The Eocene carbonate platforms of the Ghomaride Domain (Internal Rif Zone, N Morocco): a segment of the westernmost Tethys

The Eocene platform deposits in the Moroccan Ghomarides have been studied. These marine carbonate platforms were located in the westernmost Tethys approximately 30°N and 0°–10°W during the Cuisian to Bartonian. The study includes observations from fossiliferous assemblages (such as larger benthic foraminifera and colonial corals), their palaeoenvironment as well as rock texture and fabric. Eight microfacies were identified that represent different ramp environments in a ‘distally-steepened carbonate ramp’ type of platform. The studied deposits are organised into a transgressive succession composed of three sedimentary cycles: lower Cuisian, middle Cuisian and middle Lutetian to Bartonian. In the lower cycle, photic inner to mid ramp environments in mesotrophic conditions were prevalent. In the second cycle, photic inner ramp (sea-grass) to mid ramp environments in mesotrophic to oligotrophic conditions were observed. The upper cycle, which is more extensive and variable, represents mesophotic mid ramp to aphotic slope environments and changes gradually from oligotrophic to eutrophic conditions. During the Eocene, larger benthic foraminifera were dominant overtaking the zooxanthellate corals in the Tethys regions. Nevertheless, our study and the performed comparison with other Tethyan sectors have revealed that in some areas both coexisted in similar proportions. In some western Tethys regions close to the Atlantic Ocean, coinciding with areas influenced by upwelling currents, larger benthic foraminifera and coral build-ups were replaced by oyster reefs. The Ghomaride Domain represents an intermediate case between fossil assemblages of the northern Tethyan margin and eastern sector of the southern margin of the Tethys, with a dominance of larger benthic foraminifera but with a certain presence of corals as well. A good correlation exists between Eocene warm intervals and carbonate platform deposits in these domains. Contrarily, during cooling ones shallowing and gaps in the sedimentation are registered. Two anomalies have been detected in the Ghomaride Domain during Ypresian and Bartonian times indicating particular climatic conditions or local tectonic interferences

Integrating remote sensing, GIS and in-situ data for structural mapping over a part of the NW Rif belt, Morocco

This study adopts an integrated approach using the geographic information system (GIS) and remote sensing techniques for structural mapping in inaccessible zone of the internal segment of North-Western Rif belt, Morocco. The Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Optimal Index Factor (OIF), band ratios and directional filtering are applied to Landsat 8 OLI (Operational Land Imager) image for mapping lithology and geological structures. Tectonic lineaments are extracted using the remote sensing and GIS approach and verified by in-situ data. Lithology and detailed structural features in the study area as well as the main sets of fractures trending NW–SE and E–W are identified and highlighted. The results obtained in this research demonstrate that the integration of remote sensing imagery and GIS techniques is a reliable and low-cost approach to fracture extraction and structural mapping, particularly in remote and inaccessible regions of the African plate and other analogue zones around the world

The building stone of the Roman city of Lixus (NW Morocco): provenance, petrography and petrophysical characterization

The characterization of building materials is a key tool to assess deterioration processes and improve potential restoration works of archaeological sites. The aim of this paper is to identify and characterize most important building stone used in the construction of the Roman city of Lixus (Larache, Morocco) by means of petrographic and petrophysical techniques. Based on the visual analysis of the monuments, three major building stones (i.e. lithotypes) have been identified: i) Oligocene sandstones, ii) Quaternary sandstones and iii) Quaternary conglomerates. Based on the analysis of the regional geology and exploitation marks, these three lithotypes have been recognised to crop out in the surroundings of Lixus and the quarries, presumably Roman in origin, recognized. The Oligocene sandstone is the primary building stone in Lixus as it forms and crops out extensively in the Tchemmis hill, at top of which the city is settled. The Quaternary sandstones and conglomerates, which represent nearshore deposits and eolianites, crop out along the Atlantic coast where they form part of the cliffs next to Larache. Petrographic results indicate that lithotypes differ notably in grain size, ratio of detrital to allochemical components, and the configuration of their porous system. Mechanical analysis show that the Oligocene sandstones are more resistant to compression than the Quaternary sandstones and conglomerates, the latter exhibiting relatively low compressive strength. The Oligocene sandstones, which display scarce porosity and permeability, show a hydric behaviour characterized by a very low degree of absorbing and desorbing water, likely resulting from a poor connectivity of the pore network. Contrary to the latter lithotype, the Quaternary sandstones, which exhibit very high porosity and permeability, display a hydric behaviour characterized by high degree of both absorbing and desorbing water. This is attributed to the low degree of cementation compared to porosity of this lithotype and the excellent connectivity of the porous network. Finally, the accelerated artificial aging test of the Oligocene and Quaternary sandstones do not show a significant weight loss after the accelerated artificial aging test, indicating that both are slightly affected by salt crystallization and presumably ice as well. Results indicate that the relatively fine state of conservation of the building rocks of Lixus is linked to intrinsic factors as mineralogy and petrophysical characteristics together with the favourable effect of the climatic condition of the study area.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Human occupations of Northern Morocco, Middle and Upper Palaeolithic. New data on the basis of archaeological research projects from 2005 to 2020

Nous présentons dans ce travail, un panorama synthétique des occupations humaines du Nord du Maroc, en mettant l’accent sur l’association des données anthropologiques et des données culturelles, ceci dans un cadre chronologique compris entre le Paléolithique Moyen (MSA) et le Paléolithique Supérieur. Nous présentons aussi les projets développés, durant ces 15 dernières années, et les résultats les plus intéressants que nous avons obtenus. Pour conclure, nous proposons quelques réflexions sur l’évaluation culturelle et historique des enregistrements archéologiques de la région de Tétouan dans les périodes du Paléolithique Moyen et Supérieur.In this work, we present a synthetic panorama of the human occupations of northern Morocco, with an emphasis on the association of anthropological with cultural records, within the framework of the Middle Palaeolithic (MSA) and the Upper Palaeolithic. We also present the projects developed over the past 15 years and the most interesting results we have obtained. And we conclude bay providing some reflections on the cultural and historical evaluation of the archaeological records from the Tetouan region in the Middle and the Upper Palaeolithic phases.Les résultats et les conclusions de cet article ont été obtenus grâce aux études qui ont été réalisées dans le cadre de la coopération scientifique internationale qui a permis le développement des projets de recherches archéologiques durant les quinze dernières années et qu’on peut résumer comme suit : • Les matières premières dans la préhistoire du détroit de Gibraltar. Code A/2893/05. Entités participantes : Université de Cadix (Espagne) et Université Abdelmalek Essaâdi (Maroc). Durée, de janvier 2006 à décembre 2006. Chercheurs responsables : Salvador Domínguez-Bella et Ali Maate. • Etude des collections du Musée Archéologique de Tétouan (I). Début de l’inventaire général et de l’analyse de certaines collections thématiques. Code : A/6867/06. Entités participantes : Université de Cadix (Espagne), Institut National des Sciences de l’Archéologie et du Patrimoine (Rabat) et Université Abdelmalek Esaâdi (Tanger-Tétouan) (Maroc). Durée, de janvier 2007 à décembre 2007. Chercheurs responsables : Mehdi Zouak et José Ramos-Muñoz. • Les matières premières dans la Préhistoire du détroit de Gibraltar. Code A/6317/06. Entités participantes : Université de Cadix (Espagne) et Université Abdelmalek Essaâdi (Maroc). Durée, de janvier 2007 à décembre 2007. Chercheurs responsables : Salvador Domínguez-Bella et Ali Maate. • Contribution à l’élaboration de la Carte archéologique du Nord du Maroc (Région Tanger-Tétouan). Analyse de faisabilité et conception du projet. Code A/5790/06. Entités participantes : Université de Cadix (Espagne) et Université Abdelmalek Esaâdi (Tanger-Tétouan, Maroc). Durée, de janvier 2007 à décembre 2007. Chercheurs responsables : Darío Bernal et Baraka Raissounni. • Étude des collections du Musée Archéologique de Tétouan (II). Début de l’inventaire général et de l’analyse de certaines collections thématiques. Code A/010823/07. Entités participantes : Université de Cadix (Espagne), Institut National des Sciences de l’Archéologie et du Patrimoine (Rabat) et Université Abdelmalek Essaâdi (Maroc). Durée, de janvier 2008 à décembre 2008. Chercheurs responsables : José Ramos-Muñoz. et Mehdi Zouak. • Proposition pour le remodelage du contenu du Musée Archéologique de Tétouan. Code AP/040139/11. Entités participantes : Université Abdelmalek Esaâdi (Tanger-Tétouan) (Maroc) et Université de Cadix (Espagne). Durée, de janvier 2012 à décembre 2012. Chercheurs responsables : José Ramos-Muñoz. et Ali Maate. • Projet Carte Archéologique du Nord du Maroc. Région de Tanger-Tétouan. Codes : DRCTT/08/328 ; DRCTT/09/267 ; DRCTT/ ; DRCTT/09/279 ; DRCTT/10/314, DRCTT/11/106, IRMHS-TT/12-48, IRMHS-TT/459/12, 0-094-2011 (BOE 314, 30-12-2011). Organismes de financement : AECID, Junta de Andalucía (Groupe PAI-HUM-440), Université de Cadix (Espagne). Entités participantes : Institut Nacional des Sciences de l’Archéologie et du Patrimoine (Rabat), Université Abdelmalek Esaâdi (Tanger-Tétouan) (Maroc) et Université de Cadix (Espagne). Durée, de janvier 2008 à décembre 2012. Chercheurs responsables : Mehdi Zouak, Abdelaziz El Khayari, Baraka Raissouni, Darío Bernal-Casasola et José Ramos-Muñoz. • Convention de collaboration pour la création du Laboratoire d’Archéologie et du Patrimoine Meknassi de la Région Tanger-Tétouan et le développement de la recherche archéologique et patrimoniale. Entités participantes : Université Abdelmalek Essaâdi, Université de Cadix et Direction Régionale de la Culture de la Région Tanger-Tétouan. Durée : du 24 mai 2012 au 24 mai 2017. Chercheurs responsables : Mehdi Zouak, Darío Bernal, José Ramos-Muñoz., Baraka Raissouni, Mostapha Ghottes et Tarek Moujoud. • Análisis de sociedades prehistóricas del Paleolítico Medio al Neolítico Final en las dos orillas del Estrecho de Gibraltar. Relaciones y contactos -HAR2017-8734P- (Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad -Agencia Estatal de Investigación, co financé par les fonds FEDER. Chercheurs responsables : José Ramos-Muñoz. et Salvador Domínguez-Bella. Nous tennons donc à remercier tous les chercheurs, les experts et les entités scientifiques, financières et administratives, qui ont permis la réalisation de ces projets de recherches archéologiques de 2005 à 2020

Etude geologique de la couverture mesozoieque et cenozoieque des unites ghomarides au nord de Tetouan (Rif interne, Maroc)

SIGLET 55825 / INIST-CNRS - Institut de l'Information Scientifique et TechniqueFRFranc

Inventory and Quantitative Assessment of Belyounech Commune Geosites (East of the Site of Biological and Ecological Interest of Jbel Moussa, Northern Moroccan Rif)

In the commune of Bel Younech, which constitutes the eastern part of the Site of Biological and Ecological Interest (SBEI) of Jbel Moussa (Tangier, Tetouan, Al Hoceima, NW Morocco), 13 geosites have been selected along a 14-stop georoad. These sites are characterized by relevant geological diversity representing structural geology, stratigraphy, sedimentology, petrology, geomorphology, hydrogeology and hydrology. Some of these geosites also have a very interesting geoculture. The geodiversity sites have been evaluated using a numerical methodology based on recent literature that aimed to reduce the subjectivity related to any evaluation process. The evaluation concerned the scientific value (SV), the potential for educational use (PEU), the potential for tourist use (PTU) and the risk of degradation (DR), which was quantified using various criteria by assigning scores ranging from 0 to 4. The results of the quantitative assessment show that 8 sites with a scientific value greater than or equal to 3.5; this value allows them to be considered as geosites. The average values of the PUE and PUT were very high (3.7 and 3.5) while the risk of degradation was moderate (2.03). The values obtained justify the need of valorization and conservation of Bel Younech commune geosites by integrating the fundamental concepts of sustainable development. In fact, all the geosites are located on a 14-stop georoad; this could serve the geotourism as well as promote the activity and economic development of this commune. This work could be used for scientific, educational (within the framework of earth sciences) and touristic purposes. Keywords: geodiversity, geological heritage, inventory, Bel Younech commune, (SBEI) of Jbel Moussa, Northern Rif

The building stone of the Roman city of Lixus (NW Morocco): provenance, petrography and petrophysical characterization

The characterization of building materials is a key tool to assess deterioration processes and improve potential restoration works of archaeological sites. The aim of this paper is to identify and characterize the most important building stones used in the construction of the Roman city of Lixus (Larache, Morocco) by means of petrographic and petrophysical techniques. Based on the visual analysis of the monuments, three major building stones (i.e. lithotypes) have been identified: i) Oligocene sandstones, ii) Quaternary sandstones and iii) Quaternary conglomerates. Based on the analysis of the regional geology and exploitation marks, these three lithotypes have been recognised to crop out in the surroundings of Lixus and the quarries, presumably Roman in origin, recognized. The Oligocene sandstone is the primary building stone in Lixus as it forms and crops out extensively in the Tchemmis hill, at the top of which the city is settled. The Quaternary sandstones and conglomerates, which represent nearshore deposits and eolianites, crop out along the Atlantic coast where they form part of the cliffs next to Larache. Petrographic results indicate that lithotypes differ notably in grain size, ratio of detrital to allochemical components, and the configuration of their porous system. Mechanical analysis shows that the Oligocene sandstones are more resistant to compression than the Quaternary sandstones and conglomerates, the latter exhibiting relatively low compressive strength. The Oligocene sandstones, which display scarce porosity and permeability, show a hydric behaviour characterized by a very low degree of absorption and desorption water, likely resulting from a poor connectivity of the pore network. Contrary to the latter lithotype, the Quaternary sandstones, which exhibit very high porosity and permeability, display a hydric behaviour characterized by high degree of both absorption and desorption of water. This is attributed to the low degree of cementation compared to porosity of this lithotype and the excellent connectivity of the porous network. Finally, Oligocene and Quaternary sandstones do not show a significant weight loss after the accelerated artificial aging test, indicating that both are slightly affected by salt crystallization and presumably ice formation. Results indicate that the relatively fine state of conservation of the building rocks of Lixus is linked to intrinsic factors such as mineralogy and petrophysical characteristics together with the favourable effect of the climatic condition of the study area

Relaciones y contactos entre las sociedades prehistóricas en la región del Estrecho de Gibraltar. Investigación y socialización del proyecto Carta Arqueológica del norte de Marruecos

Hemos realizado en los años 80 y 90 del siglo pasado una serie de proyectos de investigación en el sur de la Península Ibérica encaminados al conocimiento de la secuencia histórica y al análisis social y económico de las diversas sociedades que ocuparon dicho territorio. Hemos comprendido el interés y la necesidad de investigar en las relaciones y contactos entre el sur de la Península Ibérica y el norte de África. Para desarrollar dicho objetivo hemos realizado diversos proyectos interdisciplinares en el norte de África. Trabajamos desde perspectivas metodológicas de la Arqueología Social y en una visión interdisciplinar de la Geoarqueología y la Arqueometría. Además estos proyectos tienen una dimensión de socialización del conocimiento, de profundizar en una perspectiva social del Patrimonio, como legado histórico y en el estudio de unas relaciones comunes, en un territorio que entendemos como región histórica