Contribution of Gravity Data for Structural Characterization of the Ifni Inlier, Western Anti-Atlas, Morocco: Hydrogeological Implications

Abstract

The Sidi Ifni region in southwest Morocco is mainly composed of crystalline rocks with limited groundwater storage capacity. These water resources drain in particular fault zones with high fracture permeability. The main objective of this study is to describe the geological structure of the region to optimize future drilling locations. The gravity data were processed using various techniques, such as total horizontal gradient, tilt derivative, and Euler deconvolution, in conjunction with the interpretation of the geological data, to create a new structural map. This map confirms the presence of many previously identified or inferred faults and identifies significant new faults with their respective trends and depths. Analysis of this map shows that major faults are oriented NNE-SSW and NE-SW, while minor faults are oriented E-W, NW-SE, and NNW-SSE. The superposition of the hydrogeological data and the structural map reveals that the high groundwater flow values in the boreholes are located in the vicinity of the major faults and talwegs. The structures deduced from the filtering and interpretation of the gravity data suggest that the hydrogeological system of the Ifni Inlier is controlled by its structures. To confirm this impact, a high-resolution electrical resistivity map (7200 Hz) was used, with penetration depths ranging from 84 to 187 m. Negative boreholes, located in high resistivity ranges corresponding to sound basement formations without fault crossings, showed high resistivity values. The positive holes, located in anomalies with low linear resistivity, revealed the impact of fault crossings, which drain water and tend to decrease the resistivity values of the formations. Therefore, these new structural maps will assist in planning future hydrogeological studies in this area.

Petrographic and geochemical study of Precambrian and Paleozoic rocks in the western Anti-Atlas belt, Morocco: Facies, weathering, provenance and economic exploitation

“…The plateau corresponds to a large synclinorium of Cambrian carbonate rocks showing an anticlinal structure in its core. In the central part of the plateau, gravity and magnetic data suggest the presence of an uplifted basement block beneath the deformed limestone massif [ 21 , 58 ]. This structure is interpreted as a horst produced by Late Proterozoic extension and then reversed during Variscan compression [ 34 , 58 ].…”

“…The rocks exposed in the Ifni inlier and Lakhssas Plateau of the Anti-Atlas region exhibit Paleoproterozoic to Paleozoic age characteristics and are predominantly comprised of clastic materials interbedded with carbonates e.g., Refs. [ [18] , [19] , [20] , [21] ]. Lower Paleozoic formations, primarily consisting of sandstones, overlay Precambrian basement rocks unconformably, with varying thicknesses owing to the irregular surfaces over which deposition occurred [ 22 ].…”

Application of enhanced methods of gravity data analysis for mapping the subsurface structure of the bahira basin in Morocco

“…These geothermal anomalies are identified beneath the historical eruption, fissure eruption and north of the swarm area. Ikirri et al (2023) used gravity measurements to characterize Morocco's Western Anti-Atlas Ifni Inlier. Alqahtani et al (2023b) employed remote sensing, surface temperature and geophysical data for geothermal exploration in Lunayyir Volcanic Field (Saudi Arabia).…”