La tectonique active de la région nord-algérienne

Abstract

Active tectonics in Algeria is located in the northern part of the country, mainly in the Tell system. In this region, located at the Africa–Eurasia boundary, the tectonic activity expresses the convergence between the two main plates. This leads to the closure of the Neogene sedimentary basins and the ongoing Tell building. Offshore, present deformation affects the abyssal plain located close to the continent, by folding of the Plio-Quaternary sediments cover. Along the slope and the continental platform, active structures with a continental extension crosscut this region. The coastal tectonics generates the coastal uplift as it was shown during the last Boumerdes earthquake of 21 May 2003, where an average uplift of 0.50 m was measured. Onshore, the earthquakes occur along the boundaries of the Neogene sedimentary basins that are located along the coast. These basins underwent compressional deformations giving anticlines, reverse faults or thrust faults oriented NE–SW to NW–SE. These later active structures generated the most important earthquakes. In the High Plateau and the Saharan Atlas, a weak seismic activity is recorded. To cite this article: A. Yelles-Chaouche et al., C. R. Geoscience 338 (2006).