Hydrothermal characterization of groundwater in the Tamlouka Plain and its surroundings (Northeast Algeria)
Paper Details
Hydrothermal characterization of groundwater in the Tamlouka Plain and its surroundings (Northeast Algeria)
Abstract
Located in the North East of Algeria, the Tamlouka-Ain Makhlouf Plain contains several aquifers. Some layers include locally hot water with relatively high temperature (30 to 72°C). In order to elucidate the mode of deposit and circulation of such waters and to evaluate the thermal water potential in the basin, a multidisciplinary approach that focused on geology, geophysics, hydrodynamics and hydrochemistry was used. This approach pointed out that the basin occupies an intermediate structural position between the Tellian domain, the neritic domain and the Sellaoua unit. It is also characterized by the presence of a series of horsts formed by the Lias to Miocene limestones and dolomites, on one hand, and grabens filled by alluvial formations of the Mio-Plio-Quaternary, on the other. The hydrogeological overview shows that the Mio-Plio-Quaternary formations form the excessively salty superficial aquifer whose potential is reduced. However, neritic domain limestones and dolomites providea significant aquifer potential. The hydrochemical tool shows that the hot waters are characterized by two chemical facies: the HCO3-Ca and the SO4-Ca types, respectively, in the West and the East. The salinity of hot thermal waters is mainly due to deep water circulation in the crystallophyllian rocks and in the carbonate formations that are in contact with the terrigenous salt formations. The silica and sodium geothermometers show that thermal waters temperature varies from 60 to 100°C and water would emerge from 1600 to 3000m deep layers through a fault system that affects the basement.
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