Geochronological data on the Rabat–Tiflet granitoids: Their bearing on the tectonics of the Moroccan Variscides

Evidence for surface uplift of the Atlas Mountains and the surrounding peripheral plateaux: Combining apatite fission-track results and geomorphic indicators in the Western Moroccan Meseta (coastal Variscan Paleozoic basement)

“…The zircons of these samples have been recently dated by Laser Ablation-ICPMS analyses (Tahiri et al, 2009) and yield a mean U-Pb age of 606 ± 6 Ma for the sample TA from Taïcha body, and a mean U-Pb age of 605 ± 4 Ma for the sample BJE of the present study near Rabat. Both granitoids as other from the Tiflet area are Proterozoic granitoids with many features typical of Andean-arc granitoids, with an important crustal component (Tahiri et al, 2009). Scarce previous thermochronological data on the region have been provided by Ghorbal et al (2008).…”

“…Hoepffner et al 2005;Michard et al, 2008). This allochthonous terrane thrust over the Central Meseta Block and below the main thrust surface outcrops a thin unit in the Tiflet area composed by the Proterozoic basement of the Central Meseta block (Tahiri et al, 2009). …”

“…The studied samples (samples BJE and TA) are only from the two Tiflet granitoid bodies (namely Taïcha: TA, and Bou Jemaa, BJE, Tahiri et al, 2009), as those of the Sehoul block are much fractured and their apatites were not suitable for fission tracks. The zircons of these samples have been recently dated by Laser Ablation-ICPMS analyses (Tahiri et al, 2009) and yield a mean U-Pb age of 606 ± 6 Ma for the sample TA from Taïcha body, and a mean U-Pb age of 605 ± 4 Ma for the sample BJE of the present study near Rabat. Both granitoids as other from the Tiflet area are Proterozoic granitoids with many features typical of Andean-arc granitoids, with an important crustal component (Tahiri et al, 2009).…”

Tectonic evolution of the Rehamna metamorphic dome (Morocco) in the context of the Alleghanian-Variscan orogeny

“…Recently, Tahiri et al . [] suggested that these basins can be opened during the southward docking of the Sehoul block against the Western Meseta.…”

“…This is separated from the Western Meseta by the Middle Meseta Fault Zone (MMFZ), whereas the South Meseta Zone (SMZ) (4) is a transitional domain separating the Meseta and Anti‐Atlas zones [ Michard et al ., ]. (5) The Sehoul block in the North (Figure ) was accreted to the whole Meseta domain along the Rabat‐Tiflet Fault Zone (RTFZ) during the Upper Devonian‐Lower Carboniferous [ Tahiri et al ., ; Michard et al ., ].…”