Contribution of gravity data and Sentinel-1 image for structural mapping. Case of Beni Mellal Atlas and Beni Moussa plain (Morocco).

Ikram Boutirame,Brahim Aghzzaf,Fatima Boutirame,Ahmed Boukdir,Ahmed Akhssas,Ahmed Manar,A Boukdir,M El Mabrouki

doi:10.1051/e3sconf/20183705002

Abstract

The present work is a combined study of gravity and Sentine-1 data for fracture mapping in the karstic massif of Beni Mellal Atlas and the adjacent plain of Beni Moussa. In order to locate the various faults that contribute to the study area structuring, the gravimetric contacts analysis method, based on the joint use of the horizontal gradient and the upward continuation at different altitudes, has been applied to the gravity data. To optimize the structural mapping in the study area, the gravimetric lineaments obtained were completed and correlated with the lineaments got from Sentinel-1 image. Four faults families of NE-SW; E-O; N-S and NWSE directions have been highlighted. There fault families are perfectly combined with the studied area’s surface water network, moreover, they corroborate with the previous geological and structural studies.

Highlights

The northern border of Beni Mellal Atlas is a complex zone where two different geological domains cross via thrusts with various compositions [1]: Beni Mellal Atlas and Tadla plain
This junction zone has been an abject of numerous geological studies [2, 3, 4, 5, 6] which remain incomplete to this date, especially in structural mapping; because of the rugged landform that dominates this zone as well as a thick vegetal cover boosted by a semi arid climate
The study area belongs to the superior basin of Oum Er’Rbia, it covers a surface of 2850 km2, its width includes the zone between El Ksiba et ait attab and crosses dozen of kilometers of Beni Mellal atlas mountains in south-east and Beni Moussa plain in north west

Summary

Introduction

The northern border of Beni Mellal Atlas is a complex zone where two different geological domains cross via thrusts with various compositions [1]: Beni Mellal Atlas and Tadla plain This junction zone has been an abject of numerous geological studies [2, 3, 4, 5, 6] which remain incomplete to this date, especially in structural mapping; because of the rugged landform that dominates this zone as well as a thick vegetal cover boosted by a semi arid climate. The study area belongs to the superior basin of Oum Er’Rbia, it covers a surface of 2850 km, its width includes the zone between El Ksiba et ait attab and crosses dozen of kilometers of Beni Mellal atlas mountains in south-east and Beni Moussa plain in north west (left edge of Tadla plain) It covers two different geological domains (Fig.1):

Methods

Results

Conclusion