Mejri L., Regard V., Carretier Sébastien, Brusset Stéphane, Dlala M. (2010). Evidence of Quaternary active folding near Utique (Northeast Tunisia) from tectonic observations and a seismic profile. Comptes Rendus Geoscience, 342 (11), p. 864-872. ISSN 1631-0713.
Titre du document
Evidence of Quaternary active folding near Utique (Northeast Tunisia) from tectonic observations and a seismic profile
Mejri L., Regard V., Carretier Sébastien, Brusset Stéphane, Dlala M.
Source
Comptes Rendus Geoscience, 2010,
342 (11), p. 864-872 ISSN 1631-0713
The present-day seismicity in northeastern Tunisia reported from permanent networks is of low to moderate magnitude. However, earthquakes are mentioned in the literature, specially a destructive one in the antique city of Utique. Geologic, seismic, and neotectonic investigations in this area show that the Utique fold is closely related to the recent tectonic activity in this region. Data show that the Utique fold is built on an east-west fault, and we found evidence of activity of this fault in the past 20 kyr. A seismic section and balanced cross-section show that the slip rate is of the order of 0.38 mm.yr(-1). Our data show definitively the Late Pleistocene-Holocene activity of the Utique Fault; and we can predict the earthquake recurrence interval which should be of similar to 10(3)-10(4) yr. This high seismic risk zone deserves to be taken into account during the establishment of important regional development programs and in the application of seismic building codes.
