the regional geology of the area located at the northern limit of the African plate. This region belongs, geologically, to the Saharan Atlas, which is limited by flexures caused by slow dislocations, transgression, alternations, and regressions. The marginal basin in western Mediterranean Sea was generated by an N-NW subduction of the African and Adriatic plates under the European plate. The geological structures created by the subduction are near the city of Bou Saada, which is located 234 km South-East of Algiers. Based on the results of field investigation internship, it has been confirmed that, due to the compressive tectonic phenomenon caused by the sliding of the African plate under the Euro-Asian plate, many geological structures have a N-E/ S-W direction. Thus, this field study allowed us to limit the different litho-stratigraphic series that appeared in the form of outcrops, fossils, measurement of dips, and all structural faults. Moreover, a static modeling of the geological structure, namely Djebel Kerdada, was established based on the isopath maps of the region and data obtained from the internship. In addition to the limits of the litho-stratigraphic series, the results demonstrated the paths of the hydro-geodynamic forces toward the river of Bou Saada.