Journal of African Earth Sciences 164 (2020) 103797

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Journal of African Earth Sciences

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Contribution of gravity and aeromagnetic data to the structural modeling of T

the hidden faults in Guercif Basin, northeastern Morocco
Ibtissam Rezoukia,∗, Mustapha Boujamaouia, Mohamad Hafidb, Abdellah Nait Bbac,
Adnen Amirid, Mohamed Hédi Inoublid, Ahmed Manare, Mohamed Rouaia, Lahssen Baidderc,
Lahcen Asebriyf
a
Moulay Ismail University, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Earth Sciences, BP 11201, Zitoune, Meknes, Morocco
b
Ibn Tofail University, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Earth Sciences, Kenitra, Morocco
c
Hassan II University, Faculty of Sciences Aïn Chock, Department of Earth Sciences, BP 5366, Casablanca, Morocco
d
University of Tunis El-Manar, Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, 1060, Tunis, Tunisia
e
Ministry of Energy, Mines, and Sustainable Development, Directorate of Geology, Rabat, Morocco
f
Centre de Recherche, Geophysics, Natural Patrimony and Green Chemistry” (GEOPAC), Institut Scientifique, Université Mohammed V de Rabat, Morocco

A R T I C LE I N FO A B S T R A C T

Keywords: The Guercif Basin of the northeastern Morocco is regarded as a particular sedimentary basin influenced by the
Gravimetry tectonics of the Middle Atlas Fault Zone, the Rif orogenic belt and the stable eastern Meseta. Its faulting
Aeromagnetism structures are poorly perceived on surface because of the thick recent sedimentary cover that overlies the
Hidden faults Mesozoic-Paleozoic basement. The interpretation of potential field data shows relevant results in deciphering the
Tectonic blocks
basement structure of a complex sedimentary basin, such as the Guercif Basin. In order to understand the
Alpine evolution
structural framework of this basin and to establish its subsurface structural map, gravity and magnetic data were
Guercif basin
Northeastern Morocco processed using various edge detection techniques accomplished by an extensive geological data and seismic
interpretations.
A new subsurface structural map was established where many faults already recognized or supposed by
traditional structural studies have been confirmed and new major ones by specifying their trends and depths
have been emphasized. In addition, this new map demonstrates that the Guercif Basin is affected by several
major faults elongated in three main trends: NE-SW, E-W and NW-SE, inherited from Variscan tectonics and
reactivated in relation with atlasico-alpine tectonics.
The established referential map reveals that the study area is subdivided into two different structural do-
mains; a western one principally affected by NE-SW trending faults representing the northeastern extension of
the Middle Atlas Fault Zone, and an eastern domain belonging to the stable eastern Meseta and characterized in
general by large E-W trending faults. It allows us also to identify a sinistral fault zone in Tafrata area which we
have labeled “Tafrata Fault Zone” and to define the continuity of the North Middle Atlas Fault (NMAF), the
Central Middle Atlas Faults (CMAF) and the South Middle Atlas Fault (SMAF) which presents very likely the limit
between the two identified domains. The elaborated map will be a useful document for all future petroleum
explorations or hydrogeological investigations.

1. Introduction
During the last decades, Moroccan Mesozoic-Cenozoic basins were
subject to intense hydrocarbon prospection (Morabet et al., 1998). The
Guercif Basin, which is one such basin, covers a large surface of about
6300 km2 in northeastern Morocco (Fig. 1). It is filled by thick marine
and continental Paleozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoic successions con-
taining potential hydrocarbons source rocks and reservoirs (Benzaquen
et al., 1965; Bernini et al., 1999; Zizi, 1996a; 1996b; Gomez et al.,
2000). Indeed, several exploration surveys were conducted on the
basin, from late sixties onwards, and have led to the drilling of four
wells. Thus, four petroleum systems were identified in the Guercif Basin
(Paleozoic, Triassic, Jurassic and Tertiary Petroleum systems). They are
similar to those of the Tendrara block, Missour and Gharb Basins.
Despite its location in front of the Rif belt in the western part of the
Rifian Corridor (Morel, 1989; Krijgsman et al., 1999; Capella et al.,

∗
Corresponding author.
E-mail address: rezouki.ibtissam@gmail.com (I. Rezouki).

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2020.103797
Received 10 September 2019; Received in revised form 10 February 2020; Accepted 12 February 2020
Available online 15 February 2020
1464-343X/ © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
I. Rezouki, et al.
Fig. 1. Location of the Guercif Basin on the geological map of the northern Morocco (Frizon de Lamotte et al., 2008).
2016, 2018; Tulbure et al., 2017), the Guercif Basin is considered as a
hidden continuation of the Middle Atlas (Zizi, 1996a and 1996b; Sani
et al., 2000; Nassili, 2006). But, it was highly subsiding during the
Cenozoic times contrarily to the surrounding areas composed of Pa-
leozoic inliers (Tazekka, Debdou and Boudoufoud) and Mesozoic highs
(Folded Middle Atas, High Plateaus, Horsts belt, Bni Snassene belt and
Terni Mazgout anticlinorium) (Fig. 2). The Folded Middle Atlas and
then the Guercif Basin constitute a part of the Atlas system that is
characterized by an alpine moderate deformation related to the break-
up of the Pangea, the Central Atlantic opening and the African-Eurasian
collision (Colo, 1961; Laville and Fedan, 1989; Brede et al., 1992;
Sabaoui, 1998; Frizon de Lamotte et al., 2008; Leprêtre et al., 2018). In
this context, the Guercif Basin appears as an inverted rift basin in which
the possible migration of hydrocarbons depends essentially on the
geometry and distribution of the syn-rift/post-rift structures (Perrodon,
1995; Aminzadeh et al., 2013). In the northern Folded Middle Atlas,
these structures are quite defined and correspond to four tight anti-
clines (ridges) separated by large synclines (depocenters). They are
affected by major faults (Fig. 2) formed consequent to the Mesozoic-
Cenozoic reactivations of mainly inherited NE-SW Variscan faults (Colo,
1961; Laville and Fedan, 1989; Fedan et al., 1989; Sabaoui, 1998),
namely:
► The North Middle Atlas Fault (NMAF) which marks the limit be-
tween the Tabular Middle Atlas to the southeast and the Folded
Middle Atlas to the northwest
► The Central Middle Atlas Faults (CMAF) which consist of two main
branches
► The South Middle Atlas Fault (SMAF) which marks the limit be-
tween the Middle Atlas fold belt and the Missour Basin.
The question is to try to find out how the major faults of the Folded
Middle Atlas extend to the northeast in the Guercif Basin and to specify
its subsurface fault-system and networks as main discontinuities for
potential fluid draining and storage: location, directions, length, den-
sity, relation with folds and salt diapirs.
Numerous surface geological works and seismic studies have dealt
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Journal of African Earth Sciences 164 (2020) 103797
with this problem and largely contributed to the knowledge of the
Guercif Basin stratigraphy and structures. Previous surface studies in-
dicate that the Neogene Guercif Basin is affected by sigmoidal and tight
Tertiary anticlines juxtaposed to gentle synclines (Colletta, 1977;
Bernini et al., 2000). Most of these anticlines are nucleated by diapiric
Triassic evaporates (Benzaquen et al., 1965; Colletta, 1977). But, the
outcropping faults are known only in some Tertiary anticlines and in
the southwestern part of the basin where a set of metric to kilometric
scale normal and reverse faults were described within Jurassic inliers,
i.e. Draa Bab Stout and Draa Sidi Saada (Fig. 2). More details are given
by previous seismic studies related to the Cenozoic evolution of the
Guercif Basin (Zizi, 1996a; Gomez et al., 2000; Sani et al., 2000).
Several Jurassic to Neogene normal, reverse or strike slip faults were
mapped, especially in the western part of the basin. The defined faults
do not, however, clearly correlate with the major surface faults of the
Folded Middle Atlas.
In order to perform the structural knowledge of the basin and its
relationship with the Folded Middle Atlas, the present paper proposes
to integrate the transformed gravity and aeromagnetic data to the
available surface geology and seismic results. The combined inter-
pretation of these data allows principally mapping the subsurface fault-
system hidden by the Neogene and Quaternary cover. It leads also to
define the main faults directions, lengths, dip directions and depths and
to discuss their regional significance.
2. Geological setting
Several Mesozoic and Cenozoic basins are present in different
Moroccan structural domains; they have recorded the main stages of the
geodynamic evolution of Northwest Africa and their study is a key to
understanding the geology of the country (Piqué et al., 2007). The
Guercif Basin is one of these basins. It is located in Northeastern Mor-
occo, in one of the most interesting areas because of its position in a
structural junction between the Rif thrust and the Atlasic folded belt.
Surface and subsurface data indicate that, like the rest of the Atlas
system, of which it is a part, the Guercif Basin evolved during post-
Paleozoic times in two major stages: A Mesozoic rifting, basin infill and
I. Rezouki, et al.
Fig. 2. Geological map of Guercif Basin and its surrounding domains, modified from the geological map of Morocco scale 1/1,000,000 (Hollard et al., 1985).
early atlasic compression stage followed by a Tertiary orogenic stage.
During the rifting and basin infill stage, Triassic and Jurassic formations
were deposited (Benzaquen et al., 1965; Ben Bouzian, 1984; Fedan,
1989; Fedan et al., 1989; Berneni et al., 1994; Zizi, 1996a; Nassili,
2006). During the Tertiary orogenic stage, the area evolved as a Neo-
gene basin developing in the southeast of the External Rifian thrust
front (Benzaquen et al., 1965; Colletta, 1977; Zizi, 1996a; Berneni et al.,
1999, 2000; Krijgsman et al., 1999; Gelati et al., 2000).
2.1. Mesozoic rifting, basin infill and early atlasic compression
In the study area, the Paleozoic basement is made of thick shale
formation and arkosic sandstones interbedded with fossiliferous lime-
stones and it crops out in Tazekka, Boudoufoud, Narguerchoum and
Debdou inliers (Fig. 2). It is affected by WNW directed faults and locally
metamorphosed due to Variscan granitic intrusions such as Debdou,
Boudoufoud, Nerguechoum and Tancherifi granites (Benzaquen et al.,
1965) dated from 321 to 247 Ma (Mrini et al., 1992; El Hadi et al.,
2006). In the Guercif Basin, the Paleozoic basement is unconformably
overlain by an up to 7 km thick Mesozoic cover (Zizi, 1996a) that
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Journal of African Earth Sciences 164 (2020) 103797
consists of Triassic deposits and a Jurassic succession (Benzaquen et al.,
1965).
During the Permo-Triassic period, the area evolved as a continental
basin that was filled with continental coarse clastic deposits, sandstones
and lacustrine red beds with tholeitic basalts (Fig. 3). In Late Triassic
times, marine and lagoonal environments dominated leading to the
deposition of a thick evaporitic section (Fedan, 1989; Laville and Piqué,
1991). This phase is related to an early episode of the Central Atlantic
rifting and the opening of the Western Tethyan Sea (Fedan et al., 1989).
It resulted in northwest oriented graben and half-graben structures in-
duced by E-W to NE-SW strike-slip faults (Fedan et al., 1989; Sabaoui,
1998) and the emplacement of tholeitic basalts of the Central Atlantic
Magmatic Province (CAMP) dated at 200 Ma (Knight et al., 2004; Verati
et al., 2007; Dal Corso et al., 2014) and between 210.4 ± 2.1 and
196.3 ± 1.2 Ma (Fiechtner et al., 1992).
The upper part of the Mesozoic consists of Jurassic strata that re-
corded the rifting history of the Basin (Fedan, 1989; Zizi, 1996a).
During this period, the area developed a subsiding Jurassic basin con-
trolled by NE-SW, NW-SE and E-W normal faults with strike-slip com-
ponents under a main NW to NNW striking extensional regime (Hinaje
I. Rezouki, et al.
Fig. 3. Stratigraphic correlation of the Mesozoic substratum of Guercif Basin.
et al., 2015). The basin was filled by carbonate platform deposits and
fine-grained clastics in relation with a southwestward Tethyan trans-
gression (Fedan, 1989; Zizi, 1996a). These deposits which are pene-
trated by drilling (TAF-1X and KDH-1 borholes) are quite similar to the
outcropping Jurassic series of the surrounding areas (Fig. 3).
Lower to Middle Liassic carbonate deposits are consisting of dolo-
mites and limestones (Benzaquen et al., 1965; Fedan, 1989; Zizi, 1996a;
Nassili, 2006). They are presented in the Folded Middle Atlas, the Terni
Mazgout, High Plateaus and Taourirt areas by Mazgout, El Ahmar and
Ouarirt Formations and their lateral equivalents (Fig. 3).
The Late Domerian-Early Toarcian times is marked by the disloca-
tion of the carbonate platform and the individualization of NE-SW or-
iented depocenters separated by similarly trending ridges (Benzaquen
et al., 1965; Fedan, 1989; Zizi, 1996a; Nassili, 2006). This structural
grid was interpreted as “pull-apart basins” that opened under a sinistral
tectonic regime (Fedan, 1989; Laville and Piqué, 1991). The depo-
centers were essentially filled in with thick marls with some limestone
intercalations grouped in the Bochyine and the Jbel Nador Formations
(Fig. 3).
The marly limestone sedimentation regime continued throughout
Dogger times, with the deposition of the Cancellophycus Limestones,
the thick Saka and Boulmane Marls, the Corniches Limestone and the
Moulouya Marls-Limestones Formations. In Bathonian to the Upper
Jurassic times, the sedimentation was homogenized over the entire
basin with the deposition of Bourached Sandstones (Fig. 3).
Cretaceous to Middle Miocene deposits are missing in the Guercif
Basin because of the regression of the Western Tethyan Sea to the
northeast and the tectonic uplift of the basin during the early atlasic
compressive phases. The latter correspond to i) the post-Bathonian and
ante-Barremian phase (Hervouet, 1985; Hinaje et al., 2015) and ii) the
Upper Cretaceous to Middle Miocene phases (Sabaoui, 1998). The Eo-
cene compressive event is marked by an alkaline volcanism of basa-
nites; mainly sills and dykes such as those of Aiounites and Mes-
tigmerites. This volcanism is dated at 57.3 Ma south of the Taourirt
region (Charlot et al., 1964).
2.2. Cenezoic evolution
After the Middle Miocene, the Guercif Basin was a part of the Rifian
Corridor which represented a residual foreland basin connecting the
Messinian Mediterranean to the Atlantic (Fig. 1) (Colletta, 1977; El
Mokhtari, 1990; Bernini et al., 1999, 2000; Capellaetal.,2016; Tulbure
4
Journal of African Earth Sciences 164 (2020) 103797
et al., 2017; Capella et al., 2018). During this period, the basin un-
derwent a new transgression and was filled with an up to 1800m thick
Neogene sequence which is made of marine and continental deposits
(Bernini et al., 2000). The sedimentary inputs were mainly from the
Middle Atlas area to the southwest of the basin (Pratt et al., 2016) and
result in the accumulation of five geological units that developed
mainly in the western part of the basin (Bernini et al., 2000). These are,
from bottom to top (Fig. 4), the continental Draa Sidi Saada unit, the
transitional shallow-marine Ras el Ksar unit, the Melloulou unit and the
transitional and continental Kefed Deba and Bou Irhardain units.
The Neogene evolution of the Guercif Basin was discussed by several
authors (Colletta, 1977; Bernini et al., 2000; Sani et al., 2000; Gomez
et al., 2000) that proposed various models for the Neogene evolution of
this basin. The models based on the interaction between the Middle
Atlas and Rif tectonics seem to be the most relevant and interesting
ones (Bernini et al., 1999; Bernini et al., 2000; Gomez et al., 2000). In
these models, the Tortonian stage is characterized by extensional
structures that formed a graben system developed on the northeastern
continuation of the Middle Atlas Fault Zone (transpressional system)
which has been reactivated through repeated advancements of the Ri-
fian front (Bernini et al., 2000; Gomez et al., 2000; Sani et al., 2000). A
NNE-SSW trending Tortonian extension induced E-W to NW-SE
trending normal faults that are particularly important in the north-
eastern extremity of the Folded Middle Atlas (Colletta, 1977). While in
the northwestern and southwestern parts of the Neogene Guercif Basin,
the Tortonian extension resulted in NE-SW to E-W trending normal
faults (Gomez et al., 2000; Sani et al., 2000). In some areas, such as
Draa Bab Stout and Draa Sidi Saada, located in the northwestern part of
the Basin (Fig. 2), the E-W Tortonian normal faults seem to persist until
Pliocene times (Bernini et al., 2000).
The varying compressive and transpressive structures affecting the
Neogene basin are related to a shortening direction vary from NNW-SSE
to NNE-SSW (Bernini et al., 2000). According to Colletta (1977) a major
Plio-Quaternary globaly oriented NW-SE compressive phase interrupted
the Tortonian extensional phase. This compressional phase is expressed
in surface by NE-SW to N–S tight anticlines. The anticlinal axes are
often sigmoidal, undulated and exhibit an echelon geometry and may
correspond to reactivations of older subsurface anticlines identified on
seismic profiles and probably formed during the Cretaceous-Paleogene
compressive phase (El Mokhtari, 1990; Sani et al., 2000; Gomez et al.,
2000).
The Plio-Quaternary reactivation of preexisting salt structures, that
I. Rezouki, et al.
Fig. 4. Lithostratigraphic log of the Neogene interval in Guercif Basin (Bernini
et al., 2000).
were formed during the Cretaceous-Paleogene stages, lead to minor
local diapiric extrusion along some Neogene anticlinal structures of the
Guercif Basin (Zizi, 1996a; Bernini et al., 2000).
The Tertiary and Quaternary episode is marked in the study area by
two volcanic events located mainly in Guilliz area where the Late
Tortonian to Middle Pliocene potassic volcanism is followed by Plio-
Quaternary alkaline volcanism (Hernandez and Bellon, 1985; Hervouet,
1985). These recent volcanic manifestations are related to the « Hot line
of Morocco » of Frizon de Lamotte et al. (2000) which is interpreted as a
consequence of an asthenospheric uplift below the Atlas system (Frizon
de Lamotte et al., 2000; Missenard et al., 2006; Duggen et al., 2009).
The Quaternary seems to correspond to an extensive period during
which a relative subsidence of the center of the Guercif Basin is noticed
along with an uplift of the surrounding mountains (Colletta, 1977).
3. Datasets and methodology
3.1. Gravity and aeromagnetic data
Gravity and magnetic data used in this study have been obtained
from the Moroccan Ministry of Mines and Energy. They were acquired
in 1963 and 1974, respectively.
The gravity database consists of 3883 measurements with an
average station coverage of about one station per square kilometer. The
ground stations were uniformly distributed over the study area (Fig. 5).
Data were collected using a Worden Gravimeter that allowed a
5
Journal of African Earth Sciences 164 (2020) 103797
resolution of 0.06 mGals. Gravity data were processed using a reduction
density of 2.5 g/cm3.
The magnetic database is obtained from two magnetic surveys flown
at different elevations. The northern part of the study area is covered by
the first survey using a high-resolution cesium magnetometer. The
plane flew at 2600 m height above mean sea level. The flight lines and
the tie lines were respectively oriented N16° and N116°. The lines
spacing was 3000 m for flight lines and 5000 m for tie lines. The second
survey covers the southern part of the Guercif Basin. The plane flew
along N16° oriented lines and N106° directed tie lines at elevations
ranging from 1700 m to 3500 m above mean sea level. The spacing was
ranging from 2000 m to 3000 m for the flight lines and from 5000 m to
8000 m for the tie lines. In order to homogenate, both aeromagnetic
surveys are combined to 2600 m above mean sea level then interpolated
using the minimum curvature method within a grid of 750 m × 750 m
(Fig. 5).
3.2. Methodology
The transformed gravity and aeromagnetic data, using several
source edge detection techniques such as horizontal gradient, tilt de-
rivative transformation, theta angle and Euler deconvolution technique
helped giving more information and precisions about geophysical
lineaments compared to those provided by the Bouguer anomaly and
residual magnetic field maps. These filters have been applied to residual
gravity anomaly and to residual magnetic field Reduced to Pole (RTP).
The detected lineaments corresponding to lateral boundaries of density
or magnetic susceptibility contrasts can be interpreted as geological
contacts such as faults.
The horizontal gradient, which is intensively used in structural
mapping, proved to be effective in geological contact detection
(Cordell, 1979; Cordell and Grauch, 1985; Amiri et al., 2011; Azaiez
et al., 2011; Dufréchou et al., 2013; Gabtni et al., 2013; Arfaoui et al.,
2015; Martelet et al., 2013; Baptiste et al., 2016; Nait Bba et al., 2019).
The mapped density or magnetic susceptibility variations relates, in
general, to lateral variations of lithology (Cordell, 1979; Cordell and
Grauch, 1985; Blakely, 1995; Nabighian et al., 2005). Thus, above a
vertical contact between two blocks with different densities or magnetic
susceptibilities, the gravity or magnetic profile is characterized by an
inflection point that is located just above the contact position. The in-
flection points show a maximum of horizontal gradient allowing the
detection of abrupt lateral variations of lithology such as faults, litho-
logical contact and subsurface discontinuities (Cordell, 1979; Cordell
and Grauch, 1985).
The tilt derivative transformation was first defined by Miller and
Singh (1994), before being further refined by Verduzco et al. (2004). It
is based on the ratio of the vertical derivative and horizontal gradient of
gravity or magnetic field. Tilt values are restricted between −90° and
+90°. Thus, the edges of the dominant gravity or magnetic sources
coincide with the zero value of the tilt angle (Salem et al., 2008;
Fairhead et al., 2011). The most important property of this transfor-
mation is its independence from the amplitude of a given anomaly, i.e.
the deepening of causative sources.
The theta angle is a method described by Wijns et al. (2005) for the
detection of source edges and the mapping of discontinuities. It is de-
fined as the ratio of the total horizontal derivative to the analytic signal
of gravity or magnetic field. The theta angle detects sources edges in-
dependently from the amplitude of the anomalies. Practically, the
maxima of the cosine theta angle correspond to the boundaries of the
causatives sources (Wijns et al., 2005).
The Euler deconvolution method has been described first by
Thompson (1982) as a fast approach based on Euler homogeneity
equation to estimate depth and geometry of magnetic sources. Later
Reid et al. (1990) have generalized this technique through its applica-
tion on gridded gravity and magnetic data. It has been also used for
faults and geological contacts detection. The reliability of Euler
I. Rezouki, et al.
Fig. 5. Gravity and aeromagnetic data of the Guercif Basin.
deconvolution results depend on the choice of the following critical
parameters that control Euler's differential equation: the structural
index, the windows size and the depth tolerance.
4. Geophysical data analysis and processing
4.1. Gravity data
4.1.1. Bouguer anomaly map
The complete Bouguer anomaly map reflects the subsurface het-
erogeneity based on the density distribution beneath the surface. It
results from the mixed responses of deep and shallow source gravity
responses superposed over each other. The field properties depend upon
the parameters of causatives sources as density, shape, lateral extension
and depth. In fact, it is commonly used to investigate subsurface
geology and structures (Blakely and Simpson, 1986).
The complete Bouguer anomaly of the Guercif Basin shows negative
anomalies characterized by gravity highs and lows of variable dimen-
sions and amplitudes (Fig. 6). It expresses a maximum amplitude var-
iation of 64.5 mGals; its values range from −70.3 to −5.8 mGals. Two
types of anomalies are distinguished: slightly negative anomalies
6
Journal of African Earth Sciences 164 (2020) 103797
located in the north, the northwestern and the southeastern parts of the
basin and highly negative anomalies located in the center, the south
and the east of the study area.
4.1.2. Residual anomaly map
The complete Bouguer anomaly is split into a regional and a residual
components. The regional component is characterized by long wave-
length anomalies representing the response of deep sources. The re-
sidual component is related to sedimentary/structural sources of dif-
ferent depth but closer to the surface. Thus, the separation of the
residual anomaly from the regional component is a very important step
for characterizing the subsurface structures (Blakely, 1995).
The residual anomaly of the Guercif Basin was computed by sub-
tracting the regional anomaly that was estimated by a first-order
polynomial regression, from the complete Bouguer field. The obtained
map expresses average amplitude of 26.8 mGals (Fig. 7). Values range
from −13.4 to 24.3 mGals. Qualitatively seven positive anomalies (P1
to P7) and seven negative anomalies (N1 to N7) are distinguishable.
They show NE-SW to E-W directions. The causatives geological bodies
of these anomalies are determined based on the geological and drilling
data available in the study area.
I. Rezouki, et al.
Fig. 6. Bouguer anomaly map of the Guercif Basin (reduction density: 2.5 g/cm3).
The majority of positive anomalies (Fig. 7) coincide with the Jur-
assic outcrops of surrounding areas which are superposed on the denser
Paleozoic basement; i.e. the Folded Middle Atlas and Terni Mazgout
anticlinorium (P1), Bni Snassene belt (P2), Horsts belt (P3 and P4) and
the High Plateaus (P5 and P6). The group of positive anomalies (P7)
organized in a small arc located in the transition area between positive
and negative anomalies can be the response of buried Neogene and
Quaternary volcanic rocks such as those exposed in Guilliz area.
Because of their lower density, Triassic deposits and/or Tertiary and
Quaternary cover originate the majority of negative anomalies. The
anomalies N2 and N4 are related to Triassic gypsiferous marls deposits
of Khorgia and Bou Msaad diapirs, respectively. Both strong anomalies
N1 and N3 located in the south and center of the study area, respec-
tively, might be related to either important deep Triassic diapirs or to
Meso-Paleozoic substratum depressions filled by thick Tertiary and
Quaternary sediments.
Anomaly N6 represents very likely the response of Tertiary and
Quaternary sediment infill of the western part of Taourirt Basin. The
anomaly group N5, which we have named Tafrata mini-Basin anomaly
group, consists of three negative rhombohedric-shaped anomalies ar-
ranged along sinistral E-W trending fault zone parallel to the High
Atlas. The rhombohedric-shape of these anomalies is reminiscent of
7
Journal of African Earth Sciences 164 (2020) 103797
those of sedimentary basins that open according to a sinistral strike-slip
relays model. The latter model is proposed by Laville and Fedan (1989)
for the formation of Jurassic basins in the Atlas domains, especially for
the High Atlas and the Saharan Atlas.
The Tertiary and Quaternary deposits are very thin in the Tafrata
area (less than 400 m). Thus, the Tafrata mini-Basin anomalies are very
likely the responses of Triassic-Jurassic basins deposits hidden by very
thin Tertiary and Quaternary deposits.
The granitic outcrop of Debdou shows a sub-circular shape negative
response (N7). This response represents the strong density contrast
between the Debdou Variscan granite and the strongly metamorphosed
Paleozoic shales that surround it (El Azzab et al., 2018). The high and
abrupt contrasts observed between the majority of positive and nega-
tive anomalies can be explain by the presence of subsurface faults or of
abrupt lithological variations between blocks.
4.2. Aeromagnetic data
4.2.1. Residual magnetic map
It is worth while to underline that the available aeromagnetic data
are combined to 2600 m above mean sea level while gravity data are
recorded on ground. In fact, high frequencies due to shallower magnetic
I. Rezouki, et al.
Fig. 7. Residual gravity anomaly map of the Guercif Basin (reduction density: 2.5 g/cm3).
sources may be cancelled. Therefore, only the significant magnetic
observations will be considered in the following.
The residual magnetic field map of the study area shows many
magnetic anomalies with intensity values ranging from −137.6 to
83.3 nT (Fig. 8). In this map, magnetic lows are located in the southern,
the western and northeastern parts of the basin, while magnetic highs
are located in the southwestern, the center and the eastern parts of the
basin.
4.2.2. Reduced to pole map
Due to the bipolarity of the magnetic anomalies, the causative
geological bodies cannot be localized vertically beneath the field ex-
trema. Thus, a reduction to the pole filter (Baranov, 1957) was applied
to residual magnetic field of the study area in order to move the ex-
trema underneath the causative sources.
The obtained residual Reduced to Pole map (RTP) (Fig. 9) was
calculated using an inclination of 48.13° and declination of −6.48°. The
magnetic anomalies within the RTP magnetic map will be directly lo-
cated above their sources.
The magnetic anomalies of the RTP map show several positive and
negative anomalies with different orientations, geometries and mag-
netic intensities in relation with the characteristics of the causative
sources. The negative magnetic anomalies N1, N2, N3 located in the
8
Journal of African Earth Sciences 164 (2020) 103797
southern part of the study area correspond probably to Tertiary and
Quaternary cover or/and Triassic-Jurassic deposits with low magnetic
intensity.
In the eastern and the southern parts of the map, the positive
magnetic anomalies P1, P4 and P5 are probably the response of the
Ordovician deposits known by their high iron oxide content. The P6
anomaly consists of two sub-circular anomalies; the eastern anomaly
perfectly coincides with the Variscan Debdou granite. Thus, the western
anomaly is probably the response of a buried Variscan granite. The sub-
circular positive anomalies P2 and P3 located respectively in the
northern part and the center of the basin may be generated by volcanic
rocks of Tertiary and Quaternary age similar to those outcropping in the
nearby Guilliz area (Fig. 9).
4.3. Subsurface discontinuities detection
4.3.1. Horizontal gradient map
The horizontal gradient method has been applied to residual gravity
anomaly grid of the study area in order to detect abrupt lateral density
variations. These latter can be interpreted as structural subsurface
discontinuities such as faults or, to a lesser extent, laterallithological
facies changes. The horizontal gradient map presents different linea-
ments characterized by high amplitudes of the gravity horizontal
I. Rezouki, et al.
Fig. 8. Residual magnetic field map of the Guercif Basin.
gradient (Fig. 10). The analysis of this map indicates the presence in the
basin of three main lineaments family trending NE-SW, E-W and NW-
SE.
The NE-SW trend, which is the most dominant one, is materialized
by three lineaments and five major gravity alignments. They are par-
allel and consist of NE-SW trending main lineaments connected by
minor E-W relays.
The first alignment F1 marks the northwestern borders of the anti-
clinorium and extends to the Taza region. It materializes the contact
between the Rifian domain and the study area. The second major
alignment F2 constitutes the southeastern limit of the Terni Mazgout
anticlinorium. The F3 and F4 alignments have relatively a shorter
geographic extension compared to the other NE-SW alignments. The
alignment F5 follows generally the Moulouya river. It subdivides the
study area into two domains; a western domain characterized by NE-SW
trending lineaments and an eastern domain characterized in general by
E-W and NW-SE lineaments. The lineament F6 represents the north-
western boundary of High Plateaus and shows a NE-SW trending
branch. In the southeastern part of the study area, the F7 lineament
marks the contact between the High Plateaus and the Debdou Paleozoic
inlier. Further to the north, the lineament F8 constitutes the north-
western limit of the Horsts belt.
9
Journal of African Earth Sciences 164 (2020) 103797
The E-W trending lineaments characterize the eastern domain of the
study area. Thus, the F9 lineament marks the northern limit of the High
Plateaus. Further to the north, lineaments F10 and F11 seem to be in-
terrupted by the NE-SW directed lineament F12. The limit between the
western part of Taourirt Basin and the Horsts belt is marked by the two
parallel E-W trending F13 and F14 lineaments. The E-W direction is also
materialized in the north of the Folded Middle Atlas by a lineament
underlining its contact with the Neogene section of the Guercif Basin.
The NW-SE trend is represented mainly in the Debdou region and
southeastern of Saka by four relatively short and parallel lineaments.
4.3.2. Tilt derivative field map
The tilt derivative transformation was applied to the gravity re-
sidual anomaly and the residual magnetic field RTP grids in order to
highlight gravity and magnetic lineaments which correspond to zero
value of the tilt angle (Salem et al., 2008; Fairhead et al., 2011).
The tilt derivative gravity field map of the study area shows several
lineaments (Fig. 11). Its results demonstrate the dominance of the NE-
SW oriented trend. The obtained tilt angle lineaments confirm the ex-
istence of NE-SW and E-W trending lineaments already highlighted on
the gravity horizontal gradient map. The most important lineaments are
those limiting the Terni Mazgout anticlinorium, Horsts belt, High
I. Rezouki, et al.
Fig. 9. Residual magnetic field of the Guercif Basin reduced to magnetic pole.
Plateaus, the western part of Taourirt Basin and the north of the Folded
Middle Atlas (F1, F2, F3, F6, F9, F10, F11, F12, F13, F14 and F15).
The application of the tilt derivative transformation on the RTP grid
allowed us to emphasize the network lineaments of the tilt angle
magnetic field (Fig. 12). Lineaments are organized mainly into the al-
ready observed three trends NE-SW, E-W and NW-SE (Figs. 10 and 11).
The northwestern part of the map (Fig. 12) shows two NE-SW directed
lineaments that coincide with F1 and F2 gravity lineaments limiting the
Terni Mazgout anticlinorium. The two NE-SW trending lineaments lo-
cated to the east of Guercif region are also observed; the easternmost
lineament coincides with the gravity lineament F12. The E-W trending
lineaments are located in Touarirt Basin, Debdou area and in the north
of the Bourached region. They confirm the presence of F9, F13, F14 and
F15 gravity lineaments bordering respectively the High Plateaus to the
north, the western part of Taourirt Basin to the north and south and the
Folded Middle Atlas to the north. The NW-SE directed lineaments
characterize mainly the Debdou region, the southeastern of Saka region
and the southwestern of Guercif region (Fig. 12).
4.3.3. Theta angle map
The theta angle method has been applied to aeromagnetic data (RTP
grid) in order to confirm lineaments already highlighted by the tilt
10
Journal of African Earth Sciences 164 (2020) 103797
derivative transformation map of the residual magnetic field. The ob-
tained map reveals almost the same magnetic lineaments expressed by
the tilt derivative transformation. Thus, it confirms the dominance of
the three trends characterizing the study area: NE-SW, E-W and NW-SE
(Fig. 13).
4.3.4. Euler deconvolution
The Euler deconvolution method has been applied to the residual
gravity anomaly grid in order to detect gravity lineaments and to es-
timate their depth. Several solutions have been calculated by adopting
different values of structural index, windows size and depth tolerance.
The less dispersed solutions are obtained by applying a structural index
(SI) equal to zero which provides usually a reliable indication of large-
scale faulting structures. A moving window size (W) of 10*10 and a
maximum relative error (T) of 15% were applied. The obtained solu-
tions superimpose perfectly with the main already highlighted gravity
lineaments of the horizontal gradient method (Fig. 14).
The Euler deconvolution map reveals some new lineaments that are
not expressed by the previously analyzed gravity and aeromagnetic
maps such as those striking in NE-SW, NW-SE and N–S directions in the
High Plateaus. It allows also mapping the continuity of some lineaments
such as F3 and F4. The majority of these lineaments show depths
I. Rezouki, et al.
Fig. 10. Gravity horizontal gradient map of the Guercif Basin
(Black lines show discontinuities of density).
varying from 1 km to 3.6 km.
E-W and NW-SE trending lineaments, located in the eastern part of
the study area, show a depth up to 3 km. While the depth of the NE-SW
trending lineaments and their E-W relays, which are better identified in
the western part of the basin, ranges from 0.6 km to 3.6 km (Fig. 14).
These depths imply that inferred faults are deep faults that affect the
Paleozoic-Mesozoic substratum of the study area.
5. Results and discussion
The analysis of gravity and aeromagnetic results in light of available
geological data (Benzaquen et al., 1965; Bernini et al., 1999, 2000) and
previous seismic interpretations (Zizi, 1996a; Gomez et al., 2000; Sani
et al., 2000), was carried out in a new structural map of the Guercif
Basin (Fig. 15).
5.1. Faults directions
The superposition of gravity and aeromagnetic lineaments with
fault-systems mapped by previous geological and seismic studies
(Fig. 15) allowed us to confirm the existence of some faults that were
already mapped or simply supposed by surface structural studies
11
Journal of African Earth Sciences 164 (2020) 103797
(Benzaquen et al., 1965; Bernini et al., 2000) and seismic interpreta-
tions (Zizi, 1996a, Gomez et al., 2000; Sani et al., 2000). Our results
allow us, notably, to specify the trends, depths, dip directions and
lengths of these already known faults as well as map and specify new
major subsurface faults that have been not recognized before.
The rose diagram of geological fault-system shows three major
trends: NE-SW, E-W and NW-SE (Fig. 16a), which agrees perfectly with
gravity and aeromagnetic results. However, in the southwestern part of
the Guercif Basin, the geological fault-system affecting mainly the
Cenozoic cover (Bernini et al., 1999, 2000) do not appear in our geo-
physical filtering owing to the weak gravity or magnetic contrasts be-
tween adjacent blocks.
Previous seismic studies firm evidence also the dominance of the
NE-SW and E-W trending faults, while the absence of NW-SE trend is
noted (Fig. 16b). This absence is due to the geographic limitation of
seismic data in the center and the southwestern part of the Guercif
Basin. However, faults obtained from gravity and aeromagnetic data
show the same trends and a large geographic extension and a perfect
correlation with the regional-scale faults (Fig. 15) and they are oriented
in the same main trends (Fig. 16c).
I. Rezouki, et al.
Fig. 11. Gravity tilt derivative map of the Guercif Basin
(Black lines show close to zero contour of tilt derivative).
5.2. Regional structural mapping and kinematic evolution
Based on the characteristics of the regional-scale faults and faults
derived from seismic data in Guercif Basin (Fig. 15), highlighted faults
oriented mainly NE-SW, E-W and NW-SE have been described (Fig. 17).
5.2.1. NE-SW trending faults
The superposition of the major Middle Atlas faults with gravity and
aeromagnetic faults defined in the present work enabled us to de-
termine their prolongation under the Neogene sedimentary cover of the
Guercif Basin (Fig. 15). Thus, the North Middle Atlas Fault (NMAF), the
Central Middle Atlas Faults (CMAF) and the South Middle Atlas Fault
(SMAF) correlate very well with the gravity and aeromagnetic NE-SW
trending faults. The latter are mainly located in the western part of the
study area (Fig. 17):
► The NMAF is a thrust and strike-slip fault that is extended north-
eastward by the F1 fault which separates the Rif domain from the
southwestern part of the Guercif Basin and the Terni Mazgout an-
ticlinorium;
► The CMAF consist of two major faults: a northwestern branch and a
southeastern branch. The two branches extend respectively to the
12
Journal of African Earth Sciences 164 (2020) 103797
northeast by F2 and F4 faults. The F2 fault represents the contact
between the Neogene Guercif Basin and the Terni Mazgout anticli-
norium. The F4 fault coincides with Kef ed Deba anticline. The
northwestern Central Middle Atlas Fault presents a branch that ex-
tends by F3 fault;
► The SMAF is subdivided at the Bourached region into two branches:
the first one marks the north and northwestern boundaries of the
High Plateaus, while the second one disappears below the Cenozoic
sedimentary cover (Charroud, 2002). This later was emphasized by
a large alignment of faults (F5) that globally follows the Moulouya
river. The F6 fault and its extension toward the east (F9 fault)
confirm the existence of the two faults supposed by surface geolo-
gical studies (Benzaquen et al., 1965; Colletta, 1977) and seismic
interpretations (Zizi, 1996a; Gomez et al., 2000; Sani et al., 2000).
The F6 fault presents a NE-SW oriented branch, which we have
named F11;
► The contact between the Debdou inlier and the High Plateaus is
materialized by a newly established fault (F7). The Tafrata area is
also affected by two NE-SW trending faults (F12 and F13).
In general, the NE-SW trending faults show the same characteristics
as the Middle Atlas major faults. They generally exhibit E-W trending
I. Rezouki, et al.
Fig. 12. Magnetic tilt derivative map of the Guercif Basin
(Black lines show close to zero contour of the tilt derivative).
relays and they are often punctuated by Triassic salt injections. Thus,
Bou Msaad (BMD) and Khorgia diapirs (KD) mark the F5 fault align-
ment, the Kef ed Deba diapir (KDD) is associated with the extension of
the CMAF represented by F4 fault. The rise of Triassic salt deposits
through the Mesozoic-Cenozoic sequences confirms the high depth of
these faults already estimated by Euler deconvolution method at
0.6 km–3.4 km.
In addition, these faults coincide with surface and subsurface anti-
clines of the Guercif Basin (e.g. Bou Msaad, Haloua-Richa, Bled
Marhrane, Kef ed Deba anticlines) that are characterized by their po-
sitive flower structure (El Mokhtari, 1990) and their sigmoidal axes
arranged on echelon (Colletta, 1977; Bernini et al., 2000). The Paleo-
zoic basement is affected by major NE-SW trending strike-slip faults
that are the origin of the positive flower structure associated with the
anticlines of the basin (Akasbi, 1993; El Mokhtari, 1990). However, the
Neogene anticlines are related to the reactivation of major subsurface E-
W trending strike-slip faults (Colletta, 1977).
Gravity and aeromagnetic results do not confirm the presence of
major deep E-W trending strike-slip faults in the western part of Guercif
Basin. Therefore, we agree with Akasbi (1993), El Mokhtari (1990) and
Sabaoui (1998) that NE-SW new highlighted lineaments may represent
13
Journal of African Earth Sciences 164 (2020) 103797
crustal and listric strike-slip faults reaching the Paleozoic basement and
that probably controle the development of the anticlinal structures of
the basin.
5.2.2. E-W trending faults
In the eastern part of the basin, the E-W trending faults present a
large geographic extension and are organized in horsts-grabens
(Benzaquen et al., 1965) parallel pattern where they mark the bound-
aries between different adjacent structural blocks. The latter are from
south to north: the High Plateaus, the Tafrata Jurassic mini-Basin, the
Horsts belt and the Taourirt Basin (Taourirt Graben). As seen above, the
Tafrata mini-Basin exhibits in the residual gravity map (Fig. 7) three
negative rhombohedric-shaped set of anomalies arranged along sinis-
tral E-W trending fault zone, that we have named Tafrata Fault Zone
(TFZ), parallel to the High Atlas (Fig. 17). It is very likely opened ac-
cording to the sinistral strike-slip relays model proposed by Laville and
Fedan (1989). The geographic continuation of the Tafrata mini-Basin
into Jerada Paleozoic basement suggests that its limits could be in-
herited from Paleozoic fractures.
The F9 fault, which separates the Tafrata mini-Basin from the High
Plateaus to the south, was mapped by Benzaquen et al. (1965) as a
I. Rezouki, et al.
Fig. 13. Theta angle map of the Guercif Basin (Black lines present theta angle lineaments).
sinistral strike-slip fault with a normal component. The F10 fault that
separates the Tafrata mini-Basin from the Horst Belt to the north does
not appear on any geological map carried out in the study area. The F14
fault which marks the boundary between the Horsts belt and the
Taourirt graben to the North is only partially mapped at its eastern and
western extremities in the geological map of Taourirt (Muratet, 1995).
Its median segment is hidden by Neogene-Quaternary sediments.
Likewise, the F15 fault which limits the Taourirt graben from the
northcrops out only partially. The Euler solutions indicate that these E-
W faults are deeply-seated; they extend to a depth of about 3.6 km
(Fig. 14).
In the transitional zone from the Guercif Basin to the Folded Middle
Atlas, the E-W trending faults are relatively short and have depth values
ranging from 1 km to 3 km (Fig. 14). This indicates that they are
shallow to deep faults affecting the Tertiary-Quaternary cover and the
atlasic substratum.
5.2.3. NW-SE trending faults
The NW-SE trending faults are located in the Debdou Paleozoic in-
lier, the northeastern part of the study area and in the Guilliz volcanic
province (Fig. 17). They do not appear in any of the existing map and
no seismic data extend to these areas, therefore, their subsurface
14
Journal of African Earth Sciences 164 (2020) 103797
geometry is not known. We assume that they are relatively deep faults
that can reach down to 3 km (Fig. 14).
They are very likely related to older fractures that guided the em-
placement of the Variscan granites in the Debdou, Nerguechoum,
Tancherifi areas (Fig. 17) and that were reactivated during the atlasic
cycle. In the Guilliz area to the northwest of the basin, they perfectly
coincide with volcanic outcrops, which are globally aligned in the same
direction and whose emplacement is probably guided by these NW-SE
oriented faults (Fig. 17).
The analysis of the new elaborated subsurface structural map
(Fig. 17) indicate that the subdivision of the Neogene Guercif Basin into
two different structural domains: eastern and the western domains
(Benzaquen et al., 1965) is deeper and was already present in the basin
structural grid in Mesozoic times.
The eastern domain is affected mainly by major E-W trending faults
bounding from the north and the south the Tafrata area (Fig. 17). This
domain is structurally related to the High Plateaus and the Horsts belt,
which are relatively more stable during the Neogene period (Benzaquen
et al., 1965; Nassili, 2006). However, the western domain is affected by
NE-SW trending atlasic faults that represent the northwestern extension
of the Middle Atlas Fault Zone (Fig. 17). The boundary between the
eastern and western domains is materialized by the F5 alignment of
I. Rezouki, et al.
Fig. 14. Superimposed Euler solutions with gravity horizontal gradient of the Guercif Basin
(SI = 0, W = 10*10, T = 15%).
faults that represent the northeastern extension of the SMAF in the
subsurface (Figs. 17 and 18).
5.2.4. Kinematic evolution
The fault-system deduced from gravity and aeromagnetic data in the
present study is described and discussed, in light of the above-men-
tioned previous studies, and the following Mesozoic to Quaternary ki-
nematic evolution of this fault-system is summarized according to the
main tectonic phases.
i) Mesozoic extensional/transtensional phase:
In the Guercif Basin, the Triassico-Jurassic atlasic rifting was ma-
terialized by the development of a mosaic of NE-SW and E-W oriented
grabens/half-grabens and horsts coevally with the opening of the
Central Atlantic and the Western Tethyan oceans. These structures were
controlled by NE-SW and E-W faults which have been formed by the
reactivation of older Variscan strike-slip fractures due to a NW-SE to
NNW-SSE extension. The two sets of faults have acted as synsedimen-
tary strike-slip faults with a relatively strong normal component ac-
cording to previous surface structural studies. The E-W faults can be
also interpreted as striking transfer fautls based on previous seismic
15
Journal of African Earth Sciences 164 (2020) 103797
studies. The NW-SE faults can be interpreted as synsedimentary Jurassic
transverse strike-slip normal faults also inherited from older Variscan
fractures as described largely by Hinaje et al. (2015) in the Folded
Middle Atlas. As these authors suggest, normal Jurassic NW-SE trending
faults are developed coevally with the shift of the extension axis di-
rection from NW-SE to NE-SW during the Carixian-Domerian.
ii) Post-Bathonian and ante-Barremian compressive phase:
During the post-Bathonian and ante-Barremian period, Hervouet
(1985) and Hinaje et al. (2015) propose a NNE-SSW trending early
atlasic compressive phase. The inversion of the atlasic rift and conse-
quently grabens and half-grabens of the Guercif Basin started probably
during this period.
iii) Upper Cretaceous to Middle Miocene compressive phases:
Like in the rest of the Atlas system, the Triassic-Jurassic syn-rift
grabens and half-grabens of the Guercif Basin were inverted due to this
compressive phase oriented NNE-SSW (Zizi, 1996a; Sani et al., 2000).
The tectonic inversion and uplift were controlled mostly by NE-SW and
E-W trending reverse strike-slip faults and associated anticlines. The
I. Rezouki, et al. Journal of African Earth Sciences 164 (2020) 103797

Fig. 15. Gravity and aeromagnetic lineaments of the Guercif Basin superposed with fault-systems derived from geological data (Benzaquen et al., 1965; Bernini et al.,
2000) and seismic data (Zizi, 1996a; Gomez et al., 2000; Sani et al., 2000).

Fig. 16. Rose diagram of fault-systems derived from geological data (a), seismic data (b), gravity and aeromagnetic data (c).

16
I. Rezouki, et al.
Fig. 17. Subsurface structural map of the Guercif Basin derived from gravity and magnetic interpretation showing major faults directions and main regional-scale
faults.
NW-SE trending faults were reactivated as reverse strike-slip faults or as
transfer faults.
iv) Tortonian extensional phase:
It resulted, in the northeastern extremity of the folded Middle Atlas,
in the formation of E-W to NW-SE trending normal faults with a NNE-
SSW oriented extensional axe (Colletta, 1977). In the northwestern and
southwestern parts of the Neogene Guercif Basin, the Tortonian ex-
tension oriented NW-SE resulting in NE-SW to E-W trending normal
faults (Gomez et al., 2000; Sani et al., 2000).
The NE-SW gravity and aeromagnetic faults were, more or less,
reactivated during the Tortonian extension as normal faults. This is the
17
Journal of African Earth Sciences 164 (2020) 103797
case of the southwestern segment of F2 fault, which coincides with an
alignment of subsurface Tortonian normal faults defined by seismic
studies (Gomez et al., 2000; Sani et al., 2000) and of the F6 fault, which
marks the boundary between the Guercif Basin and High Plateaus
(Fig. 17). During this extensive period, E-W highlighted faults acted as
strike-slip normal faults that seem to have persisted until Pliocene times
as suggested by field data in the Draa Sidi Saada and Draa Bab Stout
areas (Bernini et al., 2000) and in the Folded Middle Atlas shore
(Colletta, 1977). In a regional context and according to Bernini et al.
(2000), the NW-SE gravity and aeromagnetic deduced faults acted
probably as strike-slip normal faults during the Tortonian.
v) Plio-Quaternary compressive phase:
I. Rezouki, et al.
Fig. 18. Geological section showing the subsurface structuration of the Guercif Basin (see Fig. 17 for location).
After the Messinian, the Guercif Basin was subjected to a synsedi-
mentary compressive and transpressive phase with different directions
(NW-SE, NNW-SSE to NNE-SSW) (Bernini et al., 2000; Colletta, 1977).
This phase is expressed on the surface by NE-SW to N–S tight Neogene
anticlines (Bernini et al., 2000; Colletta, 1977), which are genetically
related the reactivation of underlaying Cretaceous-Paleogene subsur-
face anticlines (Akasbi, 1993; El Mokhtari, 1990). During this com-
pressive phase, NE-SW Tortonian normal faults mapped from gravity
and aeromagnetic were inverted and the E-W faults acted as dextral
strike-slip faults. The NW-SE strike-slip reverse faults were probably
also active during this phase (Coletta, 1977; Zizi, 1996a; Bernini et al.,
2000).
6. Conclusion
The interpretation of gravity and aeromagnetic data of the Guercif
Basin, processed using new filtering techniques and combined with
previous surface geological data and seismic interpretaions, allowed us
to map the subsurface major faults that controlled the tectono-strati-
graphic evolution of the basin. This permits mapping and describing the
northeastern extension into the subsurface of the North Middle Atlas
Fault (NMAF), the Central Middle Atlas Faults (CMAF) and the South
Middle Atlas Fault (SMAF). It also shows that the Guercif Basin, like the
neighboring Middle Atlas, was structured during Triassic to Jurassic
times by a system of deeply seated faults organized in three major
trends: NE-SW, E-W and NW-SE (Fig. 17). The analysis of the estab-
lished structural map presenting the interplay of these faults allows the
subdivision of the study area into two main different structural domains
separated by the northeastern continuity of the SMAF (F5 fault)
(Fig. 17). A western domain characterized by major faults oriented in
the atlasic direction (NE-SW trend) and an eastern domain affected in
general by E-W to NW-SE trending faults. These trends inherited from
the Variscan tectonics have been reactivated under atlasico-alpine
tectonics. The reactivation mode of these faults from the Permo-Triassic
to Present times have been controlled by the global geodynamic events
related to the opening of the Central Atlantic and the Western Tethyan
oceans and the African-European plates convergence.
Finally, the new structural map established in the present study will
be a very useful tool in any future exploration of the basin. It shows the
location of major faults that controlled the tectono-stratigraphic evo-
lution of the basin, and which thus are of tremendous importance for
petroleum and groundwaters explorations of the basin.
18
Journal of African Earth Sciences 164 (2020) 103797
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank valuable comments and suggestions
of the Editor and the two anonymous reviewers for their numerous
constrictive suggestions that improved the final versions of this
manuscript substantially. We are also grateful to the ‘Direction de
Géologie du Ministère de l’Energie et des Mines du Maroc’ for providing
us to geophysical data. The first author would like to thank the National
Center for Scientific Technical Research (CNRST) Morocco, for granting
her PhD Thesis (Ref. 12UMI2016).
Appendix A. Supplementary data
Supplementary data to this article can be found online at https://
doi.org/10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2020.103797.
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