Jurassic-Cretaceous Red beds of the southern Front of Moroccan Central High Atlas (Aghbalou N'Kerdouss-Tadighoust region): Sedimentological, lithostratigraphical and paleogeographical studies. (June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Adardor, Said; Haddoumi, Hamid; Rachdi, Abdelmalek; Ettachfini, El Mostafa; Baidder, Lahssen; Chennouf, Rachid; Charrière, André
• Is Part Of: Journal of African earth sciences. Volume 178(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-06
• Subjects: Red beds -- Jurassic-Cretaceous -- Sedimentology -- Paleogeography -- Aghbalou N'Kerdouss-Tadighoust -- Morocco; Earth sciences -- Africa -- Periodicals; Earth sciences -- Middle East -- Periodicals; Geology -- Africa -- Periodicals; Geology -- Middle East -- Periodicals; Sciences de la terre -- Afrique -- Périodiques; Sciences de la terre -- Moyen-Orient -- Périodiques; Géologie -- Afrique -- Périodiques; Géologie -- Moyen-Orient -- Périodiques; Earth sciences; Geology; Africa; Middle East; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 556.05
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2021.104185
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1464-343X

Abstract

Abstract: Sedimentologic and lithostratigraphic studies carried out along the southern Front of the Central High Atlas in a mostly terrigenous Jurassic-Cretaceous series (Red beds) allow specifying the paleoenvironmental and paleogeographic evolution of three units: Guettioua, Ifezouane and Aoufous formations. The Bathonian Guettioua Fm, composed of terrigenous deposits of a median-distal piedmont and a proximal alluvial plain, is arranged into a regressive mesosequence. A terrigenous Lower (Mbr1) and an Upper (Mbr3) members of the Ifezouane Fm (Albian?-Cenomanian) were deposited in a median to a distal alluvial plain. Paleocurrent analysis indicates a southern source area of the terrigenous material mainly resulting from erosion of the neighbouring or distant Precambrian and Paleozoic basement. The southern origin of the material is opposite to a northern source proposed by authors for the surrounding western areas. These terrigenous supplies are interspersed with a lagoonal-marine incursion that covered the region during the deposition of a Middle Member (Mbr2) of the Ifezouane Fm. Fossiliferous limestone layers have yielded a restricted euryhaline microfauna and macrofauna. This restricted lagoon, E-W oriented with a multi-kilometre extension, was probably opened towards the East. By lateral correlations, this lagoonal-marine event can be dated to the Albian? - Cenomanian interval. This Cretaceous transgression, well documented for the first time, belongs to an earlier mesosequence recorder before the widespread and well-known Upper Cenomanian-Turonian transgression. Highlights: Stratigraphic succession of Moroccan Jurassic-Cretaceous Reds beds. Facies analysis, paleoenvironmental and palaeogeographic interpretations. A first Albian?-Cenomanian lagoonal transgression detailed for the first time. All detrital material come from the Saharan domain erosion.