The Miocene Roof Mapping Using Microtremor Recording and Electrical Survey Method in Blida City, Algeria

• Published in: Pure and applied geophysics 2018, Vol.175 (1), p.287-301
• Main Authors: Bouchelouh, Assia, Bensalem, Rabah, Zaourar, Naima, Machane, Djamel, Moulouel, Hakim, Oubaiche, El Hadi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alluvial deposits; Alluvium; Bedrock; Boreholes; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Earthquakes; Electric contacts; Electricity; Fluvial deposits; Geology; Geophysics/Geodesy; Hydrogeological studies; Hydrogeology; Mapping; Miocene; Rivers; Seismic hazard; Soil; Soundings; Substrata; Surveying
• ISSN: 0033-4553; 1420-9136
• DOI: 10.1007/s00024-017-1684-x

Bedrock depths in the Mitidja basin in general and in the Blida region in particular are still poorly known despite, the existence of some relatively deep hydraulic boreholes that intersect only superficial alluvial formations. To assess the seismic risk of Blida town, knowledge of soil amplification requires the thickness and properties of sedimentary formations that cover the substratum. For the purposes of our study, the thicknesses obtained by the vertical electric soundings, carried out in the hydrogeological study of the basin, were combined with horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio (HVSR) microtremor recordings. This combination made it possible to determine an empirical relationship between frequency and thickness specific to the Blida site area, which enabled the roof of the Miocene to be mapped and shows slight undulations with directions compatible with the tectonic constraints of the region. The boundaries between the low and high frequencies obtained by HVSR are well materialized, at south by Sidi El Kebir river, at west by Chiffa river and in the central part by a line of direction SE–NW corresponding to the old passage of Sidi El Kebir river. The presence of low frequencies attributed to the old alluvial deposits with significant thicknesses that originate just after Sidi El Kebir river confirms that the South Mitidjian contact is subvertical.