Vertical electrical sounding (VES) as a geoelectrical method has proven its effectiveness throughout the history of groundwater geophysical investigation. In this sense, VES was carried out 47 in the study area with the aim of determining the geometry and limits of Quaternary basaltic aquifer formations and, above all, the location of electrical discontinuities in the area located in the north of Morocco, between the center of Almis Guigou and the city of Timahdite. This area is experiencing an overexploitation of the groundwater due to excessive pumping and the development of intensive agriculture activities, resulting in a continuous decrease in piezometric levels. The processing of the diagrams by WINSEV software showed the presence of an electrically resistant surface level, attributed to basaltic formations, of the Quaternary age, whose thicknesses reach at least 150 m to the SW of the area. This level is superimposed on a moderately conductive horizon which, according to local geology, corresponds to Pliocene marl and limestone alternations. The correlation of VES interpretation models allowed us to elaborate thematic maps and geoelectrical sections which illustrate the vertical and lateral extension of the basaltic reservoir as well as its thickness, which decreases in general from the south-west to the north-east; however, the main electrical discontinuities also correspond to faults and fractures, and they show a NE–SW direction sub-parallel to the major accidents of the Middle Atlas. A prospectivity map of the local aquifer was generated, coinciding with regional fault lines and confirmed by the alignment of very good flowing water boreholes. This geophysical study by electrical sounding shed light on the geometry and extension of the aquifer and opened avenues to draw further conclusions on its physical and hydrodynamic characteristics, as well as to optimize the future siting of groundwater exploitation boreholes through the elaboration of the local aquifer prospectivity map.

Fallas normales y diques clásticos son estructuras comunes que afectan a las calizas lacustres de la cuenca de antepaís Saiss, al norte de Marruecos. Estas estructuras extensionales y de dilatación tienen dos direcciones principales NNW-SSE y NE-SW y están relacionadas con episodios tectónicos recientes cuaternarios en calizas masivas y travertinos. Estas estructuras tensionales se han analizado en diferentes localizaciones de la ciudad de Meknes y áreas cercanas. Las fallas normales tienen geometría lístrica y afectan a areniscas y calizas, determinando en ocasiones estructuras de tipo horst-graben. Los diques clásticos aparecen solamente en las calizas, rellenos de arcillas rojas resultado de la alteración de suelos por la infiltración de agua de lluvia y clastos procedentes de las paredes. Tienen una disposición vertical a subvertical y están asociados a las fallas normales y fracturas. Estos resultados definen la tectónica extensional del Cuaternario tardío y contribuyen a comprender el origen de estas estructuras tensionales.