The Anti-Atlas fold and thrust belt is considered an important metallogenic province on the northern margin of the West African Craton (WAC). This structural domain is mainly controlled by structural features inherited from many orogeneses that underwent evolution from the Paleoproterozoic onward. Geophysical investigation is considered an effective tool for studying fracturing and establishing structural maps of sedimentary basins and inaccessible area. The Saghro massif of the Eastern Anti-Atlas is a large Precambrian inlier including the highest peak in the range, Jbel Mansour, reaching 2600 meters, along with many other inaccessible areas. In this work, we highlight the use of airborne magnetic data in the South-East part of the Saghro inlier to depict the tectonic framework and to establish the structural map of this part of the Pan African belt. We particularly focused on determining the local structures and tectonic units by applying many derivatives filters on the magnetic data reduced to pole. The superposition of all magnetic lineaments obtained from various edge detection techniques. The results outline directions that are the same as the general tectonic structures of the area. NE-SW and E-W directions corresponding mainly to Hercynian faults, while the NW-SE to ESE-WNW directions are related to the late Pan-African phase. The interpreted magnetic lineament maps identified new profound faults in this region, in addition to confirming other linear structures already highlighted by previous geophysical investigations. Our synthetic structural map of magnetic lineaments serves as a framework for future mining exploration.
The Cu-Ag-Pb polymetallic mineralization of the Agdim-Ait Elfersi sector is situated in the eastern Anti Atlas Moroccan belt, the northeastern part of the Saghro inlier. The mineralization is hosted in the volcanic rocks of late Neoproterozoic and the detrital sedimentary rocks of the Lower Cambrian. A network of faults has affected this area; it is a brutalizing deformation with NW-SE, NE-SW, E-W, and NNE-SSW directions. NW-SE and NE-SW structures have a metallogenic significance. This tectonic canvas was used as a target of a mineralization vein with Cu, Ag, and Pb in this area. By combining geological, structural, and metallogenic characteristics, it can be assumed that the Cu-Ag-Pb mineralization of the Agdim-Ait Elfersi sector is linked to two major events. A late Pan-African event linked to the extensional tectonics of the late Neoproterozoic, responsible for the establishment of mineralization at the level of the basement, and then a late Hercynian-Atlasic event, which manifests by the remobilization of metals in NE-SW oriented structures. Geochemical analysis shows the polymetallic character of this mineralization. The high contents of silver and mercury observed indicate the presence of similarities of an Ag-Hg epithermal type of mineralization in this area. Geological context, as well as mineralogical and textural characters of the Agdim-Ait Elfersi sector are reminiscent of epithermal-type mineralization as in the Imiter and Zgounder deposit.
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