The karst system of the Fontaine de Vaucluse (Southeastern France)

The intake area of the Fontaine de Vauctuse system covers over 1,100 km²; its mean altitude is 870 m. The Lower Cretaceous limestones (1,500 m thick) give the system a very thick (800 m) unsaturated zone.Karstification is very well developed, both on the intake area (four sinkholes are more than 500 m deep) and on the lower part (sunken cave of 300 m depth under the spring). The bottoms of the sinkholes of the plateau do not reach the saturated zone of the karst, as their flows have chemical composition similar to seepage water. The maximum hydraulic gradient between the plateau and the spring is low, only 0.3%. Dye tracings allow assigning the Ventoux-Lure range (including its calcareous northern side with a southward dipping) and the Vaucluse Plateau to the intake area. The moisture balance, calculated for each altitude belt, shows that the effective rainfall strongly increases with altitude: 120 mm below 200 m, 1,300 mm over 1,800 m. The working of the system, studied by means of discharge, physical and chemical content, is one of a well-karstified milieu that reacts with a light inertia upon rainy periods. The system is made up of important reserves, peculiarly within the unsaturated zone, which maintain long decline and depletion episodes. Despite its large average discharge (21 m³·sec^–1), the spring is not harnessed and thus no general protection exists on the intake area. Only local protection is provided by protection areas around some piped little springs of the plateau. A Biosphere Preserve will protect as a whole the higher part of the intake area—Mount Ventoux.     

L'érosion des chaînes de montagnes : influence de la sédimentation de piedmont

The applanation of mountain belts that results in peneplain is generally considered to be caused by the long-term activity of erosion. Peneplanation has been previously defined as the lowering of an elevated topography and the concomitant subduing of its relief. We propose a model following which piedmont sedimentation induces the base level rise, allowing applanation to develop at high elevation and resulting in an elevated ‘peneplain’. This model is illustrated by the morphological evolution of the southern flank of the Pyrenees during the Cainozoic. To cite this article: J. Babault, J. Van Den Driessche, C. R. Geoscience 337 (2005).     

Évaluation de la qualité de l'eau par application de la méthode géoélectrique : exemple de la plaine d'El Mida–Gabes nord (Sud tunisien)

The Mida plain, which is part of the North Gabès region (southern Tunisia), is characterized by the deep sandy units of the ‘Continental intercalaire’ (CI) or the limestone of the Lower Senonian. A geophysical survey, by electrical sounding (ES), was undertaken in the studied region to better characterize the deep geological structure of this plain and therefore its aquifer resources potential. The analysis of the results shows that the prospected zone is characterized by the succession of several levels with contrasted resistivities, which are often affected by faults. Among these observed geoelectrical levels, the highly conductor one could host a saline aquifer. Another geoelectrical level corresponding to the resistant bedrock detected at Oudhref horst can contain better-quality water than that of the aquifer detected in the El Mida Graben. In this work, we tried to explain the origin of the salinity of this aquifer. Thus, we hypothesise about a contamination from Jebel Zemlet El Beida through a border fault and another one from the Sebkhet El Hamma. To cite this article: A. Mhamdi et al., C. R. Geoscience 338 (2006).     

Apport de la gravimétrie à l'étude des structures profondes du Sahel de Tunisie (cas de la région de Kairouan–Sousse–Monastir)

The monotony of the surface and of the deep structure of the Sahel domain in eastern Tunisia (low topographic area covered by a Quaternary series) induces the possible existence of an important subsiding collapsed block and associated faulted zones. Gravity data analyses have permitted the reconnaissance of the crustal and gravimetric setting of the northern part of the Sahel domain and the discussion of main outlines of subsurface structures. The deep structure of a particular zone (Kairouan–Sousse–Monastir area) demonstrates the existence of an east-west en-doigt-de-gant crustal thinning confirmed by the gravity data. This deep structuring is perfectly showed by the high-resolution second-order enhanced analytic signal technique developed to image geologic boundaries such as contacts and faults. This technique, correlated with the distribution of all seismic events in the last century, has permitted to define an important east–west Kairouan–Sousse–Monastir tectonic corridor (CKSM). This corridor corresponds to major faults oriented east-west, were some folded structures can be developed. To cite this article: H. Gabtni, C. R. Geoscience 337 (2005).     

Le passage Ordovicien–Silurien et la partie inférieure du Silurien (Sud-Est du Massif armoricain, France)The Ordovician–Silurian transition and the lower part of the Silurian (southeastern Armorican Massif, France)

A new section in the Silurian graptolitic ‘phtanites’ (black cherts) of Les Fresnaies at Chalonnes-sur-Loire (SE Armorican Massif) shows for the first time that these rocks (1) succeed conformably to Uppermost Ordovician (Hirnantian) glaciomarine deposits and (2) contain successive graptolite assemblages that characterise the base of the Silurian, the whole Rhuddanian and Aeronian stages and the lower part of the Telychian. To cite this article: J.M. Piçarra et al., C. R. Geoscience 334 (2002) 1177–1183.     

Lithostratigraphie et histoire paléozoïque à paléocène des complexes métamorphiques de la région de Muteh, zone de Sanandaj–Sirjan (Iran méridional)Lithostratigraphy and Palaeozoic to Palaeocene history of some metamorphic complexes from Muteh area, Sanandaj–Sirjan zone (southern Iran)

A detailed analysis of metamorphic complexes outcropping in the Muteh area in central Iran leads to establish the regional stratigraphical column, and to propose a Palaeozoic age for the metamorphic protolith that mainly consists of volcano-sedimentary units. ⁴⁰K---⁴⁰Ar ages for minerals suggest the Mesozoic age of the metamorphic amphiboles and the Palaeocene ones for a late or even post metamorphic bimodal magmatism. To cite this article: N. Rachidnejad-Omran et al., C. R. Geoscience 334 (2002) 1185–1191.     

Prospection géoélectrique pour l'étude de l'aquifère thermal des calcaires récifaux, Hmeïma–Boujabeur (Centre ouest de la Tunisie)

The Hmeïma–Boujabeur zone is considered as an important geothermal province for Tunisia. The reef limestone, characterized by intense fracturation and important karstification, confers them the property to be a regional thermal aquifer. A geophysical study based on two complementary geoelectrical methods, the Electrical Sounding (ES) and Magneto-Telluric Sounding (MTS), turned out to be very efficient to provide a complete electrical image of the underground until about 1-km depth. The synthetic approach integrating all data allowed us to delimit the favourable area for thermal water exploitation. To cite this article: M. Gouasmia et al., C. R. Geoscience 338 (2006).     

Paléoclimat des Petites Antilles depuis 4000 ans BP : l'enregistrement de la lagune de Grand-Case à Saint-Martin

A 2.5-m-thick sequence of lake sediments at the Étang de Grand-Case, Saint Martin (French West Indies) is studied here. Significant hydrological budget fluctuations allows distinction of three main climatic periods: (1) an overall dry period (4200 BP–2300 BP), characterised by carbonated mud, gypsum and storm sand layers; (2) a wet phase (2300 BP–1150 BP) dominated by organic mud; and (3) a more complex phase (1150 BP to present), with detrital inputs due to human activities. Comparison with other regional high-resolution records shows that similar climate modifications typify the whole Mesoamerican and Caribbean area. The climatic phenomena that are implicated in the variations of both precipitation and hurricane frequency over the Lesser Antilles are due to the latitudinal displacement of the inter-tropical convergence zone. These data give new support to the hypothesis of the existence of a correlation between peopling phases and climate variations in the Caribbean as previously proposed by some archaeologists. To cite this article: P. Bertran et al., C. R. Geoscience 336 (2004).     

Milieux coralliens du Dogger près de Betioky (Madagascar) : la fin d'une exceptionCorallian meadows in the Dogger near Betioky (Madagascar): the end of an exception

Corallian outcrops of the Dogger in the Betioky area (Madagascar) have been previously interpreted as barrier reefs or atolls involved in a large carbonate platform. This statement appeared exceptional for these times. A field study demonstrates that, in fact, they are only sparse solitary or colonial corals, whose growth occurred with some difficulty. They developed in meadows strongly marked by terrigenous inputs, in a subsiding context, and during brief episodes favourable to the genesis of ooids. To cite this article: B. Lathuilière et al., C. R. Geoscience 334 (2002) 1169–1176.     

Découverte des roches à affinité ophiolitique dans la chaîne panafricaine au Cameroun : les talcschistes de Ngoung, Lamal Pougue et Bibodi Lamal

Outcrops of talc schists extending over >1 km have been discovered within the garnet- and muscovite-bearing mica schist of the Pan-African belt near Yaoundé (Cameroon). Mineralogical studies show that a metamorphism of the upper greenschist facies was prolonged by hydrothermal reactions. This latter led to the transformation of hornblendites into talc schists. Chemically, talc schists and relicts of hornblendite remind ultrabasic rocks, and REE patterns point to E-MORB and peridotite. It is thus suggested that the talc schists and relicts of hornblendite may correspond to slices of a dismembered Pan-African ophiolite set. To cite this article: C. Nkoumbou et al., C. R. Geoscience 338 (2006).     

Enregistrement de phénomènes de resédimentation au cours du Maastrichtien supérieur et du Paléocène supérieur (J. Serj, Tunisie atlasique) : apport micropaléontologique et signature tectono-eustatique

Sedimentological and biostratigraphic analysis of Campanian–Maastrichtian reduced series of the J. Serj permitted to characterize two episodes of submarine erosion. The first is pre-Upper Maastrichtian (Rosita contusa zone), the second is pre-Upper Palaeocene (Morozovella velascoensis zone). Thus, two type-1 boundary surfaces are distinguished. These surfaces limit three stratigraphic intervals in apparent continuity. Syn-sedimentary tectonic activity is attested by gravity deposits or processes (conglomerates, slumps). To cite this article: A. Amri et al., C. R. Geoscience 337 (2005).     

Âges KAr des roches magmatiques du fossé de Garoua (Cameroun) : leur place dans le cadre de la « Ligne du Cameroun »

KAr analyses on whole rock and minerals are reported for the Kokoumi anorogenic pluton and alkaline volcanics of the Benue valley, west of Garoua (northern Cameroon), which belong to the northern part of the ‘Cameroon Line’. The two formations yield similar ages of 39 and 37 Ma, respectively. These values likely correspond to the time of emplacement. They are in agreement with the interpretation considering the ‘Cameroon Line’ as a huge lithospheric crack tapping a hot deep asthenospheric zone. To cite this article: R. Montigny et al., C. R. Geoscience 336 (2004).     

Bathymay : la structure sous-marine de Mayotte révélée par l'imagerie multifaisceaux

The BATHYMAY marine survey was carried out in January 2004 around the French volcanic island of Mayotte, onboard the research vessel Marion Dufresne 2. Multibeam bathymetry revealed for the first time the morphology of the whole outer slope. Preliminary interpretations show broad canyons that deeply incise the slope, numerous volcanoes and huge landslides. Large submarine plateaus are also highlighted, bounded by steep cliffs and active normal faults. A model for Mayotte is suggested, in which eruptive activity, sometimes influenced by normal faulting, was concentrated along a N140° regional line (the Comoros archipelago axis), with landslide activity concentrated on the northeastern and southwestern flanks of this line. To cite this article: J.-C. Audru et al., C. R. Geoscience 338 (2006).     

L'upwelling de la côte atlantique du Maroc entre 1994 et 1998

The pelagic ecosystem of the Moroccan Atlantic coast is influenced by the spatiotemporal variability of upwelling. The changes in the physicochemical and biological parameters as well as their interrelationship and regrouping by the principal components analysis allowed us to subdivide the Atlantic coast in four active areas: two areas located at the north of Cape Juby (28°N), characterised by a summery activity and two areas located at the south, active permanently, with a variable intensity. To cite this article: A. Makaoui et al., C. R. Geoscience 337 (2005).     

Un Pachyerymnoceras arabique dans le Callovien supérieur du Dahar (Sud tunisien), nouvel élément de datation du membre Ghomrassène (formation Tataouine) ; corrélations avec l'Arabie Saoudite et le Moyen-Orient

The first ammonite discovered at the base of the Ghomrassène Member of the Tataouine Formation belongs to a species of Pachyerymnoceras from the Latest Callovian (Solidum Zone) of the Arabian province. The underlying Krechem el Miit Member is also dated Late Callovian, with a fauna of Pachyerymnoceras from the Lower Athleta Zone in Algeria. The associated faunas (echinids, brachiopods) are the same, as well as the faunas of the overlying Ksar Haddada Member, which is dated also Late Callovian, referring to the brachiopods faunal succession in Saudi Arabia. Correlations with other areas in Tunisia, Saudi Arabia and Middle East underline the same sedimentary evolution during a second-order transgressive half-cycle. To cite this article: R. Enay et al., C. R. Geoscience 334 (2002) 1157–1167.

Résumé

La première ammonite découverte à la base du membre Ghomrassène de la formation Tataouine est un Pachyerymnoceras de la partie supérieure du Callovien supérieur (Zone à Solidum) de la province arabique. Le membre Krechem el Miit sous-jacent est aussi daté du Callovien supérieur par des Pachyerymnoceras connus dans la partie inférieure de la Zone à Athleta en Algérie. La faune associée (échinides, brachiopodes) est la même que celle du membre Ksar Haddada sus-jacent, daté également du Callovien supérieur par référence à la succession des brachiopodes en Arabie Saoudite. Les corrélations avec les autres régions de Tunisie, l'Arabie Saoudite et le Moyen-Orient mettent en évidence une même évolution sédimentaire au cours d'un demi-cycle transgressif de deuxième ordre. Pour citer cet article : R. Enay et al., C. R. Geoscience 334 (2002) 1157–1167.     

Changement de faunes de bryozoaires dans le Valanginien supérieur des Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. Parallélisme avec la crise observée dans le Jura à la même époque

Dans le Valanginien supérieur (Marnes à Toxaster et Grande Lumachelle) des Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, la succession de deux faunes de bryozoaires est observée. Parmi les causes du changement de faune, le remplacement d'un fond vaseux en eau calme (Marnes à Toxaster) par un fond sableux coquillier en eau assez agitée (Grande Lumachelle) est certainement important. Cependant, ces modifications résultent elles-mêmes d'événements plus généraux.Le changement de faune peut être comparé à celui qui intervient dans le Jura au début de la zone à Trinodosum. La faune des Marnes à Toxaster (zone à Verrucosum) montre certaines des espèces caractéristiques de la “faune 1” du Jura et, de plus, les deux mêmes espèces dominantes. Le milieu de vasière des Marnes à Toxaster, opposé à celui de plate-forme carbonatée du Jura, entraîne seulement un appauvrissement spécifique. Quant à la faune de la grande Lumachelle, elle est absolument semblable à la “faune 2” récoltée dans les Marnes à bryozoaires et le Calcaire à Alectryonia du Jura.Ce parallélisme des deux faunes avec celles du Jura, malgré les différences de faciès sédimentaire, montre que le changement de faune, maintenant reconnu sur près de 400 km, résulte d'une même cause principale. Ainsi, l'hypothèse d'un refroidissement que j'ai proposée pour le Jura semble pouvoir être étendue à la Provence.The change of bryozoan fauna in the upper Valanginian of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. Parallelism with the crisis observed in the Jura at the same time.In the upper Valanginian (Marnes à Toxaster and Grande Lumachelle) of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, the succession of two bryozoan faunas is observed. Among the reasons for the change of fauna, the replacement of a muddy bottom in calm water (Marnes à Toxaster) by a sandy-shelly bottom in rather agitated water (Grande Lumachelle) is certainly important, but these modifications are the result of more general events. The change of fauna could be compared with the one that took place at the beginning of the Trinodosum Zone in the Jura. The fauna of the Marnes à Toxaster (Verrucosum Zone) shows some characteristic species of the “faune 1” of the Jura and, moreover, the same two dominating species. The muddy basin environment of the Marnes à Toxaster, unlike the carbonate platform environment in the Jura, involves only a specific impoverishment. As for the fauna of the Grande Lumachelle, it is totally identical to the “faune 2” found in the Marnes à bryozoaires and the Calcaire à Alectryonia of the Jura.This parallelism of the two faunas with those of the Jura, in spite of the differences of sedimentary facies, shows the change of the fauna now observed over about 400 km, has the same principal cause. Thus it seems possible to extend the cooling hypothesis I have proposed for the Jura, to Provence.     

Apport de la gravimétrie à l'étude de la structure du bassin des Triffa (Maroc nord-oriental) : implications hydrogéologiques

Various techniques (horizontal and vertical derivatives, upward continuation, Euler deconvolution) have been applied to the gravity data from the Triffa's plain and the north flank of the Beni-Snassen massif to delineate various major geological structures such as faults and basins. These results allow the production of a structural map showing the fault systems for the survey area. This map forms the basis for planning future hydrogeological research in this region. To cite this article: D. Khattach et al., C. R. Geoscience 336 (2004).     

Les séries du carbonifère inférieur de la région d''Adarouch, NE du Maroc central: lithologie et biostratigraphie

The early Carboniferous series of the Adarouch area (northeast central Morocco) are subdivided into three sedimentological and biostratigraphical units. The first unit, which belongs to the Late Visean zones V3bβ and V3bγ, was deposited on shallow carbonate platforms. The second unit belongs to the Late Visean zone, V3c, and incudes terrigenous deposits, such as turbidites, shales and olistostromes. The third unit belongs to the Serpukhovian stage and consists of sandstones and limestones. A new biostratigraphical analysis, which is based on foraminiferal, algae and pseudoalgae, allows an accurate dating of the units. The deposits of the zones V3bβ and V3bγ contain characteristic calcareous microfossils, such as Stacheoides sp., Pseudoendothyra sp. and Ungdarella uralica. The V3c zone (300–400 m) is shown in two oolitic beds of the Mouarhaz and Akerchi Formations, respectively, with Janischewskina sp. and Asteroarchaediscus sp. The Serpukhovian stage is characterised by the disappearance of the algae Koninckopora and the appearance of the brachiopod Titanaria. The new data from the Adarouch area confirm the Moroccan biostratigraphical scale of the Moroccan meseta.     

Contributions respectives des courants et de la houle dans la mobilité sédimentaire d'une plate-forme interne estuarienne. Exemple : le seuil interinsulaire,au large du pertuis d'Antioche,France

This paper investigates the relative influence of waves, wind-induced current and tidal current on the sediment mobility of a macro-tidal environment belonging to the inner shelf seaward of the ‘pertuis Charentais’ (France). This study, mainly based on three-week hydrodynamic in-situ measurements, shows that, for a water depth of 23 m, the swell (rather than wind waves) orbital velocity is large enough to initiate the motion of medium sands that are then transported by currents. Estimations show that medium sand of 0.2 mm is transported during 92% of the measurements, whereas coarse sand and gravel move sporadically, during storm, synchronously with spring tides. Further more, bedload fluxes appear strongly larger when waves are taken into account (370 times larger for 0.2-mm sands). To cite this article: D. Idier et al., C. R. Geoscience 338 (2006).