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Paleogene stratigraphic framework of the western External Rif Zone, showing stratigraphic units, unconformities, and depositional vs. erosional gaps.<\/p><\/div>\n
During the Paleogene\u00a0a foreland basin is formed mainly in theMesorif and Prerif sub-domains. This foredeep was represented by two\u00a0\u2018sub-geosynclines\u2019 separated by a relative bulge located in the External Mesorif. The Internal Intrarif could represent\u00a0the relative orogenic front, advancing on the External Intrarif. The Eocene forebulge was located in the Ridges Domain,\u00a0while the Gharb Basin was the backbulge of the system. During the Oligocene the depocentral area migrated\u00a0southward and a homogeneization of thicknesses took also place in the whole margin. In this new configuration, the\u00a0foredeep would be located in the External Mesorif (previously a relative bulge) while the Ridges Domain and the\u00a0Gharb Basin continued to act as the system forebulge and backbulge, respectively. A comparison with the Paleogene\u00a0evolution of other western Tethys external margins (Betic Chain, Tunisian Tell, Sicilian Maghrebids, and Apennines)\u00a0has revealed more similarities than differences. The effects of the Eo-Alpine tectonics are recognized everywhere\u00a0even if they decrease both from N to S, and from W to E in the different considered margins. The evolution of the\u00a0compared margins shows a common pre-foredeed (Paleocene-Eocene) and beginning of foredeep (Oligocene)\u00a0stages in the foreland basins.<\/p>\n
Cite as:\u00a0Mart\u00edn-Mart\u00edn, M., Guerrera F., Ca\u00f1averas, J. C., \u00a0Alcal\u00e1 F. J.,\u00a0Serrano, F., Maat\u00e9, A., Hlila, R., Maat\u00e9, S., Tramontana, M.,\u00a0S\u00e1nchez-Navas, A., and Le Breton, E. (2023).\u00a0Paleogene evolution of the External Rif Zone (Morocco) and comparison\u00a0with other western Tethyan margins. Sedimentary Geology, 448, 106367.<\/a>\u00a0doi: 10.1016\/j.sedgeo.2023.106367<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Paleogene evolution of the NW margin of the African Plate (Western External Rif Zone) was studied by means of\u00a0multidisciplinary analyses of twenty-one stratigraphic logs, including tectofacies recognition, petro-mineralogical\u00a0results, and thicknesses analysis. Four stratigraphic intervals were recognized separated by three … Continue reading