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Structuring and evolution of Neogene transcurrent basins in the Tellian

foreland domain, north-eastern Tunisia

Article in Journal of Geodynamics · July 2011

DOI: 10.1016/j.jog.2010.11.009

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Journal of Geodynamics
journal homepage: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/jog

Structuring and evolution of Neogene transcurrent basins in the Tellian foreland

domain, north-eastern Tunisia
Fetheddine Melki a,∗ , Taher Zouaghi b , Salah Harrab a , Antonio Casas Sainz c ,
Mourad Bédir b , Fouad Zargouni a
a
Département des Sciences de la Terre, FST, Université Tunis El Manar, 1060 Tunis, Tunisia
b
Laboratoire de Géoressources, CERTE, Pôle Technologique de Borj Cédria, Université 7 novembre à Carthage, 8020 Soliman, Tunisia
c
Departamento de Ciencias de la Tierra, Área de Geodinámica Edificio de Geológicas Pedro Cerbuna, 12 50009 Zaragoza, Spain

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: The Neogene sedimentary basins (Serravallian to Quaternary) of the Tellian tectonic foreland in north-
Received 3 June 2010 eastern Tunisia formed within the overall NE-SW sinistral strike-slip tectonic framework of the Ras El
Received in revised form 8 November 2010 Korane-Thibar and El Alia-Teboursouk fault systems.
Accepted 29 November 2010
From stratigraphic logs, structural cross sections and interpretation of 2D seismic lines and boreholes,
Available online xxx
the pre-Neogene basement can be interpreted to be structured according to Eocene (NW-SE) compres-
sional and Oligocene extensional phases. This basement comprises structural highs (anticlines and horsts)
Keywords:
and subsiding areas (synclines, half-grabens and grabens) formed during the Neogene. The subsiding
Neogene
Strike-slip
areas are delineated by faults striking N030E, N-S and N140E, defining (i) narrow, strongly subsiding
Diapirism synclines, (ii) lozenge-shaped basins and (iii) trapezoidal basins. The architecture of their fill results from
Foreland the sedimentary balance between tectonics and eustatism.
Tellian domain Halokinesis and clay diapirism (driven by Triassic and Neogene evaporites and clays) also played an
Tunisia important role in basin evolution, contributing to the formation of domes and diapirs along active faults.

© 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction
The Tunisian Tellian domain and its foreland constitute the
eastern prolongation of the Atlas orogenic belt of North Africa,
recording the tectonic history of the central Mediterranean realm
(Caire, 1970; Cohen, 1980; Wildi, 1983; Rehault et al., 1984;
Zargouni, 1985; Dercourt et al., 1986; Ben Ayed, 1993; Pepe et al.,
2005; Boukhalfa et al., 2009; Riahi et al., 2010). The Tunisian
Tellian domain is one of the key areas to establish the recent tec-
tonic history of the Western Mediterranean because it summarizes
the tectonic processes that occurred during Africa–Europe conver-
gence and allows for the tectonic control on the Tertiary basinal
evolution from older structures and salt tectonics to be defined.
In this work, we present detailed mapping of the Neogene units
cropping out in sedimentary basins of northern Tunisia (Burollet,
1951; Crampon, 1973; Rouvier, 1977; Melki, 1997; Melki et al.,
2001; Alouani et al., 2006). The aim of this study is to character-
ize the Neogene foreland basins from their geometry, sedimentary
fill, and location within the major transcurrent fault system. We
∗ Corresponding author. Tel.: +216 98 545 905; fax: +216 71 885 408.
E-mail address: fetheddinemelki@yahoo.fr (F. Melki).
focus on the identification of the basin types and kinematics in rela-
tion to the regional structural framework and tectonic events. An
timetable summarizing the main tectonic events identified in the
study area as well as the regional events of the western Mediter-
ranean will be presented. The methods used include the analysis
of geological maps, seismic reflection lines (provided by the ETAP
Petroleum Company), borehole data and tectonics–sedimentation
relationships.
2. Geological setting
Within the Tellian domain in eastern Tunisia (Fig. 1), five
depocenters can be defined: Douimis, Jalta, Messeftine, Kechabta
and El Alia basins (Fig. 1B) separated either by morpho-structural
lineaments, or sedimentary highs (Kacem, 2004; El Euch, 2007;
Melki et al., 2009, 2010; Zouaghi et al., 2010).
The tectonic frame defining the structure of Neogene basins
in northern and eastern Tunisia is the result of the pre-Miocene
tectonic inheritance, influenced by the Lutetian and Priabonian
compressional phases (Castany, 1956; Raoult, 1974; Vila, 1980;
Ben Ayed et al., 1983; Bédir et al., 1992; Ben Ayed, 1993; Melki
et al., 1999; Bouaziz et al., 2002; El Euch et al., 2004; Ben Chelbi
et al., 2006; Khomsi et al., 2006; Masrouhi et al., 2008; Frizon de

0264-3707/$ – see front matter © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.jog.2010.11.009

Please cite this article in press as: Melki, F., et al., Structuring and evolution of Neogene transcurrent basins in the Tellian foreland domain,
north-eastern Tunisia. J. Geodyn. (2011), doi:10.1016/j.jog.2010.11.009
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Fig. 1. (A) Geological setting of onshore north-eastern Tunisia; (B) detailed geological map showing location of the main tectonic features, including distribution of the
Neogene basins and paleohighs in the NE-SW transcurrent shear zone. This figure shows dataset used in this study (reflection seismic sections and petroleum wells).

Please cite this article in press as: Melki, F., et al., Structuring and evolution of Neogene transcurrent basins in the Tellian foreland domain,
north-eastern Tunisia. J. Geodyn. (2011), doi:10.1016/j.jog.2010.11.009
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Table 1
Synthetic Neogene stratigraphic log of north-eastern Tunisia based on the previous outcrop studies (Burollet, 1951; Besème and Lajmi, 1981; Bel Haj Ali et al., 1998).
Lamotte et al., 2009) and the Oligocene extensional stage (Ben Ayed,
1993; Melki, 1997; Yaïch et al., 2000; Talbi et al., 2008; Melki et al.,
2010). The distribution of basins is essentially controlled by two
main structural trends (Fig. 1): NE-SW (Ras El Korane-Thibar and
El-Alia-Teboursouk major faults) and N-S (Messeftine fault) and by
a secondary NW-SE trend (Mateur fault). This structural configu-
ration is also present in the Gulf of Tunis (Melki et al., 2009), in
the Cap Bon peninsula and in the Gulf of Hammamet and Sahel
domains (Bédir et al., 1996; Mannaï-Tayech, 2009; Zouaghi et al.,
2010).
The absence of Oligocene and Lower Miocene deposits in this
area (except for the Jebel Sebaâ and surroundings of Bizerte, Fig. 1B),
and in the Messeftine-Utique area (as deduced from petroleum
wells), indicates its location on a structural high during rifting
in the western Mediterranean (Rehault et al., 1984; Gennesseaux
and Stanley, 1983; Yaïch et al., 2000; Ait Brahim et al., 2002;
Bouaziz et al., 2002; Melki et al., 2009). The NE-SW Oligocene-
Aquitanian extension led to the formation of uplifts, which can be
identified, in the Sidi Bou Said and Korbous outcrops (the south
of the study area) by Ben Salem (1992). This was followed by the
Serravallian–Tortonian compressional event (Rouvier, 1977; Melki,
1997).
3. Neogene stratigraphy
The pre-Miocene substratum delineating the Neogene basins
crops out in north-eastern Tunisia (Fig. 1B) in zones uplifted at
the beginning of the Serravallian and not covered during the Late
Miocene transgression. The Middle to Upper Miocene deposits are
the syn- to post-orogenic molasses of foreland basins deposited in
terrestrial environments (Burollet, 1951; Crampon, 1973; Rouvier,
1977; Ben Ayed et al., 1996; Melki, 1997; Bel Haj Ali et al., 1998;
El Euch, 2007). These deposits are arranged into four lithostrati-
Please cite this article in press as: Melki, F., et al., Structuring and evolution of Neogene transcurrent basins in the Tellian foreland domain,
north-eastern Tunisia. J. Geodyn. (2011), doi:10.1016/j.jog.2010.11.009
3
graphic units (Burollet, 1951): Hakima, Oued El Melah, Kechabta
and Oued Bel Khedim Fms. (Table 1).
The Pliocene, essentially marine, occupies most of the north-
western and south-eastern edges of the Douimis, Messeftine,
Kechabta and El Alia basins. It lies unconformably either on the
Messinian, on the Tortonian, or on the pre-Miocene substratum
(Fig. 1). It is divided into two formations (Table 1); the argillaceous
Raf-Raf Fm. (Early Pliocene) at the base and the sandy Porto Farina
Fm. (Late Pliocene) at the top (Burollet, 1951; Besème and Lajmi,
1981; Bel Haj Ali et al., 1998). Along the Ras el Korane-Thibar major
fault, on the western edge of the Jalta basin, the Pliocene shows
continental facies.
The Quaternary succession shows continental facies in the
depocenters and basin margins, and marine strata along the coastal
areas (Arambourg and Arnould, 1949; Paskoff and Sanlaville, 1983).
4. Structural framework and filling of sedimentary basins
Detailed mapping and subsurface data (seismic reflection and
petroleum wells) allows for the regional structural framework
and the geometry of depositional sequences to be identified. In
this section we describe the main structural and stratigraphic
features of the Neogene basins: Douimis, Kechabta, El Alia,
Messeftine and Jalta. Three main types of Neogene basins are dis-
tinguished based on the geometry of their filling and structural
frame:
(1) Elongated troughs related to syn-sedimentary deformation
during the Eocene and Miocene. These basins show asymmet-
ric syncline geometries, an active subsidence at the edge of the
strike slip fault, and kilometric scale drag folds oblique to faults.
Basins are separated by the basement hanging walls, which are
at the origin of the clastic sedimentary lapout. The depositional
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Fig. 2. Surface and subsurface geological data of the Douimis basin; (A) geological and structural map; (B) lithological correlation between the Ech Chniti outcrop located
in the center of the Douimis basin and the Jebs-Marzaguine outcrop located at their east part; (C) NW-SE geological and structural interpretative cross section through the
basin; (D) detailed cross section of Sidi Bou Hadid outcrop showing architecture of half-grabens and grabens affecting the Upper Eocene limestones and filled by the Upper
Miocene deposits.

areas migrated following a direction perpendicular to faults.
This type of structure includes the Douimis, Kechabta and El
Alia basins (Figs. 2–4).
(2) The lozenge-shaped basins are controlled by local transten-
sional movements of two oblique NE-SW and N-S strike slip
fault systems with small normal throws as shown by the
Messeftine basin (Fig. 5). Movements along the strike slip faults
were synchronous.
(3) The trapezoidal basin is controlled by several oblique strike
slip faults with transtensional movements, resulting in a
trapezoidal geometry in map view. The Jalta basin is delin-
eated by folds formed along the strike slip fault systems
(Fig. 6).
4.1. Douimis basin
The Douimis basin is delimited, to the NW, by the NE-SW Ras
El Korane-Thibar master fault, to the south by the Ichkeul folds
and to the north-east by the Bechateur and Bizerte folds (Fig. 1).
The Triassic evaporites and the Ali Ben Trad folds appear at the
basin center (Fig. 2A). It is affected by the NNE-SSW Bou Hadid-Borj
El Rhouli lineament. The Miocene deposits occupy NE-SW troughs
inherited from the Eocene compression (Fig. 2A and C).
Because of the absence of the seismic data there is no control on
deep structures associated with the Douimis basin. The thickness
of the Neogene deposits varies between within the basin; although
there are no outcrops of the Hakima Fm., it could be present in
the subsurface below the Oued el Melah Fm. The Oued El Melah
and Kechabta Fms. progressively thin towards the east, the lat-
ter changing from 900 to 350 m (Crampon, 1973; Rouvier, 1977,
Fig. 2B).
The NW-SE section (Fig. 2C), crossing the Ghar Ouinkel, Jebel Ali
Ben Trad and Jebel Jebs shows synclines highlighted by the Ypresian
limestones. These structures, filled with Upper Miocene deposits,
are affected by NNE-SSW major faults showing listric geometry and
often accompanied by diapiric of Triassic salt (Fig. 2A and C). At
the Sidi Bou Hadid site several pre-Miocene and Miocene N140
to N-S sinistral and N40 dextral faults (Fig. 2D), delimiting deca-
metric to hectometric grabens and half-grabens can be seen. These
grabens are filled with Middle-Upper Miocene deposits uncon-
formably lying on the Eocene limestones (Fig. 2D). The changes in
orientation of the Lower Eocene limestones (from N80E, 10◦ N to
N50E, 50◦ SE) can be explained by the movements of the N40E and
N140E to N-S conjugate fault system. The Early Pliocene is mainly
characterized by normal faulting. The Jebel el Jebs site (Fig. 2A),
shows syn-sedimentary structures (N90 reverse metric faults asso-

Please cite this article in press as: Melki, F., et al., Structuring and evolution of Neogene transcurrent basins in the Tellian foreland domain,
north-eastern Tunisia. J. Geodyn. (2011), doi:10.1016/j.jog.2010.11.009
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Fig. 3. Surface and subsurface geological data of the Kechabta basin; (A) geological and structural map; (B) lithological correlation between the Kechabta outcrop log and P1,
P2 and P3 petroleum wells; (C) WNW-ESE interpreted seismic line (L1); (D) WSW-ENE geological and structural interpretative cross section through the basin.
ciated with south dipping N40—trending cylindrical metric folds)
affecting the Oued el Melah Fm.
The Pliocene Raf-Raf (argillaceous 50 m thick sequence) and
Porto-Farina (fossiliferous sands 50 m thick) Fms. crop out at
Jebel Marzaguine, south-eastern part of the Douimis basin. Syn-
sedimentary structures affecting Lower Pliocene clays (southern
Douimis basin) can be seen at the Jebel El Merzaguine local-
ity. These features correspond to syn-sedimentary normal faults
oriented N90–100 and N140 sealed by sands. The Pliocene trans-
gression follows a paleo-trough, from the town of Bizerte to
the north of Sidi Bou Hadid to Douar Ghar Ouinkel to the west
(Figs. 1 and 2A).
Late Pleistocene (Tyrrhenian) deposits appear in the
Douimis basin around the lake systems of Ichkeul and Biz-
erte (Figs. 1 and 2). The lower Villafranchian continental series
(50 m) are deposited on the last Porto-Farina sandy succession
(Besème and Lajmi, 1981).
The post-Pliocene deformations are related to N60–110 reverse
faults and E-W trending folds (Fig. 2A). The Borj el Rhouli vil-
lafranchian strata are located on the southernmost side of the Jebel
Jebs, dip 50–60◦ S (Fig. 2A), and show increasing subsidence during
the Quaternary (Crampon, 1973; Melki, 1997).
4.2. Kechabta basin
The Kechabta basin is affected by ENE-WSW to E-W folds (Fig. 1)
linked to the NNE-SSW El Alia-Teboursouk sinistral master fault
(Fig. 3A) and guided by old tectonic heritage. The re-orientation
of fold axes and the en echelon arrangement of folds are the
result of strike slip movements along the NNE-SSW master fault
(Fig. 3A). Eocene and Upper Cretaceous limestone crop out along
the NNE-SSW Sfaia-Sidi Mansour secondary fault, which separates
the Kechabta and Messeftine basins.
Please cite this article in press as: Melki, F., et al., Structuring and evolution of Neogene transcurrent basins in the Tellian foreland domain,
north-eastern Tunisia. J. Geodyn. (2011), doi:10.1016/j.jog.2010.11.009
5
In the center of the Kechabta basin (Fig. 3A), the Hakima Fm.
comprises sandstones and red marls. To the East and SE, in the P1
and P2 wells we identify alternating clays and anhydrites (Fig. 3B)
corresponding to the Serravallian Mellaha Fm. (upper part of the
Hakima Fm.; Table 1), 354 m thick in P1 and 139 m thick in P2.
The Kechabta Fm. exceeds 2000 m in the Jebel Kechabta, reduc-
ing to 230 m towards the NW of the El Alia-Teboursouk master
fault (Fig. 3A). To the east and the SE of Kechabta outcrop, this
unit is 203 m and 318 m thick in the P1 and P2 petroleum wells,
respectively. The Oued Bel Khedim Fm. is 270 m thick, disappear-
ing in the north-western wall of the Sfaia-Sidi Mansour fault (NW
of the Kechabta basin). To the east, at well P1 (Fig. 3B), this unit
has an average thickness of 313 m, with clays and sands and some
limestone intercalations.
Analysis of a NW-SE seismic line shows that the Hakima Fm.
laps onto the underlying Ypresian deposits, showing prograda-
tional downlap and aggradational onlap (Fig. 3C). The thickness
of deposits diminishes progressively towards the SE, where the
Hakima Fm. is unconformably overlain by Pliocene deposits. The
Oued El Melah Fm. reaches 700 m of thickness, decreasing to 140 m
in P1 and P2. The Kechabta and Oued Bel Khedim Fms. are well
represented in the Besbessia tectonic depression (Fig. 3C). Thick-
ness changes of the Upper Miocene deposits on the uplifts could be
related to changes in basin floor topography together with regional
eustatic sea-level changes.
At the Kechabta outcrop, the Pliocene Raf-Raf Fm. consists of
250 m (302 m at P1 well and 133 m at P2) of marls containing a sand-
stone bed with cross-bedding (Fig. 3A and B) (Burollet, 1951). These
deposits lie directly on different strata Middle to Late Miocene in
age (Fig. 3C). The Porto-Farina Fm. constitutes the external cover-
ing of the Kechabta structure. This Fm. is missing at P1 and 271 m
thick at P2.
Further away from the major faults of the Kechabta basin, in the
Raf-Raf and Porto-Farina Fms., folds show an E-W trend (Jebel El
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Besbessia and Jebel Menzel Ghoul), changing near the major strike-
slip faults.
The Early Pleistocene is exposed in the northern part of the Kech-
abta outcrop (Fig. 1) and buried below the Mateur plain. This series
reaches 200 m in thickness and consists of silts and continental
sands, succeeded by clays and sands and finally clays and red sands
(Burollet, 1951).
Subsurface analysis and outcrop investigations lead us to con-
sider the Sfaia-Sidi Mansour fault a western branch connected at
depth to the non-outcropping El Alia-Teboursouk major strike slip
fault system (Fig. 3A, C and D). Towards the east, the axis of this
anticline trends N070–080E; changing to N030E to the west. Far-
ther from the N30 transcurrent, fault, the axes of the El Besbessia
and Menzel Ghoul anticlines trend N80 to N90 (Fig. 3A). The folded
structures of the Kechabta basin correspond to conical folds trend-
ing N30–50, oblique to the NNE-SSW master fault.
The El Besbessia anticline is shifted of that of Menzel Ghoul out-
crop by the Quaternary N140 dextral strike slip movements. This
fault continues towards the south through the Ain Ghelal N110
fault.
4.3. El Alia basin
Neogene deposits in El Alia basin, affected by a southeast-
plunging monocline (Fig. 4A) are essentially located in the eastern
depocenter, limited to the west by the El Alia-Teboursouk fault
(Fig. 4A). The northwest wall of this fault corresponds to a sed-
imentary high with folded and faulted Cretaceous and Eocene
deposits. The El Alia-Teboursouk fault, inherited from previ-
ous tectonic stages, controlled the sedimentation during the
Miocene and Pliocene. In the El Alia sector, Triassic evapor-
ites crop out along a NNE-SSW direction, defining the fault
trace.
In the Touahine outcrop (El Alia-Teboursouk fault) the Early
Eocene is represented by two limestone bodies with south-east dip
(Fig. 4A) and different thickness in both walls of the fault. Lower
Eocene limestones of Jebel Touahine are overlain by Middle to
Upper Eocene marls, whereas to the east of El Alia-Teboursouk fault,
these limestones are sealed by the Middle Miocene transgressive
deposits of Hakima Fm. (Fig. 4A).
The movements of El Alia-Teboursouk fault were significant
during the Middle to Late Miocene and Pliocene; thus, at the
level of its western segment, the base of Middle Miocene (Hakima
Fm.) is marked by two conglomeratic beds with Eocene lime-
stone clasts. The Oued El Melah Fm. crops out extensively at
the east of the El Alia fault with an average thickness of 625 m,
whereas it disappears towards the west. The Kechabta and Oued
Bel Khedim Fms. are also absent in the north-west wall of this
fault.
Analysis of the seismic facies in the El Alia depocenter indicates
that lithostratigraphic units are thicker in the syncline and thin
towards the basin borders (Fig. 4C), associated with the pinch-out
of the unit packages. To the top, the Hakima-Oued El Melah Fms.
is bounded by a toplap overlain by a double seismic reflector cor-
responding to the lithological change between the Oued El Melah
evaporites and the Kechabta sands (Fig. 4C). The latter reaches a
thickness of 1000 m east of El Alia locality. Seismic sections show a
subsidence change during deposition of the Oued Bel Khedim unit.
Tilting of the basin floor was associated with thickness reduction in
the center of the subsiding area and thickening towards the uplifted
limbs (Fig. 4D).
The Raf-Raf Fm. changes in thickness from 250 m in the western
block of El Alia fault to 500 m east of Raf-Raf (Burollet, 1951) (Fig. 4B
and D). In the Ghar El Melah, the Porto-Farina Fm. is about 260 m
thick; it is composed by a thick sandy series containing macrofauna,
followed by dune deposits and continental sands (Burollet, 1951).
Please cite this article in press as: Melki, F., et al., Structuring and evolution of Neogene transcurrent basins in the Tellian foreland domain,
north-eastern Tunisia. J. Geodyn. (2011), doi:10.1016/j.jog.2010.11.009
Around the El Alia basin, the Pliocene deposits are characterized
by thickness changes (Fig. 4B). Seismic lines suggest the presence
of significant hiatuses, especially on the top of paleohighs related to
toplap (Fig. 4C). These strata were deposited on the partially eroded
Oued Bel Khedim deposits (Fig. 4C and D). Towards the east of El
Alia, the Raf-Raf Fm. is represented by conglomerates and brown
marls deposited in a transgressive environment, overlying Middle
to Upper Miocene deposits. We note thus, at least, two periods of
inversion of subsidence at the Hakima/Oued El Melah and the Oued
Bel Khedim/Porto-Farina boundaries (Fig. 4C).
Finally, in Sidi Ali Chebab, at the north-western compartment of
the El Alia-Teboursouk strike slip fault, the Quaternary compression
is responsible for the formation of a syncline in Pliocene deposits
(Fig. 4A).
4.4. Messeftine basin
The Messeftine basin is separated from the Jalta basin by the N-S
Messeftine fault and from the Kechabta basin by the N30 El Alia-
Teboursouk master strike slip fault. Only the Hakima and Oued Bel
Khédim Fms. crop out in the northwestern and western faulted
basin borders. Conversely, the Pliocene Raf Raf and Porto Farina
Fms. are well represented. This basin is characterized by large scale
N70–N90 folds, rooting on the N-S Messeftine master fault (Fig. 5A).
The Hakima Fm. makes 400 m of thickness in the Messeftine
outcrop (Burollet, 1951; Melki, 1997) 300 m in P3 well (Fig. 5B)
and almost 900 m in P4 well. The Oued El Melah Fm. is absent.
The Kechabta Fm. is only recognized in the P4 well with 677 m
of thickness. The Oued Bel Khedim Fm. appears in the Messeftine
outcrop with 500 m of thickness; it makes only 150 m thickness
in P4 well, with 50 m of continental sandy marls corresponding to
the top of the Messinian deposits (Chaâbet Tebbala layer; Burollet,
1951).
Interpretation of the NW-SE seismic line (Fig. 5C) shows that the
Middle-Upper Miocene is present at the depocenter and associated
with unconformities towards the faulted uplifts (Fig. 5A and C). The
Messeftine and Sfaia-Sidi Mansour strike-slip fault systems have
controlled the distribution of deposits that are marked by signifi-
cant thickness and facies variations towards the NW and SE (Fig. 5B
and C).
The Pliocene and the Quaternary thin towards the Messeftine
basin faulted flanks (Fig. 5C), associated with the pinch-out of sed-
imentary packages and angular unconformities. The Raf-Raf Fm.
varies from 400 m to 650 m towards the SE and 241 m at P4 well.
The contact with the Upper Miocene is underlined by a sandstone
layer overlying gravels. Porto-Farina Fm. constitutes the external
envelope of the Messeftine structure. Towards the west of the N-
S Messeftine fault, the Raf-Raf and Porto-Farina Fms. are missing,
indicating the inversion of the basin between the Pliocene and the
Quaternary.
The Messeftine anticline, about 10 km long, is a conical fold
(Fig. 5A) trending N080E to N040E, related to the Messeftine N-S
sinistral strike slip fault, and cored by the Miocene deposits (Oued
Bel Khédim gypsum unit). Polyphase tectonics can be interpreted
from geological mapping, which highlights its torsional strain. The
stereoplot of bedding planes indicates the presence of two axis of
folding (Fig. 5E) interpreted as a result of rotation of the structure
axis from N30 to N50. Beyond the fault, the axis turns appreciably
to an E-W trend (Fig. 5A).
The N-S fault records two movements, an early sinistral dis-
placement indicated by the deflection of the Messeftine anticline
and a second normal displacement marked by the presence of
steeply plunging striations on the Villafranchian conglomerates.
This latter movement is related to the subsidence of the Mateur
plain, within the Jalta basin.
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Fig. 4. Surface and subsurface geological data of the El Alia basin; (A) geological and structural map; (B) lithological correlation between the El Alia-Metline synthesis log
(Burollet, 1951) Kechabta outcrop and P2 petroleum well; (C) ENE-WSW interpreted seismic line (L2); (D) NNW-SSE geological and structural interpretative cross section
through the basin.

Please cite this article in press as: Melki, F., et al., Structuring and evolution of Neogene transcurrent basins in the Tellian foreland domain,
north-eastern Tunisia. J. Geodyn. (2011), doi:10.1016/j.jog.2010.11.009
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8 F. Melki et al. / Journal of Geodynamics xxx (2010) xxx–xxx

Fig. 5. Surface and subsurface geological data of the Messeftine basin; (A) Geological and structural map; (B) lithological correlation between the Messeftine outcrop log and
P3 and P4 petroleum wells; (C) ENE-WSW interpreted seismic line (L3); (D) E-W geological and structural interpretative cross section through the basin; (E) Stereographic
projections of the Messeftine strata, showing migration of the fold axis from Late Miocene (Oued Bel Khedim Fm.) to Late Pliocene (Raf-Raf Fm.).

4.5. Jalta basin south by the N140E Mateur fault (Fig. 6A). This trapezoidal basin
extends from Ichkeul Lake to the town of Mateur. It contains a cen-
The Jalta basin is delineated to the NW by the N30 Ras El Korane- tral zone that was emerged during the Miocene (Burollet, 1951)
Thibar fault, to the east by the N-S Messeftine fault and to the and the Pliocene (Melki, 1997; Alouani et al., 2006).

Fig. 6. Surface and subsurface geological data of the Jalta basin; (A) Geological and structural map; (B) Lithological correlation between the Jalta and Messeftine outcrop logs;
(C) ENE-WSW interpreted seismic line (L4), crossing the western edge of the basin; (D) WNW-ESE geological and structural interpretative cross section through the basin.

Please cite this article in press as: Melki, F., et al., Structuring and evolution of Neogene transcurrent basins in the Tellian foreland domain,
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On the western margin of the Jalta basin, Middle to Upper
Miocene strata are represented by continental, detrital facies
(Fig. 6B) overlying the Triassic, Cretaceous and Eocene deposits lat-
erally related to the Miocene units defined in the other basins, and
composed of 15 m of gray conglomerates and 70 m of lenticular
limestones, lacustrine limestones and blue marls alternating with
conglomerates (Rouvier, 1977; Melki, 1997) (Fig. 6B). In a mining
survey, the continental series of Jalta shows two gypsum interca-
lations with significant thickness in the upper levels (Crampon,
1973). These facies indicate expansion of the Middle to Upper
Miocene evaporitic units towards the western basin border, in con-
tact with the Ras El Korane-Thibar fault; the base of this continental
series does not crop out. At the eastern edge of this basin, a half-
graben is filled by the Hakima, Kechabta and Oued Bel Khédim Fms.,
thinned with respect to other basins (Fig. 6D).
The geometry and distribution of Middle to Upper Miocene and
Pliocene seismic reflectors in the Jalta area suggest the presence
of topographic highs during these intervals (Fig. 6C). The presence
of onlap structures below shows evidence of aggradation towards
the uplifted zones with thickening of deposits in the center of the
synclines and thinning towards the bordering anticlines (Fig. 6C).
The significant thinning and pinchout of the deposits, with angular
unconformities, are indicative of a new sedimentary cycle con-
trolled by a major tectonic event.
The continental Pliocene succession lies on the Upper Miocene
conglomerates recognized in the Jalta mine. It also crops out on
the mountain piedmonts, which delineate, all along the Ras El
Korane-Thibar fault, the western border of the Jalta basin (Fig. 6A
and D). The Quaternary continental deposits crop out widely in
the Mateur plain (Fig. 6A), and also occupy the piedmonts. These
deposits are the result of erosion of tectonic reliefs along the
Ras El Korane-Thibar fault. In addition, near the Ras El Korane-
Thibar fault, tectonic reactivation occurred during Serravallian
times, as witnessed by heterometric conglomerates in the Middle-
Upper Miocene and Pliocene series, sourced in the western edge
of the Jalta basin (Fig. 6B) following rapid uplift in anticlines.
The Jalta site shows N100–110 and N150–170 conjugate strike
slip faults, which affect the consolidated conglomerate beds. Most
of these faults show evidences of re-activation in the sandy lay-
ers.
The eastern edge of the Jalta basin collapsed during the Middle
Miocene, although it remained higher than the Messeftine basin
(Fig. 6C and D) is finally uplifted during the Pliocene and the Qua-
ternary, involving the Messeftine fault system.
5. Interpretation of basin geometry and evolution within
the geodynamic frame of northern Tunisia
Neogene basins in north-eastern Tunisia are located on struc-
tures inherited from the pre-Serravallian tectonic phases involving
the foreland domain of the Tellian chains (Fig. 7). After the Triassic-
Early Cretaceous rifting (Castany, 1956; Zargouni, 1977; Perthuisot,
1978; Vila, 1980; Zargouni, 1985; Turki, 1988; Piqué et al., 1998;
Bouaziz et al., 2002; Zouaghi et al., 2005), the African plate moved
towards the NE during the Late Cretaceous and the beginning of
Eocene, in relation to the Eurasian plate. Compressional defor-
mation occurred in the Bétides-Maghrébides (Durand-Delga and
Fontboté, 1980) and in the eastern Pyrenees (Choukroune, 1974).
During the Middle-Late Eocene, the study area evolved under
NW-SE compression (Jauzein, 1967; Ben Ayed, 1993; Melki et al.,
1996, 1999; Melki, 1997). The gentle Bizerte, Jebel Sebaâ, Ali Ben
Trad and Metline folds are the result of this stage (Table 2);
some structures are unconformably overlain by the Oligocene-
Aquitanian sandstones (Melki, 1997; Melki et al., 1999). Cores taken
in the P3 and P4 wells, near the Sfaia-Sidi Mansour fault, can
Please cite this article in press as: Melki, F., et al., Structuring and evolution of Neogene transcurrent basins in the Tellian foreland domain,
north-eastern Tunisia. J. Geodyn. (2011), doi:10.1016/j.jog.2010.11.009
9
be attributed to Paleocene marls and limestones dipping 45–60◦
towards the NW (Fig. 3A and B), overlain by the Miocene series,
indicating movement of the Sfaia-Sidi Mansour fault during the
Eocene.
Except in Jebel Sebaâ and the Bizerte surrounding areas, the
Oligocene and Lower Miocene series have not been recognized in
outcrop, in the petroleum wells or on the seismic lines crossing
the study domain, indicating the existence of wide sedimentary
highs during this period (Table 2; Fig. 7). In the southern part of the
study area, in the Sidi Bou Said, Cap Bon and east of the Zaghouane
fault (Fig. 1), these deposits crop out (Yaïch et al., 2000) associ-
ated with normal syn-sedimentary faults indicating an extensional
event (Ben Salem, 1992) (Table 2).
At the scale of the evolution of the western Mediterranean, the
Oligocene-Aquitanian period coincides with a rifting phase (Biju-
Duval et al., 1977; Gennesseaux and Stanley, 1983; Rehault et al.,
1984; Courme and Mascle, 1988), associated with subduction and
the 20–35◦ anti-clockwise rotation of the Corsica-Sardinia block
(Burrus, 1984; Alvarez, 1991). According to some authors, the rift-
ing event started during the Chattian (30 Ma) and ended during
the Aquitanian (23–24 Ma) (Biju-Duval et al., 1977; Rehault et al.,
1984). During this period, two large basins probably formed: the
Algero-Provençal basin to the north (Rehault et al., 1984; Frizon de
Lamotte et al., 2009) and the southwestern most edge of the Tyrrhe-
nian basin to the south (see e.g. Faccenna et al., 2001 and references
therein). This Oligocene-Aquitanian transtensional phase is suc-
ceeded by the NW-SE Serravallian–Tortonian compressional event
causing the uplift of the Atlas (Table 2). At this time the NNW-SSE
compression and the ENE-WSW extension, in the Betics, are con-
temporaneous, predominating one or another depending on the
places and the circumstances (Leblanc and Olivier, 1984; Montenat
et al., 1987; Larouzière et al., 1987; Sanz de Galdeano and Vera,
1992).
Combinations of outcrop and subsurface data (seismic lines and
petroleum wells) document the NW-SE Middle to late Miocene
Alpine and Atlassic compressional events causing the asymmet-
ric synclines generally associated with Triassic salt diapirism along
the NE-SW Tellian and Atlassic folds described here, characterized
by the SE-vergent over thrusting (Table 2). Moreover, interaction
of the reverse and strike slip major lineaments and the local near
NW-SE normal faults, shown at the level of the synclines and
grabens, resulted in different types of basins according to the spa-
tial relations between faults and their evolution: (1) asymmetric
syncline basins along master faults, with kilometric-scale drag folds
oblique to faults (Douimis, Kechabta and El Alia basins), (2) lozenge-
shaped basins controlled by transtensional movements between
NE-SW and N-S strike-slip fault systems (Messeftine basin) and (3)
trapezoidal basins between oblique strike-slip fault systems (Jalta
basin). These foreland basins are marked by lagoonal deposition,
which occupied the subsiding depocenters during the Middle to
Late Miocene (Figs. 3C and 5C).
Tectonic stress within the Eurasian plate can be related only
to forces transmitted from the Africa–Eurasia and Atlantic–Arctic
plate boundaries (Bouillin, 1986) and therefore can be assumed to
be parallel to this vector movement. Since the beginning of the
Miocene onwards, a radial pattern of the stress trajectories around
the Alpine chain occurred (Rouvier, 1977; Burrus, 1984; Bergerat,
1987). The paleo-stress reorientations occurred near discontinu-
ities, which are represented by the basin margins, the faulted zones
and the metamorphic bands. In the local reorientation mechanisms,
the age and the deviation of the measured paleo-stress give, since
the beginning of the collision, a consistent kinematic picture of the
relative plate movements of tectonic blocks around the Mediter-
ranean basin (Cohen et al., 1980; Letouzey and Trémolières, 1980;
Philip, 1987; Tlig et al., 1991; Swezey, 2009; Pedrera et al., 2010;
Melki et al., 2010; Zouaghi et al., 2010).
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No. of Pages 13
Table 2
Structuring, filling and tectonic evolution of the Neogene basins in the Tellian foreland domain of north-eastern Tunisia; showing their positions compared to the Tertiary regional tectonic events of the western Mediterranean
and the northern African margin.

F. Melki et al. / Journal of Geodynamics xxx (2010) xxx–xxx

ARTICLE IN PRESS
Legend: (a) Quaternary, (b) Pliocene, (c) Middle-Late Miocene, (d) Miocene Continental deposits, (e) Oligocene-Aquitanian, (f) Oligocene-Aquitanian (Numidian facies), (g) Paleocene-Eocene, (h) Cretaceous, (i) Jurassic, (j) Triassic,
(k) Trend of the compression, (l) Trend of the tension, (m) Reverse fault, (n) Strike-slip fault, (o) Normal fault, (p) Fold; B: Bizerte, Me: Metline, MB: Menzel Bourguiba, M: Mateur, J: Jalta. Bibliography used in this table: (1) Burollet
(1951); (2) Crampon (1973); (3) Rouvier (1977); (4) Zargouni (1985); (5) Letouzey (1986); (6) Martinez and Truillet (1987); (7) Coulon (1992); (8) Ben Ayed (1993); (9) Dlala and Rebaï (1994); (10) Bédir et al. (1996); (11) Melki
(1997); (12) Chihi and Philip (1998); (13) Piqué et al. (1998); (14) Melki et al. (1999); (15) Ait Brahim et al., 2002; (16) Bouaziz et al. (2002); (17) Bracène and Frizon de Lamotte (2002); (18) Patriat et al. (2003); (19) El Euch et al.
(2004); (20) Zecchin et al. (2004); (21) Benaouali-Mebarek et al. (2006); (22) Pepe et al. (2005); (23) Ben Chelbi et al. (2006); (24) Marmi and Guiraud (2006); (25) Talbi et al. (2008); (26) Frizon de Lamotte et al. (2009); (27) Melki
et al. (2010).
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Fig. 7. 3D Block-diagram of the study area, showing relationships between the NE-SW master transcurrent faults and the structuring of the Neogene basins in the Tellian
foreland domain. EATM Fault: El Alia-Teboursouk master fault; RKTM Fault: Ras El Korane-Thibar master fault; Pl, Pliocene; M, Miocene; O1, Oligocene-Aquitanian (Numidian
unit); O2, Oligocene-Aquitanian; E, Eocene; P, Paleocene; C, Cretaceous; J, Jurassic; T, Triassic.

From Messinian to Early Pliocene times, Tellian north-eastern
Tunisia is marked by a transtensional event that accentuated defor-
mation and affected accommodation space in the studied basins.
The structures recognized in outcrop and on the seismic lines
emphasize the tectonic event through deposition in the subsiding
depocenters (Fig. 5C). The Upper Pliocene sedimentary distribution
is related to rejuvenation of the pre-existing lineaments. This series
is reduced towards the faulted uplifts and are associated with the
Middle Pliocene unconformity indicating the NW-SE reverse strike-
slip displacement related to tectonic inversion of the structures
(Figs. 4C and 5C).
Late Pliocene-Quaternary compressional activity increased,
with thrust-and-fold formation at the Tellian foreland of Tunisia.
This movement would have accentuated the genesis of the
compressive Betic-Rifian and the North Africa mountain chains
(Tapponnier, 1977; Vila, 1980; Malod, 1982; Leblanc and Olivier,
1984; Larouzière et al., 1987; Montenat et al., 1987; Philip, 1987;
Sanz de Galdeano and Vera, 1992; Melki et al., 1999; De Vicente
et al., 2009; Frizon de Lamotte et al., 2009; Casas-Sainz and De
Vicente, 2009) following the Late Eocene and Late Miocene Iberia-
Kabylie collision with the Tellian margin of Africa (Auzende, 1971;
Wildi, 1983; Bouillin, 1986) (Table 2). The main Neogene structures
and major tectonic lineaments and events have been also identified
in the offshore Gulf of Tunis (Melki et al., 2010) and along the Siculo-
Tunisian Channel rift (Montenat et al., 1991; Chihi and Philip, 1998;
Sartori et al., 2001; Corti et al., 2006).
6. Conclusions
A study of the Neogene tectonic foreland basins of the north-
eastern Tunisian Tellian domain was carried out following detailed
geological mapping and stratigraphic studies of the Neogene series,
structural cross sections, and interpretation of petroleum well and
seismic reflection data.
This integrated study led us to identify three types of Neo-
gene basins characterized by their position with respect to uplifted
basement zones, their geometry, sedimentary fill and geodynamic
evolution (Fig. 7). These three types of basins are: (1) strike slip
troughs (Douimis, Kechabta and El Alia basins); (2) lozenge-shaped
(Messeftine basin) and (3) trapezoidal (Jalta basin). Under the
regional contractional tectonic event, the strike slip furrows are
essentially characterized by transpressional structures whereas the
lozenge-shaped and trapezoidal basins developed transtensional
structures. Sedimentary basins were delimited and individualized
according to inherited structures formed during previous tectonic
stages, controlled by the Neogene strike slip movements.
These basins received the first transgressive series deposited
on ancient strata, best seen in their eastern segments. The geody-
namic history of the Neogene basins started from the Serravallian.
At the end of Serravallian and during the Tortonian, the compres-
sional paroxysm becomes more distinguishable in Tunisia with the
formation of the Tellian and Numidian thrust units. The Neogene
basins became tightened against the major transpressional strike
slip systems. The substratum was uplifted at the edges, becom-
ing the source for the continental deposits, as can be seen in the
western edge of the Jalta basin.
From Messinian to Early Pliocene times, the maximum subsi-
dence was located towards the east and the north-east of the major
strike slip faults. This is the result of the N20–40 extension, which
reactivated the N-S faults as sinistral, the E-W faults as dextral and
the NE-SW faults as normal.
This extensional stage was succeeded by a N160–180 oriented
stress related to transpression at the Early Pliocene–Late Pliocene
limit. This phase caused the sinistral drag fold system on the major
N30 and N-S faults and generated folding of the Upper Miocene
series (Jebel Jebs, Messeftine and Kechabta structures) and cylindri-
cal folds, far from the major faults (Besbessia structure). Moreover,
the Ichkeul and Bizerte lakes correspond to subsiding blocks dur-

Please cite this article in press as: Melki, F., et al., Structuring and evolution of Neogene transcurrent basins in the Tellian foreland domain,
north-eastern Tunisia. J. Geodyn. (2011), doi:10.1016/j.jog.2010.11.009
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12 F. Melki et al. / Journal of Geodynamics xxx (2010) xxx–xxx
ing this period. In addition, the major faults changed their sense
of movement leading to tilting of the western and the north-
western blocks that later received Quaternary deposits (Burollet,
1951; Melki, 1997), such as in the case of the collapse of the east-
ern edge of the Jalta basin following the change movement on the
Messeftine fault. All the post-Pliocene structures are related to the
N160–180 compression of the post-Villafranchian event.
This surface and subsurface study in north-eastern Tunisia pro-
poses a strike slip transtensional and transpressional model for the
foreland Neogene basins of the Tellian domain. The evolutionary
model suggested for this area highlights the importance of Lute-
tian tectonic heritage. It shows the role of the previous N30 and
N-S master strike slip faults on the genesis and evolution of the
Neogene basins from the Serravallian.
Acknowledgments
The authors sincerely thank Dr. Randell Stephenson, Editor-
in-Chief of The Journal for their guidance in the research of this
topic, and the anonymous referees for constructive suggestions to
improve this manuscript. Special thanks are given to Dr. Hmidou El
Ouardi Professor of the Meknès Faculty of Sciences (Morocco) for
stimulating scientific discussions.
This study is financially supported by the FST, CERTE and
ONM National Research and Industrial Organisms. It is a part of
the Tunisian-Morocco Corporation for the Scientific Research and
Technology Domain (Reference 10/TM 34). We wish to thank ETAP-
exploration division and in particular Dr. A. Amri, who gave us
access to the subsurface data.
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