Genesis and structural arrangement of the collapsed Oued Gueniche plain and the surrounding folds (Neogene molassic basin of Bizerte, northeastern Tunisia): Insights from gravity data

The Oued Gueniche plain is located in the northeastern Tunisia. It is a part of the Bizerte Neogene molassic basin, developed at the front of the Alpine chain (The Maghrebides). The subsurface structure of this area is not enough explored and was subject of controversial interpretations. Gravity and seismic data acquired in the northeast of Tunisia were used to specify the subsurface structural configuration and the formation mechanism of the Oued Gueniche plain, as well as, its relationship with the surrounding folds. A total number of 664 gravity measurements were used to define the density distributions below the surface in the study area. The complete Bouguer gravity anomaly was performed with a reduction density of 2.4 g/cm3. Bouguer anomalies range from 9.5 to 34.8 mGal, high anomalies coincide with the Oued Gueniche plain in the northwest while weak anomalies are located on the southern part of the study area. The main NE-SW anomalies are superposed to the geological structures.