Geology Reference
In-Depth Information
paysage, ces sections pr
é
sentent une vue panoramique de la lithologie et de la stratigraphie de
la s
é
rie phosphat
é
e, montrant aussi bien les caract
é
ristiques g
é
ologiques que les op
é
rations
è
é
ê
é
é
mini
res. Pour assurer le d
veloppement durable, la zone devrait
tre d
clar
e comme un
G
oparc o
ù
les activit
é
sg
é
ologiques sont encourag
é
es mais r
é
glement
é
es. En plus de la
é
protection et
la valorisation des richesses pal
é
ontologiques, une telle d
é
claration serait
b
é
n
é
que pour l
'é
conomie des populations locales pour lesquelles la collecte des fossiles est la
principale activit
éà
c
ô
t
é
de l
'
agriculture et l
'é
levage.
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Keywords
Morocco
Phosphates
OCP group
Geological and palaeontological heritage
Geotourism
Geopark
Sustainable development
Motscl
é
s
Maroc
Phosphates
Groupe OCP
G
é
opatrimoine
G
é
otourisme
G
é
oparc
D
é
veloppement durable
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[
*
1
Introduction
Pleistocene (Ramos
2013
). If con
rmed by fossils, these
North African Neanderthals would be the
rst hominids to
Morocco lies at the juncture of Africa and Europe, bordered to
the north by the Mediterranean Sea and to the west by the
Atlantic Ocean. The country has a diverse geography and
climate, from the temperate Rif, in the north zone, to
the Sahara Desert in the south. In addition, the geological
heritage is so rich that early French explorers described
Morocco as a
have populated Europe.
Thus,
c endeavours
already underway, Morocco has the potential to sponsor
cultural activities such as Geotourism. Geotourism is a
promising and environmentally-sustainable business
endeavour that will focus on the natural beauty of landscapes
and the world-renowned richness of Moroccan minerals and
fossils. If properly managed, geotourism promises to pro-
mote business development while also elevating global
awareness of the value and preciousness of Moroccan
environmental resources.
The presented proposal focuses on the late Cretaceous
and lower Paleogene phosphate deposits, which are natural
resources that play an essential role in the national economy.
Promising opportunities emerge from the rich geoheritage of
these deposits. These opportunities would involve:
in addition to the many scienti
s paradise).
Indeed, the geological record of Morocco spans more than
2,700 Ma from Precambrian (Archaean) to the Quaternary
(Fig.
1
). Morocco has yielded fossils of many kinds, and
human fossil remains such as Homo erectus (Sal
“
Paradis des g
ologues
”
(geologist
'
é
s
quarry), modern Homo (Jbel Irhoud), and the possible pres-
ence of Neanderthals (Homo neanderthalensis) as indicated
by retouched artifacts in the cave Cabililla of Benz
é
, Thoma
'
, Ceuta
enclave, testifying common socio-cultural relations on both
sides of the Strait of Gibraltar during the middle and upper
ú
