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In the present study, descriptive and multivariate statistical techniques (principal component analysis) were used to investigate groundwater salinity in the area adjacent to Lake Dayet Erroumi. Nine groundwater samples were collected during September 2019 and analyzed for the following physicochemical variables: pH, EC, DO, Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, HCO3 -, Cl-, SO4 2- and NO3 - . On the basis of on concentration averages, cation abundance is Na+ > Ca2+ > Mg2+ > K+ and anion abundance is Cl- > HCO3 - > SO4 2- > NO3 - . Two principal components were selected on the basis of eigenvalue, which explains 71.39% of the total variance. The first principal component (F1) accounts for 52.37% of total variance and indicates water salinization, which depends on abiotic factors. The second principal component (F2) explains 19.01% of the information and indicates parameters dependent on biotic factors (DO and pH). Projection of the observations revealed two groups of wells: the first group comprises the wells characterized by very high salinity, and the second group comprises the wells with lower salinity. These results show that the wells on the southern shore of the lake are more highly mineralized than other wells. The high mineralization of the groundwater is of natural origin, due to the leaching of Triassic evaporitic rocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Tighardine area in the Western High Atlas Massif is composed of rocks ranging in age from Neoproterozoic to Cenozoic. The area is intensely deformed with a multidirectional diversity of faults and also hosts a polymetallic ore deposit (Tighardine mine) and prospects of significant economic value, some of which are related to fault structures. In order to identify favourable areas of mineral deposition, structural and mineralogical mapping using satellite images was conducted in this region. For this purpose, various remote sensing approaches were employed on images from Landsat 8 OLI, Sentinel 2 and ASTER sensors. The process started with lineament extraction methods so as to identify faults manually from satellite images. Principal component analysis (PCA) and the optimal indexing factor (OIF) were used to achieve good discrimination of lithological units. Additionally, several band ratios were applied to ASTER, Landsat 8 OLI and Sentinel 2, in order to derive multiple maps corresponding to hydrothermal alteration zones. Analysis of the results from the obtained maps and their overlay with field data has allowed us to: (i) identify three main structural orientations. The most frequent and longest is the NE–SW direction, which coincides with the principal mineralised horizon of the Tighardine deposit. Results suggest an extension of this horizon towards the south-west at the Ait Zitoune and towards the west in the Ait Hsayn region. Two new fault set has been identified by remote sensing: NW-SE fracture, generally of Mesozoic-Cenozoic age, and an E-W fractures trend, particularly developed in the Neoproterozoic basement and considered of Ediacaran age; (ii) highlighting two potential mineralisation zones: in the Ediacaran basement, revealing alterations of silica, dolomite, clay minerals, iron oxide and alunite-kaolinite-pyrophyllite, hosting the main mineralisation axis (Tighardine mine); in the northern part corresponding to the overthrust zones of Cambrian onto Cenozoic formations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groundwater, an invaluable resource crucial for irrigation and drinking purposes, significantly impacts human health and societal advancement. This study aims to evaluate the groundwater quality in the Mnasra region of the Gharb Plain, employing a comprehensive analysis of thirty samples collected from various locations, based on thirty-three physicochemical parameters. Utilizing tools like the Pollution Index of Groundwater (PIG), Nitrate Pollution Index (NPI), Water Quality Index (WQI), Irrigation Water Quality Index (IWQI), as well as Multivariate Statistical Approaches (MSA), and the Geographic Information System (GIS), this research identifies the sources of groundwater pollution. The results revealed Ca2+ dominance among cations and Cl− as the primary anion. The Piper and Gibbs diagrams illustrated the prevalent Ca2+-Cl− water type and the significance of water–rock interactions, respectively. The PIG values indicated that 86.66% of samples exhibited "Insignificant pollution". NPI showed notable nitrate pollution (1.48 to 7.06), with 83.33% of samples rated "Good" for drinking based on the WQI. The IWQI revealed that 80% of samples were classified as "Excellent" and 16.66% as "Good". Spatial analysis identified the eastern and southern sections as highly contaminated due to agricultural activities. These findings provide valuable insights for decision-makers to manage groundwater resources and promote sustainable water management in the Gharb region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groundwater salinity is a serious problem for water quality in the irrigated parts of arid and semi-arid regions, especially in the aquifers of Berrechid, Morocco. This study used a variety of techniques, including the Water Quality Index (WQI) and World Health Organization (WHO) recommended limits, Principal Component Analysis (PCA), and Geographic Information System (GIS) to evaluate the quality of the groundwater for irrigation and domestic use in the Berrechid region in central Morocco. The goal of this study was to evaluate the quality of groundwater for irrigation and human consumption. The collection and analysis of twenty-two samples for ions was carried out, including, EC, Cl-, NO3-, NH4+, NO2-, Ca2+, Mg2+, pH, SO42-, Na+, K+, CO3-, HCO3-, and Mn2+. The Water Quality Index (WQI) was used to classify the water quality vis: excellent, good, average, poor and very poor. The research area's water quality index (WQI) ranges from 43.89 to 439.34, with around 40.90% of samples having excellent water quality, 45.45% having poor water quality, 4.54% showing extremely bad water quality, and 9.09% having unsuitable quality for human consumption. The principal component analysis reveals that the average concentration of cations in groundwater was Na+> Mg2+> Ca2+> K+> Mn2+> NH4+, whereas the concentration of anions was Cl-> HCO3-> SO42-> NO3-> NO2-> CO32-. The correlation matrix was created and analyzed to determine its significance in groundwater quality assessment. The primary sources of pollution are household waste, exposed septic tanks, landfill leachate, and excessive fertilizer usage in agriculture and industrial operations. The current analysis demonstrates that the deteriorating groundwater quality in the region needs pre-consumption treatment and contamination risk prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The processed discharges from Tangier Automotive City's (TAC) Chrafate Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) contaminate the Jouamaa Hakama groundwater and the Ouljat Echatt river. We aimed to study the unknown interactions between surface water (SW) and groundwater (GW). A total of nine Jouamaa Hakama GW samples and eleven Ouljat Echatt SW samples were taken and analyzed in 2021 and 2022 to determine 16 physical and chemical parameters (pH, temperature (T), electrical conductivity (EC), dissolved oxygen (DO), total hardness (TH), turbidity (TURB), and total dissolved solids (TDS), cations: Na+, K+, Mg2+ and Ca2+, anions: Cl−, CO32−, HCO3−, NO3−, and SO42−). For exploitation of the data, we used a methodology based on hydrochemical modeling (HM), principal component analysis (PCA), Water Quality Index (WQI), Irrigation Water Quality Index (IWQI), inverse distance weighted interpolation (IDW) using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and regression analysis (RA). We studied the interaction of the surface water of the river (contaminated by discharges from the WWTP) with the shallow groundwater on a strip of 100 m on either side of the river to understand the transverse and longitudinal dispersion of this pollution The investigations indicated that the major ions found in GW and SW were characterized in a different order in the anion list order Cl− > CO32− > NO3− > HCO3− > SO42− and Cl− > SO42− > CO32− > NO3− > HCO3−, respectively, while the concentrations of cations showed the same order for both: Na+ > Ca2+ > Mg2+ > K+. As a result, GW showed in the Piper diagram the type of sodium chloride to magnesium carbonate, while SW belongs to the sodium chloride to magnesium sulfate type. The WQI showed that the river waters are all unsuitable for use (WQI > 100), while the GW is of poor quality (WQI > 76). Moreover, the results of the GW–SW interaction along the river revealed a significant relationship (R2 = 0.85), which means that strong circulation and the infiltration of contaminated SW into shallow GW occur in this area. The approaches followed have been proven effective in evaluating water quality for human and animal uses. These results can help decision-makers in the region take suitable management measures to mitigate this environmental problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geological mapping undoubtedly plays an important role in several studies and remote sensing data are of great significance in geological mapping, particularly in poorly mapped areas situated in inaccessible regions. In the present study, Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Band Rationing (BR) and Minimum Noise Fraction (MNF) algorithms are applied to map lithological units and extract lineaments in the Amezri-Amassine area, by using multispectral ASTER image and global digital elevation model (GDEM) data for the first time. Following preprocessing of ASTER images, advanced image algorithms such as PCA, BR and MNF analyses are applied to the 9ASTER bands. Validation of the resultant maps has relied on matching lithological boundaries and faults in the study area and on the basis of pre-existing geological maps. In addition to the PCA image, a new band-ratio image, 4/6–5/8–4/5, as adopted in the present work, provides high accuracy in discriminating lithological units. The MNF transformation reveals improvement over previous enhancement techniques, in detailing most rock units in the area. Hence, results derived from the enhancement techniques show a good correlation with the existing litho-structural map of the study area. In addition, the present results have allowed to update this map by identifying new lithological units and structural lineaments. Consequently, the methodology followed here has provided satisfactory results and has demonstrated the high potential of multispectral ASTER data for improving lithological discrimination and lineament extraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The CYP2D6 gene encodes a crucial enzyme involved in the metabolic pathways of many commonly used drugs. It is a highly polymorphic gene inducing an interethnic and interindividual variability in disease susceptibility and treatment response. The aim of this study is to evaluate the frequency of the three CYP2D6 most investigated alleles (CYP2D6*3, CYP2D6*4, and CYP2D6*10 alleles) in Morocco compared to other populations. This study enrolled 321 healthy Moroccan subjects. CYP2D6 genotypes and allele frequencies were assessed using a restriction fragment length polymorphism–polymerase chain reaction genotyping method. The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and dendrogram were conducted to evaluate genetic proximity between Moroccans and other populations depending on CYP2D6 allele frequencies. Results: According to the current study, the results observed the homozygous wild type of the three studied SNPs were predominant among the Moroccan population, while 1.4% of Moroccans carried the CYP2D6*4 allele responsible for a Poor Metabolizer phenotype and associated with low enzyme activity which may induce a treatment failure. The PCA and cluster dendrogram tools revealed genetic proximity between Moroccans and Mediterranean, European and African populations, versus a distancing from Asian populations. Conclusion: The distribution of CYP2D6 polymorphisms within Morocco follows the patterns generally found among the Mediterranean, European and African populations. Furthermore, these results will help to lay a basis for clinical studies, aimed to introduce and optimize a personalized therapy in the Moroccan population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An assessment of ground instabilities' causative factors remains a topical subject. Such studies are rare, and evaluation techniques are still under development. The choice of evaluation technique should take into account the materials available and the objective sought. Statistical analysis methods are the most widely used, with multivariate analysis being the most accurate. The present work evaluates the weights of the influences of the different factors of ground instability of the coastal region between Tetouan and Jebha through multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) and principal component analysis (PCA). The application of both methods requires an accurate ground instability inventory with study sites that are well documented through modalities of causative factors and other descriptive data. The performed MCA shows that lithology has a significant influence on the type of existing instability. It also helped classify the instabilities into five distinct classes according to their modalities and specify the factors that differentiate the classes. The PCA shows that lithology is the most influential factor in landslides, contrary to rockfalls, where a variety of factors can be preponderant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to highlight the quality of groundwater, with a special focus on the level of heavy metal contamination. To know the extent of this contamination, the protection and proper management of the groundwater resource is indispensable. The present work is in line with the metallic assessment of the water quality of the Oued Kert basin (Mediterranean area, Driouch province, eastern Morocco) by collecting 46 samples following ISO 5665 standard and tested pH, TDS, EC. Samples were analyzed for Heavy Metals with ICP‐MS and Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (Pb, Cu, Hg, Al, Fe, Zn, Cr, Cd, and Ni) to detect heavy metal content. The interpretation of the analytical data, about the phenomena responsible for mineralization, was done using the hydro‐chemical classification, resulting from the integrated HPI approach, in addition to the statistical analysis of the data by the analysis of the main PCA components. The majority of the samples were found to be within limits, except for Fe, at some sampling locations, which is above the desirable limit, that is, 300 μg/L according to the Moroccan Drinking Water Standard. This indicates natural and anthropic effects. It shows that the groundwater to the northwest of the study area is probably affected by the leaching of heavy metals from the previous Mhajer mine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Correlations between total phenolic, flavonoid and condensed tannins content with three extraction type of five lamiaceae family which is used to cure dental affections in Morocco were studied. The total phenolic contents were determined using Folin-Ciocalteu colorimetric method, flavonoids using catechin standard, condensed tannins using Acidified Vanillin and anthocyanin using differential pH method. The highest total phenolic (345,20 ± 28,23 mg GAE/g d.e), total flavonoides (381,17 ± 14,11 mg CE/g d.e) and total condensed tannins (133,77 ± 8,38 mg CE/g d.e) was obtained from soxhlet extract of Origanum compactum Benth. (p < 0.0001), whereas, the highest total anthocyanin content (65.12 ± 13.53 mg EC-3-G/100g d.e) was obtained from decoction extraction of Lavandula multifida L. The correlation using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) between extraction type was very positive for infusion and soxhlet and between flavonoids and total phenols attesting that flavonoids constitute the majority of phenolic compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peganum harmala L. is well known as a traditional therapy in Morocco. The objective of this study was to determine the mineral composition for the first time, the chemical profile and the antioxidant and antibacterial activities of Peganum harmala L. seeds. The aqueous extracts were prepared by three modalities: decoction, infusion and maceration, while the organic extracts methanolic, ethyl acetate, chloroformic and petroleum ether were obtained by Soxhlet, and the methanolic macerated extract by cold maceration. Phytochemical screening was conducted on both the seed powder and the extracts prepared from it. Similarly, the content of phenolic and flavonoid products was determined. In addition, antioxidant activity was evaluated by five different methods: H 2 O 2 , DPPH, ABTS, FRAP and PR. The correlation between chemical composition and antioxidant activity was evaluated using PCA. Finally, the antibacterial activity by the disc diffusion method, minimal inhibitory (MIC) and bactericidal (MBC) concentrations of the organic extracts were evaluated against six gram-positive and gram-negative pathogenic bacteria. The results obtained showed that the seeds of Peganum harmala L. are characterized by a particularly high content of potassium (111.6200 mg/l) and iron (64.4080 mg/l). Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids and saponins. The methanolic macerated extract is the richest in polyphenol (94.37 ± 0.62 µg GAE/mg E) and the ethyl acetate extract in flavonoids (366.13 ± 1.88 µg QE/mg E). Petroleum ether and aqueous infusion extracts have the strongest percentages of H 2 O 2 inhibition (21.02±1.13% and 21.02±1.07%) which is greater than that of ascorbic acid (14.35±0.002%) with a significant difference. Ethyl acetate extract showed the best activity by the DPPH (IC50= 146.20±13.41 µg/ml) and ABTS (49.84±1.15 µg TE/mg E) tests, methanolic macerate by the FRAP test (68.04±1.52 µg TE/mg E) and the methanolic extract by the reducing power test (61.77±1.41 µg AAE/mg E). The antioxidant activity determined by DPPH, ABTS, FRAP and PR showed a positive correlation between the 4 tests, and with the content of polyphenols and flavonoids with the exception of the activity measured by H 2 O 2 , where the correlation is negative. The study of the antibacterial effect showed that the four organic extracts: methanolic, methanolic macerate, ethyl acetate and chloroform have an inhibitory effect on six microorganisms with inhibition zones that vary between 8 ± 0.00 and 23.7 ± 2.60 mm, Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the most sensitive strain with an inhibition zone diameter of 23.7 ± 2.60 mm with the methanolic macerate extract, while the petroleum ether extract showed no effect. In addition, the MICs obtained range from 1.56 to 12.5 mg/ml and the MBCs vary from 1.56 for Proteus mirabilis with ethyl acetate extract to 100 mg/ml. In conclusion, polar organic extracts of Peganum harmala L. are a promising source of antioxidants and antibacterial agents and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) showed that the four methods ABTS, DPPH, FRAP and PR are correlated with each other and that the antioxidant capacity of the extracts is related to their content of total polyphenols and flavonoids. This activity can also be related to the mineral composition of the plant, such as copper, manganese, zinc, which are considered an important class of antioxidants. [Display omitted] • The mineral composition of the seeds of Peganum harmala L. determined for the first time showed its richness in potassium and iron. • The qualitative chemical analysis of the powder and the aqueous and organic extracts revealed the richness of the plant in alkaloids, flavonoids and saponins. • PCA analysis showed a positive correlation between the antioxidant activity determined by the DPPH, ABTS, FRAP and PR assays and the polyphenol and flavonoid content of P. harmala. • Organic extracts from the seeds of Peganum harmala L. have an antibacterial effect against six pathogenic microorganisms. • Polar organic extracts of Peganum harmala L. are a promising source of antioxidants and antibacterial agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The species of Artemisia are well known in the Mediterranean region, especially in Morocco, for their traditional uses and health benefit. In this study, we were interested in two species of Artemisia, namely A. herba alba Asso and A. mesatlantica Maire. These species were collected from different soils of the Central Middle Atlas (loamy, stony, limestone and rocky soil) with different atmospheres. Extraction of essential oils from the leaves and flowering tops was carried out by hydrodistillation in Clevenger apparatus. Chemical composition analysis was further carried out using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed to determine the similarities and dissimilarities in the chemical compositions of these six essential oils. The results obtained showed that the essential oil contents extracted from the flowering tops vary from one species to another according to the place of harvest, altitude, soil type and climate. The essential oil yield is between 0.84% and 2.19% (mL/100 g). Chemical analysis revealed that the chemotype of A. herba alba in limestone soil with a subhumid to humid atmosphere is trans-thujone (33.78%), while camphor (46.19%) is for limestone soil with a semi-arid atmosphere, vetivenic acid (14.91%) and davana ether (14.64%) are for limestone soil with a semi-arid and arid atmosphere and camphor (18.39%) is for loamy and stony soil with a semi-arid atmosphere. As for A. mesatlantica from a rocky soil on limestone with a subhumid to humid atmosphere, the main component is camphor (44.86%), and that of limestone soil with a subhumid to the humid atmosphere trans-thujone (41.08%). In addition, HCA affirmed the PCA and allowed us to distinguish between four groups. Our findings observed differences in the chemical compositions of the isolated essential oils most likely related to many factors such as the climates in the regions of the samples collected, altitudes and soil types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work examined the influence of crop season, extraction system and production site on the composition of fresh olive mill wastewater collected from northern Morocco. ANOVA analysis showed that most of the traits were largely affected by the extraction system (≥60% of total variance). Comparison among extraction systems showed significant differences for all traits, except for chlorides. Three phase centrifugation system (C3) displayed the highest value of total phenols, while all the remaining traits were higher in two phase centrifugation system (C2). Concerning crop seasons, we noticed a general decrease in values of total solids, chemical oxygen demand, chlorides, C/N ratio and total aerobic mesophilic flora, from 2014 to 2016 season; in contrast, an increase in suspended solids, total kjeldahl nitrogen and proteins was detected. OMW with highest total phenols content and then more acidic were collected during 2015 season. Between production sites, Bni Frassen produced OMW with the highest values for salt and total phenols, but the lowest ones were obtained for microbiological traits. OMW from Taza were rich in total kjeldahl nitrogen and proteins. An increase in organic load indicators was observed in Bouchfaa. Principal component analysis (PCA) explained about 82% of total variability: 58%, 16% and 8% for principal component 1 (PC1), PC2 and PC3, respectively. Extraction system fitted the variability of PC1. PC2 was mainly explained by production sites, while PC3 separated crop seasons. Correlation studies showed significant relationships especially among the traits expressing organic load, while microbiological counts were largely associated to total phenols and pH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groundwater pollution from anthropogenic sources is a serious concern affecting several coastal aquifers worldwide. Increasing groundwater exploitation, coupled with point and non-point pollution sources, are the main anthropogenic impacts on coastal environments and are responsible for severe health and food security issues. Adequate management strategies to protect groundwater from contamination and overexploitation are of paramount importance, especially in arid prone regions, where coastal aquifers often represent the main freshwater resource to sustain human needs. The Bou-Areg Aquifer (Morocco) is a perfect example of a coastal aquifer constantly exposed to all the negative externalities associated with groundwater use for agricultural purposes, which lead to a general increase in aquifer salinization. In this study data on 61 water samples, collected in June and November 2010, were used to: (i) track groundwater composition changes related to the use of irrigation water from different sources, (ii) highlight seasonal variations to assess aquifer vulnerability, and (iii) present a reproducible example of multi-tracer approach for groundwater management in rural coastal areas. Hydrogeochemical results show that Bou-Areg groundwater is characterized by – high salinity, associated with a remarkable increase in bicarbonate content in the crop growing season, due to more intense biological activity in irrigated soils. The coupled multi-tracer and statistical analysis confirms the strong dependency on irrigation activities as well as a clear identification of the processes governing the aquifer’s hydrochemistry in the different seasons. Water Rock Interaction (WRI) dominates the composition of most of groundwater samples in the Low Irrigation season (L-IR) and Agricultural Return Flow (ARF) mainly affects groundwater salinization in the High Irrigation season (H-IR) in the same areas naturally affected by WRI. In the central part of the plain River Recharge (RR) from the Selouane River is responsible for the high groundwater salinity whilst Mixing Processes (MIX) occur in absence of irrigation activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban flooding is a complex natural hazard, driven by the interaction between several parameters related to urban development in a context of climate change, which makes it highly variable in space and time and challenging to predict. In this study, we apply a multivariate analysis method (PCA) and four machine learning algorithms to investigate and map the variability and vulnerability of urban floods in the city of Tangier, northern Morocco. Thirteen parameters that could potentially affect urban flooding were selected and divided into two categories: geo-environmental parameters and socio-economic parameters. PCA processing allowed identifying and classifying six principal components (PCs), totaling 73% of the initial information. The scores of the parameters on the PCs and the spatial distribution of the PCs allow to highlight the interconnection between the topographic properties and urban characteristics (population density and building density) as the main source of variability of flooding, followed by the relationship between the drainage (drainage density and distance to channels) and urban properties. All four machine learning algorithms show excellent performance in predicting urban flood vulnerability (ROC curve > 0.9). The Classifications and Regression Tree and Support Vector Machine models show the best prediction performance (ACC = 91.6%). Urban flood vulnerability maps highlight, on the one hand, low lands with a high drainage density and recent buildings, and on the other, higher, steep-sloping areas with old buildings and a high population density, as areas of high to very-high vulnerability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The pelagic ecosystem of the Moroccan Atlantic coast is influenced by the spatiotemporal variability of upwelling. The changes in the physicochemical and biological parameters as well as their interrelationship and regrouping by the principal components analysis allowed us to subdivide the Atlantic coast in four active areas: two areas located at the north of Cape Juby (28°N), characterised by a summery activity and two areas located at the south, active permanently, with a variable intensity. To cite this article: A. Makaoui et al., C. R. Geoscience 337 (2005). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A two-year survey of the physicochemical parameters and nutrient speciation in a lower Oum Rabiaa basin, characterized by three dams in series (Imfout, Daourat and Sidi Maâchou), was performed from December 1998 to November 2000. The presence of the three dams in series is responsible for the nitrogen and phosphorus loads in the dams because of the reduction of fluvial contributions to the lower sector. Multivariate statistics were used to identify the principal factors influencing water chemistry in the individual dam systems. The three dams are influenced mainly by nutrient and organic sources. The eutrophication status of the studied systems was evaluated by NIP ratios. Mean N/P ratios at the three dams showed a high likelihood of P-limitation. Highest values were observed primarily during winter and early spring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was developed to determine 20 mineral elements and heavy metals in leaves of Cupressus atlantica Gaussen, a traditional Moroccan medicinal herb from five environmentally different sites in N'Fis valley (High Atlas Mountains). The results showed in the leaves that Ca, K, P, Mg, Na and Fe were the most abundant of the elements in all samples of the studied locality. The concentrations of trace metals from the leaves of this plant were in the order Ca>K > P > Mg>Na>Fe. The results of the mineral composition were analysed by hierarchical cluster and principal component analysis that established three statistically significant clusters.