The active faults of the Mitidja basin (North Central Algeria): what does the seismic history of the region tell us? A review

Abstract

The Africa–Eurasia plate boundary runs along Northern Algeria, which is thus an active seismic zone. However, surface ruptures from large earthquakes are rarely observed, which makes it difficult to define the characteristic parameters of any active fault. In this paper, we combine the results obtained in recent investigations of historical and instrumental seismicity with field observations and available geological maps and measurements of neotectonic ruptures to help comprehend the complexity of the active deformation of the Mitidja basin (MB). Our analyses reveal the tectonic characteristics of the Mitidja basin and indicate that the seismic activity is essentially concentrated along the system of the boundary faults. The general structural shape of the seismogenic Mitidja basin suggests that the southern fault system (Blida faults) would mimic the northern fault system (Sahel fault), and we observe a highest seismicity rate at the junction point of the NW–SE fault and the south thrust fault system.