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Le magmatisme polycyclique des boutonnières de la Tagragra d'Akka et du

Kerdous-Tafeltast (Anti-Atlas occidental, Maroc)

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 Journal of African Earth Sciences 39 (2004) 267–275
www.elsevier.com/locate/jafrearsci

Polycyclic magmatism in the Tagragra dÕAkka and

Kerdous–Tafeltast inliers (Western Anti-Atlas, Morocco)
D. Gasquet a,*, P. Chevremont b, T. Baudin b, F. Chalot-Prat a,c, C. Guerrot b,
A. Cocherie b, J. Roger b, B. Hassenforder d, A. Cheilletz a
a
CRPG-CNRS and ENSG-INPL, B.P. 20, 54501Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy Cédex, France
b
BRGM, BP 6009, 45060 Orléans Cédex, France
c
UHP, B.P. 20, 54501 Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy Cédex, France
d
ULP, 1 rue Blessig, 67084 Strasbourg Cédex, France

Available online 1 October 2004

Abstract

Four events have been identified in the Tagragra dÕAkka and Tafeltast–Kerdous inliers: (i) a middle Palæoproterozoic (Orosirian,
ca. 2.047 Ga) event corresponding to the emplacement of calc-alkaline and peraluminous granites containing older inherited zircon
(2.07–2.15 Ga), (ii) an upper Palæoproterozoic (Statherian) event corresponding to the emplacement of pegmatites and porphyritic
microgranites (ca. 1.76 Ga), intimately associated with numerous mafic dikes assumed to be, at least partly, of the same age, (iii) an
upper Neoproterozoic event corresponding to dacite dikes (600 ± 5 Ma), (iv) a Variscan (301 ± 7 Ma) hydrothermal event corre-
sponding to the crystallization of muscovites related to Au-quartz veins. A polycyclic magmatism (Eburnian-Birimian, Pan-African
and Variscan) is now evidenced in these two inliers of the western Anti-Atlas. The Pan-African orogeny is very homogeneous all
along the Anti-Atlas during Neoproterozoic time. No inherited Archæan component has been found in zircons from granites or
dikes. It appears that the northern border of the West African craton is an important juvenile cratonic limit submitted to periodical
continental growth since 2.05 Ga at least.

2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Geochronology; Palæoproterozoic; Neoproterozoic; Variscan; Western Anti-Atlas; Morocco

1. Introduction eastern domain consists of Neoproterozoic series rather

The Anti-Atlas belt is subdivided in two structural
domains on both sides of the so-called WNW–ESE
trending ‘‘Main Anti-Atlas Fault’’ (Choubert, 1963)
(Fig. 1) which corresponds either to the suture of a
Pan-African ocean (Leblanc and Lancelot, 1980;
Guiraud et al., 2000) or to the boundary of a Neoproter-
ozoic aulacogen (Ennih and Liégeois, 2001). The north-
*
Corresponding author. Address: Université de Savoie, CISM-
EDYTEM, CNRS, FRE 2641, Campus Scientifique, 73376 Le Bourget
du Lac Cédex, France. Tel.: +33 3 79 86 45; fax: +33 3 7975 8777.
E-mail address: dominique.gasquet@univ-savoie.fr (D. Gasquet).
deformed during Pan-African tectonic events while the
south-western one mainly includes Palæoproterozoic
series heterogeneously deformed by Pan-African events.
The juxtaposition of the two domains would have re-
sulted from a collage of terranes during Pan-African
times (Saquaque et al., 1989). The Tagragra dÕAkka
and Kerdous–Tafeltast inliers belong to the south-
western domain.
Geodynamic reconstructions were based on precise
description of the litho-structural units and the nature
and mutual relations between the intrusives and the
structural evolution of the country-rocks (e.g. Choubert,
1963; Hassenforder, 1987; Bilal and Derré, 1989; Hafid
et al., 1998; Ikenne et al., 1997a,b; El Aouli et al.,

0899-5362/$ - see front matter
2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2004.07.062
268 D. Gasquet et al. / Journal of African Earth Sciences 39 (2004) 267–275
co Ouarzazate
oc 30˚N
n
r
Mo
c ocea
S lt
Marrakech LA fau S
AT Atlas
H fine-grained sandstones with interbedded volcanic layers
Sirwa HIG south
Atlanti
Igherm S Imiter
T L A Bou Azzer
10˚W
-A
Agadir
N TI
Kerdous A main Anti-Atlas
fault zone
Ifni
Tagragra deTata
Tagragra d'Akka
^
Bas Draa
Fig. 1. Location of the Tagragra dÕAkka and Tafeltast–Kerdous
inliers in the Moroccan western Anti-Atlas.
2001; Mortaji et al., 2000). Reliable geochronological
ages were rare in this area until recently, making ques-
tionable the presence of a Palæoproterozoic series in
the western Anti-Atlas (Nachit et al., 1996). Recently
determined ages (ID-TIMS or SHRIMP on zircons)
were given by Aı̈t Malek et al. (1998) for some granites
of the Bas Drâa (1987 ± 20 Ma and 575 ± 4 Ma), Igherm
(2050 ± 6 Ma), Kerdous (583 ± 11 Ma and 560 ± 2 Ma)
inliers and by Walsh et al. (2002) for schists
(2072 ± 8 Ma), granites (2046 ± 7 Ma and 2041 ± 6 Ma)
and metadolerites (2040 ± 6 Ma) from the Tagragra de
Tata inlier.
Additionally, recent mapping in the western Anti-
Atlas within the framework of the Moroccan National
Project of Geological Mapping (1/50 000-scale sheet
maps of Sidi BouÕaddi and Tamazrar) gave opportuni-
ties to acquire new geochronological data in this area
(Chalot-Prat et al., 2001; Gasquet et al., 2001).
Therefore, the aims of this paper are: (i) a re-apprai-
sal of the lithological units of the western Anti-Atlas, (ii)
to present new geochronological data on magmatic
rocks from the Tagragra dÕAkka and the Kerdous–
Tafeltast inliers, (iii) to compare the two inliers and
(iv) to discuss the geodynamical evolution of the north-
ern border of the West African craton during Protero-
zoic times.
2. The lithological units
Four main lithological units were identified in the
Tagragra dÕAkka–Kerdous region: A Palæoproterozoic
basement composed of (1) two plutonic suites emplaced
in (2) older metasedimentary schists, (3) a Neoprotero-
zoic volcanic Ouarzazate Group and (4) a late Neopro-
terozoic and Palæozoic sedimentary succession.
Moreover, the Palæoproterozoic basement is crosscut
by numerous bimodal mafic and microgranitic dikes, ap-
litic and pegmatitic dikes, quartz veins and rare dacite
dikes.
N 2.1. The Palæoproterozoic basement
W
E
The metasedimentary schists consist of argillaceous
metamorphosed in the greenschist facies. Felsic meta-
tuffs have been dated at 2072 ± 8 Ma by Walsh et al.
(2002) in the Tagragra de Tata inlier. A probable Arch-
æan source was proposed for the siliciclastic sediments
based on Nd model ages (Mrini, 1993; Mortaji et al.,
2000).
100 km 2.1.1. The calc-alkaline plutonic suite
It consists of diorites, monzogabbrodiorites, grano-
diorites and granites (50.9 < SiO2 < 71.1%). Their
mineralogy (oligoclase-andesine, amphibole, biotite,
titanite, ± magnetite, ± epidote) and their chemical fea-
tures are similar to those of calc-alkaline I-type granites.
Sr–Nd isotopic data (Mrini, 1993) and rare-earth ele-
ment patterns suggest they originated from partial melt-
ing of a lower crust or even of a metasomatised mantle.
2.1.2. The peraluminous plutonic suite
It includes peraluminous granodiorites, granites and
leucogranites (61.7% < SiO2 <74.8%). Their mineralogy
(oligoclase, biotite, muscovite, ± garnet, ± tourmaline)
and their peraluminous composition is consistent with
a continental crustal source. The age of this peralumi-
nous magmatism is not known. Only muscovite K–Ar
ages (ranging from 1504 ± 39 to 1773 ± 42 Ma) of differ-
ent types of leucogranites from the Tagragra dÕAkka
have been published by Lama et al. (1993). These ‘‘ages’’
would be due to Ar loss or to a Palæoproterozoic to
Mesoproterozoic hydrothermal event and do not reflect
the true crystallisation age of the leucogranites.
Plutons developed a low pressure thermal (biotite–
andalusite) halo with a maximum width of 2 km from
the contact in the surrounding schists. In the Tagragra
dÕAkka granite massif, numerous metasedimentary roof
pendants are observed, suggesting that the top of the
intrusives is close to the current topographical level.
2.2. The upper Neoproterozoic volcanic Ouarzazate
Group (PIII) and the late Neoproterozoic and Palæozoic
sedimentary cover
The discontinuous volcanic Ouarzazate Group (Ex
PIII) and the continuous base of the sedimentary cover
(Taroudant Group, Ex. Adoudounian) are now consid-
ered to belong to a unique extensional cycle (Piqué,
2003).
The Ouarzazate Group consists of potassic basaltic
trachyandesites to potassic trachyandesites, high-K te-
phritic phonolites, potassic to high-K rhyolites inter-
stratified between morainic chaotic breccia, polygenic
conglomerates and arkosic sandstones. Felsic volcanics
were dated in several inliers: 565 ± 7 Ma in the Tagragra
 D. Gasquet et al. / Journal of African Earth Sciences 39 (2004) 267–275 269

de Tata (U–Pb SHRIMP on zircons; Walsh et al., 2002);
563 ± 5 Ma and 580 ± 12 Ma in the Central Anti-Atlas
(U–Pb zircon; Mifdal and Peucat, 1985); between 575
and 560 Ma in the Sirwa massif (U–Pb SHRIMP on zir-
cons, Thomas et al., 2002); 550 ± 3 Ma in the Imiter in-
lier (U–Pb IMS 1270 on zircons; Cheilletz et al., 2002).
The carbonate to clastic sedimentary cover comprises
from bottom to top (Fig. 2): (i) the transgressive late
Proterozoic to early Palæozoic Taroudant Group, (ii)
the Cambrian Tata Group and (iii) the Cambrian to
Ordovician transgressive Groups of internal Feijas,
Tabanite, external Feijas, first and second Bani and
Ktaoua.
2.3. Dikes and veins
2.3.1. Gabbros–dolerites and microgranite dikes
Four main swarms of dikes have been recognized
in the two inliers. Their directions are N60–70E, 90–
110E, N150–170E and rarely N0–20E.
The dikes consist of gabbros, monzogabbros, doler-
ites, trachybasalts and, rarely, microgranites (e.g. Ker-
dous–Tafeltast inlier). The primary mineral assemblage
was modified by later low to very low-grade metamor-
phism and/or by pervasive hydrothermal alteration.
From trace element patterns these rocks display either
tholeiitic or alkaline (highly potassic) affinities, both
type of magma occurring in each dike swarm.
An age of 2040 ± 6 Ma was recently proposed (Walsh
et al., 2002) for the emplacement of a metadolerite dike
in the Tagragra de Tata inlier. The dikes from the
Tagragra dÕAkka–Kerdous inliers crosscut the Palæo-
proterozoic schists and granites and they were deformed
by the main Pan-African tectonic events and covered by
the upper Neoproterozoic volcanics. However, dikes or
sills of similar composition are also interbedded in Neo-
proterozoic Pan-African quartzites in the Igherm inlier
(El Aouli et al., 2001). Moreover, other similar mafic
dikes crosscut, where they are present, the Pan-African
granites in the Kerdous inlier (Tafraoute granite) and
in the Bas Drâa inlier (Taoughra granite), giving evi-
dence of several generations of mafic dikes emplaced
in the Anti-Atlas during Proterozoic time.
2.3.2. Aplo-pegmatite dikes
Numerous decimetric to hectometric aplitic or peg-
matitic dikes crosscut the basement of the two inliers.
In the field, they may be related (or not) to granites,
and rarely associated with microgranites or muscovite-
rich zones. No reliable ages are available.

9° 8°45 8°30
Variscan syncline
and anticline
Ages

Devonian

Silurian
29°30
8 600±5 2043±5
Ordovician 2046±8 1755±25
7
301±7 2049±2
6 Middle Cambrian
1760±3
5 2046±2
Lower Cambrian
4 ST
TA
F EL 2046±3
3 TA
Late Neoproterozoic
to lower Cambrian
2
1 Upper Neoproterozoic Tamazrar
Pan-African
Anezi Group

Granites

Quartzite series
Sidi Bou'addi
Palæoproterozoic
29°15
Fine-grained
leucogranite
Coarse-grained
leucogranite
± porphyritic
biotite granite
Metasediments
and metavolcanics

10 km

Fig. 2. Geological and structural sketch map of the studied area with the location of the Tamazrar (eastern frame) and Sidi BouÕaddi (western frame)
sheet maps. Note that dikes and veins cannot be represented at this scale. 8: Ktaoua, Bani I and Bani II Groups. 7: External Feijas Group. 6:
Tabanite and Internal Feijas Group. 4 and 5: Tata Group. 3: Taliwine Formation. 2: Adoudou Formation, 1: Ouarzazate Group.
270 D. Gasquet et al. / Journal of African Earth Sciences 39 (2004) 267–275

2.3.3. Rhyodacite dikes 1r (standard deviation). The mean age is calculated

A few metric rhyodacitic (to dacitic) dikes cut across
the schist and the granite basement of the Tagragra
dÕAkka inlier.
2.3.4. Quartz veins
Three quartz vein generations (cm to up to 100 m
width) were identified (Zouhair et al., 1991) in the two
inliers: (i) early gray quartz stretched along the regional
schistosity, (ii) quartz associated with the Pan-African
shear zones (e.g. the Inlioua–Bou Zarif shear zone),
(iii) Variscan quartz crosscutting the entire rock succes-
sion lithologies including the Palæozoic cover. Veins (i)
and (ii) contain muscovite and are often mineralized,
mainly by Fe (pyrite, pyrrhotite, hematite or magnetite),
Cu (chalcopyrite) or by Au (Iourirn deposit) and Pb
(Timezgadiouine deposit).
3. Geochronology
3.1. Methods
using a weighted mean based on the different steps
retained, and the error on the age is given to a 95%
confidence limit, calculated by the ISOPLOT pro-
gram, version 2.5 (Ludwig, 2000).
• Monazite was dated after determination of U–Th and
Pb contents by electron microprobe (BRGM-Orlé-
ans, France) according to the procedure described
in Cocherie et al. (1998).
• K–Ar ages were obtained on muscovites following a
technique of double comparison with the atmosphere.
The radiogenic argon contents of the samples were
determined according to the technique described
by Cassignol and Gillot (1982) and by Gillot and
Cornette (1986).
• A complementary 40Ar/39Ar analysis was performed
on single grain muscovite at QueenÕs University
(Ontario, Canada, analyst: A. Cheilletz) using a gas
purification line and MAP 216 mass spectrometer.
Complete analytical procedures are outlined in Clark
et al. (1998).

Careful optical microscope, cathodoluminescence 3.2. Results

and/or SEM investigations were used to obtain pure sep-
arated phases for geochronology.
• In situ analyses (20 lm) on zircons were performed
using the SHRIMP method (ANU-Canberra, Aus-
tralia) according to the analytical procedure
described by Claué-Long et al. (1995) and Williams
(1998).
• Single zircons were dated by step-wise Pb evapora-
tion, a full description of the procedure can be found
in Kober (1986, 1987) and Cocherie et al. (1992). The
errors on the ages per step and per zircon are given to
Table 1 and Fig. 3 present the data obtained: five
granites were dated very close to 2047 Ma ± 2 Ma
(weighted average), a pegmatite dike at 1755 ± 25 Ma,
a microgranite dike at 1760 ± 3 Ma and a dacite dike
at 600 ± 5 Ma. A monazite extracted from this dike is
dated at 388 ± 26 Ma. Moreover, muscovite from an
auriferous quartz vein of Iourirn has been dated by
K–Ar and 40Ar/39Ar methods. A well-defined plateau
age is obtained on a single grain and therefore the age
of 301 ± 7 Ma (2r, steps) is retained as the closure age
of the Iourirn muscovite.

Table 1a
Summary of the geochronological results
Sample Rock Mineral Method Age (Ma) Err (2r) MSWD
PC 330B Biotite magnetite granite Zircon Pb evaporation 3 grains, 8 temperature steps 2049 2 0.04
PC 415 Porphyritic biotite granite Zircon Pb evaporation 4 grains, 13 temperature steps 2046 2 0.08
AKA 1 Coarse-grained leucogranite Zircon U–Pb SHRIMP n = 10, upper intercept 2043 5 0.95
AKA 1 Coarse-grained leucogranite Muscovite K–Ar 1543 22
DG 162 Fine-grained leucogranite Zircon U–Pb SHRIMP Weighted mean of 2046 8 2.3
7 207Pb/206Pb conc. ages
PC 344A Porphyritic biotite granite Zircon U–Pb SHRIMP n = 10, upper intercept 2046 3 0.35
BT 126 Pegmatite Monazite Electron microprobe 1755 25
BT 126 Pegmatite Muscovite K–Ar 1755 25
DG 169 Dacite Zircon U–Pb SHRIMP Weighted mean of 600 5 0.41
7 207Pb/206Pb conc. ages
DG 169 Dacite Monazite Electron microprobe 388 26
PC 427A Porphyritic microgranite Zircon Pb evaporation 3 grains, 6 temperature steps 1760 3 0.02
DG 167 Au, quartz-bearing vein Muscovite K–Ar 276 4
DG 167 Au, quartz-bearing vein Muscovite Ar–Ar Weighted mean age, 6 steps 301 7 0.55
The complete geochronological data are available on request to the first author (DG).
Table 1b
Summary of SHRIMP U–Th–Pb zircon results for samples AKA1, DG162 and PC344A Average age calculations are done at 2r level
204
Grain. U Th Th/U Pb Pb/206Pb f206% Radiogenic ratios Ages (in Ma) Conc.%
spot (ppm) (ppm) (ppm)
206
Pb/238U ± 207
Pb/235U ± 207
Pb/206Pb ± 206
Pb/238U ± 207
Pb/235U ± 207
Pb/206Pb ±
Coarse-grained leucogranite AKA-1
1.1 237 34 0.14 90 0.00009 0.13 0.3781 0.0060 6.584 0.119 0.1263 0.0009 2067 28 2057 16 2047 13 101
2.1 215 65 0.30 54 0.00074 1.12 0.2467 0.0040 4.253 0.101 0.1250 0.0020 1421 21 1684 20 2029 28 70

D. Gasquet et al. / Journal of African Earth Sciences 39 (2004) 267–275

3.1 1060 85 0.08 406 0.00003 0.04 0.3877 0.0049 6.706 0.090 0.1255 0.0004 2112 23 2073 12 2035 5 104
4.1 365 269 0.74 155 0.00006 0.09 0.3692 0.0070 6.426 0.179 0.1262 0.0023 2026 33 2036 25 2046 33 99
5.1 1276 58 0.05 470 0.00002 0.02 0.3766 0.0047 6.549 0.084 0.1261 0.0002 2061 22 2053 11 2045 3 101
5.2 243 43 0.18 89 0.00010 0.15 0.3639 0.0062 6.276 0.121 0.1251 0.0009 2001 29 2015 17 2030 13 99
6.1 134 48 0.36 54 0.00016 0.24 0.3784 0.0058 6.558 0.115 0.1257 0.0009 2069 27 2054 16 2039 12 102
7.1 173 50 0.29 68 0.00005 0.07 0.3767 0.0060 6.576 0.114 0.1266 0.0007 2061 28 2056 15 2051 9 101
8.1 427 63 0.15 165 0.00002 0.04 0.3839 0.0052 6.704 0.098 0.1267 0.0005 2095 24 2073 13 2052 7 102

Fine-grained leucogranite DG 162

2.1 928 38 0.04 443 0.00002 0.03 0.3785 0.0040 6.604 0.072 0.1265 0.0002 2070 19 2060 10 2050 3 101
4.1 307 59 0.19 153 0.00001 0.02 0.3797 0.0047 6.621 0.090 0.1265 0.0005 2075 22 2062 12 2050 8 101
6.1 248 76 0.31 128 0.00005 0.07 0.3824 0.0044 6.614 0.082 0.1255 0.0005 2087 20 2061 11 2035 7 103
8.1 1551 24 0.02 738 0.00001 0.01 0.3796 0.0081 6.602 0.146 0.1261 0.0005 2075 38 2060 20 2045 7 102
8.2 803 22 0.03 246 0.00003 0.05 0.3644 0.0042 6.383 0.081 0.1270 0.0005 2003 20 2030 11 2057 7 97
9.1 259 43 0.17 123 0.00006 0.09 0.3652 0.0045 6.295 0.083 0.1250 0.0005 2007 21 2018 12 2029 7 99
11.1 284 41 0.14 93 0.00003 0.04 0.3770 0.0098 6.574 0.185 0.1265 0.0011 2062 46 2056 25 2049 15 101

Porphyritic biotite granite PC 344A

1.1 424 43 0.10 202 0.00001 0.01 0.3732 0.0043 6.492 0.080 0.1262 0.0004 2045 20 2045 11 2045 5 100
2.1 270 94 0.35 134 0.00001 0.02 0.3661 0.0050 6.359 0.093 0.1260 0.0005 2011 24 2027 13 2043 7 98
3.1 1635 236 0.14 784 0.00001 0.02 0.3709 0.0039 6.451 0.069 0.1261 0.0002 2034 18 2039 10 2045 3 100
4.1 678 116 0.17 328 0.00002 0.04 0.3716 0.0042 6.488 0.077 0.1266 0.0003 2037 20 2044 11 2052 5 99
5.1 1073 120 0.11 517 0.00002 0.03 0.3753 0.0040 6.527 0.071 0.1261 0.0002 2054 19 2050 10 2045 3 101
5.2 785 143 0.18 247 0.00004 0.06 0.3582 0.0039 6.227 0.070 0.1261 0.0003 1974 18 2008 10 2044 4 97
7.1 1115 231 0.21 476 0.00005 0.08 0.3233 0.0057 5.626 0.108 0.1262 0.0007 1806 28 1920 17 2046 9 88
8.1 989 733 0.74 545 0.00030 0.46 0.3739 0.0040 6.499 0.075 0.1261 0.0003 2048 19 2046 10 2044 5 100
9.1 582 182 0.31 295 0.00002 0.02 0.3766 0.0043 6.567 0.079 0.1265 0.0004 2060 20 2055 11 2050 5 101
10.1 936 70 0.07 271 0.00010 0.15 0.3382 0.0039 5.875 0.071 0.1260 0.0004 1878 19 1958 11 2043 5 92
Notes. Uncertainties given at the 1r level.
f206% denotes the percentage of 206Pb that is common Pb.
Correction for common Pb made using the measured 204Pb/206Pb ratio.
Conc.: Concordance; for Conc. %, 100% denotes a concordant analysis.

271
272 D. Gasquet et al. / Journal of African Earth Sciences 39 (2004) 267–275

Table 1c
Summary of SHRIMP U–Th–Pb zircon results for sample DG 169
204
Grain. U Th Th/U Pb Pb/206Pb f206% Total Radiogenic age (Ma)
spot (ppm) (ppm) (ppm)
238
U/206Pb ± 207
Pb/206Pb ± 206
Pb/238U ± 206
Pb/238U ±
2.1 374 127 0.34 47 0.00001 0.12 10.193 0.127 0.0609 0.0007 0.0980 0.0012 603 7
3.1 275 147 0.53 36 0.00010 0.02 10.260 0.130 0.0600 0.0005 0.0975 0.0012 599 7
5.1 286 152 0.53 38 0.00031 0.14 10.324 0.133 0.0610 0.0005 0.0967 0.0013 595 7
6.1 503 203 0.40 65 0.00002 <0.01 10.231 0.120 0.0596 0.0005 0.0978 0.0011 601 7
7.1 399 138 0.35 51 0.00006 <0.01 10.111 0.117 0.0598 0.0004 0.0989 0.0011 608 7
8.1 459 161 0.35 58 0.00008 0.05 10.307 0.115 0.0603 0.0004 0.0970 0.0011 597 6
9.1 460 149 0.32 57 0.00001 0.01 10.294 0.120 0.0600 0.0004 0.0971 0.0011 598 7
Notes. Uncertainties given at the 1r level.
f206% denotes the percentage of 206Pb that is common Pb.
Correction for common Pb made using the measured 238U/206Pb and 207
Pb/206Pb ratios following Tera and Wasserburg (1974) as outlined in
Compston et al. (1992).

206Pb / 238U 2080 206Pb / 238U

(b)
2040
(a)
0.37 2160
2000
0.39 2120
1960
0.35
1920

2040
0.37
0.33 2000

207Pb / 235U 207Pb/235U

0.35
5.6 5.8 6.0 6.2 6.4 6.6 6.0 6.4 6.8 7.2
Age (Ma)
207Pb / 206Pb

(c) (d)
0.11 2070
1700
0.062
1500 2050
0.09
620
0.060
1300 610
590
580 570
560 2030
1100
10.0 10.4 10.8
0.07 900 Zr B
Zr C
700 2010 Zr D
238U/206Pb Zr E T (˚C) steps
0.05
2 4 6 8 10 1380 1400 1420 1460 1480
Age (Ma) (e) Age (Ma) (f)
1780

300
1760

200
1740
Muscovite (DG167)
Weigted mean age = 301 ± 7 Ma
100 MSWD = 0.55, probability = 0.74
1720
Zr A
Zr D
Zr E T (˚C) steps Cumulative 39Ar percent
0
1420 1460 1480 1500 1520 0 20 40 60 80 100

Fig. 3. Geochronological ages obtained during this work: (a), (b) Concordia (SHRIMP) U–Pb diagrams, ellipses = 2r errors; (c) Tera and
Wasserburg (1974) Concordia (SHRIMP) diagram; (d), (e) step-wise Pb evaporation diagrams, note that the zircon A from the sample PC 415 gives
ages (not represented here) ranging (5 steps) between 2075 ± 20 Ma and 2147 ± 12 Ma (1r error) and (f) 40Ar/39Ar spectrum for single crystal
muscovite.

4. Discussion and conclusion the magmatic events occurring in the western Anti-
Atlas. Four magmatic events, separated by three long
Ages from the rocks of the Tagragra dÕAkka and quiescent periods, are identified:
Tafeltast–Kerdous inliers well document the timing of
 D. Gasquet et al. / Journal of African Earth Sciences 39 (2004) 267–275
(i) a middle Palæoproterozoic (Orosirian) intrusive
event (ages obtained on different zircons by Pb
evaporation and U–Pb SIMS methods) with the
emplacement of calc-alkaline and peraluminous
granites (ca. 2047 Ma). Some ages at 2.07–2.15 Ga
from cores or inherited zircons ages (samples
PC 415 and DG 162) may testify to an older
Rhyacian magmatic event contemporaneous with
the volcanics (metatuffs interbedded in schists),
evidenced in the Tagragra de Tata inlier (Walsh
et al., 2002). No inherited Archæan component
has been found in the zircons from granites or
dikes.
(ii) a clear upper Palæoproterozoic (Statherian) intru-
sive event with the emplacement of pegmatites
and porphyritic microgranites (ca. 1.76 Ga), that
are intimately associated with numerous mafic
dikes which would, be at least partly,
contemporaneous.
(iii) an upper Neoproterozoic event corresponding to
emplacement of dacite dikes (600 ± 5 Ma), contem-
poraneous to granodiorites from Kerdous (Aı̈t
Malek et al., 1998) and Bou Azzer (Ducrot, 1979)
and predating late upper Neoproterozoic volcanics.
(iv) a Variscan (301 ± 7 Ma) hydrothermal event corre-
sponding to the crystallization of muscovite related
to Au-quartz vein from the Iourirn deposit and to
dacite dikes.
For the first time a Statherian magmatic (microgran-
ite) event is reliably dated by U–Pb at ca. 1760 Ma.
Moreover, dikes previously described as being mafic
(gabbros–dolerites) display also microgranitic composi-
tion and their age is not solely lower Palæoproterozoic
as proposed by Walsh et al. (2002) but pro parte upper
Palæoproterozoic and probably younger (Ikenne et al.,
1997b; El Aouli et al., 2001). These upper Palæoproter-
ozoic microgranite and pegmatite dikes are probably
linked to a hidden magmatism unidentified in the
Anti-Atlas but well-known in older Precambrian shields
(e.g. Africa, Vicat et al., 1996; north America, Halls and
Heaman, 2000; northern Europe, Alviola et al., 2001).
The Tagragra dÕAkka and the Kerdous–Tafeltast in-
liers have been subjected, as other inliers of the western
Anti-Atlas, to an identical protracted history through
Precambrian times. A polycyclic magmatism is now evi-
denced in the Tagragra dÕAkka and Kerdous–Tafeltast
inliers of the western Anti-Atlas (Aı̈t Malek et al.,
1998; Walsh et al., 2002). In this area, imprints of the
Eburnian (Birimian), Pan-African and Variscan orog-
eny-related magmatic events are clear. These observa-
tions are also consistent with magmatic development
in the central and eastern Anti-Atlas, giving a very
homogeneous scenario all along the Anti-Atlas during
Pan-African time. Comparisons with the Eburnian time
are difficult because of the lack of Palæoproterozoic ser-
273
ies to the East at the present topographic level. How-
ever, it appears that the Anti-Atlas region was submit-
ted to periodical continental growth since 2.05 Ga at
least.
Furthermore, the importance of the Variscan orog-
eny, predicted by Bonhomme and Hassenforder (1985)
by Rb–Sr and K–Ar data from micas, is now demon-
strated. Au-mineralization appears complex, probably
multistage and did not only form during late Neoproter-
ozoic time (Zouhair et al., 1991). The consequences of
the Variscan imprint must be taken into account during
further ore exploration programs.
A comparison with the Reguibat and the Leo Rises in
the West African craton shows the existence of two large
Palæoproterozoic domains: (i) an older recycled Arch-
æan crust to the West and to the North (Man, Amsaga;
Potrel et al., 1998), and (ii) a Palæoproterozoic juvenile
domain located to the South-east and North-east
(Baoulé-Mossi block and eastern Reguibat Rise; Boher
et al., 1992). The Moroccan Anti-Atlas is an important
element of this jigsaw puzzle as it better belongs to the
juvenile domain of the West African craton.
Acknowledgment
The authors thank C.M. Fanning who helped A.
Cocherie to get high precision SHRIMP analyses in
Canberra, D. Archibald and E. Farrar (QueenÕs Univer-
sity, Canada) for Ar–Ar facilities. The K–Ar analyses
were carried out by Professor P.Y. Gillot at the Orsay
geochronological laboratory (UPS, IPGP, INSU, Ile
de France Region, Sésame agreement E947) as part of
an agreement with BRGM. Careful reviews of P. Bar-
bey, J.M. Bertrand, J.P. Liégeois and S.D. Samson were
greatly appreciated.
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