[en] Algeria displays various karst landscapes due to its diversity in lithology, relief, age and climate. On 16th June 1988, in the northwest of Algeria, a 60 m wide sudden collapse occurred in the Chelif Basin about 1 km north of a marginal carbonate platform. Despite this large event and visible karst dissolutions in the platform, this region has not been classified among the karst areas of Algeria yet. Our study focuses on this Messinian carbonates that form the northern piedmont of the Ouarsenis Mountain range and are covered to the north by Plio-Quaternary deposits. The geological and geomorphological data that we collected reveal that the present-day karstification is limited at the outcropping surface. Present-day carbonate dissolution is impeded by the absence of a topsoil supplying CO2 and by the presence of a calcrete improving the drainage. Although dissolution at depth is generally diffuse due to the porous and friable nature of the carbonates, two factors can, on the contrary, concentrate water infiltration: the presence of a network of more or less subvertical fractures and, occasionally, at the surface, the absence of calcrete, independently of the fracturing nodes There are few ponors and sinkholes present. The endokarst is still present as evidenced by rare caves. In epikarst, solution pipes and shelter caves are prevalent. The later results from differential weathering in relation with the carbonate facies and the progressive calcrete cementation in valleys and slopes during river incision. Near valley bottom, shelters are arranged in steps like terraces. This morphology is related to base-level lowering in relation with the deformation and uplift of the Ouarsenis piedmont. Near the southern edge of the Chelif Basin, deep (>55m) karstic voids are present and associated with paleo-valley incision presently burried by Plio-Quaternary deposits. We interpreted the large 1988 collapse in relation with this paleokarst and propose that its triggering was partly induced by a lowering of the aquifers due to a deficit of precipitation. The deep paleokarst formation and the buried river incision are attributed to the low base-level during the Messinian Salinity Crisis (5.97–5.33 Ma). We evidenced an upper karstic dissolution level filled that is attributed to a per ascendum evolution of the karstic phreatic network in relation with the following Pliocene aggradation.
Disciplines :
Earth sciences & physical geography
Author, co-author :
Moulana, Meriem L. ; Department of Geography, University of Liege, Liege, Belgium ; Faculty of Earth Sciences, Geographical and Territorial Planning, University of Science and Technology Houari Boumediene, Algiers, Algeria
Hubert, Aurelia ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de géographie > Géomorphologie et Géologie du Quaternaire
Guendouz, Mostefa; Faculty of Earth Sciences, Geographical and Territorial Planning, University of Science and Technology Houari Boumediene, Algiers, Algeria
Doutreloup, Sébastien ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de géographie > Climatologie et Topoclimatologie
Ek, Camille ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de géologie
Moulana, Meriem Lina ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Sphères ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Faculté des Sciences > Doct. scienc. (géographie) ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de géographie > Géomorphologie et Géologie du Quaternaire ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de géographie
Language :
English
Title :
Karstic geomorphology of carbonate Ouarsenis Piedmont (Boukadir region, Chelif) in Algeria: The role of the Messinian Salinity Crisis
The authors would like to thank Pr. Abdelhak BOUTALEB, director of the Laboratory of Metallogeny and Magmatism of Algeria (LMMA) FSTGAT – USTHB for his help and expertise especially in the field. We would also like to thank, Dr. Marthe LEFEVRE for her help, his proofreading and these suggestions and Pr. Med Said GUETTOUCHE, director of the Geomorphology and Geohazards (G&G) Laboratory, FSTGAT – USTHB for his help, and also the colleagues who accompanied us in the field: Mr. Abdeldjalil GOUMRASSA, Mr. Sofiane MEDDANE and Mr. Badreddine MOULANA. Many thanks to Pr. André OZER and Dr. Alexandre PEETERS, for their contributions in the observation and analysis of aerial photographs. We are grateful to the speleologists of the Caving Club of Algiers for having accompanied us to the collapse sinkhole of Bir Djeneb, to the managers of the quarry of Oued Sly and to the gendarmerie of Boukadir town. A special thanks to Mr. Saber ABDELAZIZ, speleologist for the photos. We warmly thank the Bejaia, Chelif and Oran speleology club.
Aïfa, T., Zaagane, M., Neotectonic deformation stages in the central Ouarsenis culminating zone, Northwestern Algeria. Arabian J. Geosci. 8:5 (2015), 2667–2680.
Alexandersson, T., Carbonate cementation in coralline algal nodules in the Skagerrak, North Sea; biochemical precipitation in undersaturated waters. J. Sediment. Res. 44:1 (1974), 7–26, 10.1306/74D72964-2B21-11D7-8648000102C1865D.
Arab, M., Bracene, R., Roure, F., Zazoun, R.S., Mahdjoub, Y., Badji, R., Source rocks and related petroleum systems of the Chelif Basin (western Tellian domain, north Algeria). Mar. Petrol. Geol. 64 (2015), 363–385, 10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2015.03.017.
Atif, K.F.T., Bessedik, M., Belkebir, L., Mansour, B., Saint Martin, J.P., Le passage Mio-Pliocène dans le bassin du Bas Chélif (Algérie). Biostratigraphie et paléoenvironnements. Geodiversitas 30:1 (2008), 97–116.
Audra, P., Mocochain, L., Camus, H., Gilli, E., Clauzon, G., Bigot, J.Y., The effect of the messinian deep stage on karst development around the Mediterranean Sea. Examples from southern France. Geodin. Acta 17:6 (2004), 389–400, 10.3166/ga.17.389-400.
Bakalowicz, M., Coastal Karst Groundwater in the Mediterranean: a resource to be preferably exploited onshore, not from karst submarine springs. Geosciences, 8(7), 2018, 258, 10.3390/geosciences8070258.
Ballais, J.L., Cohen, J., Intérêt morphogénétique et paléoclimatique des travertins des Aurès (Algérie). 1981, Actes du Colloque de l'Association des Géographes français: Formations carbonatées externes, tufs et travertins, Paris, 37–44 9 mai.
Beldjoudi, H., Delouis, B., Heddar, A., Nouar, O.B., Yelles-Chaouche, A., The Tadjena earthquake (Mw= 5.0) of December 16, 2006 in the Cheliff region (northern Algeria): waveform modelling, regional stresses, and relation with the Boukadir fault. Pure Appl. Geophys. 169:4 (2012), 677–691, 10.1007/s00024-011-0337-8.
Belhadji, A., Belkebir, L., Saint Martin, J.P., Mansour, B., Bessedik, M., Conesa, G., Apports des foraminifères planctoniques à la biostratigraphie du Miocène supérieur et du Pliocène de Djebel Diss (bassin du Chélif, Algérie). Geodiversitas 30:1 (2008), 79–96.
Besser, H., Dhaouadi, L., Hadji, R., Hamed, Y., Jemmali, H., Ecologic and economic perspectives for sustainable irrigated agriculture under arid climate conditions: an analysis based on environmental indicators for southern Tunisia. J. Afr. Earth Sci., 2021, 104134.
Bettahar, N., Effect of the climate and soil characteristics on the nitrogen balance in the north of Algeria. Horticulture, 1, 2012.
Bettahar, N., Kettab, A., Benamara, A., Douaoui, A., Effet des conditions pédoclimatiques sur le bilan d'azote. Cas de la vallée du moyen Cheliff Occidental. Algerian Journal Of Technology –AJOT, ISSN 111-357X, Number Special – An International Publication of Engineering Sciences 1 (2008), 441–447.
Bini, A., Rapports entre la karstification périméditerranéenne et la crise de salinité du Messinien. Karstologia 23 (1994), 33–53, 10.3406/karst.1994.2329.
Birebent, J., Rapport de spéléologie de l'Algérie: Inventaire. 1er Décembre 1947. 1947, Agence National Ressources Hydrauliques (ANRH), 13.
Birebent, J., Spéléologie & étude des puits de la région avoisinant le Merdja entre Inkermann & Charon (Département d'Oran et d'Alger). 1947, Agence National des Ressources hydrauliques, Alger, 17 le 28 Décembre 1947. Rapport.
Birebent, J., Explorations souterraines en Algérie. Campagne 1946—1947. Ann. Speleol., 3(2), 1948, 8.
Blanc, P., Ressources en eau des calcaires à lithothamorium de la rive gauche de l'Oued Chélif (Algérie). Ingenieurs Archit. Suisses 110:9 (1984), 129–132, 10.5169/seals-75297.
Bouchenouk, I., Processus d'enrichissement en nitrates des eaux souterraines dans les zones semi-arides, cas de la plaine de Boukadir (nord-ouest Algerien). 2013, Doctoral dissertation, univ oran 2.
Boulaine, J., Etude des sols des plaines du Cheliff. 1957, Thèse d'Etat de l'Université d'Alger, 582.
Bourillot, R., Vennin, E., Rouchy, J.M., Blanc-Valleron, M.M., Caruso, A., Durlet, C., The end of the Messinian salinity crisis in the western Mediterranean: insights from the carbonate platforms of south-eastern Spain. Sediment. Geol. 229:4 (2010), 224–253, 10.1016/j.sedgeo.2010.06.010.
Brahmi, S., Baali, F., Hadji, R., Brahmi, S., Hamad, A., Rahal, O., Zerrouki, H., Saadali, B., Hamed, Y., Assessment of groundwater and soil pollution by leachate using electrical resistivity and induced polarization imaging survey, case of Tebessa municipal landfill, NE Algeria. Arabian J. Geosci. 14:4 (2021), 1–13.
Brives, A., Ferrand, M., Carte géologique de l'Algérie 1:50,000: 105. 1912, Service géologique de l'Algérie, Alger.
BURGAP. Prospection géophysique à travers la région: HAMADNA - BOUKADIR. Wilaya de Relizane. Rapport définitif. 2004, Agence National Ressources Hydrauliques (ANRH), 57.
C.G.G. Etude Hydrologique par prospection électrique et sismique dans l'oued Sly. 1966.
Clauzon, G., Le canyon messinien du Rhône; une preuve décisive du" desiccated deep-basin model" (Hsü, Cita et Ryan, 1973). Bull. Soc. Geol. Fr. 7:3 (1982), 597–610.
Collignon, B., Les principaux karsts d'Algérie, Quelques éléments de synthèse, actes du 9ème Congrès National de la SSS. 1991, Nationalen kongresses der SHG Akten des 9.
Collignon, B., Karsts et grottes d'Algérie. Les principales régions karstiques d'Algérie et leurs cavités le splus remarquables. geomorphology and environmental change. Karstologia Mémoires n°27-2022. 2022, Assossiation Française de Kartologie, 255.
Costa, G., Bavestrello, G., Cattaneo-Vietti, R., Pierre, F.D., Lozar, F., Natalicchio, M., Violanti, D., Pansini, M., Rosso, A., Bertolino, M., Palaeoenvironmental significance of sponge spicules in pre-Messinian crisis sediments, Northern Italy. Facies 67:2 (2021), 1–21, 10.1007/s10347-020-00619-4.
Delattre, N., Les puits naturels du Tournaisis. Étude de leur localisation et contribution à l’étude de leur genèse. Ann. Soc. Geol. Belg. 108 (1985), 117–123.
Derder, M.E.M., Henry, B., Amenna, M., Bayou, B., Maouche, S., Besse, J., Abtout, A., Boukerbout, H., Bessedik, M., Bourouis, S., Ayache, M., Tectonic evolution of the active Chelif basin (northern Algeria) from paleomagnetic and magnetic fabric investigations. New Frontiers in Tectonic Research–At the Midst of Plate Convergence, 2011, 3–26.
Derijcke, F., Le karst souterrain du Tournaisis, du Paléozoïque à aujourd'hui. Ann. Soc. Geol. Belg. 102 (1979), 27–30.
Ek, C., Mathieu, L., Lacroix, D., Croûtes et encroûtements calcaires en climat méditerranéen. L'exemple du bled Ouljamane (Maroc oriental). Actes du Colloque de l'Association des Géographes français: Formations carbonatées externes, tufs et travertins, vol. 3, 1981, Association française de Karstologie, mémoire, 61–72.
Ek, C., Les phénomènes karstiques. Géomorphologie de la Belgique, Hommage au Professeur P. Macar, A. Pissart, éd. sc., 1976, Laboratoire de Géographie physique de l'Université de Liège, 137–157 224.
Ek, C., Jaspar, A., Michel, R., La cartographie des contraintes karstiques en Région wallonne (Belgique). Bulletin de la Société géographique de Liège 36 (1999), 53–64.
Ek, C., Michel, R., Mousny, V., Closson, D., Dynamics of the karstic features of Sprimont (Belgium) and its consequences on land use planning. Preliminary note. Proceedings of the 12th International Congress of Speleology, vol. 5, 1997, La-Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, 13–14.
Esteban, M., Klappa, C.F., Subaerial exposure environments. Shole, P.A., Bebout, D.G., Moore, C.H., (eds.) Carbonate Depositional Environments, 1983, American Association of Petroleum Geologists. Memoir 33, 1–54.
FAO. The State of Food and Agriculture, vol. 37, 1989, Food & Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO).
Gocke, M., Pustovoytov, K., Kuzyakov, Y., Pedogenic carbonate formation: recrystallization versus migration—process rates and periods assessed by 14C labeling. Global Biogeochem. Cycles, 26(1), 2012, 10.1029/2010GB003871.
Goudie, A.S., Calcrete. Goudie, A.S., Pye, K., (eds.) Chemical Sediments and Geomorphology, 1983, Academic Press, London, 93–131.
Hamad, A., Abdeslam, I., Fehdi, C., Badreddine, S., Mokadem, N., Legrioui, R., Hadji, R., Hamed, Y., Vulnerability characterization for multi-carbonate aquifer systems in semiarid climate, case of Algerian–Tunisian transboundary basin. International Journal of Energy and Water Resources, 2021, 1–14.
Hamed, Y., Hadji, R., Redhaounia, B., Zighmi, K., Bâali, F., El Gayar, A., Climate impact on surface and groundwater in North Africa: a global synthesis of findings and recommendations. Euro-Mediterranean Journal for Environmental Integration, 3(1), 2018, 25.
Harris, I., Osborn, T.J., Jones, P., Lister, D., Version 4 of the CRU TS monthly high-resolution gridded multivariate climate dataset. Sci. Data 7:1 (2020), 1–18, 10.1038/s41597-020-0453-3.
Hoffmann, R., Bitner, M.A., Pisera, A., Jäger, M., Auer, G., Giraldo-Gómez, V., Kočí, T., Buckeridge, J., Mueller, M., Stevens, K., Schneider, S., Late Miocene biota from the Abad member of the carboneras-nijar basin (Spain, Andalusia): a bathyal fossil assemblage pre-dating the messinian salinity crisis. Geobios 59 (2020), 1–28, 10.1016/j.geobios.2020.03.002.
Hsü, K.J., Cita, M.B., Ryan, W.B.F., The origin of Mediterranean evaporites. Ryan, W.B.F., Hsu, K.J., (eds.) Initial Rep. Deep Sea Drill. Proj., 13, 1972, 1203–1231.
Julian, M., Nicod, J., Paléokarsts et paléo-géomorphologie néogènes des Alpes Occidentales et régions adjacentes. Karstologia 4:1 (1984), 11–18, 10.3406/karst.1984.939.
Kingumbi, A., Bargaoui, Z., Hubert, P., Investigations sur la variabilité pluviométrique en Tunisie centrale. J. Sci. Hydrol. 50 (2009), 493–508, 10.1623/hysj.50.3.493.65027.
Krijgsman, W., Capella, W., Simon, D., Hilgen, F.J., Kouwenhoven, T.J., Meijer, P.T., Sierro, F.J., Tulbure, M.A., van den Berg, B.C.J., van der Schee, M., Flecker, R., The Gibraltar corridor: watergate of the Messinian salinity crisis. Mar. Geol. 403 (2018), 238–246, 10.1016/j.margeo.2018.06.008.
Krijgsman, W., Hilgen, F.J., Raffi, I., Sierro, F.J., Wilson, D.S., Chronology, causes and progression of the Messinian salinity crisis. Nature 400:6745 (1999), 652–655, 10.1038/23231.
Lipar, M., Webb, J.A., White, S.Q., Grimes, K.G., The genesis of solution pipes: evidence from the Middle–Late Pleistocene Bridgewater Formation calcarenite, southeastern Australia. Geomorphology 246 (2015), 90–103, 10.1016/j.geomorph.2015.06.013.
Lozar, F., Violanti, D., Bernardi, E., Dela Pierre, F., Natalicchio, M., Identifying the Onset of the Messinian Salinity Crisis: a Reassessment of the Biochronostratigraphic Tools (Piedmont Basin, NW Italy. 2018, 10.1127/nos/2017/0354.
LTPC. Collapse of the RN4 (Oued Sly. Boukadir). 1989, Center Public Works Laboratory, 58.
Mathieu, L., Lacroix, D., Ek, C., Rassel, A., Sols et croûtes calcaires dans la basse Moulouya intérieure. Recherches géographiques à Strasbourg, n° spécial 22–23 (1983), 97–109.
Mattauer, M., Étude géologique de l'Ouarsenis oriental. Bull. Serv. Carte Géol. Alger. (Nouvelle Séries) 17 (1958), 1–534.
Meddi, H., Meddi, M., Assani, A.A., Study of drought in seven Algerian plains. Arabian J. Sci. Eng. 39 (2014), 339–359, 10.1007/s13369-013-0827-3.
Meghraoui, M., Géologie des zones sismiques du Nord de l'Algérie: Paléosismologie, tectonique active et synthèse sismotectonique thèse d'État. université Paris-, 11, 1988, 356.
Meghraoui, M., Cisternas, A., Philip, H., Seismotectonics of the lower Cheliff basin: structural background of the El Asnam (Algeria) earthquake. Tectonics 5:6 (1986), 809–836.
Meghraoui, M., Morel, J.L., Andrieux, J., Dahmani, M., Tectonique plio-quaternaire de la chaine tello-rifaine et de la mer d'Alboran; une zone complexe de convergence continent-continent. Bull. Soc. Geol. Fr. 167:1 (1996), 141–157.
Mocochain, L., Audra, P., Clauzon, G., Bellier, O., Bigot, J.Y., Parize, O., Monteil, P., The effect of river dynamics induced by the Messinian Salinity Crisis on karst landscape and caves: example of the Lower Ardèche river (mid Rhône valley). Geomorphology, 2009, 10.1016/j.geomorph.2008.09.021.
Mocochain, L., Bigot, J.Y., Clauzon, G., Faverjon, M., Brunet, P., La grotte de Saint-Marcel (Ardèche): un référentiel pour l'évolution des endokarsts méditerranéens depuis 6 Ma. Karstologia 48:1 (2006), 33–50.
Mocochain, L., Clauzon, G., Bigot, J.Y., Réponses de l'endokarst ardéchois aux variations eustatiques générées par la crise de salinité messinienne. Bull. Soc. Géol. France 177:1 (2006), 27–36.
Mouici, R., Baali, F., Hadji, R., Boubaya, D., Audra, P., Fehdi, C.É., et al. Geophysical, Geotechnical, and Speleologic assessment for karst-sinkhole collapse genesis in Cheria plateau (NE Algeria). Min. Sci. 24 (2017), 59–71.
Moulana, M.L., Hubert-Ferrari, A., Guendouz, M., El Ouahabi, M., Boutaleb, A., Boulvain, F., Contribution to the sedimentology of the messinian limestones of Boukadir (Chelif 2 basin-Algeria). Geol. Belg., 2021, 10.20341/gb.2021.002.
Moulana, M.L., Le Miocène post-nappe de la vallée du Chélif. book: Karsts et grottes d'Algérie. Les principales régions karstiques d'Algérie et leurs cavités le splus remarquables. geomorphology and environmental change, 2022, Assossiation Française de Kartologie, 94–98 (Chapter 7): Le Tell Oranais. Karstologia Mémoires n°27-2022.
Mylroie, J., Mylroie, J., Humphreys, W., Brooks, D., Middleton, G., Flank margin cave development and tectonic uplift, Cape Range, Australia. J. Cave Karst Stud. 79:1 (2017), 35–47, 10.4311/2015ES0142.
Naimi, M.N., Mansour, B., Cherif, A., First record of the Halimeda-rich beds from the Tessala–beni chougrane messinian carbonate platform (lower Chelif Basin, NW Algeria). Conference: GeoConvention 2020. At: Calgary, Canada, 2020, 5.
Ncibi, K., Hadji, R., Hajji, S., Besser, H., Hajlaoui, H., Hamad, A., Mokadem, N., Ben Saad, A., Hamd, M., Hamed, Y., Spatial Variation of Groundwater Vulnerability to Nitrate Pollution under Excessive Fertilization Using Index Overlay Method in Central Tunisia (Sidi Bouzid Basin). 2021, Irrigation and Drainage.
Nekkoub, A., Baali, F., Hadji, R., Hamed, Y., The EPIK multi-attribute method for intrinsic vulnerability assessment of karstic aquifer under semi-arid climatic conditions, case of Cheria Plateau, NE Algeria. Arabian J. Geosci. 13:15 (2020), 1–15.
Neurdin-Trescartes, J., Le remplissage sédimentaire du bassin néogène du Chelif, modèle de référence de bassins intramontagneux. 1992, Thèse de Doctorat es Science, université de Pau et pays de l'Adour, France, 332.
Osborne, A., Eastern Australian karsts and caves are different. J. Cave Karst Stud. 79:1 (2017), 48–52.
Ourabia, K., Benallal, K., Report of the Collapse of RN4, vols. 1–3, 1989, Central Laboratory of Public Works, 7.
Penman, H.L., Natural evaporation from open water, bare soil and grass. Proc. Roy. Soc. Lond. 193 (1948), 120–145, 10.1098/rspa.1948.0037.
Perrodon, A., Etude géologique des bassins néogènes sublittoraux de l'Algérie occidentale (Doctoral dissertation), Serv. Carte Géol. Algérie, 12, 1957, 328 n.s.
Rouchy, J.M., Caruso, A., Pierre, C., Blanc-Valleron, M.M., Bassetti, M.A., The end of the Messinian salinity crisis: evidence from the Chelif Basin (Algeria). Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol. 254:3–4 (2007), 386–417, 10.1016/j.palaeo.2007.06.015.
Roveri, M., Flecker, R., Krijgsman, W., Lofi, J., Lugli, S., Manzi, V., Sierro, F.J., Bertini, A., Camerlenghi, A., De Langj, G., Govers, R., Hilgen, F.J., Hübscher, C., Meijer, P.Th, Stoica, M., The Messinian Salinity Crisis: past and future of a great challenge for marine sciences. Mar. Geol. 352 (2014), 25–58, 10.1016/j.margeo.2014.02.002.
Rubino, J.L., Haddadi, N., Camy-Peyret, J., Clauzon, G., Suc, J.P., Ferry, S., Gorini, C., Messinian salinity crisis expression along North African margin. North Africa Technical Conference and Exhibition, 2010, Society of Petroleum Engineers, 10.2118/129526-MS.
Ryan, W.B., Quantitative evaluation of the depth of the western Mediterranean before, during and after the Late Miocene salinity crisis. Sedimentology 23:6 (1976), 791–813, 10.1111/j.1365-3091.1976.tb00109.x.
Salem, B.B., Arid Zone Forestry: a Guide for Field Technicians. 1989, FAO Conservation Guide No.20 pp.vii + 143 pp. ref.8 pp.
Scet – Argi. Hydrologie - Hydrogéologie et bilan des ressources, Etude du réaménagement et de l'extension du périmètre du moyen Chéliff: Rap A1.1. 2. 1985, Pub. Ministère de l'Hydraulique, 72.
Sebbar, A., Badri, W., Fougrach, H., Hsain, M., Saloui, A., Study of the variability of the rainfall regime in northern Morocco (1935-2004). Drought 22:3 (2011), 139–148.
Tighilt, F.A., L'effondrement de Boukadir (Bas Chelif Oriental): Causes géologiques et risque lié à ce phénomène. 1990, Thèse de Doctorat, université des Sciences et de la Technologie Houari Boumedienne, USTHB.
Willems, L., Rodet, J., Karst and underground landscapes in the cretaceous chalk and calcarenite of the Belgian-Dutch border—the montagne saint-Pierre. Landscapes and Landforms of Belgium and Luxembourg, 2018, Springer, Cham, 177–192.
Willems, L., Rodet, J., Fournier, M., Laignel, B., Dusar, M., Lagrou, D., Pouclet, A., Massei, N., Dussart-Baptista, L., Compère, Ph, Ek, C., Polyphase karst system in Cretaceous chalk and calcarenite of the Belgian-Dutch border. Zeitschrift fur Geomorphologie 51:3 (2007), 361–376, 10.1007/978-3-319-58239-9_11.
Woodward, J.C., Lewin, J., Karst geomorphology and environmental change. The Physical Geography of the Mediterranean, 2009, Oxford University Press, 287–317, 10.1093/oso/9780199268030.003.0022.
Yacono, X., Colonisation des plaines du Chéliff (de Lavigerie au confluent de la Mina), 1955, Tome 1, Imprimerie Imbert, Alger.
Yelles-Chaouche, A., Boudiaf, A., Djellit, H., Bracene, R., La tectonique active de la région nord-algérienne. Compt. Rendus Geosci. 338:1–2 (2006), 126–139, 10.1016/j.crte.2005.11.002.
Zhang, Y., Jiang, Z., Outcrop characterization of an early Miocene slope fan system, Chelif Basin, Algeria. Energy Explor. Exploit. 29:5 (2011), 633–646, 10.1260/0144-5987.29.5.633.
