0000000000371287
AUTHOR
Mohammed Et-touhami
Mid-Triassic to Early Liassic clastic/evaporitic deposits over the Maghreb Platform
Abstract The development of Triassic to Lower Liassic clastic/evaporitic series over the epicratonic Maghreb Platform is closely associated with the eastern opening of a Tethyan marine domain between Africa and Europe. West of the platform, Morocco became separated from North America in Late Triassic times by rifting along the axis of the Proto-Atlantic Ocean. In addition, NE–SW and ENE–WSW trending Atlasic half-grabens formed, essentially in Morocco, as part of a Late Triassic/Early Liassic Atlas rifting episode. This is the tectonic context in which the red bed to evaporite sequences were deposited. A first depositional pattern is illustrated by the areally extensive onlapping of Upper Tr…
Late Messinian to Early Pliocene paleoenvironmental changes in the Melilla Basin (NE Morocco) and their relation to Mediterranean evolution
Abstract Three major paleoenvironmental changes have been recognized during the late Miocene to Early Pliocene in the Melilla Basin (Northeastern Morocco) and compared with the regional events that affected the Mediterranean hydrology during this crucial period. The first change was the definitive conversion of the restricted marine conditions that prevailed since the end of the reef carbonate complex into lacustrine environments; this occurred around 5.8 Ma which is earlier than in the rest of the Mediterranean where the Lower Evaporites were still forming. These lacustrine settings display great similarities with the Lago-Mare environments that started in the Mediterranean during the depo…