GEOLOGICAL STUDY AND PHYSICO-CHEMICAL AND BACTERIOLOGICAL QUALITY OF THE THERMAL WATERS OF THE "AIN HAMRA" SOURCE OF THE TAZA PROVINCE(RIF ORIENTAL-MOROCCO)

Abstract

The Moroccan thermal spring of Ain Hamra is located 1 km from the provincial road connecting Aknoul to Bourd and a few kilometers from Ajdir (Province of Taza).It’s used by many curists for its healing properties. This study aims ahydrogeochemical and bacteriological analysis of Ain Hamra waters to determine the correlation between the geological structure and the physicochemical composition, and to prevent the health risk related to the use of these waters.

This study showed that this water is particularby high iron and carbon dioxide content, and its high natural mineralization. The tectonic analysis by computer processing of the faults alloweddeducing the emergence fault, the origin of the CO2 which is infracrustal as well as the iron resulting from the waters of the basement alteration cuirasses and the metamorphic rocks (FeCO3). The results of the bacteriological analyzes of Ain Hamra spring waters, showed the total absence of the germs responsible of the nonconformity of the waters and revealed that these waters are of excellent bacteriological quality.