Jurassic extension and Alpine inversion of the northern Morocco

Conference · Wed Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1993 · AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States)

OSTI ID:7134646

Zizi, M ^[1]

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1. Rice Univ., Houston, TX (United States)

The lower Mesozoic half grabens of northern Morocco form part of an extensional system that is related to the opening of the western Tethys. They appear to be somewhat younger than the Triassic-Jurassic systems associated with the opening the Atlantic Ocean. During the Tertiary and as consequence of the Alpine collision of Africa with Europe, these half graben systems were inverted as shown by the High and the Middle Atlas mountains. Seismic illustrations of similar but smaller inversion structures are available from the Guercif area and the [open quotes]Rides Prerifaines[close quotes] of northern Morocco. These seismic profiles serve as small models for the much larger Atlas Mountains. In the Guercif area, the inversions are limited in scope, but in the [open quotes]Ride Prerifaines[close quotes] are extensive decollement systems that sole out in the Triassic evaporites. These systems evolve into complex thrust faults and associated lateral ramps that are strongly influenced by the configuration of the Jurassic transtensional systems. Significant hydrocarbon accumulation have been known for some time from the [open quotes]Rides Prerifaines.[close quotes] A review of the geometry of the inverted half-graben systems, combined with detailed stratigraphic studies, is likely to lead to the discovery of additional reserves in the area.

• OSTI ID: 7134646
• Report Number(s): CONF-9310237--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States) Journal Volume: 77:9
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020200* -- Petroleum-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
03 NATURAL GAS
030200 -- Natural Gas-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
AFRICA
ARAB COUNTRIES
ATLANTIC OCEAN
CONFIGURATION
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
EVAPORITES
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC FAULTS
GEOLOGIC FRACTURES
GEOLOGIC MODELS
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GEOLOGY
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS
HYDROCARBONS
JURASSIC PERIOD
MESOZOIC ERA
MOROCCO
MOUNTAINS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
RESERVES
RESOURCE POTENTIAL
RESOURCES
RIFT ZONES
ROCKS
SEAS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SEISMIC SURVEYS
STRATIGRAPHY
SURFACE WATERS
SURVEYS
TOPOGRAPHY