Quaternary tectonics and fault-related folds in the Hammamet Gulf (Tunisian offshore).

The Jriba trough is an Upper Miocene graben located within the Tunisian offshore Gulf of Hammamet area, east of the Atlas front. This distensive structure suffered a compressive event during the Early Quaternary (Villafranchian). The Jriba structure was previously interpreted as 'flower structured. which possibly complicated by halokinctics movements. A new analysis of a set of seismic lines crossing the Jriba trough allows us to propose a new tectonic model where the Villafranchian deformation is characterized by (1) occurrence of a decollement level cutting Messinian to Pliocene layers; and (2) the growth of fault-related folds (fault-propagation fold). The NE-SW Miocene, inherited normal faults, locate the position of the ramps and folds whereas the NW-SE inherited normal faults are reactivated as tear faults. These NW-SE tear faults define various domains of different shortening values (one kilometre at maximum).