Geology Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 5 a
and
b
Simpli
ed geological map of Morocco showing the location of the Anti-Atlas region.
Insets c
-
f
show some of the key features of
geology of the Anti-Atlas region.
c
Map of the southern Anti-Atlas region showing Appalachian-style folds in Palaeozoic strata.
d
Detailed map of
the Iguerda Inlier showing the Palaeoproterozoic inlier surrounded by Neoproterozoic and Adoudounian rocks (El Aouli and Amaouain
2010
).
e
Central part of the Anti-Atlas region and the distribution of Jurassic dolerite dykes (after Touil et al.
2008
).
f
Eastern Anti-Atlas region (see
Inset
a
for location) showing distribution of mud mounds amid crinoidal limestone (Belka
1998
)
Saquaque et al.
1989
;A
t Malek et al.
1998
; De Kock et al.
2000
; Ennih et al.
2001b
, Thomas et al.
2002
,
2004
; Walsh
et al.
2002
; Gasquet et al.
2005
,
2008
;D
ï
with new mining areas being discovered. The Western Anti-
Atlas hosts several gold occurrences such as Iwriren in
Tagragra d
Lemos et al.
2006
).
Structurally, the AA also exhibits spectacular Appalachian-
style folds, ranging from open to isoclinal styles, and locally
with dome-and-basin structures, varying in scale from 100 to
10 km (Helg et al.
2004
; Burkhard et al.
2006
). The Palae-
ozoic rocks commonly form dome structures around and
over the Precambrian inliers.
The AA region is an important metallogenic province.
Mineral occurrences are associated with faults, fractures,
and igneous intrusions, ophiolites, and some with volcanic-
hosted mineralisation. Several mining sites, exploited for a
long time, are currently inactive while others are still active,
'
'
Akka inlier.
In the Central Anti-Atlas,
the
Co
Au Bou Azzer mine, a most famous mine, has
been exploited for over a century, and is still active; min-
eralization is hosted in serpentinites and podiform chromites
(Gasquet et al.
2005
). The Bleida mine, exploited for copper
during the 1980s and 1990s, is currently inactive but an
interesting gold concentration was discovered in uvial
sediments. The Eastern Anti-Atlas is well known for its
Imiter Silver mine (Cheilletz et al.
2002
). Many mining sites
are internationally known for their splendid and diverse
mineral deposits, with numerous specimens now in museum
collections worldwide.
Ni
Ag
-
-
-
