Le Bassin de Skoura-Tazouta (Moyen Atlas, Maroc): Un Exemple de Paléo-Barrage D’âge NéogèneQuaternaire d’origine Tectonique et à Remplissage Fluvio-Lacustre et Travertineux

Abstract

The Tazouta-Skoura subsidiary basin, located in the folded Middle Atlas, corresponds to a collapsed zone with multiphase tectonics in the Neogene and Quaternary; it is limited to the west by a branch of the NMAA (North Middle Atlas Accident) and to the south by the Tichoukt ramp. This basin, interpreted by our predecessors as a simple lake basin, is characterized by fluvio-lacustrine and travertine sedimentary deposits. The palaeogeographic and geodynamic studies (geological mapping, lithostratigraphy, … etc) that we have carried out in the Tazouta-Skoura area allowed us to determine the factors responsible for the genesis and evolution of the neogene-quaternary lake basin of Oued Mdaz palaeo-dam. The tectonic

cGPS Record of Active Extension in Moroccan Meseta and Shortening in Atlasic Chains under the Eurasia-Nubia Convergence

“…First, the relative displacement of the northern Meseta (Rabat and Taza) with respect to Beni Mellal provides evidence for very active extensional tectonics in this area of about 2 mm year −1 in the NNE-SSW direction ( Figure 5 and Figure 6 ). These results agree with the presence of subtle extensional tectonic deformations envisaged by field geological studies in this region including normal faults [ 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 ] and flexures [ 42 ]. Moreover, the existence of basaltic volcanism, in addition to the geophysical evidence of the underlying anomalous mantle [ 3 ], agrees with the present-day active extension simultaneous to the relief uplift.…”