LAUSR

We determine the structural architecture of the hydrothermal system of Hammam Bouhadjar area (Northwest of Algeria) by the use of geophysical data. New gravity and electrical surveys covered an area of about 48 km2 in 2009. There were 350 gravity measurements made with a sampling of 500 m and 45 electrical soundings (Schlumberger type, AB = 1000 m). The Bouguer anomaly map shows a regression of gravity field towards the NW and SE. All of the observed anomalies are elongated in NE–SW direction. The results obtained from different processing methods (gradients, upward continuation, Euler deconvolution, wavelet transform and modelling) of gravity data were used to generate structural map of the studied area. The vertical and horizontal variations of resistivity confirm the presence of superficial and deeper faults system. Following the geophysical (gravity and electrical) analysis and modelling, we propose a model to explain the origin of the Hammam Bouhadjar thermal waters. We suggest that the hot spring water comes from an aquifer located in sandstones lenses in the Senono-Oligocene Tellian unit. Following the gravity modelling the aquifer is identified at about 800 m, the same depth where the geothermal gradient is insufficient to heat the water. In these circumstances, the aquifer is probably heated by volcanic processes connected with a hot compartment by faults and contacts affecting structures identified in depth. The presence of a conductor along of the horseshoe area suggests that the water percolates into this area and then is drained by the different accidents to invade the whole area.