Geologic Map Research Articles

Southeastern extension of Singhbhum Shear Zone, Eastern Indian Shield: A detailed appraisal

Trans-crustal, northerly dipping, arcuate Singhbhum Shear Zone (SSZ) constituting the interface of Proterozoic North Singhbhum Mobile Belt (NSMB) and Singhbhum Craton (SC) is established over a strike length of about ∼200 km from Baharagorato Chakradharpur in the west beyond which it bifurcates around the wedge shaped Chakradharpur granite. Based on geological mapping and meso to micro scale structural analysis, present work examines the SSZ’s southeastern extension beyond Baharagora, indicating its southward continuation for about 50 km to Dubukidihi within the NSMB lithopackage. Bangriposi Shear Zone (BSZ) which defines the terrane boundary between the SC and NSMB in this sector, splays towards north as Bangriposi West Shear Zone (BWSZ) and both transects the Dhanjori Basin longitudinally. BSZ and BWSZ are interpreted to be cogenetic with SSZ. NSMB in this area comprises of pelitic and psamopelitic rocks intruded by mafic–ultramafic magmatism and granitoids. Considering a north to south compression regime during accretion of NSMB with SC, the study area, which forms the interface between the craton and mobile belt, is at an acute to obtuse angle with the direction of overall stress field. It is marked by several high strain zones characterized by N-S shear band cleavages with moderate easterly dips, and northerly pitching stretching/mineral lineation. Consistent westerly vergent folds on mylonitic plane and orientation of stretching lineation indicates top to WSW movement in the shear zones. Tectonically interleaved mafic–ultramafic schist within the Romapahari granite are sites of copper mineralization with enhanced nickel concentration pointing towards future exploration sites for epigenetic copper, uranium mineralization which is so characteristic of SSZ.

Orientale Basin as a Guide for Identifying Lunar Basin Datable Impact Melt and Assessing Impact Melt Differentiation

Abstract Two fundamental questions face lunar scientists: (1) What is the absolute age of each lunar impact basin and thus the early impact flux curve? (2) To what degree did basin impact melt seas undergo differentiation? We compiled a 1:200,000-scale geological map of the lunar Orientale basin, focusing on identifying the most widespread and accessible occurrences of impact melt deposits from the basin-forming impact to help guide sample-return missions to Orientale and especially to other undated lunar basins using the identification and interpretation strategies for Orientale. We assess the size of craters excavating through basalt cap rock that may have exhumed datable basin impact melt, and we assess the possibility of impact melt sampling and melt differentiation for the large complex crater Maunder. We also provide guidance for distinguishing impact melt produced by larger complex craters from excavated basin melt and determining whether such craters may have also sampled through the entire melt deposit. Our analysis finds six such sites that are predicted to have the same age—that of the Orientale-forming event—and provides guidance for assessing possible melt differentiation. Future missions could collect samples from these sites for in situ age dating and petrologic assessment and/or for return to Earth and subsequent age dating and analysis. By sampling and dating impact melt of known provenance from the Moon’s dozens of large basins, future work can anchor the chronostratigraphy of the Moon’s formative years. Such information could be scaled to infer Earth’s large impactor flux around the time of life’s first emergence.

GEOLOGICAL FEATURES AND HYDROCARBON POTENTIAL OF THE SOUTHEASTERN YEVLAKH-AGJABEDI DEPRESSION: A STRATIGRAPHIC AND STRUCTURAL OVERVIEW

The Southeastern part of Yevlakh-Agjabedi depression, situated within the Lesser Transcaucasian monocline, exhibits intricate geological structures and diverse sedimentary sequences crucial for hydrocarbon exploration. This study utilizes extensive geological mapping, stratigraphic profiling, and seismic exploration to delineate the basin’s structural elements and sedimentary formations. Key findings include the presence of Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous volcanogenic terrigenous and Upper Cretaceous volcanogenic carbonate rocks, which exhibit significant variations in thickness and distribution across the basin. The stratigraphic analysis reveals substantial Mesozoic sedimentary sequences that have undergone complex tectonic evolution, with notable implications for hydrocarbon potential. The Upper Cretaceous sediments, in particular, show promising conditions for hydrocarbon accumulation, with favorable paleostructural and lithostratigraphic traps identified. This comprehensive investigation enhances regional geological understanding and provides critical insights into the hydrocarbon exploration prospects within the South Caucasus region.

Enhancement of the geological mapping in weathered crystalline and metamorphic rocks areas using village water supply wells data (lithology and hydrochemistry)

Enhancement of the geological mapping in weathered crystalline and metamorphic rocks areas using village water supply wells data (lithology and hydrochemistry)

Translating mineral systems criteria into a prospectivity model for IOCG deposits in the Kolari region, Finland

The mineral system approach facilitates mapping the fingerprints of geological processes in ore formation using mineral prospectivity modeling (MPM). It aims to reduce the time and cost of exploration as a priority in the mineral exploration industry. Finland, which is covered with thick soil, dense vegetation, and snow in winter and thus has limited outcrops, serves as a suitable testing ground for this method. In this contribution, MPM was employed to predict favorable targets for Fe-Cu-Au (IOCG) deposits in the Kolari region, northwestern Finland. The mineral system components ore metal and sulfur sources, pathways, energy sources/drivers, traps, and the geological factors influencing the ore-forming processes were translated into mappable criteria and were considered for a regional-scale analysis. Knowledge-driven, fuzzy logic overlay, fuzzy inference system, and geometric average methods integrate evidential layers derived from geological (scale-free geology map), geochemical (till and bedrock sample geochemistry), and geophysical data (magnetic, radiometric, electromagnetic measurements, and gravity worms). Subsequently, the data were modeled using a combined conceptual/empirical approach, i.e. fuzzified evidential layers and logistic regression. In the prospectivity models, existing IOCG deposits are consistently placed within high-favorability areas. In addition, new exploration targets were identified. The models were validated against known IOCG deposits using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis and average Area Under the Curve (AUC) with values of final prospectivity models consistently reaching scores > 0.8. This indicates a favorable outcome of the application of MPM, making the approach applicable to other regions and ore deposit types. A majority voting ensemble technique was employed to combine the favorable areas of each prospectivity model. Then a confidence index was adopted reducing uncertainty linked to the models generated. These outputs consistently facilitated the identification of exploration targets more reliably.

Geoheritage of the Sila National Park and surrounding areas (Northern Calabria, Italy)

ABSTRACT This paper introduces a geological map of the Sila mountain block (Northern Calabria, Italy), realized as a tool to promote knowledge of this geological landscape uniqueness and to develop effective geoheritage management and enhancement strategies, also from a geotouristic and geoeducational perspective. The Sila block is defined as a plateau whose morphology is deeply connected to its lithological characteristics and tectonic evolution that combined with exogenous processes over time has conditioned the landscape. The 1:60,000 scale map provides an overall scheme of the main geological units and tectonic elements constituting the study area, as a synthesis of thematic cartography existing in the literature coupled to targeted investigations and field surveys. It also displays the main geosites and geosite systems, identified with the purpose of communicating geoheritage processes/products, which favour an understanding of the surrounding environment, and for tourist purposes.

Large impact features on Ganymede and Callisto as revealed by geological mapping and morphometry

The icy Galilean satellites are host to a broad range of impact feature morphologies. Hypotheses seeking to explain the diversity of these impact features consider the effects of impact melt, the physical state of the subsurface at the time of impact, and the impactor characteristics. As part of a larger effort to assess the role of these factors in the formation and evolution of these impact features, we have performed topographic and geological mapping of 19 large impact features on Ganymede and Callisto. These are divided into two main morphological groups: craters (subdivided into pit, dome, and anomalous dome craters), and penepalimpsests/palimpsests. The transitions from pit, dome, to anomalous dome craters appear to be size-dependent up to diameters of ∼170 km. The morphologies of pit and dome craters appear to be independent of their age or geologic context. The impacts that formed them only affected a cold, rigid ice layer, with the development of pits and raised annuli on their floors possibly stemming from the evolution of a pocket of impact melt. The subdued rims and floors of anomalous dome craters indicate the increasing effect of a weak, warm ice layer on impact feature morphology with increasing size, but their prominent annuli and pits indicate that mobilization of impact melt is also a factor. The very low topographic relief of older penepalimpsests and palimpsests indicates that their impacts penetrated the ice shell to mobilize very large volumes of pre-existing liquid from a subsurface layer, with little contribution to the final feature morphology from impact melt. Penepalimpsests are distinguished from palimpsests by the higher frequency of concentric ridges within their interiors, indicating a generally more robust state of the subsurface that could better support the rotation and uplift of solid material during impact, even if a crater-like depression could not be supported. A few impact features seem to be transitional between anomalous dome craters and penepalimpsests, and the overlap of anomalous dome craters, penepalimpsests, and palimpsests in terms of diameter as well as age indicates that impactor size and subsurface properties over time are major factors in determining which of these morphologies emerges.

Geology of the Toundoute Region (South Morocco): a window on the Early Jurassic-Cretaceous tectono-sedimentary evolution of the Central High Atlas

ABSTRACT A new geological map representing the southern leading edge of Central High Atlas (Toundoute, South Morocco) updates the stratigraphic architecture of a Lower Jurassic-Cretaceous succession including marine carbonates and terrestrial clastics. Integrated facies and structural analyses outline a marked syn-tectonic control on depositional patterns since the Early Jurassic, as documented by geological maps of adjacent sectors of the Central High Atlas southern flank recently published on Journal of Maps. This incipient diffuse crustal uplift and denudation attests to a pre-collisional stage in the development of the Central High Atlas mountains.

Rmacrostrat : An R package for accessing and retrieving data from the Macrostrat geological database

The geological record is a vast archive of information that provides the only empirical data about the evolution of the Earth. In recent years, concentrated efforts have been made to compile macrostratigraphic data into the online centralized database Macrostrat. Macrostrat is a global stratigraphic database containing information regarding surface and subsurface rock units and their respective ages, lithologies, geographic extents, and various other associated metadata. However, these raw data are currently directly accessible only through the Macrostrat application programming interface, which is a barrier to potential users that are less familiar with such services. This data accessibility hurdle currently prevents full capitalization of the value offered by Macrostrat, particularly its potential to improve understanding of the geological and biological evolution of the Earth. Here, we introduce rmacrostrat, an R package that interfaces with the Macrostrat database to access and retrieve a variety of geological, paleontological, and economic data directly into the R programming environment. In this article, we provide details about how the package can be installed, its implementation, and potential use cases. For the latter, we showcase how rmacrostrat can be used to visualize regional stratigraphic columns, produce regional geologic outcrop maps, and investigate temporal trends in macrostratigraphic units. We hope that this package will make geological data more readily accessible and in turn will facilitate new research utilizing Earth system data.

Lithological and Structural Mapping of Basement Rock Units in the Ikara North-Central Basement Complex, Nigeria

Study’s Excerpt The lithological and structural composition of the Ikara North-Central Basement Complex in Nigeria is investigated. Detailed field and petrographic analyses were carried out to identify the rock types of the area. The geological map of the area is updated. Full Abstract The lithological and structural architecture to unravel the compositions and tectonic evolution of the Nigerian Basement Complex has not been fully documented by geoscientists. As such, this research aimed to investigate the lithological and structural characteristics of the Ikara North-Central Basement Complex. Detailed petrographic and field analysis reveals the prevalence of gneiss and granite lithologies characterized by significant structural features such as fractures, folds, and foliations. These findings offer new understandings of the tectonic evolution of the region. The study area mapped is the Ikara Sheet 103 Federal Survey Topographic Sheet to a scale of 1:100,000. The major lithological units underlying the study area are gneisses and granites. However, these major rock types have varieties, namely migmatitic gneiss, granite gneiss, migmatitic (augen) gneiss, porphyroblastic gneiss, medium to coarse-grained granites, and porphyritic granites. These rock types were intruded by quartzites, pegmatitic dykes, quartz, and aplite veins. Rock samples were observed and studied based on their mineralogical composition, color, and texture. The results of the petrographic analysis showed that the rocks are mainly composed of quartz, plagioclase feldspars, alkali feldspars, mica (biotite and muscovite), hornblende, garnet, and accessory minerals like zircon and magnetite. Geological structures were also observed during the field study, namely fractures (joints and fractures), foliations, lineations, veins, dykes, and various landforms. Photomicrographs from thin section analyses revealed micro-structures like myrmekites, micro-folds, and micro-fractures were also observed. Mineralization such as amethyst and cassiterite were hosted by quartz veins and pegmatites in porphyritic granites, respectively. A litho-structural map was produced, exhibiting the lithological units and regional structures cross-cutting the area of research.

Structural geological surveys and improvement of tectonic understating of the Pre-Ordovician/Tertiary Graben boundary in vicinity of Nicolaus Copernicus Polar Station, Svalbard

Researchers around the globe are on a quest to develop solutions to mitigate and prevent global warming and climate change. This includes facilitating the switch to renewable energies. Assistant Professor Slawomir Jack Giletycz, Director of the Polar Research Station in Svalbard and part of the Structural Geomorphology Research Group, Department of Earth Sciences at National Central University in Taiwan, is interested in glacial retreat in Svalbard, Norway. As the Earth warms, glaciers are melting and land that was previously buried by glaciers is being exposed. By studying this land, researchers can glean new insights. For example, Giletycz and his collaborators are performing geological mapping of areas that have been recently exposed to subaerial conditions due to the glacial retreat. They are working to develop new geological maps and interpret tectonic and structural settings. The researchers are also investigating fluvial system development and surveying particular glaciers. They are using unmanned aerial vehicles to capture aerial images of entire glacier river systems and can use the images to build a digital surface model that can be used in applications such as QGiS or ArcGiS. In the long tem, they can monitor the development of glacier fluvial systems such as sediment discharge. Another focus for the researchers is conducting plaeocoast surveys of the Kaffiøyra plain in western Svalbard. Excitingly, the researchers are the first humans to study Svalbard in this way and, through this work, they will make significant contributions to geological mapping and underpin geology, tectonics and structures.

A conceptual and numerical model of fluid flow and heat transport in the Topusko hydrothermal system

Comprehensive understanding of hydrothermal systems is often obtained through the integration of conceptual and numerical modelling. This integrated approach provides a structured framework for the reconstruction and quantification of fluid dynamics in the reservoir, thereby facilitating informed decision-making for sustainable utilisation and environmental protection of the hydrothermal system. In this study, an updated conceptual model of the Topusko hydrothermal system (THS; central Croatia) is proposed based on structural, geochemical, and hydrogeological analyses. The stratigraphic sequence and the structural framework of the THS were defined based on geological maps and field investigations. As depicted by hydrochemical and isotope analyses, thermal waters in Topusko (temperatures of up to 65 °C) are of meteoric origin and circulate in a carbonate aquifer. The THS receives diffuse recharge approximately 13 km S from Topusko, where Triassic carbonates crop out. Gravity-driven regional groundwater circulation is favoured by regional thrusts that tectonically uplifted Palaeozoic low permeable rocks. These structures confine the fluid flow in the permeable, fractured and karstified, Triassic carbonates favouring the northward circulation of the water. A regional anticline lifts the aquifer closer to the surface in Topusko. Open fractures in the anticline hinge zone increase the fracturing and permeability field of the aquifer promoting the quick upwelling of the thermal water resulting in the Topusko thermal springs. Numerical simulations of fluid flow and heat transport corroborate the proposed conceptual model. In particular, a thermal anomaly was modelled in the Topusko subsurface with temperature values of 31.3 °C and 59.5 °C at the surface and at the base of the thermal aquifer, respectively, approaching the field observations. These findings showed that the circulation of Topusko thermal water is influenced by regional and local geological structures suggesting that the enhanced permeability field in the discharge area enables the formation of the natural thermal springs.

The geometry of fault reactivation and uplift along the central part of the Maacama Fault Zone, Northern California Coast Ranges (USA)

Fault reactivation of bedrock structures in active fault zones influences stress state and earthquake rupture phenomena through the introduction of weak slip surfaces that impact fault zone geometry and width. Yet, geometric relationships between modern faults and older reactivated faults are difficult to quantify in rocks that have experienced multiple deformation episodes. We used new geologic mapping, geomorphic tools, and structural modeling to quantify rock uplift and subsurface fault geometry of the central part of the Maacama Fault Zone near Ukiah, California, USA, and the surrounding area. Results suggest that the northern Mayacamas Mountains are in a tectonically driven disequilibrium, with differential rock uplift focused on the western side of the range. Steeply east-dipping fault surfaces and splays characterize the geometry of the Maacama Fault Zone. We mapped two newly identified faults to the east of the main Maacama Fault, the Cow Mountain–Mill Creek Fault, and Willow Creek Fault, which align with a moderately east-dipping cluster of microseismicity between 4–10 km depth beneath the Mayacamas Mountains. Static stress modeling on the Maacama Fault Zone and newly identified faults to the east quantify slip tendency values of 0.5–0.4, which suggests that the faults are moderately to poorly suited for slip in the modern stress field and may be weak. We infer that modern uplift is driven by oblique reverse, up-to-the-east, dip-slip motion on the reactivated Cenozoic Cow Mountain–Mill Creek and Willow Creek Faults as material is advected through a restraining bend on the Maacama Fault. This study shows that reactivated bedrock faults increase the fault zone width and introduce fault surfaces that contribute a component of vertical deformation and uplift in major strike-slip fault zones. Deformation is accommodated on an interconnected network of new and reactivated faults that delineate a complex seismic hazard.

Timing and evolution of structures within the southeastern Greater Caucasus and Kura Fold-Thrust Belt from multiproxy sediment provenance records

The Greater Caucasus (GC) mountains are the locus of post-Pliocene shortening within the northcentral Arabia-Eurasia collision. Although recent low-temperature thermochronology constrains the timing of orogen formation, the evolution of major structures remains enigmatic—particularly regarding the internal kinematics within this young orogen and the associated Kura Fold-Thrust Belt (KFTB), which flanks its southeastern margin. Here we use a multiproxy provenance analysis to investigate the tectonic history of both the southeastern GC and KFTB by presenting new data from a suite of sandstone samples from the KFTB, including sandstone petrography, whole-rock geochemistry, and detrital zircon (DZ) U-Pb geochronology. To define source terranes for these sediments, we integrate additional new whole-rock geochemical analyses with published DZ results and geological mapping. Our analysis reveals an apparent discrepancy in up-section changes in provenance from the different methods. Sandstone petrography and geochemistry both indicate a systematic up-section evolution from a volcanic and/or volcaniclastic source, presently exposed as a thin strip along the southeastern GC, to what appears similar to an interior GC source. Contrastingly, DZ geochronology suggests less up-section change. We interpret this apparent discrepancy to reflect the onset of sediment recycling within the KFTB, with the exhumation, weathering, and erosion of early thrust sheets in the KFTB resulting in the selective weathering of unstable mineral species that define the volcaniclastic source but left DZ signatures unmodified. Using the timing of sediment recycling and changes in grain size together as proxies for structural initiation of the central KFTB implies that the thrust belt initiated nearly synchronously along strike at ~2.0–2.2 Ma.

A novel method for evaluating shale gas preservation conditions in an area on a regional scale

The Youjiang Basin is the main area of the Middle Devonian shale gas resources in southern China, with complex geological conditions, diverse stratigraphic structures, low level of exploration and limited hydrocarbon geological data. In this study, a method is proposed for evaluating the regional shale gas preservation conditions, by which it is easy to obtain information (using available data from regional geological maps) and to process data (processed by computer software). This method was applied to the evaluation of the preservation conditions of the Middle Devonian shale gas in the Youjiang Basin. Information extracted from geologic maps includes exposed stratum, magmatic rock distribution, stratigraphic occurrence and surface fracture distribution. Evaluation criteria for three indexes (stratigraphy index, dip angle index and fracture index) were established to classify the preservation conditions into five types from good to bad. Based on the calculated values of comprehensive index (CI), the comprehensive evaluation each area: 11621.23 km2 for CI of 0.7–1.0, 37162.67 km2 for CI of 0.5–0.7, 57784.43 km2 for CI of 0.3–0.5, 69303.77 km2 for CI of 0.1–0.3, and 69303.77 km2 for CI of 0.0–0.1, accounting for 3.19%, 10.19%, 15.84%, 18.99% and 51.80% of the whole area, respectively. These results are highly consistent with the actual exploration discoveries, showing that in the northern and central parts of the Guizhong Basin, the southern part of the Xidamingshan Uplift, and the northern part of the Qiannan Basin, there are large areas with good shale gas preservation conditions.

The Cibarco anticline of the northernmost San Jacinto fold belt: Possible influence of mud diapirism on the Neogene to the recent evolution of the structure where the first oil and gas wells were drilled in Colombia

The Cibarco anticline, located in the northwestern South American convergent margin, is a long (approximately 40 km) and narrow (2.5 km wide), south-southwest–north-northeast-trending structure that separates two much wider depocenters, the Tubará-Juan de Acosta depocenter (approximately 20 km wide) to the west, and the Sabanalarga syncline (approximately 11 km wide) to the east. Detailed geologic surface mapping and subsurface seismic interpretation suggest that the formation and evolution of the Cibarco anticline have been strongly influenced by mud diapirism, which has been focused along a west-southwest–east-northeast-trending, inverted pre-Oligocene extensional fault. Seismic interpretation and outcrop analyses also confirmed that the source of mobile shales is the Upper Oligocene marlstones of the Lower Ciénaga de Oro Formation. We suggest that the main mechanism that caused the overpressures that triggered and controlled shale mobilization was disequilibrium compaction related to the sedimentary loading of impermeable seals and the shortening and inversion of pre-Oligocene extensional faults. Growth strata indicate that the Upper Oligocene mud started moving in Early Miocene times during the deposition of the thick Porquero mudstones, and it stopped migrating in Latest Miocene times. After an uplift and erosion event, mud diapirism remained inactive in the Early Miocene, and it was then reactivated in Late Pliocene times. Slight mud migration focused on the inverted fault continued throughout the Pleistocene and to the present. Today, the slight mud migration to the surface is observed in volcanoes located in the northern strand of the Cibarco anticline, although the rest of the anticline has become welded. Our new interpretations, carried out more than a century after the first hydrocarbon exploration activities began in Colombia, will hopefully allow us to increase our understanding of shale tectonics, petroleum systems, and plays in this portion of the convergent margin.

The geology of the Aracruz pluton (Espírito Santo, Brazil), a Cambrian post-orogenic intrusion in the aftermath of Gondwana amalgamation

ABSTRACT We present the first geological map of the Aracruz pluton (Espírito Santo, Brazil), which belongs to the late Cambrian post-orogenic suite that intruded the Nova Venécia metapelites and Ediacaran syn-orogenic S-type granites of the Araçuaí belt. Our mapping coupled with airbone magnetic and radiometric observations reveals that the pluton is not regularly zoned. It is composed of porphyric alkali feldspar granites, into which charnockite and quartz-diorite bands intruded as several pulses while the granites were a deforming crystal mush, and an undeformed central norite emplaced when most movement of the host magma had ceased. Steep-dipping concentric magmatic foliation, magmatic foliation parallel to tectonic foliation in the country rock, the noritic core, and the irregular charnockite and quartz-diorite band alignment suggest buoyancy-driven diapirism as emplacement mechanism. The Aracruz pluton is a superb example of mantle-derived post-orogenic intrusion attesting for the production of continental crust during the final stages of a Wylson cycle.

Descriptive models for lunar High-Ti deposits

High-Ti deposits on the Moon may emerge as a key resource for oxygen extraction. Descriptive models are the first qualitative step toward quantitative assessments of natural resources. Such models provide a structured framework for understanding the formation processes and spatial distribution of discrete types of resource deposits. In this study, we provide the first lunar descriptive models, characterizing high-Ti lunar deposits, drawing parallels with established models used in assessing mineral deposits on Earth.Our methodology involves utilizing remote sensing datasets and geological maps to identify and describe high-Ti deposits. This is supplemented by data extrapolated from Apollo missions. However, there remain critical knowledge gaps, particularly regarding petrography, subsurface information, surface characteristics, and physical properties of high-Ti deposits, which necessitate further exploration and analysis.

Three‐dimensional static reservoir modelling of Kareem sandstone reservoir, Tawilla Oil Field, at the southern region of Gulf of Suez, Egypt

The Gulf of Suez, which contains Egypt's oldest oil fields, is one of North Africa's most well‐known oil regions. There are more than 80 conventional oil fields in Egypt's Gulf of Suez, some of which have reservoirs that stretch back to the Precambrian and Quaternary. In close proximity to the southern entrance of the Gulf of Suez is the Tawilla West oilfield. The oil field Tawilla West is believed to consist of rotating fault blocks that descend in a south‐west direction. The main producing reservoirs are the Miocene section reservoirs, the Belayim and Kareem sandstones. The current research is focusing on the structural elements affecting this giant field to update the field structural model using the newly processed 3D seismic survey, the acquired data from newly drilled wells and the associated different logging techniques. The seismic information quality varied from poor to fair. The quality of the interpreted stratigraphic horizons and geological faults was mainly controlled by the seismic information quality. The research used seismic attribute analyses to improve interpretation and incorporate additional features, enabling better hydrocarbon potential identification and characterization of the reservoirs. Several geological structure contour maps and cross‐sections were generated to help in delineating and understanding the reservoir's extension. Based on the detailed correlation study, we were able to detect the faults that affected the structure of the Tawilla West field in detail, define their throw amounts and directions, and identify the missed sections across the studied area. This study introduces an updated model scenario to show the differences and their effect on the field development plan and recommendations. By examining subsurface geologic structural characteristics and evaluating petrophysical data, a 3D static reservoir model was created to resolve structural settings and hydrocarbon trapping, providing detailed information on the field and identifying new opportunities for future development. The research discovered that the updated detailed 3D structural model may support the Kareem Reservoir development plans and encourage drilling, workover and dynamic operations to assign development possibilities in the correct area. According to the established model, there are at least three options in the study's attic areas that might boost oil output and oil reserves for the field while avoiding further failures.

Hermeneutic Cartography for the Restitution of a Lost Antique Seaport

This article deals with the reconstruction of an ancient seaport in the town of Bejaia, known as Muslubium Horrea. This settlement, ignored by the official historiography, would nevertheless have played an important role in wheat exports and trade with the Roman port of Ostia. Moreover, of all the ancient ports known to date, the Algerian coast has only two port warehouses, and Muslubium Horrea is the only granary belonging to the Roman province of Mauretania Sitifensis (400AD). The methodology adopted to locate and reconstruct the topography and the settlement’s structures is based on the concept of cartographic hermeneutics. The compilation of existing historical accounts and the interpretation derived from the superimposition of ancient geographical maps and 19th century archaeological and geological maps identified all the natural resources necessary for its construction, in particular the abundance of water sources and deposits of geomaterials for construction (clay, stone, gypse, marble, etc.). These data were confirmed by field and photogrammetric surveys, resulting in a map showing the archaeological context of the Muslubium Horrea port and the remains of structures still visible today. The approach adopted allowed to delineate the size of the port site and scale the structures that make it up, as well as identify the water supply source and its primitive topography prior to its establishment.