Géodynamique et évolution thermique de la matière organique: exemple du bassin de Qasbat-Tadla, Maroc central

Seismic data analysis of the Qasbat-Tadla Basin allows the deciphering of the main tectonic and sedimentary events that characterised the Hercynian orogen and its role in the basin's structural development. The global tectono-sedimentary framework involves structural evolution of an orogenic foreland basin and was the source of rising geotherms in an epizonal metamorphic environment. The complementary effects of these parameters has led to different source rock maturity levels, ranging from oil producing to graphite domains. Different maturity levels result from three distinct structural domains within the basin, each of which exhibit characteristic geodynamic features (tectonic contraints, rate of subsidence, etc.).     

Les minerais de fer de l'Ordovicien inférieur du bassin de Bretagne-Anjou,France*

The iron resources of the ‘Bretagne-Anjou’ basin proceed essentially from four layers of sedimentary ore in the lower gres armoricain (Arenig). The more frequent paragenesis combine quartz, magnetite, siderite and silicates (bavalite, stilpnomelane). The hematite and pyrite parageneses are rarer. Two ore types were distinguished petrographically: one type with allochems and one without allochems. The study of both paragenesis and thickness variations of the ore layers enables one to reconstitute the sedimentation history: iron is dissolved on the emerged cadomian reliefs and transported to the sedimentary basin, which was shallow and strewn with islands and shoals. Then, according to local conditions, iron precipitated either under its oxydized forms (hematite, magnetite) or under its reduced forms (silicates, pyrite, siderite). The essential factors of parageneses differentiation were the depth of the basin, the water agitation and the organic matter content of the sediment. In some cases little concretions were formed in the sediment and gave rise to allochems which can be moved away later and deposited elsewhere.     

L'aquifère du bassin de la Mamora, Maroc: geometrie et ecoulements souterrains

The Mamora aquifer, in the northern Moroccan Meseta, constitutes the main regional water resource. Its impermeable basement is mostly composed of blue marls. The lithostratigraphy of the basin aquifer is characterised by a sequence of sandstones, sandy limestones, conglomerates and sandy clays.The structure of the basement of the Mamora aquifer, deduced from electrical resistivity measurements, allowed the hydrogeological behaviour of the reservoir, and the direction of the groundwater flow, to be established. The combination of the lithological, morphological, piezometric, geophysical and structural investigations revealed a northward thickening of the substrate with groundwater flow towards the Rharb (to the north) and towards the Atlantic Ocean (northwest). This ‘multicriteria’ approach enabled a structural model to be defined, which correlated well with the aquifer geometry and the groundwater flow. The variability of the hydrogeological units, and the northward thickening of the sedimentary facies, were controlled by northeast-southwest orientated faults, which affect their impermeability.     

Les argiles bleues du Cambrien inférieur de Saint-Pétersbourg et leur fissuration. Implications pour des stockages souterrains

The Lower Cambrian Saint Petersburg blue clays are composed of predominant illite and chlorite, sometimes accompanied by kaolinite. The <0.1 μm fraction has a high content of illite–smectite mixed layers. Particle-size distribution is more than 50% of clay particles and about 30% of silts. These blue clays correspond to plastic (and soft) clays; they may be compared to the Callovian clays of Bure (France), where storage of natural waste is envisaged. To cite this article: M. Arnould et al., C. R. Geoscience 334 (2002) 1135–1140.

Résumé

Les « argiles bleues » du Cambrien Inférieur de Saint-Pétersbourg sont constituées d'illite dominante et de chlorite, avec parfois présence de kaolinite. Des interstratifiés illite/montmorillonite sont très abondants dans la phase <0,1 μm. Du point de vue granulométrique, outre plus de 50% de particules argileuses, il existe une phase silteuse de l'ordre de 30%. Du point de vue pétrophysique, ce sont des argiles plastiques, de consistance molle. Elles sont subhorizontales et ont jusqu'à 116 m d'épaisseur. Outre l'absence de métamorphisme, malgré leur âge, leur caractère le plus remarquable est leur réseau de fracturation, bien observable en carrière. Les joints sont nets, sans remplissage ni cimentation. Les plans verticaux sont particulièrement développés. Le volume unitaire des blocs de matrice ne dépasse guère 1 m³. Des traces d'oxydation témoignent de circulations d'eau. Ces argiles silteuses anciennes peuvent aider à mieux connaı̂tre et comprendre les argilites silteuses épigénétiques calloviennes du site de Bure (Haute-Marne, France), où un stockage souterrain de déchets nucléaires est envisagé. Pour citer cet article : M. Arnould et al., C. R. Geoscience 334 (2002) 1135–1140.     

Pétrologie de l'intrusion alcaline mésozoïque de la région d'Anemzi, Haut Atlas Central, Maroc

The Mesozoic Anemzi intrusion belongs to the peri-Atlantic Mesozoic alkali magmatism. It is composed of gabbros (with or without olivine), monzodiorites and quartz-bearing syenites. Dolerite dykes of alcaline affinity occur nearby. The alkaline rocks are intrusive into mid-Jurassic limestones. Liquidus phases crystallised following the characteristic order of alkali magmas, i.e. olivine + spinel, plagioclase, clinopyroxene and amphibole. Clinopyroxene and amphibole compositions are governed by Ti-tschermakite substitutions. Clinopyroxene and amphibole in syenites are enriched in aegirine and richterite components, respectively. The mineralogical and chemical evolution in the Anemzi intrusion is consistent with low-pressure fractional crystallisation from an alkali lava under low to moderate fO₂ (MW + [1 − 2 log units]). However, the parental liquid shows some geochemical characteristics of transitional magma, such as a high SiO₂ content (48 wt%) and low La/Yb_N ratio (5). Silica activity decreased from the parental magma (0.56) to 0.08 after fractionation of the gabbros and then increased to 1.0 at the end of the magmatic differentiation. Compared with rocks of similar ages, belonging to the peri-Atlantic Cretaceous alkaline magmatism, the Anemzi intrusion is distinguished by low REE contents ([La/Yb]_N = 6) and transitional basalt(s) as parental magma. This magma was emplaced through reactivation of Palæozoic fault systems.     

La tectogenèse hercynienne dans la partie occidentale du bassin de l'Ahnet et la région de Bled El-Mass, Sahara Algérien: un continuum de déformation

The study area is located in the north of the Hoggar Basement. It is bounded to the east by the Idjerane-Azaz north-south-trending structural system, the Azzel-Matti Ridge to the south and to the north by the Timimoun Basin. Distribution of the structural elements and the determination of deviatoric stress tensors indicate two main directions for major stress (σ1), one striking northeast-southwest and the other west-northwest-east-southeast. Structural evolution during the Hercynian Orogeny can be considered as a continuous strain rather than as two contrasting tectonic events. The structural features can be attributed to the association of wrench faulting and thrusting, which is compatible with a strain regime of combined pure and simple shear. The basement fabric features exerted a very strong control on the structural evolution during the Hercynian deformation.     

Les structures de la couverture Néoprotérozoïque terminal et Paléozoïque de la région de Tata, Anti-Atlas centre-occidental, Maroc: déformation polyphasée, ou interactions socle/couverture pendant l'orogenèse hercynienne?

The western Anti-Atlas was formed by a Precambrian basement in the core of anticlines, surrounded by a Neoproterozoic and Palæozoic cover. The structural study of the Tata regional rocks shows a heterogeneous deformation, characterised especially by two types of folds in two orthogonal directions: north-south to north-northeast-south-southwest-trending and east-west-trending.The north-south structures are present in all of the Palæozoic cover and belong to the major Variscan compression of Late Carboniferous age by a comparison of the other domains of the western Anti-Atlas. Alternatively, east-west folding is assigned only to the lower part of the cover and consists of a ductile heterogeneous deformation, especially marked at the basement-cover interface. These folds are associated with a subhorizontal cleavage, indicating a southern vergence of the structures. A discussion of the age and the tectonic style of these structures is proposed, as well as their significance within the Variscan belt along the northern margin of the West African Craton.     

Superposition de la tectonique éburnéenne et panafricaine dans les granitoïdes de la bordure nord du craton ouest africain, boutonniére de Zenaga, Anti-Atlas central, Maroc

The Zenaga Inlier shows a comprehensive record of the Eburnian and Pan-African Orogenies. The Eburnian is characterised by high-temperature regional metamorphism and complex magmatism. The early (Azguemerzi) granodiorite has an isotopic mantle signature and was emplaced diapirically during the Eburnian Orogeny causing local thermal metamorphism. The foliation observed in this granitoid is a result of the interference between its primary syn-emplacement foliation and the regional foliation under amphibolite-facies conditions. The northern part of Zenaga has been intruded by the leucocratic granites of Tazenakht. These granites are cut by mylonites and phyllonites, corresponding to the Pan-African shear zones and accompanied with sub-greenschist-facies metamorphism during the Pan-African Orogeny. The deformation was the result of a regional sinistral transpressive event. This study in the northern part of the West African Craton shows the superposition of the Pan-African on the Eburnian Orogeny and the presence of a major fault in the Anti-Atlas.     

Sedimentation et volcanisme synsédimentaire de la série de base de l'adoudounien infra-cambrien à travers deux exemples de l'Anti-Atlas du Maroc

The Adoudounian Basal Series within the western part of the Moroccan Anti-Atlas Mountains was deposited in a varying palæogeographical setting. The first deposits of volcaniclastic and carbonate sediments accumulated in small shallow basins under tectonic control. Then, sedimentation became siliciclastic and volcano-detrital with coastal and deltaic sedimentation in the western area and lagoon-lacustrine in the eastern area. Synsedimentary alkaline volcanism, associated with normal faulting, indicates a within-plate extensional tectonic regime related to rifting, which affected the northern margin of the West African Craton, during Late Neoproterozoic-Early Cambrian times.     

L'ouverture et le développement du bassin de Morondava (Madagascar) du Carbonifère supérieur au Jurassique moyen. Données stratigraphiques, sédimentaires, paléontologiques et structurales

In the western part of Madagascar, the Morondava Basin shows the Malagasy Karoo series, made of Late Carboniferous-Mid-Permian (Sakoa), Late Permian-Mid-Triassic (Sakamena) and Late Triassic-Mid-Jurassic (Isalo) sequences. The sedimentary facies are mainly aerial and clastic in the series, and the marine conditions are fully established after Lower Jurassic times, when the strait between Africa and Madagascar was flooded.The Karoo basins where these series were deposited are mainly hemi-grabens. Their filling proceeded from west to east and from south to north. Distinction between the southern and northern part of the Morondava Basin suggests that development of the basin was controlled by old crustal weakness zones trending north-northwest-south-southeast and north-northeast-south-southwest.     

Tableau de répartition stratigraphique des Grands Foraminifères caractéristiques du Crétacé moyen de la région Méditerranéenne

Le Groupe de Travail Européen des Grands Foraminifères présente un tableau de répartition stratigraphique de 42 espèces bien définies du Crétacé moyen de la région méditerranéenne. La répartition stratigraphique proposée pour chaque espèce est fondée soit sur des propres observations soit sur des données de la littérature supprimer et est contrôlée par la présence d'Ammonites ou de Foraminifères planctoniques.A summarizing account is presented of the deliberations of the research group for Large Foraminifers of the IGCP Project “Mid-Cretaceous Events”. Large Foraminifers are of incontestable value for dating carbonate platform sequences owing to the absence of many other diagnostic groups of organísms. A table of stratigraphical distributions for 42 species is presented.     

Les facies du Lias de la region du Todrha (Tinghir,versant sud du Haut Atlas central,Maroc

Résumé Au Lias inférieur (au moins au Sinémurien), la région du Todrha (feuille de Tinghir au 1/100.000) est caractérisée par une large plate-forme carbonatée peu profonde. Toutefois un sillon étroit et relativement profond s'est creusé parallèlement à la chaîne haut-atlasique et a contrôlé la sédimentation, la paléomorphologie et la paléoécologie.Dans cette région, on constate du sud au nord les faciès latéraux suivants: calcaires dolomitiques, calcaires massifs plus ou moins récifaux, calcaires lités biodétritiques et calcaires turbiditiques, calcaires dolomitiques massifs et enfin dolomies litées à tipis et calcaires oolithiques.

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During the Lower Lias (Sinemurian), the area of Todrha has been characterised by a carbonate tidal flat platform, however a small trough with deeper water environments was situated parallel to today's central High Atlas mountains.In the Todrha region the following facies changes from south to north are developed: dolomitic limestones, reefal massive limestones, biodetritic bedded limestones and turbiditic limestones, massive dolomitic limestones and thinly bedded dolomites with teepees and oolitic limestones.

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Zusammenfassung Während des Unterlias, zumindest im Sinemurium, bestand im Gebiet der Todrha eine Karbonat-Plattform im Gezeitenbereich. Sie wurde von einem schmalen Trog tieferen Wassers durchzogen, welcher parallel zum Streichen des zentralen Hohen Atlas verlief.Folgende Fazies sind im Todrha-Gebiet entwikkelt (von S nach N): Dolomitische Kalke, massige Riffkalke, biodetritische Bankkalke und turbidische Kalke, massige dolomitische Kalke sowie dünnbankige Dolomite mit Teepee-Strukturen und oolithische Kalke.

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, , - , , / Todrha . , . Todrha : , , , , Teepee' .

     

Exploitation et salinité des aquifères de la Chaouia côtière, littoral atlantique, Maroc

The coastal plain of Chaouia, located on the Atlantic shoreline of Morocco, has a semiarid climate and consists of two aquifers: schist in the northeast and carbonate in the southwest. These aquifers are affected by evaporation and by intensive pumping for irrigation and drinking water. The groundwater reserves are seriously affected and the salinity increased, especially near the ocean and in the Oum Er Rbia River. Therefore, for many wells, exploitation has ceased due to them being dried out or having high salinity. To determine the causes of the high salinity, ¹⁸O/¹⁶O isotopes were used to enable the identification of areas where groundwater is effected by the influence of ocean water.     

Le Sénonien du Haut Atlas occidental, Maroc: sédimentologie, analyse séquentielle et paléogéographie

Based on new geological studies of the Senonian series in the southern part of the western High Atlas, Morocco, new insights on stratigraphy and palmogeography are presented. The palæogeography was generally shallow inner neritic with some palæorelief forming small confined basins that were affected by marine incursions under a hot and arid climate. During the Coniacien, a regression occurred caused by pre-Senonien embryonic tectonic phases. In the Campanian, an important regression, due to tectonic movement, caused the eastern sector of Erguita to emerge. During the Maastrichtian, an important Atlantic marine transgression followed pre-Maastrichtian embryonic tectonics and covered the area.     

Le magmatisme basique filonien néoprotérozoïque de la boutonnière de Zenaga, Anti-Atlas central, Maroc: pétrologie, géochimie et signification géodynamique

Before the Pan-African Orogeny, the Palæoproterozoic basement and its Neoproterozoic cover (limestones and quartzites) of the Zenaga Inlier were cross-cut by a swarm of doleritic dykes. They are more or less altered. The primary mineral assemblage consists of plagioclase, clinopyroxene, very rare orthopyroxene, ilmenite, apatite, micropegmatite and sometimes hornblende and biotite. Mineralogical and geochemical studies indicate that the dolerites are continental tholeiites. Two groups of dykes have been distinguished. Accordingly, rare earth elements, P₂O₅, Zr, Th, Ba and Sr contents are higher in group I than in group II, which is richer in V. Group I comprises the north-south and northwest-southeast swarms, while group II corresponds to northeast-southwest and east-west swarms, which were emplaced later. These geochemical variations may be explained by a higher degree of melting of the mantle source for the later group II. Doleritic dykes of Zenaga had been emplaced during an extensional episode, prior to Pan-African folding.     

Stratigraphie séquentielle du Carbonifère inférieur du Haut Atlas central et des Jebilet (Maroc): un exemple de bassins à turbidites contrôlées par la tectonique

Marine deposits of Visean age are well exposed in the Marrakesh area. Two third order sequences are identified in the central High Atlas and Jebilet: SA, which is of Middle Visean age (CM); SB of Upper Visean age (Cf6αβγ); and a complex with olistoliths of Upper Visean-Lower Namurian age (Cf6δ-Cf7). The SA and SIB sequences consist of a relative low-lying system tract with turbidites, a retrograde transgressive system tract and a prograde high-lying system tract. The relative low level comprises a turbiditic fan fed by tectonic uplift, which does not strictly coincide with eustatic processes. The transgressive system tract retrogrades firstly on the slope during tectonic reactivation with slumps, channels and silty levees, secondly on the shelf edge with a mixture of turbiditic and storm deposits and finally on the shelf with storm deposits and reef building. The high level system tract progrades on the shelf by a delta fan. This model is similar to sequences described in Spain and Italy by Mutti (1992), where tectonism is dominant.Nevertheless, eustasy, as described by Vail et al. (1977) played a part, since the same sequences are found in the chart of Ross and Ross (1987): S1, which of Middle Visean age (Cf5) and S2 which is of Upper Visean age (Cf6αβγ). Only the comparison between regional sequences described in Morocco and the sequences of the European platform allow tectonics and eustasy to be taken into consideration.     

Typologie du zircon dans les granitoïdes de la boutonnière précambrienne de Sidi Flah-Bouskour, Saghro, Anti Atlas, Maroc

The Precambrian inlier at Sidi Flah-Bouskour is cut by several successive intrusions of Neoproterozoic granitoids, whose zircon crystal morphology allows precise definition of granite types (Pupin, 1976, 1980, 1988) and, by inference, an assessment of tectonic settings. The first intrusion consists of gabbro, quartz-diorite and amphibole-granodiorite, belonging to the Pan-African B1 phase related to a pre-collision domain. It shows a calc-alkaline granodioritic composition. The second intrusion includes the Bouskour biotite-granite, which belongs to the high-K calc-alkaline suite emplaced at the time of the second Pan-African B2 phase in the context of syn-collision. These units are intruded by a Late Proterozoic pink granite followed by injection of submeridian sigmoidal cracks of rhyolitic dykes that represent the last Precambrian magmatic event in this area.     

Le paléovolcanisme de la bordure occidentale de la boutonnière de Kédougou, Paléoprotérozoïque du sénégal oriental: incidences géotectoniques

The main petrographical and geochemical patterns (major, trace and rare earth elements) of the epimetamorphosed volcanic rocks from the Mako Supergroup (Birimian) from the central and southern part of the western border of the Kedougou-Kenieba Inlier (Palæoproterozoic) are presented. The petrographic patterns indicate a predominance of tholeiites with the middle and upper parts of the lithological sequence containing scarce andesite, rhyodacite and rhyolitic end members of calc-alkaline affinity. The observed geochemical trend is compared with the patterns from other Palæoproterozoic areas of the West African Craton, as well as recent volcanic rocks, whose geotectonic setting is well constrained. The evolution of the Kedougou Inlier corresponds to an ocean island-arc environment, in agreement with previous research on epimetamorphic volcanodetrital and sedimentary formations, and Birimian granitoids. This research underlines the importance of island-arc accretions in crust generation during Palæoproterozoic times in West Africa.     

Le provincialisme sud-caraibe à l'Aptien inférieur. Sa signification dans le cadre de l'Evolution geodynamique du domaine Caraibe et de l'Atlantique central

Stratigraphic and palaeontologic data from the Lower Cretaceous of Venezuela and the critical revision of the previous results on the whole Caribbean Lower Aptian, show that the South Caribbean region is characterized by an endemic Rudist fauna while some micropalaeontological components have an african affinity. Consequently a South Caribbean palaeobiogeographic province is to be distinguished from a Northern one known to have some European characters. These results fit well with palaeogeographic and palaeotectonic reconstructions concerning both the Caribbean as well as the Central Atlantic areas. New palaeogeographic and palaeoceanographic implications are considered.     

Étude du fonctionnement du système aquifére karstique Cénomano-Turonien de l'oued Igrounzar, bassin d'Essaouira, Maroc

In the Meskala-Kourimat area, the Bouabout Syncline aquifer system, intersected by the Igrounzar Wadi, feeds most of the karstic sources of the region. This aquifer is contained within Cenomanian and Turonian limestones and dolomitic limestones. The base of the system corresponds to the lower Cenomanian grey clays, and the top to the Senonian white marls. Hydrodynamic studies of various springs shows that each water source is different from the other, indicating a heterogeneous underground reservoir belonging to a complex karst system. The springs waters show a large chemical variability in space and time. These waters are a mixture of chloride, sulphate, Na and Mg. High Mg contents of some springs result from dissolution of evaporite, confirmed by low Ca/Mg ratios. The total dissolved solids (TDS) in spring water increases from upstream to downstream, probably as a response to residency time, but also due to interaction with Cenomanian evaporites. However, the springs are good for drinking water, as well as for irrigation. The monthly survey of selected springs indicated a large chemical variability but with little or no correlation between discharge and TDS.Stable isotope data (¹⁸O) suggests that the altitude of the recharge area, for this aquifer system, is 1200 m. The ¹⁸O gradient versus altitude, established on springs whose recharge areas are well known is, −0.25% versus SMOW/100 m. When compared with the ‘Meteoric Water Line’ established on worldwide spring water whose recharge areas are well known, the Essaouira Basin shows rain recharge without any significant evaporation.