Geology Reference
In-Depth Information
Geosites, Sites of Special Scientific Interest,
and Potential Geoparks in the Anti-Atlas
(Morocco)
Géosites, Sites Géologiques d
Intérêt
Scientifique Spécial et potentiels géoparcs
dans l
'
'
Anti-Atlas (Maroc)
،
"
!
!
(
)
E. Errami, M. Brocx, V. Semeniuk, and N. Ennih
Abstract
An inventory of the geoheritage features of the Anti-Atlas region has been performed to
promote geoheritage and geoconservation in Morocco. This latter is best achieved after
assigning heritage values to these features and identifying geosites, speci
c areas of special
value or interest (Geological Sites of Special Scienti
c Interest, or SSSI) that usually are of
International signicance, or by viewing sites as integrated geological ensembles with
signi
cant geology that needs to be protected as an ensemble (Geoparks). Sites that could
function as geosites, SSSI and/or as geoparks have a special signi
cance for research,
education and geotourism. The Anti-Atlas geology re
ects its tectono-metamorphic and
magmatic evolution from the Proterozoic to Mesozoic with plate collision, subduction and
obduction witnesses, Mesozoic stratigraphic sequences, fossil-bearing strata, and arid zone
landforms. Sites that could function as SSSI include pre-Pan-African doleritic dykes, the Bou
Azzer and Siroua Ophiolites, the Pan-African diamictites, the Major Anti-Atlas Fault, the Late
Neoproterozoic stromatolites, the unconformity between the late Neoproterozoic Ouarzazate
volcanic Supergroup and Cambrian Tata Group, the contact between Taghdout Group and the
Zenaga Eburnian (Palaeoproterozoic) formations, the contacts between three Pan-African
Groups, viz., Saghro Group Mgouna Group Ouarzazate Group, the Ediacaran Iknioun
granodiorite and the Devonian Kess Kess carbonate mounds. Sites that could function
as geoparks include: the Zenaga inliers, the Neoproterozoic passive margin (Taghdout Group),
and the Jurassic Foum-Zguid dyke traversing various formations. The Anti-Atlas region also
hosts numerous internationally important fossil localities that could function as SSSI, e.g., the
large Cambrian trilobite (Paradoxides), Ordovician trilobites (Asaphus) as death assem-
blages, Silurian and lower-most Devonian Orthoceras-rich black limestones, Frasnian plants
 
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