Search

Western Anti-Atlas of Morocco represents an important area with interesting knowledge of medicinal and food plants, particularly the use of medicinal plants for human healthcare. Moreover, the geographic location of this region makes this site a remarkable area of incredible biodiversity and the highest levels of endemism. This work aims to make an inventory of plant species used in Chtouka Ait Baha and Tiznit provinces in folk medicine to manage different diseases and, at the same time, used in food. The survey was carried out using semi-structured questionnaires. A total of 450 interviews were conducted with traditional health practitioners and knowledgeable villagers. The data were analyzed using the use-value (UV) and the relative frequency citation (RFC). Eighty-four species belonging to 37 families were inventoried in this survey, with Lamiaceae as the dominating family. Two species that showed a significant value of UV (UV≥1.50) and RFC (RFC≥0.50) are Thymus leptobotrys Murb. and Thymus saturejoides Coss. with the highest value obtained for Thymus leptobotrys Murb. (UV=2.60). The digestive system was the highest foremost treated disease in the region (22% of treated infections). The obtained results also showed that seeds and leaves were the most cited plant part used, and the decoction is the preferred mode of preparation. The method of consumption the medicinal plants as food is fresh or dried with a percentage of 36%.

The North African population of Bonelli’s Eagle Aquila fasciata (Vieillot, 1822) is limited to the south by the northern fringe of the Sahara Desert. This study provides the first data on the spati...

This research work is intended as a contribution to the development of a multicriteria methodology, combining several factors to control the availability of groundwater resources, in order to optimize the choice of location of future drilling and increase the chances to take water from productive structures which will satisfy the ever-increasing water demand of local population (Arghen basin in the Western Anti-Atlas chain of Morocco). The geographic information system is used to develop thematic maps describing the geometry and the hydrodynamic functioning of the aquifer. In this study, 11 factors including geology, topography, and hydrology, influencing the distribution of water resources were used. Based on the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) model, GIS, and remote sensing, the study mapped and classified areas according to their hydrogeological potential. The favorable potential sectors cover 17% of the total area of the basin. The medium potential sectors account for 64%, while the unfavorable areas cover 18% of the basin area. The groundwater potential map of the study area has been validated by comparing with data from 159 boreholes scattered throughout the basin.

Geological mapping plays a very important role in the exploration of oil, mineral and water resources, as well as in identifying and monitoring natural hazards. It is an indispensable means for the economic development of the country. Remote sensing data provides critical support by reducing the costs and increasing the precision. This research work evaluates the use of Random Forests, a supervised machine learning algorithm, for geological mapping of the Msaidira-Souk Al Had region, a part of the sidi Ifni inlier situated in southern Morocco. By integrating the spectral and textural features of Sentinel-2A with the morphometric attributes of Digital Elevation Model (DEM) of ALOS/PALSAR. The experiment revealed that the overall accuracy reaches ≈ 91% while the kappa coefficient is 88%. As the final result of this research, the Random Forest method is an effective tool that geoscientists can use to produce a new map or to update existing geological maps.

Irbiben is a small gold deposit of the Precambrian inlier Tagragra d’Akka located in the Moroccan western Anti-Atlas, approximately 160 km southeast from Tiznit. Petrographic study shows that host rocks of Irbiben deposit are green schist facies metamorphic rocks, like metamorphic sandstone and schist, meta-pelite and quartzite. Gold is located in quartz veins or host rock with frequent injections of quartz. The petrographic characterization of alteration through the description of the alteration profiles and the comparative study of protolith and altered rocks showed a development of dominant quartz and calcite in mineralization wall-rocks. In moving away from it, there is rather sericite and chlorite. These phenomena are materialized respectively by the development of SiO2 and CaO in the wall-rocks but rather that ferromagnesian elements (FeO, MgO) and K2O away from the mineralization. These trends were demonstrated by the geochemical study through Harker diagrams, description of alteration profiles, comparative study of protolith and altered rocks, and use of a new alteration index, MIA, elaborated during this work.

Remote sensing data proved to be a valuable resource in a variety of earth science applications. Using high-dimensional data with advanced methods such as machine learning algorithms (MLAs), a sub-domain of artificial intelligence, enhances lithological mapping by spectral classification. Support vector machines (SVM) are one of the most popular MLAs with the ability to define non-linear decision boundaries in high-dimensional feature space by solving a quadratic optimization problem. This paper describes a supervised classification method considering SVM for lithological mapping in the region of Souk Arbaa Sahel belonging to the Sidi Ifni inlier, located in southern Morocco (Western Anti-Atlas). The aims of this study were (1) to refine the existing lithological map of this region, and (2) to evaluate and study the performance of the SVM approach by using combined spectral features of Landsat 8 OLI with digital elevation model (DEM) geomorphometric attributes of ALOS/PALSAR data. We performed an SVM classification method to allow the joint use of geomorphometric features and multispectral data of Landsat 8 OLI. The results indicated an overall classification accuracy of 85%. From the results obtained, we can conclude that the classification approach produced an image containing lithological units which easily identified formations such as silt, alluvium, limestone, dolomite, conglomerate, sandstone, rhyolite, andesite, granodiorite, quartzite, lutite, and ignimbrite, coinciding with those already existing on the published geological map. This result confirms the ability of SVM as a supervised learning algorithm for lithological mapping purposes.

In the Kerdous Inlier, groundwater is the only source of drinking and irrigation water and sustainable management requires an understanding of the hydrogeological setting. In the lower Ait Mansour study site, the main aquifer is represented by a karstified and fractured sequence of Infra and Lower Cambrian carbonates. In the Ameln study site, fractured Neoproterozoic quartzites of the Jebel Lkest build the main aquifer. Isotopic signatures of groundwater indicated direct groundwater recharge in both study sites. In the Ait Mansour study site, isotopic composition implied recharge at high altitudes and groundwater flow in the SE direction. Two major flow paths were identified in the Ameln study site: a shallow and rapid movement until spring discharge at the hill slopes and another deeper one into the Ameln Valley. Hydrochemical facies at both study sites were of Ca-Mg-HCO3 type and derived from dolomite and plagioclase weathering. Increased $$\text{NO}_{3}^{-}$$ , $$\text{SO}_{4}^{2-}$$ , and Cl− concentrations in groundwater indicated an anthropogenic influence.

Ethnopharmacological relevance In Morocco, diabetes mellitus is a major public health problem with more than 1.5 million cases in 2014. Medicinal plants are widely used by the Moroccan population to treat the illness. Aim of the study The aim of this work is to make an inventory of plant species used in folk medicine for the management of diabetes in Chtouka Ait Baha and Tiznit provinces. Materials and methods The survey was carried out by means of semi-structured questionnaires. A total of 380 interviews were conducted with traditional health practitioners and knowledgeable villagers. The data were analyzed through use value (UV), fidelity level (FL) and relative frequency of citation (RFC). Results In total, 48 plant species belonging to 25 families were reported. Lamiaceae, Asteraceae and Apiaceae were reported as the most represented families. Six plants are reported for the first time as used in traditional treatment of diabetes and one plant species was previously unknown for its medicinal use to treat diabetes in Morocco. The most frequently cited plant species are Allium sativum L., Salvia officinalis L., Marrubium vulgare L. and Lavandula dentata L. Leaves were the most cited plant part used, decoction is the preferred mode of preparation. Conclusion This study showed the importance of folk medicine in the healthcare system for the local people living in the study area. The current study represents a useful documentation, which can contribute to preserving knowledge on the use of medicinal plants in this region and to explore the phytochemical and pharmacological potential of medicinal plants.

Aeromagnetic data were analyzed, constrained by geological and ore deposit mapping to investigate possible regions within the Igherm inlier region of the Anti-Atlas in western Morocco that are favorable for more detailed copper exploration. The aeromagnetic data were investigated by creating reduction to the pole (RTP), upward continuation and tilt-angle anomaly maps. Additionally, depths to magnetic susceptibility sources were estimated using three-dimensional Euler deconvolution and tilt-angle depth methods. The RTP map indicated several anomalous regions where magnetic maxima can be related to Paleoproterozoic and Neoproterozoic metamorphic and volcanic rocks located between the uplifted regions in the northern portion of the Igherm inlier region. The western portion of the study area is characterized by short wavelength, NE-trending magnetic maxima that are related to Pan-African orogeny volcanic units. Derivative maps indicate that the majority of the lineaments are NE-trending probably related to post Pan-African rifting. However, there are several NW- and E-trending lineaments related to the Variscan orogeny. The depths of the sources of these lineaments range between 100 m and 5200 m, with the deeper depths mainly trending toward the northeast. Using the derivative analysis, RTP, magnetically determined depth estimates and the nature of known copper deposits in the region (e.g., Tizert deposit), several regions were determined to be favorable for more detailed mineral exploration. These regions are located along the edges of Proterozoic uplifts where paleobasins containing Basal Series sediments have been affected by mainly NE-trending faults that act as conduits for deeper magmatically formed ore-rich fluids.

The present study illustrates for the first time the ventral aspect and the hypostome of Platypeltoides cuervoae (Corbacho and Lopez-Soriano, 2012) of the Upper part of the Lower Fezouata Formation (Lower Ordovician: Tremadocian) of the Guelmim area; Western Anti-Atlas, Morocco. Computed tomography of the holotype and paratype kept at the Natural History Museum in London (United Kingdom) for the conduct of a study on computed tomography and radiography as expert legal evidence in paleontology has revealed the hypotheses of the two previously cited specimens (Corbacho and Lopez-Soriano, 2012) and another disarticulated specimen below, which was discovered during the computed tomography process. All CT Scanning images in this article have been obtained from a CT Scanned at the Natural History Museum, London, UK. By describing the ventral aspect and the hypostomes of the specimens studied in this article, any possible uncertainty and affiliation to Nileidae is stated and dissipated as suggested by Gutierrez Marco, Sa, Garcia Bellido and Chacaltana as belonging to Asaphidae, incorrectly suggesting that It is the species: Asaphellus stubssi Fortey, 2009. Consequently, membership in the Nileidae family is reaffirmed and Asaphidae is ruled out. The genus Platypeltoides is also reaffirmed and Asaphellus is discarded. Being the correct species Platypeltoides cuervoae (Corbacho & Lopez-Soriano, 2012).

The Ouansimi copper deposit, located South of the Kerdous inlier in Morocco, is an example of vein-type mineralization hosted in the Adoudou Formation limestone of the Lower Cambrian Taroudant Group. The copper-bearing veins are mainly controlled by Variscan NNW-trending faults and are subdivided here into Eastern, Western, and Central structures. On the basis of mineralogical, metallographic, and fluid inclusion studies, two mineralizing processes are proposed. A primary process is interpreted for the chalcopyrite, digenite, galena, sphalerite, carrollite, and pyrite with quartz and dolomite as gangue minerals. A secondary process is proposed for chalcocite, bornite, covellite, native copper, copper carbonate and oxide. Microthermometric analysis of fluid inclusions was carried out on quartz and dolomite gangues. Primary fluid inclusions trapped in quartz show the existence of fluids with temperatures of 175°C–275 °C and salinities of 10–15 wt % NaCl eq. However, fluid inclusions in dolomite indicate fluids with temperatures of 200°C–250 °C and salinities of 20–25 wt % NaCl equiv. Combining ore mineralogy and fluid inclusion microthermometry, two main hypogene sulphide mineralization stages can be distinguished in the Ouansimi copper deposit. The first Cu–Fe stage, with quartz as a gangue mineral, was related to hydrothermal fluids with moderate temperature and low salinity. The second Cu–Zn–Pb–Co–Ni–Fe stage was associated with dolomite as a gangue mineral and infilled cavities and fractures cutting quartz. This second phase was related to hydrothermal fluids with moderate temperature and high salinity. The tectonic evolution of the Ouansimi deposit was characterized by thrusting of the south limb over the north limb and by dextral and sinistral offsets of the mineralized structures along late-stage ENE-WSW-trending faults.

International audience; The lower Cryogenian mafic magmatism from the Igherm, Ifni and Kerdous inliers (Moroccan Western Anti-Atlas) have calc-alkaline, tholeiitic and alkaline affinities. The calc-alkaline dolerite dykes and gabbros bodies emplaced before the conglomeratic formations of the Upper Cryogenian and after the tholeiitic mafic rocks that characterize the pre-Pan-African rifting. They are similar to rocks from orogenic setting and characterized by high LILE, Th, Ce, P, Sm contents and La/Nb ratio and a low HFSE content with negative anomalies in Nb, Zr and Ti. The geodynamic environment of the sedimentary country rocks corresponds to that of a passive margin in a distensive tectonic context. The calc-alkaline affinity of these magmas can be attributed to the influence of a Palaeoproterozoic subduction zone that contributed to the enrichment of the sub-continental mantle. During the extensional event of the Pan-African orogenesis, the mantle would have produced tholeiitic, alkaline and/or transitional magmas before melting (caused by adiabatic decompression) reached the enriched sub-continental mantle. This mantle was previously enriched during the Eburnean subduction, where it would have generated calc-alkaline magmas.

New geologic mapping, lithofacies and granulometric analysis, and geochemistry from the volcano-sedimentary successions of the central part of the Bas Draâ inlier, Western Anti-Atlas, constrain the Ediacaran Ouarzazate Supergroup evolution during the post-collisional stage of the Pan-African orogeny. Volcanosedimentary facies analysis is the key aspect of the present contribution. We distinguished sixteen terrestrial volcanosedimentary lithofacies in the Bas Draâ succession (BDS), which reaches a total thickness of 2000 m. BDS evolution can be grouped into four units (Aouinet Ait Oussa I to IV, AO I–AO IV). The earliest volcanic activity produced rhyolitic ignimbrite sheets (AO I), which had been considered as lava flows by previous workers, and which were presumably related to caldera system(s). During AO II, a complex of high-silica andesitic and rhyolitic lavas formed, punctuated by the explosive eruption of a high-temperature silica-rich magma leading to the formation of parataxitic ignimbrite. AO III consists of basalt and andesite lava fields and small explosive, in parts phreatomagmatic volcanic vents. It is dissected by fluvial systems depositing external non-volcanic and local volcanic debris. BDS evolution terminated with the formation of a large SiO 2 -rich lava dome complex (AO IV), accompanied by small basalt effusive event. Volcanosedimentary facies analysis infers that the BDS evolved in a continental extensional setting developing in a low topography under humid paleoclimatic conditions. Alteration textures are dominated by a piemontite–calcite–albite–quartz (+ iron oxides) assemblage. Chemical analysis of BDS volcanic and subvolcanic rocks belongs to high-k calc-alkaline and alkali-calcic to alkaline magmatic trend typical for a post-collision setting. Trace elements spidergrams show a pattern typical for subduction-related suites of orogenic belts. REE patterns show moderate enrichment in LREE relative to flat HREE, with strong negative Eu anomaly in rhyolitic rocks. Geotectonic diagrams suggest an affinity transitional between subduction- and within-plate settings. BDS magmatism can be explained by a magma source enriched in inherited components from Pan-African subduction. Volcanosedimentary facies, structural features, geochemical composition and radiometric data of BDS suggests correlation with the upper Ouarzazate Supergroup of the Anti-Atlas. Geodynamic evolution of the BDS was an expression of an extensional setting that operated in northern Gondwana margin precursory to the Cambrian anorogenic volcanic activity.

This study aims to highlight evidences of tectonic and geodynamic features within Lakhssas high plateau karst area (Moroccan Western Anti-Atlas), using an original approach based on geospeleothems analysis. This work is organized by the speleogenesis process, controlled by tectonics and interference of karst intrinsic parameters. Regarding the first issue, a multi-layered study compiling inventoried speleological spaces with tectonic field data analysis then with lithological, hydrogeological and geomorphological features, has demonstrated that speleogenesis processes are deeply controlled by tectonic framework so described as “speleotects”. Subsequent studies in terms of sedimentology, geomorphology, hydrogeology and dating deposits, are planned to ground those conclusions.

Terra Nova, 23, 35–41, 2011 Abstract To put constraints on the Mesozoic to recent growth of the Anti-Atlas system, we investigated the temperature–time history of rocks by applying extensive low-temperature thermochronological analysis to three Precambrian inliers along the coast and 250 km into the interior. Bedrocks yield old U–Th/He ages on zircon (248–193 Ma) and apatite (150–50 Ma) and also fission-track ages of 173–121 Ma on apatite. These datasets are interpreted as recording passive margin upward movements from central Atlantic rifting until the Early Cretaceous. A phase of sedimentary burial was evidenced for the Cretaceous–Eocene. The extension of this thin (1.5 km) basin is loosely constrained but can be extended to the western regions of northern Africa. Effects of the existing thermal perturbation of lithospheric origin 100 km below the Atlas show that the 120–60 °C isotherms are not much deflected. Large-scale uplift has possibly occurred in the western Anti-Atlas since c. 30 Ma and is associated with a mean denudation rate of 0.08 km Ma−1.

New U–Pb zircon data obtained by sensitive high resolution ion micro probe (SHRIMP) from the Tagragra de Tata inlier in the western Anti-Atlas, Morocco establish Paleoproterozoic ages for the basement schists, granites, and metadolerites, and a Neoproterozoic age for an ignimbrite of the Ouarzazate Series in the cover sequence. The age of interbedded felsic metatuff in the metasedimentary and metavolcanic sequence of the basement schists is 2072±8 Ma. This date represents: (1) the first reliable age from the metasedimentary and metavolcanic sequence; (2) the oldest reliable age for the basement of the Anti-Atlas; (3) the first date on the timing of deposition of the sediments on the northern edge of the Paleoproterozoic West African craton; (4) a lower age limit on deformation during the Eburnean orogeny; and (5) the first date obtained from the non-granitic Paleoproterozoic basement of Morocco. Ages of 2046±7 Ma (Targant granite) and 2041±6 Ma (Oudad granite) support earlier interpretations of a Paleoproterozoic Eburnean igneous event in the Anti-Atlas. The granites post-date the Eburnean D1 deformation event in the Paleoproterozoic schist sequence, and place a ∼2046 Ma limit on short-lived Eburnean deformation in the area. Cross-cutting metadolerite is 2040±6 Ma; this is the first date from a metadolerite in the western Anti-Atlas. All of the dolerites in the area post-date emplacement of the two granites and the new age constrains the onset of late- or post-Eburnean extension. Ignimbrite of the Ouarzazate Series, immediately above the Paleoproterozoic basement is 565±7 Ma. This Neoproterozoic age agrees with ages of similar volcanic rocks elsewhere from the Ouarzazate Series. The date also agrees with the ages of associated hypabyssal intrusions, and marks the second and final stage of Pan-African orogenic activity in the western Anti-Atlas.

In the Anti-Atlas the lower Cambrian succession was traditionally considered as a post-rift series. Recently the Western Anti-Atlas appears to be affected by an early Cambrian rifting process. In the Igherm area (Western Anti-Atlas), this succession is represented by an alternating carbonate and siliciclastic facies reflecting several sedimentary environments. The vertical stacking of these facies define four Composite-Sequences constituted, each one, by two or more transgressive-regressive sedimentary cycles. The differential and progressive extensional tectonic events seem to be the main control on the genesis and on the vertical stacking transgressive-regressive sedimentary cycles. The accommodation space is generated by a strong tilting related to syn-rift tectonics. The lack of lowstand system tracts and other erosive features, suggests the occurrence of platform drowning just below the falling sea level stage. So stratigraphic stacking of the Lower-Cambrian strata exposed in the Igherm area, constitutes the response to the rifting process in the Anti-Atlas and consequently a probably fragmentation indicator of a neoproterozoic Gondwana.

In the western part of the Anti Atlas, the Cambrian formations known since long (Nice, 1924; Bourcard, 1927; Bung & Netlner, 1933), have been the subject of a very detailed stratigraphic approach. The sedimentological work affecting the lower Cambrian of the Western Anti Atlas is rare. It concerns mainly: a lithostratigraphic description and a summary interpretation of the environmental sedimentary formations. Indeed, recent sedimentological data allowed a new lithostratigraphic division of the Lower Cambrian succession in three lithostratigraphic series. These, are characterized, each one, by a particular microbialitic builds ups, resulted, probably, from Lower Cambrian marine ecosystem variations. The first step, the stromatolitic series, represents a long period in which a large area of the Anti-Atlasic platform was occupied by peritidal cyanobacterial mats. The second step, represented by the Thrombolites series, marks a global sea level rise (Thrombolites proliferation) relayed by a massive silico-clastic supply inputs. And the third stage of evolution during which the medium sufficiently deepened to allow the installation of the distal facies platform. The development of the Archaeocyaths seems to be one of the precursors of dendritic form acquired by certain microbial communities. Dating Neoproterozoic, the Archaeocyaths of Ifrane, whose morphological diversity and the microbial communities associated with them, are a focus for the industry of ornamental rocks in Ifrane in the Moroccan western Anti-Atlas. In this area, the structural diversity of the Archaeocyaths is very pronounced, which facilitates the systematic division and their use in stratigraphy. The perforations or pores vary in number, size and arrangement, those whose walls are stretched in the subdivision pore channels or tubes which may be linear, bent, or inclined in the case of thicker walls. Indeed, the main objective of this work is to highlight the “Archaeocyathans mounds” as a geological heritage through the study of varied silico-clastic and carbonate predominate components facies. Regrettably, the surexploitation of the Archaeocyaths in the ornamental industry and mining activities may lead to their death in the absence of regulatory laws of their exploitation. Clues are offered to make the Archaeocyaths a geological site, a geological destination, thing that necessitate the conduct of a number of approaches, the mobilization of various networks of actors but also the establishment or adaptation of infrastructure, home or mediation.

Four events have been identified in the Tagragra d’Akka and Tafeltast–Kerdous inliers: (i) a middle Palaeoproterozoic (Orosirian, ca. 2.047 Ga) event corresponding to the emplacement of calc-alkaline and peraluminous granites containing older inherited zircon (2.07–2.15 Ga), (ii) an upper Palaeoproterozoic (Statherian) event corresponding to the emplacement of pegmatites and porphyritic microgranites (ca. 1.76 Ga), intimately associated with numerous mafic dikes assumed to be, at least partly, of the same age, (iii) an upper Neoproterozoic event corresponding to dacite dikes (600 ± 5 Ma), (iv) a Variscan (301 ± 7 Ma) hydrothermal event corresponding to the crystallization of muscovites related to Au-quartz veins. A polycyclic magmatism (Eburnian-Birimian, Pan-African and Variscan) is now evidenced in these two inliers of the western Anti-Atlas. The Pan-African orogeny is very homogeneous all along the Anti-Atlas during Neoproterozoic time. No inherited Archaean component has been found in zircons from granites or dikes. It appears that the northern border of the West African craton is an important juvenile cratonic limit submitted to periodical continental growth since 2.05 Ga at least.

Zircon U–Pb data on post-tectonic granites that have intruded the Precambrian formations of the Kerdous inlier (western Anti-Atlas, Morocco) are Pan-African. Zircon grains from a syntectonic monzodiorite of the Tahala pluton yield a precise discordia line with an upper intercept at 2043.9 ± 1.8 Ma (MSWD = 0.67) interpreted as the emplacement age. This age is consistent with zircon U–Pb ages of granites from other inliers and confirms the existence of a widespread magmatic event at ≈2045 Ma in the Anti-Atlas. The Pan-African event left no resolvable imprint on the isotopic systems of the analysed zircons. The Kerdous Schists are, therefore, older than 2045 Ma. Rb–Sr and Sm–Nd data on the schists and the Tahala pluton suggest that both juvenile and Archaean material contributed to the generation of the Palaeoproterozoic formations in the Anti-Atlas.