The Precambrian of the Anti-Atlas (Morocco): A geochronological synthesis

Twenty total rock Rb/Sr isochrons ($\text{λ}{}^{87}\text{Rb}\text{= 1.47 · 10}{}^{\mathrm{?11}}\text{yr}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}$) and many individual data, mainly obtained by the K/Ar and Rb/Sr methods, on total rocks and minerals show that the orogenic story of the Precambrian of the Anti-Atlas, which was studied in its western and central parts, began with the Eburnean orogeny (1900-1650 m.y.). Up to now there is no good evidence of an older basement, even if the rather high initial ratio (0.707–0.709) of some Eburnean granites might suggest that such a basement exists at depth. There is also no geochronological evidence of plutonism until in early Panafrican time (680 m.y.) there started a period of intense magmatic and thermal activity which was ended by the emplacement of late post-tectonic granites at 530-520 m.y.The late Panafrican acid volcanism does not generally give suitable material for Rb/Sr dating, because of the great mobility of the radiogenic strontium in such a material even under very weak thermal conditions.