Jamel Ayari

RESEARCH, TEACHING, or OTHER INTERESTS

Geochemistry and Petrology, Earth and Planetary Sciences, Engineering

Scopus Publications

Major- and Trace-Element Geochemistry of Geothermal Water from the Nappe Zone, Northern Tunisia: Implications for Mineral Prospecting and Health Risk Assessment
Jamel Ayari, Maurizio Barbieri, Tiziano Boschetti, Anis Barhoumi, Ahmed Sellami, Ahmed Braham, Faouzi Manai, Faouzi Dhaha, and Abdelkarim Charef
MDPI AG
A comprehensive hydrogeochemical survey of the geothermal waters from the Nappe Zone (Maghrebides fold-and-thrust belt) was undertaken to determine the origins of geothermal waters and to assess the health risks associated with their potentially toxic elements. A total of 11 geothermal water and 3 stream water samples were collected and analysed for major and trace elements (As, B, Ba, Fe, Mn, Pb, Sr, Zn). Two main geothermal water groups were highlighted by hydrogeochemical diagrams and multivariate analyses (PCA, HCA): the first group is the Na−Cl type, TDS > 10 g/L, controlled by deep circulation, while the second group is the Na-Cl−HCO3 type, TDS < 2 g/L, and controlled by shallow circulation. A curved hydrogeochemical evolution path, observed from mixed bicarbonate shallow groundwater to chloride geothermal water, indicates that the interaction with evaporites drives the chemistry of the geothermal samples. On these, the As enrichments come from sulphide oxidation polymetallic mineralisation during the upwelling to the surface from E–W major lineaments. Therefore, E–W lineaments are potential areas for mineral prospecting. The health risk assessment reveals that the concentration of potentially toxic elements in geothermal waters are lower than the guideline values for the protection of freshwater aquatic life and dermal exposure (bathing or balneology).


Trace metal element pollution in media from the abandoned Pb and Zn mine of Lakhouat, Northern Tunisia
Jamel Ayari, Maurizio Barbieri, Anis Barhoumi, Tiziano Boschetti, Ahmed Braham, Faouzi Dhaha, and Abdelkarim Charef
Elsevier BV



Delineation of seawater intrusion and groundwater quality assessment in coastal aquifers: The Korba coastal aquifer (Northeastern Tunisia)
Jamel Ayari, Hassen Ouelhazi, Abdelkarin Charef, and Anis Barhoumi
Elsevier BV



Assessment of the historical evolution of the total and labile Pb, Zn, and Cd fractions and their environmental risks of the Jbel Ressas tailings and agricultural soil (NE Tunisia)
Rawya Nasraoui, Dalila Fkih Romdhan, Abdelkrim Charef, and Jamel Ayari
Springer Science and Business Media LLC



A regional-scale geochemical survey of stream sediment samples in Nappe zone, northern Tunisia: Implications for mineral exploration
Jamel Ayari, Maurizio Barbieri, Anis Barhoumi, Wajdi Belkhiria, Ahmed Braham, Faouzi Dhaha, and Abdelkarim Charef
Elsevier BV



Trace element contamination in the mine-affected stream sediments of Oued Rarai in north-western Tunisia: a river basin scale assessment
Jamel Ayari, Maurizio Barbieri, Yannick Agnan, Ahmed Sellami, Ahmed Braham, Faouzi Dhaha, and Abdelkarim Charef
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
AbstractHigh-quality and accurate environmental investigations are essential for the evaluation of contamination and subsequent decision-making processes. A combination of environmental geochemical indices, multivariate analyses and geographic information system approach was successfully used to assess contamination status and source apportionment of trace elements (Ag, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Sb, V and Zn) in surface stream sediments from the Oued Rarai basin in north-western Tunisia, containing various metal and metalloid ores. The contamination level reported in this study indicates a non-negligible potential ecological risk, mainly related to sediment transport along the river. Antimony (concentrations ranged from 0.02 to 297 mg kg−1 and Igeo > 5), arsenic (from 0.5 to 1490 mg kg−1 and Igeo > 5), lead (from 2.9 to 5150 mg kg−1 and Igeo > 5) mercury (from 0.05 to 54.4 mg kg−1 and Igeo > 5) and silver (from 0.05 to 9.4 mg kg−1 and Igeo > 5) showed the most crucial contamination. Besides, potential ecological risk index values were maximum for arsenic with a median of 302, indicating a very high to serious ecological risk (> 160). Results from correlation analysis and principal component analysis revealed three main geochemical associations related to lithologic, tectonic and anthropogenic sources. V, Cr and Cu mainly originated from natural bedrock and soil. Ag and Cd were more controlled by both natural and mining enrichments. Mercury and Pb were mostly influenced by the ancient ore-related activities at the Oued Rarai site and north-east–south-west trending faults. Finally, Sb, As, Ni and Zn were largely controlled by the siliciclastic continental Neogene sequences. Finally, the physical and chemical dynamics of the watershed system, lithological properties, mineralisation, tectonic settings and mobilisation of subsurface sediments largely controlled both concentrations and spatial patterns of trace elements in the study basin. These results need to be considered in the strategies of suitable environmental management at former and current mining sites in north-western Tunisia.


Tectonic controls on the salt diapir-related Mississippi Valley-type lead-zinc mineralization of Fej El Adoum ore deposit (Northern Tunisian Atlas): Constrains from detailed gravity and drill hole data
Anis Barhoumi, Wajdi Belkhiria, Jamel Ayari, Nouri Hatira, Ahmed Braham, and Faouzi Dhaha
Elsevier BV



Candidate areas for wastewater stabilization ponds utilizing GIS and metal adsorption capacities of native clayey deposits: Mornag case study (NE Tunisia)
Jamel Ayari, Rim Azouzi, Abdelkrim Charef, and Amor Smati
Springer Science and Business Media LLC



Spatial assessment and source identification of trace metal pollution in stream sediments of Oued El Maadene basin, northern Tunisia
J. Ayari, Y. Agnan, and A. Charef
Springer Science and Business Media LLC