Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Jurassic carbonate facies of the Central and Eastern High Atlas rift, Morocco

  • High And Middle Atlas
  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Book cover The Atlas System of Morocco

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Earth Sciences ((LNEARTH,volume 15))

Abstract

The present Central and Eastern High Atlas mountains of southern Morocco represent a short-lived Mesozoic rift, 500 × 100 km, associated with an ancient fracture zone between the Saharan Craton to the south and the smaller microplate mesetas to the north. A continental rift opened in the Upper Triassic, accumulating redbeds, evaporites and basalts. Marine carbonate deposits were initiated abruptly in the Lower Liassic, and continued until the Middle Dogger, when the basin ceased to subside and became continental again.

In addition to regional subsidence and eustatic sealevel changes, individual fault blocks of the rift contain stratigraphic sequences that mirror the tectonic history of that block. A representative tectonic-stratigraphic geotraverse, transverse across the middle of the range, crosses a southern shore and shelf, southern deep, central platform, northern deep and northern shore and shelf.

Blocks representing paleogeographic shelves exhibit stratigraphic sections of shallow-marine limestones and reefs. Adjacent deeps contain thicker sections of allodapic limestones, other gravity deposits, and carbonate olistostromes. A central platform possesses a Liassic upward-shallowing sequence capped by gigantic coralgal buildups.

The sequences on all the fault blocks are punctuated by Toarcian marls, representing a eustatic sealevel rise followed by upward-shoaling Aalenian and Bajocian sequences. Post-Jurassic uplift and tectonic inversion created the superb exposures of the modern Central and Eastern High Atlas.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Ambroggi, R., 1963, Etude Geologique du versant meridional du Haut Atlas Occidental et de la Plaine du Sous: Service Geol. Maroc, Notes et Mem., no. 206, p. 37–116.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beauvais, L., 1970, Etude de quelques polypiers Bajociens du Maroc Oriental: Service Geol. Maroc, Notes et Mem., v. 30, no. 225, p. 39–50.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brede, R. and Heinitz, W., 1986, Zum Bau des Hohen Atlas zwischen Errachidia und Midelt (Marokko): Berliner geowiss. Abh., (A), v. 66, p. 433–454.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, R. H., 1980, Triassic rocks of Argana Valley, southern Morocco and their regional structural implications: AAPG Bull., v. 64, no. 7, p. 988–1003.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burgess, C. J., 1979, The development of a Lower Jurassic carbonate tidal flat, Central High Atlas, Morocco. 2: diagenetic history: Journal of Sed. Pet., v. 49, no. 2, p. 413–428.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burgess, C. J., and Lee, C. W., 1978, The development of a Lower Jurassic carbonate tidal flat, Central High Atlas, Morocco. 1: sedimentary history: Journal of Sed. Pet., v. 48, no. 3, p. 777–794.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burri, P., du Dresnay, R., and Wagner, C. W., 1973, Tepee structures and associated diagenetic features in intertidal carbonate sands (Lower Jurassic, Morocco): Sed. Geol., v. 9, p. 221–228.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Choubert, G., and Marcais, J., 1956, Apercu structural, in Geologie du Maroc: Service Geol. Maroc, Notes et Mem., no. 100.

    Google Scholar 

  • Colo, G., 1961, Contribution a l'etude du Jurassique du Moyen-Atlas Septentrional: Service Geol. Maroc, Notes et Mem., no. 139, 226 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cristi-Blick, N., and Biddle, K. T., 1985, Deformation and basin formation along strike-slip faults: SEPM Spec. Pub. no. 37, p. 1–34.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dresnay, R. du, 1977, Le milieu récifal fossile du Jurassique inférieur (Lias) dans le domaine des chaînes Atlasiques du Maroc: Mem. Bur. Rech. Geol. Min., no. 89, p. 296–312.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dresnay, R. du, 1979, Sediments Jurassiques du domaine des chaînes Atlasiques du Maroc: Symposium "Sédimentation Jurassique W. Européen", ASF Spec. Pub., no. 1, p. 345–365.

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans, I., and Kendall, C. G. St. C., 1977, An interpretation of the depositional setting of some deep-water Jurassic carbonates of the Central High Atlas Mountains, Morocco; in Cook, H. E., and Enos, P., eds., Deep-Water Carbonate Environments: SEPM Spec. Pub. no. 25, p. 249–261.

    Google Scholar 

  • Faure-Muret, A., and Choubert, G., 1971, Le Maroc; Domaine rifain et atlasique, in Tectonique de l'Afrique: UNESCO, Earth Science Series, no. 6, p. 17–46.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hallam, A., 1987, Radiations and extinctions in relation to environmental change in the marine Lower Jurassic of northwest Europe: Paleobiology, v. 13, p. 152–168.

    Google Scholar 

  • Halliwell, B. A., 1985, Deep-water carbonate deposits of the southern margin of the Jurassic central High Atlas trough, Morocco: Master of Science thesis, Colorado School of Mines, 226 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haq, B. U., Hardenbol, J., and Vail, P. R., 1987, Chronology of fluctuating sea levels since the Triassic: Science, v. 235, p. 1156–1167.

    Google Scholar 

  • Herbig, H-G., 1986, Lithostratigraphisch-fazielle Untersuchungen im marinen Alttertiär sudlich des zentralen Hohen Atlas (Marokko); Berliner geowiss. Abh., (A), v. 66, p. 343–380.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heybroek, P., 1965, The Red Sea Miocene evaporite basin, in Salt Basins Around Africa: Inst. of Petroleum, London, p. 17–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huessner, H., 1985, Jurassic carbonates of the Western High Atlas (Morocco); Microfacies analysis and plate tectonic framework: Facies, v. 12, p. 141–218.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jacobshagen, V., 1986, Zur Bau-Geschichte des zentralen Hohen Atlas (Marokko); Berliner geowiss. Abh., (A), v. 66, p. 455–470.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jenny, J., Le Marrec, A., and Monbaron, M., 1981, Le couches rouges du Jurassique moyen du Haut Atlas central (Maroc): correlations lithostratigraphiques, éléments de datations et cadre tectono-sédimentaire: Bull. Soc. geol. France, (7), v. 23, p. 627–639.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kanes, W. H., Saadi, M., and Ehrlich, R., 1973, Moroccan crustal response to continental drift: Science, v. 180, p. 950–953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lorenz, J. C. (this volume), Synthesis of late Paleozoic and Triassic redbed sedimentation in Morocco, 31 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, C. W., and Burgess, C. J., 1978, Sedimentation and tectonic controls in the Early Jurassic Central High Atlas Trough, Morocco: Geol. Soc. America Bull., v. 89, p. 1199–1204.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Letsch, D. K., 1985, Early Jurassic depositional history of the northern margin of the central High Atlas, Morocco: Master of Science Thesis, Colorado School of Mines, 171 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lowell, J. D., Genik, G. J., Nelson, T. H., and Tucker, P. M., 1975, Petroleum and plate tectonics of the Southern Red Sea, in Fischer, A. G., and Judson, S., eds., Petroleum and Global Tectonics: Princeton University Press, p. 129–153.

    Google Scholar 

  • Manspeizer, W., Puffer, J. H., and Cousminer, H. L., 1978, Separation of Morocco and eastern North America: A Triassic-Liassic statigraphic record: Geol. Soc. America Bull., v. 89, p. 901–920.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mattis, A. F., 1974, Upper Triassic lacustrine carbonates, central High Atlas mountains, Morocco (abs.): Geol. Soc. Am., Abstracts with Programs, v. 6, p. 53.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mattis, A. F., 1977, Nonmarine Triassic sedimentation, Central High Atlas Mountains, Morocco: Journal of Sed. Pet., v. 47, no. 1, p. 107–119.

    Google Scholar 

  • McClay, K. R., and Ellis, P. G., 1987, Geometries of extensional fault systems developed in model experiments: Geology, v. 15, p. 341–344.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reyre, D. (ed.), 1965, Le Bassin du sud-ouest Marocain, in Sedimentary Basins of the African Coasts: Association of African Geological Surveys.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rod, E., 1962, Fault pattern, northwest corner of Saharan shield: AAPG Bull., v. 46, p. 529–534.

    Google Scholar 

  • Salvan, H. M., 1974, Les séries salifères triassiques du Maroc, comparaison avec les séries homologues d'Algérie et de Tunisie, nouvelles possibilities d'interpretation: Service Geol. Maroc, Notes et Mem., v. 35, no. 255, p. 8–25.

    Google Scholar 

  • Septfontaine, M., 1986, Depositional environments and associated foraminifera (lituolids) in the Middle Liassic carbonate platform of Morocco: Revue de Micropaleontologie, v. 28, p. 265–289.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stanley, R. G., 1981, Middle Jurassic shoaling of the central High Atlas sea near Rich, Morocco: Journal of Sed. Pet., v. 51, no. 3, p. 895–907.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Houten, F. B., 1977, Triassic-Liassic deposits of Morocco and Eastern North America: comparison: AAPG Bull., v. 61, p. 79–99.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Houten, F. B., and Brown, R. H., 1977, Latest Paleozoic-early Mesozoic paleogeography, northwestern Africa: Journal of Geol., v. 85, p. 143–156.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vogel, T. A., Williams, R. E., Preston, J. K., and Walker, B. M., 1976, Origin of the Late Paleozoic plutonic massifs in Morocco: Geol. Soc. America Bull., v. 87, p. 1753–1762.

    Google Scholar 

  • Warme, J. E., 1977, Carbonate borers — their role in reef ecology and preservation: AAPG Studies in Geology, no. 4, p. 261–279.

    Google Scholar 

  • Warme, J. E., 1986, Giant Liassic sponge-algal buildups, High Atlas, Morocco (abs.): Proc., 12th Int. Sed. Cong., Canberra.

    Google Scholar 

  • Warme, J. E., Stanley, R. G., Wilson, J. L., and Ekdale, A. A., 1975, Middle Jurassic reef tract, Central High Atlas, Morocco: Proc., 9th Internat. Sed. Congress, Nice.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wernike, B., and Burchfiel, B. C., 1982, Modes of extensional tectonics: Jour. Structural Geology, v. 4, p. 105–115.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, and Exploration Geosciences Institute, Colorado School of Mines, 80401, Golden, Colorado, U.S.A.

    John E. Warme

Authors
  1. John E. Warme
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Volker H. Jacobshagen

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1988 Springer-Verlag

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Warme, J.E. (1988). Jurassic carbonate facies of the Central and Eastern High Atlas rift, Morocco. In: Jacobshagen, V.H. (eds) The Atlas System of Morocco. Lecture Notes in Earth Sciences, vol 15. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/BFb0011593

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BFb0011593

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-19086-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-39104-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation