Geology Reference
In-Depth Information
5
Discussion and Conclusions
However, the preservation of this rich biodiversity and
enhancing recognition of its value is an indispensable pre-
liminary step towards the sustainable development of geo-
tourism, especially ecotourism.
An aspiring geopark region, the Doukkala-Abda is charac-
terized by a varied and rich natural heritage, which includes
geomorphological, geological and cultural features. Its bio-
diversity and geodiversity and signi
cant geotourist poten-
tial offer the prospect of sustainable development cultural
geotrails for both education and tourism. This will require
full evaluation and, at present, the geoheritage component in
particular is currently under-valued and poorly known by the
local communities, visitors and policy makers. Indeed, vis-
itors come, for the most part, during the summer holidays to
enjoy the region
4
Technical Geosites: The Mining Heritage
of Doukkala-Abda
The mineral potential of the Doukkala-Abda region is sig-
ni
cant and well known. The main deposits are the phos-
phates of the Ganntour basin, which represent 37 % of the
national reserves (Annual Report of the Ch
ce of
Phosphates
2011
), the barite deposits worked at Jbel Irhoud,
the gypsum vein deposits of the Chemmaia basin, and the
Zima Lake salt deposits.
We focus here only on the Ganntour sedimentary phos-
phate deposit, because it is Morocco
é
ri
an Of
s numerous and beautiful beaches. In order
to stimulate their interest towards other kinds of activities,
and to encourage them to learn more about the region they
are visiting, appropriate methods need to promoted, such as
the creation of interpretative centers and information panels,
and museums. Moreover, the development of instructional
geotrails linking geosites in the coastal zone to those in
hinterland will help to develop the region in a sustainable
and holistic way, and will offer a new year round tourist
product (Errami et al.
2013
). This strategy will promote and
bene
'
s most important mineral
resource. The Ganntour basin deposit underlies an area of
approximately 125 km in length, 15 km in width and oriented
E-W. The reserves are estimated to be 2 billion m
3
(
Of
'
cial
website of the Cheri
ce of Phosphate
(
OCP
)).
The phosphates were deposited during the Late Cretaceous
(Maastrichtian) to Early Eocene (Early Lutetian) interval
(Noubhani
1993
). The sedimentary rocks that host the deposits
are also some of the country
an Of
t rural destinations situated in the hinterland of the
region.
However, this process of evaluation and strategy devel-
opment should include all the components of the region
s richest in fossils, yielding many
marine varieties and, occasionally, as in the Ouled Abdoun
basin, well-preserved continental vertebrate remains. Apart
from Selachian (sharks, rays) teeth, which are the most
abundant and diversi
'
s
heritage, not only the many sites and features of geological
interest and value. For this reason, several mechanisms and
measures are highly recommended:
(1) The continued preparation and completion of detailed
inventories of sites of high patrimonial signi
'
ed fauna (see below), they contain bony
shes, marine reptiles including plesiosaurs, mosasaurs,
crocodiles, as well as terrestrial sauropods and mammals (the
oldest proboscideans) (Bardet et al. in press). The Ganntour
basin has provided 138 species of Selachians, including spe-
cies identi
cance
through the creation of a GIS databases (Geographic/
Geologic Information System database);
(2) The promotion of geoheritage and its importance to
society by offering organized
rst time and which are exclusive to
this basin. They include
Ginglymostoma erramii
,
Gingly-
mostoma botmaense
,
Plicatoscyllium gharbii
,and
Foumtizia
gadaensis
(Noubhani
1993
; Noubhani and Cappetta
1997
).
In the framework of the OCP Group
ed here for the
eld trips for not only
scientists, but students, scholars, associations, the local
people and the wider public, including tourists. Such
activities could provide a source of entertainment and
intellectual enrichment;
(3) To increase awareness of the importance of natural,
geographical, geological, and cultural heritages through
the organization of cultural activities such as confer-
ences, workshops, exhibitions, and use of
s recent ecological
and sustainable development strategy, some of the phosphate
deposits merit formal declaration as geoparks (Noubhani
2011
). The palaeontological wealth of the phosphate for-
mations has, however, led the OCP Group to plan the
establishment of a museum of palaeontology in the mining
town of Khouribga, to display the fossils collected from the
phosphate basins.
In this context the Gantour basin could also form part of the
proposed thematic geotrail, linking key phosphate outcrops and
industrial areas (extraction sites and treatment). A combined
interpretative center and museum would assist to promote
sustainable socio-economic activities in the region,
cf
.the
museumplanned for theOuledAbdounbasin (Noubhani
2011
).
'
'
via local and national TV, publications radio and
Internet based systems;
(4) The creation of indicative and interpretative panels,
interpretative centers, museums, and geotrails will help
to emphasise the importance of valuing and conserving
our regional heritage, and provide the opportunity to
promote and develop our local products.
(5) A closer link between the geosites outlined in this paper
and the historical and cultural monuments of
'
the media
the
