Journal of African Earth Sciences 196 (2022) 104727

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Journal of African Earth Sciences

journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/jafrearsci

Occurrence of high-grade LREE allanite-pegmatites and calcite carbonatite

dykes in the Ediacaran complex of Aghracha, Oulad Dlim massif
(South Morocco)
Rachid Benaouda a, *, Dennis Kraemer a, b, Sara Bejtullahu a, c, Abdellah Mouttaqi d, Michael Bau a
a
Physics and Earth Sciences, Jacobs University Bremen, Campus Ring 1, 28759, Bremen, Germany
b
Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe (BGR), Hannover Stilleweg 2, D-30655, Hannover, Germany
c
Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg, Tennenbacher Straβe 4, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
d
National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines (ONHYM), 5 Avenue Moulay Hassan, Rabat, Morocco

A R T I C L E I N F O A B S T R A C T

Keywords: High-grade REE-bearing granitic pegmatites and carbonatite dykes were recently discovered in the Aghracha
Carbonatite area, South Morocco. They intruded the northern part of the Ediacaran complex, mainly composed of gneiss. The
Pegmatite geochemistry of the basement samples displays compositions ranging from monzonitic to alkaline and sub-
REE mineralization
alkaline granites with prevailing positive Eu anomalies in chondrite-normalized patterns. These have been
Allanite
Monazite
attributed to a magma mixing likely derived from the re-melting of underplated mafic rocks and a small amount
Oulad dlim massif of crustal rocks. The Aghracha pegmatites are rich in epidote and occur in the Awhifrit prospect in the western
part of the basement. The analyzed samples display REE contents up to 17 wt%, mainly related to allanite-(Ce)
(up to 13 cm in size), minor monazite-(Ce), and thorianite. The Aghracha pegmatite is referred to here as
“allanite-pegmatite” because it exceeds the compositional fields of the classical LCT- or NYF-type classification.
Calcite carbonatite dykes occur in the Laachariyat area in the western part of the Ediacaran complex. In addition
to calcite, they also contain abundant strontianite, magnetite, barite, and apatite. The main REE-host mineral is
monazite-(Ce), although minor bastnaesite and allanite also occur. Both pegmatites and carbonatite dykes strike
in an NNW direction, likely associated with an extensional tectonic setting which is typical for the REE-bearing
deposits and the Ediacaran complex of the Oulad Dlim massif.

1. Introduction mineralization as part of an integrated study that aims at identifying and

Pegmatites are highly differentiated igneous rocks that commonly
occur as coarse-grained dykes segregated from granitic plutons. They
may accumulate economic concentrations of elements such as Li, Cs, Nb,
Ta, and the rare earth elements (REE) besides several other commodities
(e.g., Sn, Rb, Be, W and Au) (London, 2016). In contrast, carbonatites are
undoubtedly deep mantle differentiates that may contain considerably
higher concentrations of REE and Nb than any other igneous rock
(Verplanck et al., 2016). Attention is drawn to carbonatites and peg­
matites because they may host significant and economically valuable
deposits of these critical metals which are essential components in
modern technology (Dill, 2015a; London, 2016, 2018; Simandl and
Paradis, 2018; Verplanck et al., 2016). This study presents the first
mineralogical and geochemical data on the Aghracha REE
characterizing the diverse REE-Nb-Ta mineralization of the Oulad Dlim
massif in South Morocco.
The first REE and Nb mineralization known in Morocco was recog­
nized from the Tamazert syenite-carbonatite alkaline complex in the
High Atlas (Mourtada, 1997; Woolley, 2001) and from the Jbel Boho
alkaline complex in the Anti-Atlas (Benaouda et al., 2017a, 2017b). In
the past 15 years, the Moroccan government office of hydrocarbon and
mines (ONHYM) has performed intensive exploration studies in the
coastal basin of Laayoune-Dakhla, South Morocco. Several magnetic and
radiometric anomalies have been identified by both geophysical and
geochemical surveys, which lead to the discovery of multiple REE-Nb
mineralized zones, most of them associated with carbonatites, like
those of the Twihinat, Lamlaga, and the Gleibat Lafhouda areas
(Benaouda et al., 2020a, 2020b). In addition, other important REE-Nb

* Corresponding author.
E-mail address: r.benaouda@jacobs-university.de (R. Benaouda).

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2022.104727
Received 11 April 2022; Received in revised form 9 September 2022; Accepted 9 September 2022
Available online 14 September 2022
1464-343X/© 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
R. Benaouda et al.
mineralization was recognized from the Lahjeyra area (Fig. 1), which
consists of an Fe-oxide and silica breccia ring structure that is very
similar to Twihinat but without visibly associated carbonatites.
The present study focuses on a novel area at Aghracha in the north of
the Oulad Dlim massif and builds on this geophysical groundwork to
characterize and describe the composition of the host rocks, the REE-
bearing pegmatites, and carbonatite dykes discovered there (Fig. 1).
Preliminary chemical analysis showed REE contents of up to 4.8 wt% in
the carbonatite dykes and up to 3.3 wt% REE in the pegmatite (ONHYM,
2016). The geological evolution of the Aghracha complex is still poorly
understood. This work provides the first reconnaissance study of these
REE-bearing rocks and their relationship with the host granitoids. It also
describes the mineral chemistry of the main REE-bearing minerals
allanite-(Ce) in the Awhifrit pegmatites and monazite-(Ce) in the Laa­
chariyat carbonatite dykes in Aghracha (Fig. 1). In addition, we discuss
the occurrence of unusual positive anomalies in the granitoids of Agh­
racha, as well as the presence of allanite as the main host of REE in the
pegmatites.
The study of this area is intended to provide more details on the
evolution of the ore mineralization present in the Oulad Dlim massif
(Benaouda et al., 2020a, 2020b; ONHYM, 2016a, 2016b, 2016c, 2016d;
Zerdane et al., 2011).
2. Geological setting
2.1. The Oulad Dlim massif
The Oulad Dlim massif (also referred to as the Adrar Souttouf massif)
is located in the most southern part of Morocco and represents the
Fig. 1. Simplified geological map of the Oulad Dlim massif (South Morocco), showing the location of the Awhifrit pegmatites and Laachariyat carbonatite dykes in
the Aghracha area at the northern part of the Ediacaran Unit. The map also shows the location of the main carbonatite outcrops and the REE-Nb mineralization of the
massif. The geochronological ages are from Bea et al. (2020).
2
Journal of African Earth Sciences 196 (2022) 104727
northern extension of the Mauritanide belt. It consists of NE-SW
extending allochthonous units which were thrust eastward upon the
western Archean Reguibat Shield (Fig. 2) during the Variscan orogeny
(Haissen et al., 2018; Michard et al., 2008; Molina et al., 2018). Archean
terrains occur at both sites of the NE-SW trending Ediacaran unit of
metamorphosed mafic-felsic igneous rocks that likely formed in an
intracontinental rift setting (Bea et al., 2020), According to these au­
thors, the mafic rocks, referred to as “Ediacaran Metamafic Complex”
(Fig. 1) mainly consists of amphibolites, granulites, norites, noritic
gabbros, and anorthosites, whereas the felsic rocks, referred to as
“Ediacaran Leucocratic Complex (ELC)”, which extends over the largest
area of the Ediacaran unit, is mainly composed of leucocratic gneiss and
minor metasedimentary rocks. In the western Oulad Dlim massif, several
outcrops of granitoids and gneisses have been interpreted as a
Silurian-Devonian belt that represents the North African counterpart of
the Alleghanian belt of North America (Bea et al., 2020).
The whole massif is highly deformed, metamorphosed, and marked
by several episodes of alkaline and carbonatitic igneous activity such as
the kalsilite- and nepheline-syenites of Awserd (2.46 Ga), the Gleibat
Lafhouda carbonatite (1.85 Ga), the Derraman peralkaline granite (525
Ma) and the Twihinat carbonatite (104 Ma) (Bea et al., 2013, 2016;
Montero et al., 2016). Further, hitherto undated alkaline rocks and
carbonatites were identified in the Amaragh area near Gleibat Lafhouda
as well as in the Aghracha area; the latter is the focus of the present
study.
The Aghracha units crop out in the northern Ediacaran terrains of the
Oulad Dlim massif (Fig. 1). They are situated about 220 km south-east of
the town of Dakhla (200 km tar road, followed by 20 km dirt road). The
area was initially targeted for its potential to host economic
R. Benaouda et al. Journal of African Earth Sciences 196 (2022) 104727

Fig. 2. A) Typical field exposure at Awhifrit showing a sandy flat land, which makes it hard to recognize the building blocks and the mineralized structures of the
basement. B-D) Typical pegmatite exposure at Awhifrit. Pegmatites were sampled based on the coordinates provided by ONHYM gained from previous geophysical
investigations.

concentrations of uranium, which at Aghracha are present as a carnotite
(K2(UO2)2V2O8⋅3H2O) mineralization, commonly occurring as placer
deposit consisting of calcrete drainage systems along up to 5 km long
paleo-channels (ONHYM, 2018). Consequently, several pegmatite
bodies and carbonatite dykes were unexpectedly discovered first in the
areas of Awhifrit and Laachariyat, and recently at Lamlyssa (ONHYM,
2020), which suggests there may be many more. The geophysical in­
vestigations are very useful in geologic mapping because of its ability to
detect magnetic and radiometric anomalies caused by magnetic
susceptibility changes of rocks and by radioactivity produced by ele­
ments such as uranium, thorium, and potassium in the underlying rocks.
The magnetic properties and emission of alpha, beta, and gamma radi­
ation can be detected at the surface using magnetometers and Geiger
counters. The outcome of these surveys was used to illustrate the main
joint directions and to obtain geochemical anomaly maps (ONHYM,
2018a).
The Aghracha exploration area consists of a flat desert covered by
recent sediments of various thicknesses, which make the field

3
R. Benaouda et al.
recognition of the carbonatite dykes and especially the pegmatites very
difficult (Figs. 2 and 3). The associated rocks are commonly gneisses
(Fig. 4) that belong to the Ediacaran Leucocratic Complex (ELC) (Bea
et al., 2020) that hosts a bimodal rift-related series of rocks of mafic to
felsic composition. The major share of this terrain is occupied by a
leucocratic complex that consists of a variety of leucocratic gneisses, as
confirmed in this study, and minor volumes of metasedimentary
calc-silicate rocks and some amphibolites, whereas the mafic rocks are
mainly located in the South-East and commonly composed of amphib­
olites, granulites, norites, noritic gabbros, and anorthosites (Bea et al.,
2020).
3. Methods
3.1. XRF major elements
mAX
Major elements were analyzed using a PANalytical Axios energy-
dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) spectrometer at the Helmholtz
Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology (HIF). The XRF device is
equipped with a threefold collimator changer and an Rh-anode X-ray
tube with 60 kV and a current of 66 mA at a lower wavelength, or 25 kV
Fig. 3. Typical field outcrop of the carbonatite dykes at the Laachariyat sector.
4
Journal of African Earth Sciences 196 (2022) 104727
with 160 mA at higher wavelengths. Spectra were obtained in a step
scan mode mainly using a 300 μm collimator and a speed of 0.5◦ 2θ/s.
For data evaluation, SuperQ-Software (PANalytical) was used. The
sample plate can hold samples in the form of solid, powder, or liquid.
For XRF measurements, 5 g of each powdered sample (<63 μm) were
put in a ceramic vessel and dried overnight in the oven at 105 ◦ C to
measure the loss on ignition (LOI). 1g from each sample was homoge­
nized with 8 g of lithium tetraborate (Li2B4O7) and transferred to a
platinum vessel to produce fusion disks. The mixed and homogenized
powder was melted using an automatic fusion system (XrFuse 2, XRF
Scientific, Brussels, Belgium), in which the sample was fused at tem­
peratures up to 1250 ◦ C. After 15 min, the machine produced melted
sample beads, ready to be measured in the XRF.
3.2. ICP-MS trace elements
A low-resolution quadrupole ICP-MS was used at Jacobs University
Bremen for the precise and accurate determination of trace element
concentrations in rock samples. Wet chemical methods are employed to
dissolve the powdered rock samples for analysis with ICP-MS. A 50 mg
aliquot of each sample was digested in 3 ml concentrated HCl, 1 ml
R. Benaouda et al.
Fig. 4. A-D) Hand specimens showing the common coarse-grained texture and the quartz-feldspar composition of the Aghracha gneisses.
concentrated HNO3 and 1 ml concentrated HF in PTFE (‘Teflon’) vessels.
The employed acids were of supra-pure grade and reagent blanks were
constantly checked for trace metal contaminations. The vessels were
closed and put on a Picotrace heat block for 12h at 200 ◦ C. After
digestion, the vessels were allowed to cool and then opened. After
checking that no residues remained, the vessels were put back on the
heat block to evaporate the acid. Afterward, 5 ml of 20% HCl was added
to each vessel and the solution was evaporated again. This was repeated
a second time. After reaching incipient dryness, the vessels were taken
out of the blocks and 1.75 ml HNO3 (32% HNO3) and 3 ml de-ionized
water were added, and the solution was left on the hot plate for
another 30 min. Thereafter, each solution was transferred to 60 ml
bottles with 0.5M HNO3 and 0.5% HCl (v/v). The samples were further
diluted for measurement with ICP-MS.
An internal 2 ppb Ru–Rh-Re-Bi standard was employed to accom­
modate matrix effects and instrumental drift. The ICP-MS analytical
results of four gneisses, four pegmatite, and four carbonatite samples are
presented in Tables 1 and 2.
3.3. SEM and EPMA mineral chemistry
The main rock-forming minerals in the studied rock specimen were
identified using a scanning-electron-microscope Quanta 650 FEG,
ThermoFisher Scientific at the Federal Institute for Geosciences and
Natural Resources (BGR) in Hanover. The principle REE-bearing min­
erals, allanite-(Ce) and monazite-(Ce) were investigated using an elec­
tron probe microanalyzer (EPMA) JEOL JXA-8530F. The measurement
conditions were 15 kV accelerating voltage and 15 nA beam current. A
detailed description of the respective X-ray line, standard, peak
measuring time, and analyzing crystals are given in Benaouda et al.
(2020a, 2020b). The EPMA results of both allanite and monazite are
summarized in Tables 2 and 3.
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Journal of African Earth Sciences 196 (2022) 104727
4. Results
4.1. Lithology of the wall rocks and ore bodies
Due to the flat topography and the sediment cover at Aghracha, the
pegmatite and carbonatite dykes as well as the gneissic basement are
barely visible in the field (Figs. 2–3). To find the exact locations of the
mineralized structures of Aghracha, we therefore used data and co­
ordinates obtained from aeromagnetic and radiometric surveys
(ONHYM, 2016) in addition to a portable scintillometer to detect local
radiation anomalies (Fig. 2c). Due to their near-surface occurrence, the
retrieved samples are also strongly altered. The present work covers two
areas at Aghracha, namely the Awhifrite and the Laachariyat areas
(Fig. 1) that host allanite-bearing pegmatites and monazite-bearing
calcite carbonatite dykes, respectively. Both mineralized rocks
intruded the metamorphic ELC basement (Fig. 1).
4.1.1. Gneiss
The gneiss at Aghracha belongs to the ELC described by Bea et al.
(2020). It is coarse-grained and shows typical foliations suggesting
medium to high-grade metamorphic conditions. In hand specimens
(Fig. 4) the gneiss shows large feldspar crystals alternating with quartz.
Some mica also occurs within the feldspar bands. Most samples are
intensively altered, which usually imposed a red coloration to the gneiss
(Fig. 4 A-B).
4.1.2. Pegmatites
The mineralized pegmatites are associated with graphic granite
which is a unique feature of pegmatites and allows to distinguish them
from hydrothermal vein mineralization that may display a pegmatite-
like structure (London and Morgan, 2012). The graphic granite clearly
shows a typical intertwined texture of quartz and feldspar crystals
R. Benaouda et al. Journal of African Earth Sciences 196 (2022) 104727

Table 1
Major (wt%) and trace element (ppm) contents of the Aghracha pegmatite, gneiss and carbonatite samples.
Samples Gneiss Pegmatite Carbonatite dykes

A01 A04 A06 A08 A09 A05 A07 A11 A13 A17 A18 A19

SiO2 78.8 76.9 75.46 59.69 74.76 43.65 42.59 54.69 0.42 1.17 15.06 15.66
TiO2 0.12 0.04 0.01 0.09 0.02 0.33 0.51 0.29 n.d 0.01 0.18 0.07
Al2O3 12.37 13.66 13.55 22 13.53 21.08 12.49 8.67 0.07 0.1 0.49 0.2
Fe2O3 0.89 0.55 0.21 1.81 0.17 9.68 12.26 8.8 3.71 8.35 17.16 3.03
Mn3O4 n.d n.d n.d 0.03 n.d 0.06 0.04 0.15 0.74 1.02 1.1 0.41
MgO 0.23 0.12 0.03 1.26 0.01 0.11 0.56 4.87 1.9 1.8 1.87 0.37
CaO 1.88 1.35 0.15 6.74 0.31 16.81 9.64 14.11 48.86 43.42 23.61 27.58
Na2O 4.07 6 2.83 5.41 2.26 2.15 n.d 0.1 0.01 0.03 1 0.1
K2O 1.01 0.67 7.06 1.46 7.71 0.08 0.03 0.07 0.02 0.06 0.07 0.01
P2O5 0.03 0.06 0.02 0.06 0.03 0.68 0.1 2.04 0.04 0.13 0.56 0.49
SO3 0.01 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.07 0.79 0.13 0.18 4.19 6.3
SrO 0.03 0.03 0.02 0.48 0.09 0.59 0.28 0.88 0.75 3.87 4.38 9.16
BaO 0.16 0.11 0.28 0.42 0.3 0.67 5.24 1.86 0.16 0.2 7.17 11.12
LOI 0.67 0.68 0.2 0.82 0.24 1.69 1.64 1.65 42 38.51 20.95 24.55
Total 100.27 100.21 99.82 100.3 99.43 97.61 85.44 98.97 98.83 98.85 97.81 99.05
Li 3.46 2.79 0.53 4.04 0.39 1.45 7.62 0.81 0.61 0.51 2.60 0.19
Be 0.47 0.52 1.67 0.95 0.24 0.38 1.50 1.28 n.d 0.57 3.63 n.d
Ti 264.8 725.3 48.00 600 139.4 1859 3070 1172 13.26 63.67 1132 545.4
Co 1.49 7.03 0.52 3.41 0.79 3.09 8.59 24.68 6.05 2.53 3.77 0.73
Ni 40.88 7.40 318.9 15.57 2.40 6.55 4.16 32.96 9.15 4.61 9.68 4.70
Rb 8.22 7.23 227.9 13.66 290.2 n.d 0.69 n.d n.d n.d n.d n.d
Sr 298.5 312.4 184.2 3742 726.1 4678 1845 7875 6516 35240 39207 69415
Ba 1241 1479 2631 3953 2815 644.7 3105 21117 749 921 29545 24491
La 54.15 46.83 18.21 68.02 19.73 5780 41905 912 254.04 417.8 3769 763.8
Ce 88.05 61.41 35.36 102.3 24.42 8512 86035 2210 670.7 908.6 6296 1547
Pr 8.74 5.53 3.86 11.66 2.02 503.3 8792 231.21 100.7 115.5 514.0 170.4
Nd 25.38 17.02 11.95 40.27 5.45 1413 27135 901.19 494.5 481.23 1546.6 589.3
Sm 3.49 1.95 2.23 6.03 0.61 109.3 2472 102.8 121.5 102.5 153 84.47
Eu 0.67 1.05 0.39 3.20 1.36 10.48 93.27 18.06 40.00 33.69 30.14 19.83
Gd 1.14 1.39 2.23 3.78 0.38 bdl 1105 52.96 112.5 79.57 76.55 45.86
Tb 0.15 0.11 0.43 0.42 n.d 3.67 134.5 4.36 14.84 9.30 5.32 3.95
Dy 0.58 0.44 3.22 2.05 0.23 11.73 645.7 11.36 77.03 43.11 17.38 16.55
Y 1.99 1.48 18.79 8.49 1.10 30.01 3488 41.04 361.9 178.2 54.41 59.22
Ho 0.06 0.04 0.61 0.35 n.d 1.34 100.5 1.34 12.87 6.94 2.37 2.22
Er 0.14 0.11 1.79 0.94 0.10 bdl 218.8 2.77 32.72 16.88 5.33 n.d
Tm 0.01 n.d 0.28 0.11 n.d 0.12 24.92 0.27 4.37 2.17 0.66 0.54
Yb 0.08 0.07 1.64 0.67 0.08 0.58 134.7 1.73 26.74 13.12 3.77 3.04
Lu 0.01 0.02 0.23 0.09 n.d bdl 17.16 0.24 3.64 1.56 0.53 0.37
∑REE 184.6 137.4 101.2 248.4 55.48 16375 172300 4491 2328 2410 12474 3307
Zr 7.80 28.95 0.65 18.10 6.68 83.72 610.4 15.05 0.19 0.35 5.96 7.74
Nb 0.34 0.74 2.63 0.42 0.82 1.08 11.61 1.30 0.56 1.11 16.27 9.55
Hf 0.20 0.63 0.02 0.57 0.28 1.85 28.44 0.70 n.d n.d 1.48 0.52
Ta n.d n.d 0.18 n.d n.d n.d 0.37 n.d n.d n.d 1.32 0.40
Pb 9.12 18.30 7.34 26.03 34.15 45.62 352 42.23 334.5 496.7 295.8 378.3
Th 23.04 6.22 4.76 1.29 7.20 1466 3010 1025 2.08 23.63 733.76 28.9
U 0.31 n.d 1.59 n.d 0.61 4.38 78.68 4.13 0.48 1.31 11.04 1.08

(Fig. 5A). The REE-bearing pegmatites are characterized by abundant
epidote that gives the rock a greenish color (Fig. 5B). More important,
however, is the occurrence of large black allanite crystals of several
centimeters in size (Fig. 4C and D), which is the main host mineral of the
REE. The drilling program performed by ONHYM at Aghracha also
indicated the presence of hidden gabbroic and Fe-rich rocks in the vi­
cinity of the pegmatites (ONHYM, 2018, 2016d).
4.1.3. Carbonatite dykes
The calcite carbonatite dykes cut the Ediacaran basement with a
common N140◦ E strike (NW-SE). The samples are usually altered and
display coarse grained Fe-oxide phases that might be locally abundant in
the form of dark veins like in sample A18 (Fig. 3C and D; 6A-B; 8G-H),
especially at the border of the dyke. Unlike the Awhifrit pegmatites, the
Laachariyat carbonatite dykes are quite noticeable in the field, although
they are not markedly cropping out (Fig. 3A and B). They form an almost
parallel swarm with individual dyke thickness ranging from 0.5m to
1.5m and dyke spacing generally ranges between 5m and 30m. The
contact with the host basement is unclear due to the sediment cover and
the intensively altered surface. Although the carbonatite dykes are only
locally visible in the field, previous exploration work (ONHYM, 2016a)
reported that they extend at the kilometer scale. Coeval alkaline igneous
rocks associated with the dykes have not yet been recognized in the
vicinity of this carbonatite.
4.2. Pegmatite mineralogy and allanite mineral chemistry
Whereas the gneiss samples are essentially composed of quartz and
feldspar (Fig. 7A), the pegmatites are highly enriched in epidote in
addition to quartz and minor hornblende. Accessory minerals are
allanite, monazite, barite, thorianite, and zircon (Fig. 7B–F). Thorianite
mainly occurs in cavities within allanite and epidote phases (Fig. .7B–C,
E) and replaces monazite grains in epidote-hornblende aggregates
(Fig. .7D–F). The REE-minerals usually display anhedral to rounded
shapes and are commonly associated with holes and cracks within the
epidote-rich samples. We emphasize that the pegmatite samples do not
represent the composition of the whole pegmatite body because the
fabric of pegmatites is usually characterized by concentric zoning of
large crystals dominated by a unidirectional solidification texture.
Therefore, small hand specimens may represent only a certain part of a
pegmatite zone (e.g., large allanite crystals, sample A7, Fig. 5C and D).
Allanite is the most abundant REE-bearing mineral within the epidote-

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R. Benaouda et al. Journal of African Earth Sciences 196 (2022) 104727

Table 2
Representative microprobe analyses of allanite from the Aghracha pegmatites.
Allanite in the pegmatites

All-1 All-2 All-3 All-4 All-5 All-6 All-7 All-8 All-9 All-10

SiO2 32.96 29.79 32.26 30.45 33.18 30.35 30.95 30.22 30.83 30.38
Al2O3 18.27 13.75 17.00 15.18 17.66 14.18 15.58 14.85 15.21 14.68
Mn2O3 0.35 0.63 0.44 0.70 0.33 0.64 0.49 0.66 0.58 0.75
FeO 12.88 11.92 13.00 10.85 12.86 11.19 11.04 11.95 11.24 12.76
MgO 0.32 17.00 0.35 0.71 0.35 0.99 15.50 14.60 12.20 0.90
CaO 15.61 10.13 14.01 11.53 14.72 11.19 11.26 10.54 11.46 10.18
SrO 0.31 n.d 0.13 0.07 0.24 0.14 n.d n.d n.d n.d
Na2O 0.04 0.12 0.05 0.06 n.d 0.06 0.08 0.13 0.09 0.12
La2O3 2.99 5.65 4.00 4.91 3.51 6.14 5.43 5.04 5.25 5.58
Ce2O3 6.30 12.22 8.38 10.97 7.62 12.12 11.64 11.04 11.31 11.86
Pr2O3 0.58 1.10 0.76 0.98 0.71 1.04 1.03 1.10 1.01 1.07
Nd2O3 2.00 3.69 2.62 3.42 2.52 3.27 3.52 3.84 3.33 3.69
Sm2O3 0.38 0.55 0.48 0.63 0.51 0.47 0.60 0.89 0.57 0.65
Gd2O3 0.18 0.23 0.18 0.39 0.25 0.24 0.33 0.50 0.30 0.34
Y2O3 0.55 0.26 0.40 0.76 0.42 0.19 0.56 0.74 0.57 0.40
ThO2 0.43 10.30 0.79 0.93 0.46 0.78 0.67 0.84 0.60 0.74
UO2 0.06 0.08 0.08 0.11 0.10 0.09 0.10 0.08 0.08 0.06
F n.d 0.16 n.d 0.10 n.d 0.13 0.11 0.08 0.10 0.11
Cl 0.02 0.04 0.02 0.06 0.02 0.05 0.03 0.04 0.10 0.05
O=F n.d 0.07 n.d 0.04 n.d 0.06 0.05 0.03 0.04 0.05
O=Cl 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.02 0.01
Total 94.22 93.01 94.94 92.76 95.46 93.21 94.94 93.95 93.79 94.28
formula based on O ¼ 12.5 and total cations ¼ 8
Si 3.00 3.02 3.02 3.05 3.04 3.06 3.01 3.00 3.04 3.03
Al 1.96 1.64 1.87 1.79 1.91 1.68 1.79 1.74 1.77 1.72
Fe3+ 0.57 0.38 0.46 0.21 0.44 0.69 0.30 0.36 0.30 0.29
Mn3+ 0.02 0.05 0.03 0.05 0.02 0.05 0.04 0.05 0.04 0.06
Fe2+ 0.41 0.63 0.56 0.70 0.55 0.26 0.60 0.63 0.63 0.77
Mg 0.04 0.26 0.05 0.11 0.05 0.15 0.23 0.22 0.18 0.13
Ca 1.52 1.10 1.40 1.24 1.45 1.21 1.18 1.12 1.21 1.09
Sr 0.02 – 0.01 0.00 0.01 0.01 – – – –
Na 0.01 0.02 0.01 0.01 – 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.02 0.02
La 0.10 0.21 0.14 0.18 0.12 0.23 0.20 0.18 0.19 0.21
Ce 0.21 0.45 0.29 0.40 0.26 0.45 0.42 0.40 0.41 0.43
Pr 0.02 0.04 0.03 0.04 0.02 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04
Nd 0.07 0.13 0.09 0.12 0.08 0.12 0.12 0.14 0.12 0.13
Sm 0.01 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.03 0.02 0.02
REE 0.41 0.86 0.55 0.76 0.50 0.85 0.79 0.79 0.77 0.83
Gd 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.02 0.01 0.01
Y 0.03 0.01 0.02 0.04 0.02 0.01 0.03 0.04 0.03 0.02
Th 0.01 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.01 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.01 0.02
U 0.001 0.002 0.002 0.002 0.002 0.002 0.002 0.002 0.002 0.001
F – 0.05 – 0.03 – 0.04 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.04
Cl 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.02 0.01

Total apfu 8.00 8.00 8.00 8.00 8.00 8.00 8.00 8.00 8.00 8.00
Total A-site 2.00 2.03 2.02 2.09 2.00 2.12 2.04 2.02 2.05 1.99
Total M-site 3.00 2.96 2.97 2.86 2.96 2.83 2.96 2.99 2.91 2.98
Total T-site 3.00 3.02 3.02 3.05 3.04 3.06 3.01 3.00 3.04 3.03

Average A-site 2.04 M-site 2.94 T-site 3.03

rich samples and displays various sizes ranging from 100 μm to 1 mm. In in which the cations are arranged as follows:
addition, allanite also forms large, separated phases that reach up to 13 A(1) A(2) M(1) M(2) M(3) T O(4)
cm in size (Fig. 5C and D and 7B). ICP-MS trace element analysis of the Epidote Ca2+ Ca2+ Al3+ Al3+ Fe3+ Si3O11 O OH
allanite hand specimen is presented in Table 1 A7. Representative EPMA Clinozoisite Ca2+ Ca2+ Al3+ Al3+ Al3+ Si3O11 O OH
analyses of allanite are also given in Table 2. Piemontite Ca2+ Ca2+ Al3+ Al3+ Mn3+ Si3O11 O OH
Allanite Ca2+ REE3+ Al3+ Al3+ Fe2+ Si3O11 O OH
4.2.1. Allanite-(Ce)
Allanite structural formula was calculated using the WinEpclas
Allanite can, therefore, be represented by the idealized formula
program (Yavuz and Yıldırım, 2018) based on 12.5 oxygen atoms and 8
CaREEAl2Fe2+Si3O11O(OH). The composition of the allanites in the
cations. Allanite-(Ce) is the common REE-bearing mineral within the
Awhifrit pegmatites displays REE concentrations decreasing in the order
Aghracha pegmatites (Fig. 7). It is a monoclinic member of the epidote
of Ce > La > Nd > Pr > Sm > Gd. It is also noteworthy that La and Ce
group minerals that have a general formula of A2M3T3(O,OH,F)12, in
content vary within individual grains. La2O3 varies from 2.99 to 6.14 wt
which A is commonly Ca, but can also accommodate REE, Sr, Pb, Th, U
%, Ce2O3 - from 6.3 to 12.22 wt %. The concentrations of other HREE
and Mn2+, and M is mainly Al, but can also be Fe3+, Mn3+, Mn2+, Fe2+,
except for Y are negligible (Table 1 sample “A07” and Table 2). The Th
Cr, V and Ti; and T is Si (Giere and Sorensen, 2004). In terms of the
contents are rather high and range from 0.4 to 1 wt.-%; U contents may
crystal structures, there are two distinct A sites and three distinct M sites
be as high as 0.1 wt.-%. The calculated formula based on the microprobe
analyses (Table 2) shows an average A-M-T-site values as

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R. Benaouda et al. Journal of African Earth Sciences 196 (2022) 104727

Table 3
Representative microprobe analyses of monazite from the Aghracha carbonatite dykes.
Monazite in the carbonatite dykes

Mz-1 Mz-2 Mz-3 Mz-4 Mz-5 Mz-6 Mz-7 Mz-8 Mz-9 Mz-10 Mz-11 Mz-12

P2O5 29.66 28.64 29.06 29.28 29.37 28.95 29.85 29.54 29.75 29.54 28.75 28.49
CaO 0.44 0.19 0.35 0.35 0.63 0.09 0.40 0.30 0.18 0.46 0.07 0.47
La2O3 21.64 21.51 23.20 23.44 22.49 22.88 23.65 22.65 24.25 22.55 21.45 20.85
Ce2O3 31.69 31.59 30.71 31.34 30.47 33.18 31.43 32.12 31.79 31.42 32.87 31.31
Pr2O3 2.27 3.01 2.16 2.12 2.09 2.36 2.08 2.31 2.09 2.84 2.47 2.24
Nd2O3 7.32 7.71 6.17 6.31 6.26 7.18 6.13 6.78 6.49 6.32 8.12 6.52
Sm2O3 1.01 1.08 0.80 0.89 0.86 0.90 0.78 0.92 0.93 0.94 1.23 0.81
Eu2O3 0.22 0.00 0.13 0.20 0.17 0.21 0.17 0.00 0.21 0.00 0.25 0.23
Gd2O3 0.49 0.52 0.42 0.45 0.39 0.38 0.39 0.42 0.51 0.44 0.44 0.38
ThO2 5.99 6.21 6.92 6.12 6.87 4.22 5.96 5.13 4.97 6.23 5.24 8.22
Total 100.7 100.5 99.9 100.5 99.6 100.3 100.8 100.2 101.2 100.7 100.9 99.5
calculated composition based on O ¼ 4
P 0.98 0.96 0.97 0.97 0.98 0.97 0.98 0.98 0.98 0.97 0.96 0.96
Ca 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.03 0.00 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.02 0.00 0.02
La 0.31 0.31 0.34 0.34 0.33 0.33 0.34 0.33 0.35 0.32 0.31 0.31
Ce 0.45 0.46 0.44 0.45 0.44 0.48 0.45 0.46 0.45 0.45 0.48 0.46
Pr 0.03 0.04 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.04 0.04 0.03
Nd 0.10 0.11 0.09 0.09 0.09 0.10 0.08 0.09 0.09 0.09 0.11 0.09
Sm 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.02 0.01
Eu 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Gd 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.00
Th 0.32 0.34 0.37 0.33 0.37 0.23 0.32 0.27 0.26 0.33 0.28 0.45

Fig. 5. Hand specimens of pegmatite samples from Aghracha showing, A) graphic granite with typical intertwined quartz-feldspar texture, B) epidote-rich pegmatite,
and C) large dark allanite crystals showing with quartz veins.

A2.04M2.94T3.03, which corresponds very well to the allanite general 4.3. Laachariyat carbonatite mineralogy and monazite chemistry
formula.
The Laachariyat carbonatite dykes are mostly composed of calcite as
the main carbonate phase, and dolomite, apatite, and Fe-oxide.

8
R. Benaouda et al.
Fig. 6. Two Hand specimens of Laachariyat calcite carbonatite dykes showing calcite intruded by Fe-rich dark veins.
Dolomite is less abundant and occurs as inclusions within calcite or
between calcite and other accessory minerals (Fig. 8A–C). Some samples
display abundant strontianite (Fig. 8E and F). Accessory minerals are
barite, monazite, and minor allanite. Rare bastnaesite also occurs as
tiny, elongated crystals within calcite and dolomite (Fig. 8A and B) or as
overgrowths and cutting veinlets in allanite (Fig. 8C). The main REE-
hosting mineral is monazite, which occurs within calcite or at the con­
tact with dolomite inclusions (Fig. 8A–C); between calcite and apatite
(Fig. 8D), closely associated with strontianite (Fig. 8E and F) and closely
associated with barite (Fig. 8F). The high Fe2O3 enrichment in sample
A18 is associated with Fe-rich veins (e.g. Fig. 8G and H) within calcite
carbonatite, therefore the Fe-content of this sample does not reflect
dominant Fe-rich carbonates or a primary composition of the
carbonatite.
4.3.1. Monazite
The monazites studied occur as subhedral crystals (up to 500 μm)
and contain abundant LREE (ca 64.8 wt%), whereas the HREE are
generally below the limit of determination (LoD). Representative
microprobe analyses of monazite from calciocarbonatite are presented
in Table 3. They are all LREE-rich with a predominance of Ce over all
other LREE, classifying this as monazite-(Ce). The HREEs are generally
below LoD. The ThO2 content is commonly high and ranges from 4 to 8
wt%. The Ca content is very low (CaO <0.5 wt%). Small amounts of SO3
(up to 0.6 wt%) may also be present.
4.4. Whole-rock chemistry
4.4.1. Awhifrit gneiss and pegmatites
Table 1 summarizes the major and trace element composition of
selected gneiss and pegmatite samples from the Aghracha prospect.
Because of the large mineral sizes and concentric layering, the pegma­
tites are texturally not homogenous. We emphasize that, therefore, the
chemical composition of the pegmatite samples in Table 1 represents
part of the pegmatite rather than the whole pegmatite body.
Based on the total alkali-silica content (Middlemost, 1994), the
gneiss samples display compositions ranging from sub-alkaline granite
to alkali granite and monzonite (Fig. 9). They all show a peraluminous to
metaluminous composition (Fig. 10). Samples A01, A04, and A08 are
more sodium-rich with a Na2O concentration ranging from 4 to 6 wt%
and K2O concentrations between 0.7 and 1.5 wt%, whereas sample A06
and the graphic granite (A09) are more potassium-rich with K2O be­
tween 7 and 8 wt% and Na2O between 2 and 3 wt%. Therefore, the latter
9
Journal of African Earth Sciences 196 (2022) 104727
(A06 and A09) are also more shifted towards a peralkaline composition.
The chondrite-normalized REE patterns (REECN; chondrite values after
Barrat et al., 2012) clearly show a strong enrichment of the LREE over
the HREE in all gneiss and pegmatite samples (Fig. 11). Whereas one
gneiss sample (A6) shows a negative EuCN anomaly with EuCN/EuCN* =
0.53, three other samples display either no EuCN anomaly (A1 with
EuCN/EuCN* = 1.02) or even unusually high positive ones (A4 and A8
with Eu/Eu* ranging from 1.95 to 8.62). The gneiss sample (A6) with
the negative EuCN anomaly is also more enriched in the HREE than the
samples with positive EuCN anomaly, although it has lower LREE
concentrations.
The pegmatite samples also show different REE patterns, although all
display strong enrichment of the LREE over the HREE. Whereas the
graphic granite (A9) shows an unusually large positive EuCN anomaly
(EuCN/EuCN* = 8.62), the epidote-rich pegmatite samples A5 and A11
and the sample A7, which is composed almost entirely of allanite, show
slight to strong negative EuCN anomalies (Fig. 11). The E-MORB-
normalized trace element patterns after Sun and McDonough (1989)
show that the gneiss samples are depleted in HFSE and HREE although
they are generally enriched in LREE and other incompatible elements.
4.4.2. Laachariyat carbonatite dykes
The mineralogy of the Laachariyat carbonatite samples clearly shows
that calcite is the dominant carbonate, suggesting a calciocarbonatite
composition, which is also confirmed using the ternary CaO–MgO-
(Fe2O3+MnO) classification diagram (Fig. 12) after Le Maitre (2002).
The Fe2O3 composition ranges between 3 and 8 wt% and reaches the
highest value with 17 wt% in sample A18 (Table 1), which is associated
with the presence of Fe-rich veins that suggest a later hydrothermal fluid
input rather than primary Fe-rich carbonates. In Table 1, the samples
A18 and A19 show significantly higher contents in SiO2 (~15 wt%), BaO
(7–11 wt%) and HFSE than samples A13 and A17. The SrO content
varies between 0.7 and 9 wt% mainly associated with the occurrence of
abundant strontianite (Fig. 8D–F). The REE concentrations are markedly
∑
high in all samples, with REE ranging between 2328 ppm and 1.25 wt
%, whereas the HFSE (Zr, Nb, Ta, and Hf) concentrations are very low.
The REECN patterns are typical for carbonatite rocks with a strong
enrichment of the LREE over the HREE and the absence of any EuCN
anomaly (Verplanck et al., 2016). A negative correlation between the
LREE and the HREE is noteworthy. The samples A13 and A17 have lower
LREE, but higher HREE contents than samples A18 and A19. The
E-MORB normalized patterns show strong enrichment in REE and LILE
(large ion lithophile elements) except for K.
R. Benaouda et al.
Fig. 7. Backscattered electron micrographs (BSE) displaying, (7A) the main composition of gneiss showing quartz, plagioclase, and biotite. B–F) shows REE-bearing
pegmatites, which are highly enriched in epidote in addition to quartz and minor hornblende. Accessory minerals are allanite, monazite, barite, thorianite,
and zircon.
5. Discussion
5.1. Basement host rocks
According to recent studies (Bea et al., 2020), the age of the leuco­
cratic rocks (mainly gneisses) within the ELC decreases progressively
from east (ca. 600 Ma) to west (ca. 570 Ma). Based on the total
alkali-silica (TAS) diagram (Fig. 9), the geochemical investigation of the
selected samples around the pegmatites indicates at least three different
types of granitoids (monzonite “A8”, alkaline granitoids “A9 and A6”,
and sub-alkaline granitoids “A1 and A4”). In addition, the EuCN anom­
alies are positive in three samples, absent in one sample and negative in
another (Fig. 11). Although negative EuCN anomalies in granitic rocks
are common, some granitoids at Aghracha and elsewhere show no or
even positive EuCN anomalies (e.g., Condie et al., 1985; Li et al., 2008;
Peng et al., 2012; Tung et al., 2016). This may indicate that these
granitoids are derived from different sources and/or were formed by
10
Journal of African Earth Sciences 196 (2022) 104727
different differentiation processes. The positive EuCN anomaly charac­
terizes the rocks that accumulated plagioclase (e.g., mafic rocks), where
Eu2+ can replace Ca2+ in its crystal lattice. Such rocks are abundant in
the Ediacaran sector of the Oulad Dlim massif and are closely associated
with ELC, as described by Bea et al. (2020). The best explanation for the
positive EuCN anomaly in these granitoids is likely a mixture of magma
derived by the melting of underplated mafic rocks and small amounts of
crustal rocks.
5.2. The Awhifrit pegmatites
5.2.1. Relationship with the basement rocks
The close similarity of the pegmatites with their host granites suggest
that they are genetically closely related and that the Awhifrit pegmatites
have the same Ediacaran age as the ELC. The systematically decreasing
ages of the ELC rocks from east to west suggest that the pegmatites are
hosted by older basement rocks than the carbonatite dykes. The quartz-
R. Benaouda et al. Journal of African Earth Sciences 196 (2022) 104727

Fig. 8. BES micrographs of the Aghracha calcite carbonatite. A-C) Calcite carbonatite containing dolomite that occurs in the form of inclusions or between calcite
and other accessory minerals (barite, monazite, and tiny batsnaesiteperaluminous composition). E-F) Samples showing abundant strontianite phases associated with
other minerals like apatite, barite, monazite, and minor allanite. G-H) Samples enriched in Fe-oxide phases associated with barite and monazite.

11
R. Benaouda et al. Journal of African Earth Sciences 196 (2022) 104727

Fig. 9. Total alkali-silica diagram, after Middlemost (1994), showing the compositional fields of the Agracha granitoid samples.

specimen samples were not found in the scarce outcrops.

5.2.2. Geochemistry
Like the basement granitoid, the REECN patterns of the pegmatite
also show variable EuCN anomalies. Two epidote-rich samples (A5, A11)
and a large allanite crystal (A7) show a slight to pronounced negative
EuCN anomaly, which is consistent with increasing degrees of melt
fractionation, whereas the graphic granite (A9) shows positive EuCN
anomalies, likely inherited from granitoids with similar chemistry
(Fig. 11). Both the pegmatites and the basement granitoids show strong
enrichment of the large ion lithophile elements (LILE) and the LREECN
over the HREECN, while the high field strength elements (HFSE)EMORB
are depleted, indicating that these pegmatites have an origin related to
the host granitoids of similar composition. In addition to the REE, the
highest concentrations of Sr (up to 7870 ppm) and Th (up to 3000 ppm)
were measured in the pegmatites. The incorporation of these elements in
allanite results from substitution at the A-site as commonly observed
(see, Gieré and Sorenson, 2004 and references therein). This suggests
that the geological environment and the mineralizing fluids of these
pegmatites were enriched in both Sr and Th as well. The occurrence of
thorianite in the vicinity of Th-rich minerals like allanite and monazite
and within voids (Fig. 7B–F) suggest a secondary origin, likely by
Fig. 10. Ternary Molar Na2O – Al2O3 – K2O plot showing a metaluminous to
dissolution and reprecipitation.
peraluminous composition of the Aghracha granitoid samples.
5.2.3. Significance of allanite in the pegmatites
The epidote-group minerals have highly variable compositions and
feldspar intertwined texture of the graphic granite and the large grain
stabilities over a wide range of temperatures and pressure, which makes
size of allanite in the vicinity of the epidote-bearing pegmatites suggest
them major constituents of many igneous, metamorphic, and hydro­
an igneous origin of the Awhifrit pegmatites, although it cannot be
thermal rocks (Franz and Liebscher, 2004). In contrast, epidote is not a
excluded that hydrothermal fluids may also have played an important
common mineral in pegmatites, where it occasionally occurs as an
role in the mineral growth and metal enrichment. However, the struc­
accessory mineral (less than 1% of the pegmatites contain epidote; Dill,
tural relationship between the basement rocks and between the
2015b; Palinkaš et al., 2012; Wise, 2019). However, at Aghracha,
pegmatite-carbonatite and their hosts cannot be directly recognized due
epidote is abundant and characteristic of the REE-rich dykes. The pref­
to the flat landscape and the sediment cover at Aghracha. In addition,
erence of the epidote structure for specific trace elements such as REE
the intensive deformation, metamorphism, and the variable geochem­
suggests that the formation of allanite crystals was induced by REE-rich
ical signatures of the basement rocks rule out a strict correlation be­
fluids This favored the crystallization of allanite rather than epidote
tween each pegmatite and basement sample, especially since fresh hand

12
R. Benaouda et al.
Fig. 11. Chondrite-normalized REE-patterns and E-MORB normalized trace element patterns for the Aghracha pegmatites, gneiss, and carbonatite dykes.
Fig. 12. Ternary carbonatite classification diagram of the Aghracha carbonatite
plotted as wt% oxides after Le Maitre (2002).
sensu-strictu in the Awhifrit pegmatites. The common occurrence of
epidote minerals suggests that the host rock has not experienced tem­
peratures above 700 ◦ C, although the incorporation of REE can stabilize
13
Journal of African Earth Sciences 196 (2022) 104727
allanite at such high crystallization temperatures (Franz and Liebscher,
2004). Moreover, elevated Ca and low P and F contents together with
high fO2 conditions are required to form rocks with epidote-bearing
mineral assemblages (Wise, 2019). This and the fact that the ores
within the Awhifrit pegmatites are usually LREE-minerals rather than
rich in Nb, Ta, Li, Cs, and Y rule out their affiliation as LCT (Li–Cs–Ta)- or
NYF (Nb–Y–F) -type pegmatite and restrain the epidote formation to
highly evolved pegmatites. The abundance of allanite within the Agh­
racha pegmatites suggests a certain economic potential as reported from
some granite pegmatites, alkali granite environments, and skarns else­
where (Mariano, 1989).
5.3. The Laachariyat calcite carbonatite
The widespread occurrence of calcite carbonatite dykes in the
western Ediacaran unit at Laachariyat and their mineralogical and
geochemical composition suggest the intrusion of carbonatitic magma
into the ELC basement. Unfortunately, however, no halo of typical
fenitization can be observed because the contact between the carbo­
natite dykes and the wall rock is not exposed. Since the dykes post-date
the basement rocks, they were also younger than the pegmatite of
Awhifrit, according to recent geochronological data (Bea et al., 2020).
The NNW strike of the Laachariyat carbonatite dykes in the ELC base­
ment and the strong enrichment in LREE suggests that they represent
within-plate magmatism in an extensional tectonic environment. The
influence of post-magmatic processes, such as alteration and hydro­
thermal reworking of the Laachariyat carbonatite dykes is obvious. This
is revealed in the observed samples in the field and the variable
R. Benaouda et al.
enrichment of Ba, Sr, HFSE, and LREE/HREE instead of a unique
evolutionary trend. Although calcite has a greater capacity for incor­
poration of Sr, Ba, and REE than dolomite (Chakhmouradian et al.,
2016a), these elements are often deposited as strontianite, barite,
monazite, bastnaesite, and minor allanite within the calcite carbonatite
dykes (Fig. 8). This suggests strong enrichment of these elements in the
parent magma and mineralizing hydrothermal fluids. Recent experi­
mental studies (Anenburg et al., 2020, 2021) have shown that carbo­
natite magma first crystalizes calcite followed by dolomite. In addition,
dolomite might also be formed as secondary phases from possibly a
Mg-rich calcite precursor. This may explain the occurrence of numerous
dolomite phases associated with calcite in carbonatite (Fig. 8A–C). This
pattern of distribution and the common presence of barite and stron­
tianite minerals in this paragenesis indicate significant fluid-rock
interaction (Chakhmouradian et al., 2016b). Furthermore, the pres­
ence of Fe-oxide-rich veins in some samples, especially from the dyke
border (A18 with 17 wt% Fe2O3), indicate the influence of
post-magmatic fluids that interacted with a solidified calcite carbonatite
dyke. Such external influence is expected due to the near surface
occurrence and alteration of these samples. Indeed, carbonatites are
usually overprinted by para-magmatic and post-magmatic hydrothermal
fluid activity (Yaxley et al., 2022).
All carbonatite samples show strong enrichment of the LREE over the
HREE with two different REE signatures. The samples A13 and A17
show lower LREE/HREE ratios at higher HREE and lower LREE con­
centrations than samples A18 and A19, which show steeper REECN
patterns. The higher LREE enrichment (Fig. 11) in the latter correlates
well with the higher SiO2, BaO and the existence of abundant Fe-rich
veins within these two samples (Fig. 6) indicate further evidence for
intensive fluid input into primary carbonatites. More evidence for fluid
reworking is also noticeable by the presence of slight to pronounced
negative Y anomalies in REECN patterns (Fig. 12). A fractionation be­
tween the geochemical twins Y–Ho is not expected during magmatic
differentiation, except for highly differentiated magmas with lanthanide
tetrad effect (Bau, 1996), or if the magma source is already depleted in
Y. However, in hydrothermal F-bearing fluids at temperatures of up to
250 ◦ C, Y–Ho decoupling may occur as a result of a difference in their
speciation (Loges et al., 2013). The extremely high LREE concentrations
at Aghracha in both carbonatite dykes and pegmatites seem to be a
characteristic feature of the Oulad Dlim massif.
Although both pegmatites and carbonatite dykes at Aghracha are
emplaced in a similar geological and tectonic environment, it is difficult
to establish a direct genetic link between them and their significant REE
mineralization. More geochemical and geochronological data are
required for an accurate correlation. Intra-plate rifting was recently
attributed to the formation of the Ediacaran complex of the Oulad Dlim
massif (Bea et al., 2020). In addition, the formation of oriented carbo­
natite dyke swarms and pegmatites argue for a similar geodynamic
setting, which is also relevant and common for magmatic intrusions with
high levels of incompatible elements, including the REE (Dill, 2015b).
Dill (2015b) also reported field evidence for co-occurrence of pegmatites
and carbonatites with high-grade Be-REE-Zr-Nb-Ta and concluded that
the physico-chemical processes required to form carbonatite-related
deposits may also be able to form pegmatitic deposits.
6. Conclusion
Granitic pegmatites and carbonatite dykes with significant
LREE–mineralization were recently discovered underneath a sediment
cover in the northern part of the Ediacaran complex of the Oulad Dlim
massif at the Aghracha area of South Morocco.
The carbonatite dykes, especially the pegmatites are barely visible in
the field and usually covered by recent sediment cover.
Geochemical signatures of the basement granitoid samples display
compositions ranging from monzonite to alkaline and sub-alkaline
granites.
14
Journal of African Earth Sciences 196 (2022) 104727
The prevailing positive Eu anomaly in REECN patterns have been
attributed to different magmas, produced mainly through mixing of
magma derived from re-melting of underplated mafic rocks and small
amounts of crustal rocks.
The pegmatites are epidote-rich and contain up to 17 wt% REE,
mainly hosted by allanite-(Ce) (up to 13 cm in size), minor monazite-
(Ce), and thorianite.
The Aghracha pegmatites are referred to here as “allanite-pegma­
tites”, because they do not fit into the classical LCT- or NYF-type clas­
sification, as they are depleted in Nb, Ta, Cs, Li, and Y.
The Laachariyat calcite carbonatite dykes are commonly composed
of calcite as the main carbonate mineral, dolomite, apatite, and Fe-oxide
phases. They also contain abundant strontianite and barite.
The main REE-hosting mineral is monazite-(Ce), although minor
bastnaesite and allanite also occur.
Both LREE-rich pegmatites and carbonatite dykes in Aghracha strike
in a NNW direction and suggest an extensional tectonic setting which is
also typical of other REE-bearing deposits in the Oulad Dlim massif.
Declaration of competing interest
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial
interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence
the work reported in this paper.
Data availability
Data will be made available on request.
Acknowledgements
We are very grateful to the National Office of Hydrocarbon Mines
(ONHYM) for the logistical support in the field and we are thankful to
the ONHYM geologists M. Essaadaoui, R. El Heloui, and A. Bouali for
their valuable field work assistance. We gratefully acknowledge the
valuable comments and reviews by two anonymous referees and asso­
ciate editor Harald G. Dill. We also acknowledge the very helpful com­
ments of Maria Sitnikova (BGR, Hannover) on a first draft of the
manuscript. She and Simon Goldmann are also thanked for providing
extensive help with EPMA and SEM analyses at BGR. S.B. gratefully
acknowledges the help from Robert Möckel with the XRF analyses at the
HIF Freiberg. This research has been financially supported by the Bun­
desanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe (BGR), Germany.
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