Bull. Soc. géol. Fr., 2010, t. 181, no 3, pp.

243-257

Petrology and K-Ar chronology of the Neogene-Quaternary Middle Atlas

basaltic province, Morocco
M’HAMMED EL AZZOUZI1,2, RENÉ C. MAURY2, HERVÉ BELLON2, NASRRDDINE YOUBI3, JOSEPH COTTEN2
and FATIMA KHARBOUCH1

Key-words. – Alkali basalts, Basanites, Nephelinites, Whole rock K-Ar ages, Partial melting, Lithosphere, Geochemistry, Middle
Atlas, Morocco.

Abstract. – The Middle Atlas basaltic province is the largest and youngest volcanic field in Morocco. A hundred
well-preserved strombolian cones and maars emitted numerous mafic lava flows, which cover a surface of ca. 960 km2.
The study of 103 samples from these volcanic units allows us to distinguish four lava types, to map their distribution, to
provide new K-Ar ages and to discuss their petrogenesis on the basis of their petrologic and geochemical (major and
trace element) features. Nephelinites represent only 1.2% of the total surface of volcanic units; they are scattered all
over it as small monogenic volcanoes built during the Middle and Late Miocene (16.25-5.87 Ma) and the Plio-Quater-
nary (3.92-0.67 Ma). The three other types are exclusively Plio-Quaternary (3.77-0.60 Ma). Basanites cover 22.5% of
the volcanic field area, and generally overlie the more widespread alkali basaltic flows (68.5% of the plateau surface).
Finally, subalkaline basalts form the El Koudiate cone and associated flows (7.8% of the surface of the volcanic units)
and their origin is ascribed to contamination of alkali basaltic magmas by the upper continental crust. We show that
nephelinites, basanites and alkali basalts derive from temporally increasing but small degrees of partial melting of vari-
ably enriched spinel– and garnet-bearing peridotites from the base of the North-African lithospheric mantle, at depths of
ca. 70 km. Partial melting was caused by an asthenospheric uprise, which induced dehydration melting of parga-
site-bearing enriched peridotites, metasomatised during an earlier Cenozoic plume-related magmatic event.

Pétrologie et chronologie K-Ar de la province basaltique néogène et quaternaire du Moyen

Atlas marocain

Mots-clés. – Basaltes alcalins, Basanites, Néphélinites, Ages K-Ar, Fusion partielle, Lithosphère, Géochimie, Moyen Atlas, Maroc.

Résumé. – La province volcanique basaltique du Moyen Atlas est la plus récente et la plus étendue du Maroc. Elle com-
porte une centaine de maars et de cônes stromboliens, ainsi que des coulées basaltiques associées qui couvrent une sur-
face de 960 km2. Nous proposons une carte de répartition des types de laves, basée sur l’étude pétrologique et
géochimique (éléments majeurs et en traces) de 103 échantillons ainsi que sur de nouvelles datations K-Ar sur roches
totales. Quatre types de laves sont distingués et leurs relations pétrogénétiques discutées. Les néphélinites forment de
petits volcans monogéniques isolés dispersés sur l’ensemble du plateau volcanique ; elles ne représentent que 1,2 % de
sa surface, et ont été émises au Miocène moyen et supérieur (16,25-5,87 Ma) et au Plio-Quaternaire (3,92-0,67 Ma). Les
trois autres types sont d’âge plio-quaternaire (3,77-0,60 Ma). Les basanites forment 22,5 % de la surface du plateau vol-
canique et recouvrent le plus souvent les coulées fluides de basaltes alcalins qui en représentent 68,5 %. Enfin, l’origine
des basaltes subalcalins du cône d’El Koudiate et des coulées associées (7,8 % de la province volcanique) est attribuée à
la contamination par la croûte supérieure de magmas basaltiques alcalins. Nous montrons que les néphélinites, les basa-
nites et les basaltes alcalins dérivent de degrés de fusion partielle faibles (mais croissants au cours du temps) d’un man-
teau hétérogène lherzolitique à spinelle et grenat de la base de la lithosphère nord-africaine. L’origine de la fusion
partielle est liée à une remontée de l’asthénosphère sous-jacente, qui a provoqué la fusion-déshydratation de péridotites
à pargasite. La formation de ces dernières résulte d’une métasomatose d’intensité variable intervenue pendant un événe-
ment magmatique intraplaque antérieur, vraisemblablement cénozoïque.

INTRODUCTION mantle sources, generally thought to correspond to deep

asthenospheric plume materials [Hart, 1988]. However, this
The study of intraplate basalts from intra-oceanic islands complexity may not only result from the initial chemical
and plateaus as well as from continental traps and rifts heterogeneity of mantle plumes, but also from the entrain-
shows the considerable chemical heterogeneity of their ment of surrounding mantle materials [Hart et al., 1992]. In

1. Faculté des Sciences, Université Mohammed-V, av. Ibn Batouta, BP 1014, 10100 Rabat, Maroc. Correspondance: azzouzi@fsr.ac.ma ou
elazzouzim@yahoo.fr
2. Université Européenne de Bretagne, UMR 6538 Domaines océaniques, IUEM, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, place Nicolas Copernic,
29280 Plouzané, France.
3. Faculté des Sciences Semlalia, Université Cadi Ayyad, Bd. Prince Moulay Abdellah, BP 2390, 40000 Marrakech, Maroc.
Manuscrit déposé le 11 juin 2008; accepté après révision le 10 août 2009.

Bull. Soc. géol. Fr., 2010, no 3

244 EL AZZOUZI M. et al.
addition, a lithospheric component is clearly recognised in
some intra-continental basalts [Turner and Hawkesworth,
1995] but its origin is debated. For instance, some authors
suggested that melting of the Afar lithospheric mantle ex-
plains a significant proportion of the erupted lavas [Hart et
al., 1989; Vidal et al., 1991; Déniel et al., 1994] while oth-
ers pointed out that continental crust contamination could
account for the variable isotopic signatures of these basalts
[Barrat et al., 1993; Chazot and Bertrand, 1993; Baker et
al., 1996; Pik et al., 1999]. In addition, the genesis of alkali
basalt – basanite – nephelinite suites was attributed to melt-
ing of amphibole-bearing metasomatised lithospheric man-
tle beneath rifts [Spath et al., 2001], alkali intra-continental
magmatic provinces [Panter et al., 2006; Weinstein et al.,
2006] and even beneath intra-oceanic islands [Class and
Goldstein, 1997].
The Middle Atlas basaltic province is the largest and
youngest volcanic field in Morocco [Martin, 1981; Frizon
de Lamotte et al., 2008]. This area is characterized by a
high geothermal gradient [Rimi, 2001] and by thinned litho-
sphere, only ca. 70 km thick [Teixell et al., 2005; Zeyen
et al., 2005; Missenard et al., 2006]. Tomographic data
suggest that the underlying asthenospheric mantle is anoma-
lously hot [Spakman et al., 1993; De Jonge et al., 1994;
Hoernle et al., 1995; Goes et al., 1999]. A hundred
well-preserved strombolian cones and maars occur along a
N160-170oE trend ca. 70 km long between El Hajeb and
Itzère (fig. 1). They emitted numerous mafic lava flows over
a surface of ca. 960 km2 and include nephelinites, basanites
and alkali basalts [Harmand and Cantagrel, 1984; Rachdi et
al., 1985; El Azzouzi et al., 1999]. We collected and studied
103 samples from these volcanic units with the following
aims: (i) to draw a petrologic map of the area showing the
relative abundance of the various magma types; (ii) to in-
vestigate their petrogenetic relationships and characterize
their mantle sources, and finally (iii) to constrain their em-
placement chronology using 33 new K-Ar ages and discuss
their origin.
FIELD DATA AND GEOCHRONOLOGY
Regional setting
The Cenozoic volcanism of the Atlas system is exclusively
of intraplate alkaline type (alkali basalts, basanites,
nephelinites, and associated intermediate and evolved
lavas), while in the Rif it evolved through time from calc-al-
kaline to shoshonitic and finally alkaline magmas
[Hernandez and Bellon, 1985; Hernandez et al., 1987; El
Bakkali et al., 1998, El Azzouzi et al., 1999, 2003; Maury
et al., 2000]. It is located within a SW-NE trending volcanic
strip (fig. 1, inset), underlain by thinned lithosphere
[Missenard et al., 2006], which crosscuts the major tectonic
structures of central Morocco. This trend extends from the
Siroua stratovolcano in the Anti-Atlas to the Mediterranean
coast near Oujda (6.2 to 1.5 Ma [Andries and Bellon, 1989;
El Azzouzi et al., 1999]) and the Oran area in Algeria (4 to
0.8 Ma [Coulon et al., 2002]). It may be considered as a hot
line [Frizon de Lamotte et al., 2008]. According to avail-
able K-Ar ages [Harmand and Cantagrel, 1984; Berrahma,
1995; Rachdi, 1995; El Azzouzi et al., 1999], this volca-
nism was emplaced from the Middle Miocene to the Quater-
nary (14.6 to 0.3 Ma). However, dykes and sills of
Bull. Soc. géol. Fr., 2010, no 3
lamprophyres, phonolites, nepheline syenites, nephelinites
and carbonatites [Mourtada et al., 1997] crosscutting the
Tamazert alkaline intrusion (High Atlas) and its limestone
country rocks gave older (Eocene) ages between 45 and
35 Ma [Bernard-Griffiths et al., 1991]. Other Eocene K-Ar
ages were reported for Rekkam basanites and nephelinites,
with sixteen results clustered between 50 and 39 Ma and
two younger ages at 35 and 32.5 Ma [Rachdi et al., 1997],
and for the Zebzate nephelinite in the Middle Atlas
(35 ⫾ 3 Ma [Harmand and Cantagrel, 1984]).
Distribution of volcanoes and lava flows
Most of the Middle Atlas volcanic units cap the flat karstic
surface of a tabular Jurassic dolomitic limestone plateau.
The latter overlies Triassic red beds and tholeiitic lava flows
which in turn rest uncomformably over a Paleozoic base-
ment. Previous K-Ar ages [Harmand and Cantagrel, 1984;
Berrahma, 1995; Rachdi, 1995; El Azzouzi et al., 1999] and
33 new results (this study) show that the Middle Atlas vol-
canic activity occurred during the Middle and Late Mio-
cene, the Pliocene and the Quaternary until 0.6-0.5 Ma
(table I). However, the occurrence of younger eruptions
cannot be discarded given the excellent preservation of
some volcanic landforms (deep maar craters, breached
strombolian craters, tumuli and pressure ridges on the sur-
face of pahoehoe lava flows). Some maar deposits
(Tafraoute, Bou-Ibalrhatene) contain abundant mantle xeno-
liths (spinel lherzolites, pyroxenites) as well as granulites
from lower crust [Moukadiri and Bouloton, 1998]. The Bou
Ibalrhatene xenolith suite includes metasomatic amphibole-
bearing lherzolites and harzburgites, wehrlites, websterites,
clinopyroxenites and horblendites [Raffone et al., 2009].
Numerous fluidal basaltic flows, some of them 30 to 50 km
long, were emitted from the strombolian cones. The total
surface covered by the volcanics is rather large (960 km2),
but the corresponding estimated volume remains low
(20 km3) because of the limited thickness (usually 20 to
30 m) of the lava flow pile.
The map shown in figure 1 is partly based on the
geomorphological study of Martin [1981], who provided ex-
cellent descriptions of volcanic landforms, and on the geo-
logical map of Azrou [Faure-Muret and Mesloub, 2005].
The N160-170oE trend defined by the main vents (Outgui,
El Koudiate, Habri, Hebri, Bou Tagarouine, Tabourite,
Tamarrakoït) is clearly oblique with respect to the main re-
gional faults which trend N040oE (Tizi n’Trettène) to
N050oE (North Middle Atlas Fault) [Charrière, 1990]. The
volcanic cover is nearly continuous in the central part of the
chain, between Azrou and Timahdite, where large lava
fields flank the volcanic axis. Three important volcanic
structures are located away from this central part (fig 1): the
J. Tamarrakoït in the south, and the El Koudiate and Outgui
strombolian cones in the north. The pahoehoe lava flows
emitted from the Outgui cone poured out over the Quater-
nary deposits of the Saïs plain close to Meknès. A number
of small to very small volcanic edifices occur in the periph-
ery of the main volcanic zone: Ariana and Tamahrart, W of
El Koudiate, Ouaoussenfacht, E of El Koudiate, Lougnina
and Am Laraïs, SE of Tamarrakoït, and Tabourite and Si
Mguid, W of Timahdite village. Most of them are made of
an ash and cinder cone and one (or a few) short lava flow(s)
emitted from its crater.
 PETROLOGY AND K-AR CHRONOLOGY OF THE NEOGENE-QUATERNARY MIDDLE ATLAS, MOROCCO 245

TABLE I. – Whole-rock 40K-40Ar datings of Middle Atlas lavas. Instruments and laboratory analytical methods discussed in the text.
TABL. I. – Datations 40K-40Ar sur roches totales des laves du Moyen Atlas. Les équipements et méthodes analytiques sont décrites dans le texte.

Altitude Mean age Age ± error 40

ArR 40
ArR 36Arexp Weight K2 O Ref.
Sample Rock type Location
(m) in Ma ± 1␴ (Ma) at 1␴ (10-7 cm3/g) (%) (10-9 cm3) (g) (wt.%) analysis
MA522 Timahdite (5°02'W - 33°14'N) 1870 0.67 ± 0.09 0.36 7.2 0.96 0.6151 1.68 B7238-7
AZ 21 5 km WSW of Michlifene ski station 1910 0.75 ± 0.05 0.72 ± 0.03 0.37 18.9 0.89 1.0087 1.62 B 4057-5
(5°07'W - 33°21'N) 0.78 ± 0.05 0.40 14.9 0.98 0.8062 B 4058-6
AZ 25 Jbel Tahabrit (5°08'W - 33°18'N) 1930 0.76 ± 0.07 0.39 9.2 1.40 0.8077 1.60 B 4377-4
MA414 Ifri ou Berid (5°14'W - 33°15'N) 1890 2.33 ± 0.10 1.36 22.7 1.58 1.0064 1.82 B 6867-7
MA514 Oued Soltane (4°45'W - 33°36'N) 1460 3.90 ± 0.11 2.17 41.1 1.05 0.9994 1.72 B 6975-6
MA513 8 km ESE of Annoceur (4°47'W - 33°37'N) 1410 3.92 ± 0.22 1.57 16.7 1.58 0.5979 1.24 B 7016-4
Nephelinites
MA524 Bekrite road (5°02'W - 33°06'N) 1990 5.87 ± 0.16 3.44 44 0.92 0.6092 1.84 B7239-8
MA530 Tabourite flow (5°14'W - 33°10'N) 2030 14.08 ± 1.31 3.78 10.2 11.47 0.5830 0.83 B 7060-9
MA531 Si Mguid (5°15'W - 33°11'N) 2030 14.72 ± 1.01 13.81 ± 0.65 5.05 20.6 3.85 0.5830 1.13 B 7061-10
15.63 ± 1.01 5.72 14.6 5.59 0.4934 B7230-10
MA428 Tasfaït (5°01'W - 32°46'N) 1590 15.38 ± 0.38 5.63 56.2 1.49 1.0023 1.13 B 6871-4
MA401 Ariana flow (5°15'W - 33°30'N) 1450 15.62 ± 0.40 6.82 52.6 1.43 0.6900 1.35 B 7105-4
MA427 Tasfaït (5°01'W - 32°46'N) 1570 16.25 ± 0.39 7.42 63.5 1.45 1.0021 1.41 B 6872-5
MA406 Am Laraïs flow (4°52'W - 33°00'N) 1580 1.56 ± 0.08 0.95 17.6 1.05 0.6989 1.89 B 7107-6
MA421 Bekrite flow (5°12'W - 33°04'N) 1890 1.65 ± 0.08 0.75 20.8 0.97 0.6989 1.42 B 7120-9
MA407 Lougnina (4°51'W - 33°00'N) 1600 2.28 ± 0.13 2.25 ± 0.09 1.05 25.3 1.06 1.0073 1.45 B 6866-6
Basanites
2.31 ± 0.13 1.08 17.4 1.41 0.8105 B 6849-3
MA528 Lechmine Bou Itguel (5°07'W - 33°11'N) 1900 2.36 ± 0.29 0.99 7.8 3.97 0.9892 1.30 B 7064-3
MA542 Chiker Ali (5°06'W - 33°10'N) 1960 2.36 ± 0.19 0.80 11.8 1.22 0.6021 1.05 B 7125-4
AZ 31 Foum Khenag (5°03'W - 33°07'N) 1900 0.60 ± 0.07 0.25 7.0 1.25 0.8012 1.30 B 4378-5
AZ 30 2 km S of Timahdite (5°02'W - 33°11'N) 1840 0.85 ± 0.07 0.37 9.3 1.59 1.0026 1.38 B 4067-2
MA505 Aït Amar (5°11'W - 33°39'N) 1240 0.89 ± 0.31 0.25 2.8 2.97 0.9995 0.87 B 6969-2
AZ 17 Sidi Belghit (5°8'W - 33°51'N) 720 0.93 ± 0.10 0.88 ± 0.09 0.20 8.6 1.08 1.0009 0.71 B 4072-4
0.99 ± 0.10 0.23 8.7 1.16 1.0050 B 4068-3
MA502 Bouderbala - O. Tizguite (5°15'W - 33°49'N) 740 1.32 ± 0.39 0.55 3.3 5.36 1.0008 1.28 B 6968-1
MA412 Alkali basalts Azrou - Mrirt (5°24'W - 33°21'N) 1090 2.19 ± 0.18 0.74 12.3 1.25 0.6981 0.83 B 7109-8
MA405 Aguelmane Sidi Ali flow (4°59'W - 33°04'N) 2090 2.27 ± 0.13 0.87 61.8 0.99 0.7028 1.19 B 7106-5
MA521 8 SW of Aït Hamza (4°57'W - 33°17'N) 1630 2.41 ± 0.28 0.84 8.2 1.66 0.5205 1.09 B 7136-4
MA415 Azrou plateau (5°13'W - 33°17'N) 1840 2.55 ± 0.07 0.87 46.4 0.24 0.7004 1.06 B 7111-10
MA520 Aït Hamza (4°53'W - 33°20'N) 1530 2.58 ± 0.12 0.80 21.2 0.70 0.6981 0.96 B 7121-10
MA426 NNE Bou Angar (5°01'W - 33°07'N) 1960 2.74 ± 0.18 1.08 14.4 1.30 0.5929 1.22 B 7124-3
MA409 Bou-Jirirh (5°08'W - 33°30'N) 1680 3.77 ± 0.20 1.52 17.9 2.37 1.0058 1.25 B 6864-4
AZ19 El Koudiate (5°18'W - 33°23'N) 1670 1.11 ± 0.68 0.58 1.6 7.21 0.5948 1.64 B 7123-2
MA408 El Koudiate (5°10'W - 33°13'N) 1600 1.14 ± 0.11 0.60 9.7 1.16 0.6983 1.44 B 7108-7
CD 2B Subalkaline basalts El Koudiate (5°20'W - 33°21'N) 1630 1.39 ± 0.12 0.55 9.8 1.71 0.8002 1.23 B 4107-3
MA506 Sidi Aït Abdesslame (5°08'W - 33°34'N) 1470 2.81 ± 0.22 2.76 ± 0.22 1.01 11.9 1.36 0.5435 1.13 B 7139-7
2.86 ± 0.15 1.04 17.8 1.63 0.9959 B 6974-5

Four types of mafic lavas have been distinguished ac-
cording to the geochemical and petrographic features of the
103 collected samples, which will be discussed below.
1– Nephelinites (37 wt% < SiO2 < 41 wt%) usually
form small strombolian cones and associated lava flows lo-
cated along the borders of the volcanic plateau. Although
they represent ca. 20% of our sampling, they cover only
1.2% of the total surface of volcanic units.
2– Basanites (42 wt% < SiO2 < 45 wt%), which repre-
sent 30% of our sample set, form most of the well preserved
cones located between Azrou and Itzère. The lava flows
emitted from them cover 22.5% of the surface of the volca-
nic field, and generally overlie the alkali basaltic flows.
3– Mildly silica-undersaturated alkali basalts
(47 wt% < SiO2 < 51 wt%, less than 5 wt% normative neph-
eline) represent the dominant petrographic type (46% of our
sampling). Their pahoehoe lava flows cover 68.5% of the
plateau surface, especially to the east (Oued Guigou valley)
and the west (Oued Tigrigra valley) of the main volcanic
axis. They also form the large northern cone of Outgui.
4– Finally, subalkaline basalts richer in silica than the
former types (SiO2 = 52 wt%) compose the El Koudiate
cone and associated 20 km long flows (4% of our sample
set and 7.8% of the surface of the volcanic field).
According to published ages [Harmand and Cantagrel,
1984; El Azzouzi et al., 1999], the Miocene volcanic events
emplaced only nephelinites in the Middle Atlas, from
14.6 Ma (Bekrite) to 10.6 Ma (Talzast) (fig. 1B). Nephelinites
also erupted during the Quaternary, around 1.6 Ma
(J. Tourguejid) and 0.75 Ma (J. Tahabrit). Alkali and
subalkaline basalts as well as basanites seem exclusively
emplaced during the Plio-Quaternary, and the youngest pub-
lished ages (fig. 1B) were measured on basanites (0.8 Ma at
J. Tahabrit, 0.6 Ma at J. Am Laraïs, 0.5 Ma at J. Aït el Haj
[Harmand and Cantagrel, 1984]).

Bull. Soc. géol. Fr., 2010, no 3

246 EL AZZOUZI M. et al.

A
FIG. 1. – Petrologic map of Middle Atlas volcanic units. A: map showing the location of analysed samples and the distribution of the four petrographic types.
B: map showing the location and ages of K-Ar dated samples (table I) together with previous K-Ar ages taken from Harmand and Cantagrel [1984] and Mo-
rel and Bellon [1996]. Inset: Main tectonic structures of Morocco, location of the Middle Atlas and distribution of Neogene and Quaternary volcanism.
FIG. 1. – Carte pétrologique des ensembles volcaniques du Moyen Atlas. A : position des échantillons étudiés et répartition des types pétrographiques.
B : position et âges K-Ar des laves d’après cette étude (tabl. I) et les données antérieurement publiées par Harmand et Cantagrel [1984] et Morel et Bel-
lon [1996]. En cartouche : grandes structures tectoniques du Maroc, localisation du Moyen Atlas et répartition du volcanisme néogène et quaternaire ma-
rocain.
Bull. Soc. géol. Fr., 2010, no 3
 PETROLOGY AND K-AR CHRONOLOGY OF THE NEOGENE-QUATERNARY MIDDLE ATLAS, MOROCCO 247

B
Bull. Soc. géol. Fr., 2010, no 3
248 EL AZZOUZI M. et al.

K-Ar geochronology Petrographic characteristics and mineral compositions

K-Ar datings were carried out on whole-rock lava samples.
Results are listed in table I. After crushing and sieving, the
0.30 to 0.15 mm in size fraction was cleaned with distilled
water and then retained for analysis: (i) one aliquot was
powdered in an agate grinder for K analysis by atomic ab-
sorption after HF chemical attack, and (ii) 0.30 to 0.15 mm
grains were used for argon isotopic ratios measurements.
Argon extraction was performed under high vacuum by in-
duction heating of a molybdenum crucible. Extracted gases
were cleaned on two titanium sponge furnaces and finally
purified by using two Al-Zr SAES getters. Ar isotopic com-
position and radiogenic 40Ar concentration were measured
using a 180o geometry stainless steel mass spectrometer
equipped with a 643 Keithley amplifier. The isotopic dilu-
tion method was applied using a 38Ar spike buried as ions in
aluminum targets, following the procedure described by
Bellon et al. [1981]. Ages are calculated using the constants
recommended by Steiger and Jäger [1977] and ± 1␴ errors
are calculated following the equation of Cox and Dalrymple
[1967]. The ages of dated samples containing less than
2.10-9 cc of 36Ar, released during the gases extraction by
high frequency heating under vacuum, were considered sat-
isfactory. Experiments performed on a few samples (AZ 19;
MA 502; MA 505; MA 528; MA 530; MA 521) show larger
to very high 36Ar atmospheric contamination (column 36Ar
in table I) and the corresponding ages show larger errors
(10 to 50% of the age) and so must be used with more cau-
tion. The whole set of new ages ranges from 16.25 Ma to
0.60 Ma (table I and fig. 1B).
PETROLOGIC AND GEOCHEMICAL DATA
Major and trace element data were obtained on 103 samples
by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectro-
metry (ICP-AES). The samples were powdered in an agate
grinder. International standards were used for calibrations
tests (ACE, BEN, JB-2, PM-S and WS-E). Rb was mea-
sured by flame emission spectroscopy. Relative standard de-
viations are ± 1% for SiO2 and ± 2% for other major
elements except P2O5 and MnO [± 0.01%], and ca. 5% for
trace elements. The analytical techniques are described in de-
tail by Cotten et al. [1995]. The chemical analyses of se-
lected representative lavas are listed in table II. All the
samples studied are mafic, with SiO2 < 52.5 wt% and MgO >
6 wt%. Intermediate and evolved compositions are lacking
(fig. 2 and table II), a feature which contrasts with other At-
las system volcanic fields (Oulmès, Siroua and Sarhro). The
four petrographic types of mafic lavas are easily distin-
guished using the total alkalies versus silica (TAS) [Le Bas
et al., 1986] plot of figure 2, in which they do not overlap.
In this plot, silica-saturated El Koudiate basalts straddle the
limit between basalts and basaltic andesites. They will be
named subalkaline basalts because they fulfill the criterions
set up for this type of rock by Irvine and Baragar [1971],
Middlemost [1975] and Miyashiro [1978]. The rough nega-
tive correlation between total alkalies and silica contents
observed in figure 2 is typical of intraplate basaltic associa-
tions showing large variations in alkalinity [Miyashiro,
1978].
The four lava types are moderately porphyritic, with 10 to
20 modal % phenocrysts mainly consisting in idiomorphic
1 to 5 mm large olivine containing chromiferous spinel in-
clusions, and clinopyroxene in lesser amounts. Calcic
plagioclase sometimes occurs as phenocryst or micro-
phenocryst, but is replaced as such by nepheline in the
nephelinites. The groundmass is usually holocrystalline and
microlitic, with dominant plagioclase laths (except in
nephelinites) associated with clinopyroxene, olivine and
titanomagnetite grains. Ilmenite is also usually present in
the groundmass, except in nephelinites. All the lava types
may contain occasional quartz-rich xenoliths from the base-
ment. These xenoliths are especially abundant in the El
Koudiate subalkaline basalts, in which several quartz xeno-
crysts mantled by clinopyroxene reaction rims are usually
found in a single thin section. Basanites often contain xeno-
crysts of mantle olivine, pyroxenes and spinel from frag-
mented peridotite nodules. For instance, up to 5 mm large
kinked forsterite crystals mantled by clinopyroxene rims are
rather common in these rocks.
El Koudiate subalkaline basalts contain 10-15 modal %
phenocrysts, with olivine (6-8%) dominating over
clinopyroxene (3-5%) and plagioclase (up to 4%). These
phenocrysts often cluster in glomeroporphyritic aggregates.
Many alkali basalts and basanites contain idiomorphic oliv-
ine as single phenocryst (8 to 15 modal %), while in others
it is accompanied by calcic clinopyroxene (up to 8%), and,
in a few alkali basalts, by plagioclase microphenocrysts (up
to 4%). Phenocryst clusters are common in these rocks,
the groundmass of which contains plagioclase laths,
clinopyroxene, olivine, titanomagnetite, ilmenite, together
with interstitial alkali feldspar and, in basanites, interstitial
nepheline and/or analcite. Nephelinites are feldspar-free;
their phenocryst assemblage includes zoned brown calcic
clinopyroxene (4 to 15 modal %) and usually subordinate
olivine (4 to 8 modal %). Nepheline occurs both as micro-
phenocrysts (up to 5%) and in the groundmass as amiboid
FIG. 2. – Total alkalies versus silica plot (TAS) [Le Bas et al., 1986] for
Middle Atlas lavas from this study only. Empty squares: nephelinites;
black triangles: basanites; empty triangles: alkali basalts; empty circles:
subalkaline basalts.
FIG. 2. – Position des laves du Moyen Atlas (cette étude) dans le dia-
gramme (Na2O+K2O)-SiO2 [Le Bas et al., 1986]. Carrés vides : néphéli-
nites ; triangles pleins : basanites ; triangles vides : basaltes alcalins ;
cercles vides : basaltes subalcalins.

Bull. Soc. géol. Fr., 2010, no 3

 PETROLOGY AND K-AR CHRONOLOGY OF THE NEOGENE-QUATERNARY MIDDLE ATLAS, MOROCCO 249

patches, which embay clinopyroxene, olivine and
titanomagnetite grains. Melilite was not found in these
lavas during the present study, but this mineral was identi-
fied in the Bekrite nephelinite [Harmand and Cantagrel,
1984].
Mineral analyses were obtained using a Cameca SX 50
electron microprobe (Microsonde Ouest, Brest) in the fol-
lowing conditions: 15 kV, 10-12 nA, counting time 6 s. The
analytical procedure, errors and detection limits are de-
scribed by Defant et al. [1991]. A summary of mineral com-
positions is given in table III. Olivine phenocryst cores
display rather constant compositions (Fo up to 85%) what-
ever the petrographic type, while their rims and the
groundmass crystals are more Fe-rich. In contrast, the com-
positions of calcic clinopyroxene cores vary according to
the degree of silica-undersaturation of the host lavas
(table III): they are diopsidic (and Al- and Ti-rich) in
nephelinites and basanites, and augitic (and more sil-
ica-rich) in alkali basalts and subalkaline basalts, in which
they become also more iron-rich. Plagioclase cores progres-
sively become less calcic from basanites (labradorite) to-
ward alkali basalts (labradorite-andesine) and subalkaline
basalts (andesine).
Major and trace element features
Alkali basalts, basanites and nephelinites are generally Mg-rich
(8 wt% < MgO < 13 wt%), and with a few exceptions their
compatible transition element contents (45 ppm < Co < 60 ppm;
150 ppm < Ni < 500 ppm; 250 ppm < Cr < 600 ppm), match
those of primitive basalts in near-equilibrium with a
lherzolitic mantle source [Allègre et al., 1977; Sato, 1977;
Villemant et al., 1981]. Subalkaline basalts contain less
MgO (6-7 wt%) and compatible trace elements than the
other types (table II). All the studied lavas are Ti-rich (TiO2
= 2-3 wt%), sodic (Na2O/K2O > 2) and range from silica-
saturated (subalkaline basalts) to strongly silica-
undersaturated (nephelinites). They display the usual major
element features of intraplate ocean island basalts (OIB)
and their equivalents from continental rifts and hotspot
provinces.
Incompatible element patterns (fig. 3) are clearly en-
riched in the most incompatible elements. Rare earth ele-
ments (REE) display typical fan-shaped patterns (fig. 3a),
with light REE (LREE) contents increasing progressively
from subalkaline basalts to alkali basalts, basanites and
finally nephelinites where they reach 600 to 800 times the
chondritic value. Incompatible multielement patterns
(fig. 3b) are also very characteristic, with regular increase
from Yb to La, strong downward anomalies in K, and rela-
tive depletion in Rb and Ba with respect to Th and Nb. The
concentrations of all the incompatible elements except Rb
and K tend to increase progressively from subalkaline bas-
alts to nephelinites. However, the shapes of the subalkaline
basalt patterns differ from others by their relative lack of
depletion in K and Rb and their lower Nb contents.
DISCUSSION
Spatial and temporal distribution of magmatic types
Figure 1 shows that subalkaline basalts (El Koudiate) and
alkali basalts were only emitted along the main axis of the

TABLE II. – Major (wt%) and trace element (ppm) analyses of Middle Atlas lavas. ICP-AES analyses, Brest. Total iron expressed as Fe2O3; LOI : loss on
ignition at 1050oC. Analytical methods described in the text.
TABL. II. – Analyses d’éléments majeurs (% massiques) et en traces (ppm) des laves du Moyen Atlas. Analyses ICP-AES, Brest. Fer total exprimé en
Fe2O3 ; LOI : perte au feu à 1050 oC ; Méthodes analytiques décrites dans le texte.
Samples MA422 MA531 MA427 MA428 MA414 MA401 MA429 MA406 MA539 MA420 MA402 MA526 MA528 MA523 MA411 MA535 MA511 MA519 MA505 MA408 MA506
Rock type Nephelinites Basanites Alkali basalts Subalkaline basalts
SiO2 (wt%) 37.50 37.95 38.30 38.40 40.50 40.60 42.50 42.60 42.70 42.80 43.50 43.90 44.40 47.25 47.50 48.80 49.40 49.80 50.50 52.00 52.00
TiO 2 2.76 2.75 2.87 2.87 3.29 2.98 2.92 2.91 2.58 2.77 2.82 2.57 2.43 2.29 2.37 2.23 2.19 2.05 2.11 2.15 2.18
Al2O3 11.32 12.20 12.15 12.30 11.82 11.60 11.94 12.65 12.70 13.05 12.84 12.95 12.90 13.50 13.55 13.90 13.88 14.00 13.86 14.66 14.43
Fe2O3* 11.65 11.70 12.00 11.95 13.55 13.40 13.45 12.50 13.00 12.75 13.35 12.58 12.35 11.66 11.45 11.65 11.64 11.55 11.20 10.40 10.60
MnO 0.19 0.21 0.21 0.21 0.23 0.20 0.22 0.19 0.21 0.19 0.20 0.18 0.18 0.17 0.18 0.17 0.17 0.16 0.16 0.15 0.15
MgO 12.65 11.18 10.05 9.78 10.00 12.30 10.75 11.25 10.85 10.90 10.50 11.42 10.68 9.41 8.95 8.92 8.62 8.68 7.79 6.80 6.76
CaO 15.00 16.00 15.10 15.25 11.60 12.50 12.20 11.00 11.00 11.40 10.90 10.80 10.70 10.10 10.40 8.90 9.60 9.00 9.25 8.40 8.75
Na2O 2.80 3.46 3.52 3.83 5.20 3.30 2.51 3.75 3.15 3.05 3.68 3.16 3.12 3.40 3.35 3.03 3.15 3.23 3.11 3.30 3.15
K2 O 1.60 1.21 1.42 1.18 1.78 1.43 1.16 1.91 1.48 1.15 1.35 1.52 1.42 1.23 1.26 1.06 1.03 0.83 0.87 1.24 1.24
P 2 O5 1.62 1.53 1.85 1.80 1.15 1.12 1.13 0.94 1.04 0.86 0.80 0.69 0.78 0.58 0.69 0.52 0.52 0.42 0.45 0.40 0.42
LOI 2.27 1.27 1.48 1.86 0.37 -0.05 0.78 0.13 0.95 0.97 -0.33 0.05 0.62 0.04 0.24 0.20 -0.53 -0.38 0.24 -0.17 0.29
Total 99.36 99.46 98.95 99.43 99.49 99.38 99.56 99.83 99.66 99.89 99.61 99.82 99.58 99.63 99.94 99.38 99.67 99.34 99.54 99.33 99.97
Rb (ppm) 42 37 31 23 57 38 24 48 38 43 30 36 36 29 30 24 19.8 17 22 35 37
Sr 1560 1360 1820 1800 1410 1125 1575 1105 1200 1030 1040 930 870 835 995 670 692 607 572 573 565
Ba 1100 894 990 1100 810 632 890 690 850 625 528 565 552 430 470 395 328 248 335 330 336
Sc 27 29 28 28 22 25 21 22 21 23.5 20.5 22 22 21 20 21 21 20 21 20 20
V 289 295 325 315 250 270 236 235 220 232 224 220 219 190 190 185 183 172 172 180 181
Cr 475 269 235 235 300 412 295 330 360 292 276 366 354 313 305 312 315 312 320 220 246
Co 50 46 45 44 49 57 53 50 54 52 52 54 53 50 46 48 49 47 49 38 40
Ni 220 164 124 129 175 286 216 200 242 212 209 240 238 210 172 190 187 200 188 108 125
Y 29.5 32.5 34.5 33.5 35.5 29.0 37.5 27.5 30.0 28.0 27.5 26.5 27.0 25.0 27.5 26.0 25.0 23.6 23.8 24.0 24.0
Zr 278 327 355 345 430 305 355 260 275 255 252 226 225 205 218 188 180 166 172 188 185
Nb 125 143 145 142 130 91 122 93 92 84 85 74 65 77 95 68 65 37 35 39 37
La 127 107 145 140 96 80 115 74 83 67 66 53.5 55 48.5 55.5 40 36 32 30 32 30.5
Ce 209 195 240 240 183 150 213 140 148 120 126 102 101 93 111 79 75 63 60 65 62
Nd 81 78 94 91 84 63 94 58 62 55 55 47 47 42 49 40 38 31 30 31 32
Sm 13.0 13.0 14.6 14.2 14.5 11.7 16.0 10.7 11.0 9.9 10.1 8.9 8.9 8.1 9.6 7.7 7.6 6.5 6.3 6.8 6.8
Eu 3.61 3.70 4.12 3.92 4.25 3.32 4.46 3.20 3.27 3.05 3.10 2.77 2.67 2.50 2.92 2.42 2.36 2.12 2.05 2.10 2.06
Gd 9.3 9.5 10.8 10.7 11.3 9.0 12.0 8.3 8.5 8 8.2 7.5 7.1 6.9 7.7 6.9 6.7 6.3 6.3 6.2 6.0
Dy 6.0 6.4 6.9 6.8 7.5 6.0 7.9 5.7 5.9 5.7 5.7 5.4 5.3 4.9 5.6 5.1 5.0 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.7
Er 2.6 2.7 3.0 3.0 3.1 2.7 3.2 2.5 2.4 2.5 2.5 2.2 2.3 2.2 2.4 2.2 2.1 2.0 2.1 2.0 2.2
Yb 2.00 2.36 2.48 2.50 2.45 1.98 2.38 1.96 2.01 1.97 1.85 1.74 1.82 1.78 1.88 1.83 1.78 1.71 1.76 1.74 1.79
Th 13.5 10.9 17.1 16.8 10.4 9.0 11.6 8.8 9.2 7.5 6.6 5.9 6.1 5.3 5.5 4.1 3.5 3.2 4.0 4.8 4.5

Bull. Soc. géol. Fr., 2010, no 3

250 EL AZZOUZI M. et al.

volcanic chain, from Outgui to Timahdite. Basanitic flows, contents in the compatible transition elements Co, Ni and
which generally overlie alkali basaltic flows, were also Cr (fig. 5c, d), indicate a limited role of fractionation pro-
mostly emitted along this axis, from J. Habri to J. cesses. Positive correlations between highly incompatible
Tamarrakoït. However, even if minor in terms of lava vol- trace elements (e.g. between La and Th and Nb and Th; fig.
ume, several basanitic eruptions occurred in the periphery 6a, 6b) might recall fractionation effects. However, Th con-
of the province (Tourguejid, Am Laraïs, Lougnina, tents are negatively correlated with SiO2 (fig. 5a). The most
Ouaoussenfacht). Nephelinites are scattered over the whole incompatible element-rich lavas are indeed the nephelinites,
volcanic area. They occur in the central part of chain close which are less silica-rich (fig. 5a) and more magnesian
to J. Hebri, but also at its periphery, especially east of (fig. 5b) than the volumetrically dominant alkali basalts (ta-
Annoceur, north of Azrou (Ariana, Tamahrart), west of ble II), and therefore can hardly derive from the fractional
Timahdite (Ifri ou Bérid, Si Mguid), south of Bekrite and in crystallization of such magmas. The scatter observed for
Tasfaït. MgO, Co and Cr in figure 5 plots suggests, however, minor
The temporal distribution of volcanic types, shown in accumulation/fractionation effects involving olivine and clino-
figure 4 with corresponding analytical errors, is rather sim- pyroxene, consistent with the variable phenocryst modal
ple. According to our new data, nephelinites were the only contents of the studied lavas. These effects are partly over-
magmatic type emplaced during the Middle Miocene printed by the incorporation of variable amounts of xeno-
(16.5-14 Ma), along a N170o trend from Si Mguid to crysts from fragmented mantle peridotite nodules (especially
Tasfaït. Harmand and Cantagrel [1984] measured two youn- in some basanites).
ger (late Miocene) K-Ar ages for Azougouarh (11.5 ± El Koudiate subalkaline basalts are silica-saturated,
1.0 Ma) and Talzast (10.6 ± 0.5 Ma) nephelinites (fig. 1B), more silica-rich and slightly depleted in MgO and in both
and we have obtained another one (5.87 ± 0.16 Ma) near compatible and incompatible elements with respect to the
Bekrite (table I). Taken together, these three results strongly other types (fig. 3 and 5). They display obvious petrographic
support the occurrence of a “nephelinite event” at the end of evidence for contamination by silica-rich upper continental
the Miocene. These lavas erupted again sporadically during crust (abundant quartz xenocrysts), a process, which may be
the Middle to Late Pliocene (3.9-2.3 Ma) east of Annoceur,
and finally during the Quaternary (ca. 0.7 Ma) in the central
part of the main volcanic axis (fig. 1B). Older (Eocene)
nephelinites are also known to occur in the Middle Atlas
(Zebzate), High Atlas (Tamazert) and Rekkam.
Basanites (2.36-2.28 Ma and 1.56 Ma), alkali basalts
(3.77 Ma; 2.74-2.19 Ma; 1.67 Ma, and finally 0.93-0.6 Ma)
and subalkaline basalts (2.81 Ma and 1.39-1.11 Ma) were
exclusively emplaced during the Pliocene and the Quater-
nary. Our new data (fig. 4) suggest that a first event oc-
curred in the Middle Atlas Province from 3.92 ± 0.22 to
3.77 ± 0.20 Ma, emplacing nephelinites and alkali basalts.
It was followed by an apparent magmatic gap between ca.
3.5 and 3.0 Ma. Volcanic activity resumed at 3.0 Ma, with
more or less concomitant eruption of the four lava types un-
til 0.7-0.6 Ma (fig. 4). According to Harmand and Cantagrel
[1984], it also emplaced young basanitic flows (0.8 Ma at
J. Tahabrit) and alkali basalts dated at 0.5 Ma at J. Aït el
Haj and at 0.6 Ma at the northwestern extremity of J. Am
Laraïs. This volcanic phase may have ended very recently,
taking into account the well-preserved landforms of numer-
ous strombolian cones and maars and of the surface features
of pahoehoe lava flows. According to mapping relationships
(fig. 1A), most basanitic flows are younger than the alkali
basaltic flows that they usually overlie. However, the gen-
eral pattern suggests that small blobs of mafic magmas with
contrasted compositions ascended separately along a deep
N160-170oE trending fault system. The concomitant erup-
tion of the four mafic lava types, their “primitive” composi-
tions and the absence of intermediate or evolved lavas
suggest the lack of a large magma reservoir beneath the axis
of the volcanic chain.

Lava compositions: roles of fractional crystallization
and crustal contamination
The lack of intermediate and evolved lavas in the Middle
Atlas series, as well as the Mg-rich compositions (MgO =
13-6 wt%) of our samples (fig. 5b) and their usually high
FIG. 3. – Normalized rare earth element and multi-element patterns of se-
lected Middle Atlas lavas. Chondrite and primitive mantle compositions
are from Sun and McDonough [1989]. Symbols as in figure 2.
FIG. 3. – Diagrammes de terres rares et multi-élémentaires normalisés aux
chondrites et manteau primitif, respectivement [Sun et McDonough, 1989]
de laves représentatives du Moyen Atlas. Symboles identiques à ceux de la
figure 2.

Bull. Soc. géol. Fr., 2010, no 3

 PETROLOGY AND K-AR CHRONOLOGY OF THE NEOGENE-QUATERNARY MIDDLE ATLAS, MOROCCO 251

responsible for their specific chemical features. Their trace
element contents, which are generally ca. 10% lower than
those of alkali basalts, can mainly be explained by a simple
“dilution” process involving addition of silica to a magma
of average alkali basaltic composition. In addition, the
shapes of their multielement patterns (fig. 3b) are different
from those of the other types. Indeed, with respect to alkali
basalts, they are much more depleted in Nb, less depleted in
Th, K and Zr, and even enriched in Rb. These specific fea-
tures are consistent with an upper crustal contamination
process, as the above elements display either positive (Rb,
Th, K, Zr) or negative (Nb) anomalies in the upper conti-
nental crust with respect to mantle-derived materials
[Hofmann, 1988]. Therefore, the El Koudiate subalkaline
basalts probably derive from alkali basalt magmas contami-
nated by upper continental crust during their ascent. This
process may have occurred during the crystallization of
their augite and plagioclase phenocrysts, which are slightly
more silica-rich (and calcium-poor) than those from alkali
basalts (table III).
Partial melting rates, depths of melting and source
heterogeneity
The Mg-rich character and the high contents in compatible
transition elements (Cr, Co, Ni) of most of the Middle Atlas
alkali basalts, basanites and nephelinites (fig. 5) suggest
that they were derived from the partial melting of a
peridotitic source [Sato, 1977]. Their geochemical signa-
tures are typically intraplate alkaline, and hardly distin-
guishable from those of ocean island alkali basalts and
related rocks. The progressive enrichment in the most in-
compatible elements observed from alkali basalts to
nephelinites, and illustrated by the fan-shaped REE and
multi-element patterns (fig. 3), is consistent with decreasing
degrees of partial melting of an enriched mantle source
[Caroff et al., 1997]. Correlations between incompatible el-
ement concentrations and ratios are shown in figure 6.
Highly incompatible elements (e.g. Th and La, fig. 6a) dis-
play positive linear correlations, while elements of slightly
different incompatibility (fig. 6b) show curvilinear trends as

TABLE III. – Summary of mineral compositions for the four petrographic types of the Middle Atlas lavas (cores and rims of phenocrysts and groundmass).
Compositions expressed as molar % of forsterite (Fo), wollastonite (Wo), enstatite (En), ferrosilite (Fs), albite (Ab), anorthite (An), orthoclase (Or), ne-
pheline (Ne), kalsilite (Ks) and ulvöspinel (Usp).
TABL. III. – Résumé des compositions des minéraux des 4 types pétrographiques de laves du Moyen Atlas.

% Nephelinites Basanites Alkali basalts Subalkaline basalts

Core Fo 86.0 - 83.5 89.7 - 85.4 84.8 - 64.6 84.7 - 65.9
Olivines

Phenocrysts
Rim Fo 84.6 - 80.8 84.7 - 69.3 81.4 - 58.6 73.8 - 70.4
Groundmass crystals Groundmass Fo 84.1 - 70.2 85.5 - 82.4 79.3 - 48.5 75.5 - 73.2
Wo 52.7 - 47.9 49.9 - 47.8 43.2 - 43.1 43.0 - 37.1
Core En 42.9 - 33.7 44.5 - 38.7 44.4 - 43.0 46.7 - 45.2
Fs 13.6 - 8.7 11.9 - 7.3 17.5 - 13.9 17.6 - 11.0
Clinopyroxenes

Phenocrysts
Wo 51.5 - 49.1 52.6 - 50.2 44.0 - 43.4 43.5 - 32.2
Rim En 40.9 - 35.2 37.2 - 32.3 46.7 - 45.1 47.0 - 45.8
Fs 13.6 - 9.7 17.9 - 12.1 42.7 - 9.3 20.84- 11.5
Wo 53.1 - 48.2 50.9 - 47.2 42.7 - 41.1 41.0 - 39.1
Groundmass crystals Groundmass En 41.0 - 35.2 41.2 - 35.2 46.4 - 38.9 49.4 - 44.4
Fs 15.3 - 9.7 15.1 - 10.8 18.3 - 12.1 25.8 - 10.6
Ab 67.3 - 48.9 43.9 - 39.0 40.2 - 34.2
Core An 49.9 - 29.3 60.3 - 55.3 65.2 - 59.2
Or 3.5 - 1.2 1.0 - 0.7 0.8 - 0.6
Phenocrysts
Plagioclases

Ab 44.5 - 41.4 62.1 - 44.7

Rim An 57.8 - 54.6 54.2 - 35.7
Or 1.2 - 0.8 2.2 - 1.1
Ab 74.8 - 41.3 50.6 - 48.1
Groundmass crystals Groundmass An 62.6 - 26.0 50.7 - 47.8
Or 20.3 - 1.0 1.6 - 0.9
Ne 96.1 - 71.3 99.6 - 80.7
Core
Ks 28.7- 2.3 19.3 - 0.4
Nephelines

Phenocrysts
Ne
Rim
Ks
Ne 97.8 - 83.5
Groundmass crystals Groundmass
Ks 16.5 - 2.2
Titanomagnetites

Groundmass crystals Groundmass Usp 49.5 - 43.4 70.1 - 18.8 33.7 - 29.2 25.7 - 23.9

Bull. Soc. géol. Fr., 2010, no 3

252 EL AZZOUZI M. et al.

It has been suggested that variable extents of mantle

metasomatism by silicate melts might account for such vari-
ations of highly incompatible element ratios in OIB-type
basalts [Menzies et al., 1987; Ionov and Hofmann, 1995;
Pilet et al., 2005]. In figure 8, Middle Atlas basalts are plot-
ted in a La/Yb versus Yb diagram, together with trends of
non-modal melting of a LREE-enriched lherzolitic source
whose mineralogy varies from pure spinel lherzolite to pure
garnet lherzolite [Luhr et al., 1995]. With the exception of a

FIG. 4. – Plot of whole rock K-Ar ages for Middle Atlas lavas against their
SiO2 contents (wt%). Symbols as in figure 2. Vertical bars show the analy-
tical errors (± 1␴). Age data from table I and Morel and Bellon [1996].
FIG. 4. – Variation des âges K-Ar (mesurés sur roches totales) des laves du
Moyen Atlas en fonction de leurs teneurs en SiO2 (% massiques). Symboles
identiques à ceux de la figure 2. Les barres verticales indiquent les incerti-
tudes analytiques (± 1 ). Données d’âge d’après le tableau I et Morel et
Bellon [1996].

predicted by partial melting laws for variable partial melt-

ing degrees of a given source [Shaw, 1970]. The same pro-
cess can account for the linear positive correlation between
Th/Yb ratio and Th contents shown in figure 6c [Joron and
Treuil, 1977, 1989]. However, according to the same au-
thors, the different slopes of the correlations observed in the
Th/La versus Th plot (fig. 6d) for the alkali and subalkaline
basalts, the basanites and the nephelinites indicate that they
derive from chemically heterogeneous sources character-
ized by different Th/La ratios.
The heterogeneity of the mantle sources of Middle At-
las mafic lavas can be further evidenced using other ratios
of highly incompatible elements (e.g. Th/Nb), which are not
considerably modified during partial melting [Legendre
et al., 2006; see fig. 6b]. In contrast, ratios between highly
and moderately incompatible trace elements (e.g. Th/Yb)
are sensitive to the degree of partial melting as shown above
(fig. 6c). Different types of sources, each of them affected
by variable partial melting degrees, may be distinguished in
the Th/Nb versus Th/Yb plot (fig. 7) for Middle Atlas alkali
basalts, basanites and nephelinites, respectively. In addi-
tion, alkali basalts seem to define two distinct linear corre- FIG. 5. – Plots of SiO2, MgO (wt%), Co and Cr (ppm) contents against Th
lations. The high Th/Nb trend might partly result from contents (ppm) for Middle Atlas lavas. Symbols as in figure 2.
FIG. 5. – Diagrammes de variation de SiO2, MgO ( % massiques), Co et Cr
contamination effects, as El Koudiate subalkaline basalts (ppm) en fonction de Th (ppm) pour les laves du Moyen Atlas. Symboles
plot at its upper tip. identiques à ceux de la figure 2.

Bull. Soc. géol. Fr., 2010, no 3

 PETROLOGY AND K-AR CHRONOLOGY OF THE NEOGENE-QUATERNARY MIDDLE ATLAS, MOROCCO 253

partial melting degrees (fig. 8) range from very low

(F < 0.02) for nephelinites to up to 7% for some alkali bas-
alts (F = 0.04-0.07). In short, according to our major and
trace element data, the Middle Atlas alkali basalt –
basanite-nephelinite association might result from variable
but low (2-7%) partial melting degrees of enriched and
chemically heterogeneous (spinel + garnet)-bearing peridot-
ites located at depths slightly shallower than 70 km, i.e. at
the base of the North-African lithospheric mantle.
The strong downward K spikes observed in incompati-
ble multi-element patterns (fig. 3) indicate that the sources
of the Middle Atlas basalts contained residual
hydroxyl-bearing minerals (pargasite or pargasite +
phlogopite), and this feature implies that these sources were
in lithospheric position during partial melting [Class and
Goldstein, 1997; Spath et al., 2001; Panter et al., 2006]. In-
deed, pargasite, which commonly appears during
magma-peridotite interactions, is stable in the mantle until
it reaches the solidus between 1050 and 1075oC (dehydra-
tion melting curve of Niida and Green [1999]) under pres-
sures slightly lower than 2 GPa in the spinel + garnet
lherzolite facies. Once again, these pressures correspond to
depth of the lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary beneath
the Middle Atlas [70 km: Zeyen et al., 2005; Missenard et
al., 2006]. Metasomatic pargasite is a common mineral in
the Bou Ibalrhatene peridotite xenolith suite [Raffone et al.,
2009]. The chemical imprint of pargasite in melts derived
from its breakdown is traced by contrasted behaviours of
LILE, LREE and HFSE, and can be identified by positive
correlations between Rb/K and Rb, Nb/Rb and Nb, Ce/K
and Ce [Francis and Ludden, 1995]. Such positive correla-
tions are observed in figure 9 plots. According to experi-
mental studies [Dalpé and Baker, 2000], the ratios used in
these plots become nearly constant when amphibole is con-
sumed for increasing melting degrees. The fact that this fea-
ture is not observed in figure 8 suggests that metasomatic
amphibole from the base of the North African lithospheric
mantle was not totally consumed during the genesis of the
Middle Atlas mafic melts.

FIG. 6. – Plots of incompatible trace element contents and ratios against Th

contents (ppm) for Middle Atlas lavas. Symbols as in figure 2.
FIG. 6. – Diagrammes de variation d’éléments et de rapports d’éléments en
traces incompatibles en fonction de Th (ppm) pour les laves du Moyen
Atlas. Symboles identiques à ceux de la figure 2.

few basanites which seem to derive from a slightly deeper

source, a majority of our samples defines a single trend in-
termediate between the 70% spinel – 30% garnet and the
50% spinel – 50% garnet curves in this plot. For tempera-
tures in the 1250-1050 o C range, this part of the spinel +
garnet field involves pressures slightly lower than 2 GPa
[Perkins et al., 1981], i.e. depths slightly shallower than FIG. 7. – Plot of Th/Nb against Th/Yb [Legendre et al., 2006] for Middle
70 km. Such depths precisely correspond to the lithosphere- Atlas lavas. Symbols as in figure 2.
FIG. 7. – Diagramme de variation de Th/Nb en fonction de Th/Yb [Le-
asthenosphere boundary beneath the Middle Atlas [Zeyen gendre et al., 2006] pour les laves du Moyen Atlas. Symboles identiques à
et al., 2005; Missenard et al., 2006]. The corresponding ceux de la figure 2.

Bull. Soc. géol. Fr., 2010, no 3

254 EL AZZOUZI M. et al.

that of a deflected part of the Canary plume [Duggen et al.,

2009]. In addition, the pargasite chemical imprint of Middle
Atlas lavas can only be consistent with their HIMU flavor if
this isotopic signature was transferred to the lithospheric
mantle during an earlier metasomatic pargasite-forming
event. More specifically, pargasite could have formed when
alkaline magmas derived from the large-scale Tertiary
plume percolated through the sub-Atlas lithospheric mantle
during the Early Tertiary [Duggen et al., 2005]. This pro-
cess has been recently documented from the study of the
Bou Ibalrhatene amphibole-bearing xenolith suite [Raffone
et al., 2009]. The thermal anomaly responsible for the
lithospheric thinning below the Atlas volcanic fields [Zeyen
et al., 2005; Teixell et al., 2005; Missenard et al., 2006]

FIG. 8. – Plot of La/Yb against Yb [Luhr et al., 1995] for Middle Atlas la-
vas. Symbols as in figure 2. F: weight fraction of liquid in the system
(0 < |F < |1).
FIG. 8. – Diagramme de variation de La/Yb en fonction de Yb [Luhr et al.,
1995] pour les laves du Moyen Atlas. Symboles identiques à ceux de la fi-
gure 2. F : fraction massique de liquide dans le système.

Tectonic controls of melting : the roles of

asthenosphere and lithospheric mantle
The Sr, Nd et Pb isotopic ratios measured on alkaline lavas
from Tamazert [Bernard-Griffiths et al., 1991], Middle At-
las and Oulmès [El Azzouzi et al., 1999; Duggen et al.,
2009] and Oujda area [Duggen et al., 2005] point out an en-
riched mantle source, relatively unradiogenic in Sr, showing
rather variable Nd isotopic ratios, and consistently rich in
radiogenic lead. This isotopic signature is close to the
HIMU (high U/Pb) end-member recognised in oceanic is-
lands such as St. Helens and Tubuai [Hart, 1988]. Such a
signature is frequently found in Cenozoic alkali basalts and
basanites from western and central Europe, the western
Mediterranean domain, northern Africa, and eastern Atlan-
tic islands such as Madere and the Canary archipelago
[Hoernle et al., 1995; Anguita and Hernan, 2000; Duggen et
al., 2009]. The sources of these lavas are thought to derive
from a 2500 to 4000 km head diameter asthenospheric
plume, which would have risen below these areas during the
Early Tertiary [Hoernle et al., 1995]. The Eocene magmatic
events in High Atlas (Tamazert) and Rekkam might be
linked to the activity of this mantle plume, the heterogene-
ity of which is suggested by the highly variable chemistry
of the Tamazert rocks [Marks et al., 2008]. Alternatively,
Duggen et al. [2009] consider that the similarities between
the isotopic signatures of Middle Atlas and Canary Islands
basalts indicate that the Middle Atlas lavas derive from Ca-
nary plume materials. According to their new hypothesis,
the Canary plume materials would have been channelled be-
neath the thinned African lithosphere, and would have
flowed more than 1500 km to the western Mediterranean
along this subcontinental lithospheric corridor.
However, the small volume (< 50 km3) of Miocene to
Quaternary lavas erupted within the Atlas domain (among FIG. 9. – Plots of incompatible trace element ratios against Rb, Nb and Ce
which the Middle Atlas is by far the largest volcanic prov- contents (ppm) for Middle Atlas lavas. Symbols as in figure 2.
FIG. 9. – Diagrammes de variation de rapports d’éléments en traces in-
ince) seems hardly consistent with the activity of a huge compatibles en fonction de Rb, Nb et Ce (ppm) pour les laves du Moyen
asthenospheric plume [Hoernle et al., 1995], or even with Atlas. Symboles identiques à ceux de la figure 2.

Bull. Soc. géol. Fr., 2010, no 3

 PETROLOGY AND K-AR CHRONOLOGY OF THE NEOGENE-QUATERNARY MIDDLE ATLAS, MOROCCO
could also have generated the Miocene to Quaternary alkali
volcanism. The corresponding partial melting would be
linked to the thermal erosion of the base of the lithospheric
mantle, previously enriched through metasomatic interac-
tions with the Early Tertiary plume-derived magmas
[Raffone et al., 2009]. This melting process might have
started at ca. 16-15 Ma below the southern Middle Atlas,
generating the Middle Miocene nephelinites, and then prop-
agated towards SW (Siroua, Sarhro) and NE (Guilliz,
Oujda), crosscutting the earlier tectonic boundaries
[Missenard et al., 2006]. The origin of the recently evi-
denced lithospheric thinning below the Atlas domain, and
especially below the Middle Atlas volcanic province, is still
highly debated. The possibly equivalent asthenospheric up-
rise below the French Massif Central volcanic provinces
[Granet et al., 1995; Sobolev et al., 1997] has been attrib-
uted to ascending asthenospheric fluxes resulting from the
detachment of the lithospheric root of the Alpine chain
[Merle and Michon, 2001] or to the southeastern retreat of
the Tethysian plate subducting beneath the Mediterranean
[Barruol et al., 2004]. By analogy and despite the lesser
number of available tectonic and tomographic constraints,
the ascending asthenospheric flux below the Middle Atlas
might be a consequence of lateral mantle flow [Facenna et
al., 2004] linked to the Gibraltar subduction [Gutscher et
al., 2002]. However, these hypotheses do not explain why
the location of the Moroccan Neogene and Quaternary vol-
canism along a SW-NE strip extending from Siroua to
Oujda (fig. 1, inset) fits closely that of the thinned litho-
sphere underlying it [Missenard et al., 2006]. The lack of
correlation between the ages of volcanic massifs and their
position along this trend [El Azzouzi et al., 1999] is not
consistent with an Hawaiian-type hotspot activity nor with
the flow of deflected hot materials from the Canary plume
beneath the thinned lithosphere [Duggen et al., 2009]. It
would rather fit the characteristics of hot lines [Bonatti and
Harrison, 1976; Meyers et al., 1998; Déruelle et al., 2007].
Nevertheless, the age and origin of the lithospheric thinning
below the “Moroccan Hot Line” [Frizon de Lamotte et al.,
2008] are still poorly understood. Our new age results are in
agreement with the hypothesis that it existed since at least
the Middle Miocene [Missenard et al., 2006].
References
ALLÈGRE C.J., TREUIL M., MINSTER J.-F., MINSTER B. & ALBARÈDE F.
(1977). – Systematic use of trace element in igneous processes,
Part I: fractional crystallization processes in volcanic suites. –
Contrib. Mineral. Petrol., 60, 57-75.
ANDRIES D. & BELLON H. (1989). – Ages isotopiques 40K-40Ar du volca-
nisme alcalin néogène d’Oujda (Maroc oriental) et implications
tectoniques. – Sci. Géol. Mém. (Strasbourg), 84, 107-116.
ANGUITA F. & HERNAN F. (2000). – The Canary Islands origin: a unifying
model. – J. Volc. Geotherm. Res., 103, 1-26.
BAKER J.A., THIRLWALL M.F. & MENZIES M.A. (1996). – Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic
and trace element evidence for crustal contamination of
plume-derived flood basalts: Oligocene flood volcanism in wes-
tern Yemen. – Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 60, 2559-2581.
255
CONCLUSIONS
The Middle Atlas volcanic province includes: a) minor vol-
umes of nephelinites, emplaced at different periods during
the Miocene, the Pliocene and the Quaternary, and b) much
more abundant Pliocene and Quaternary basanites and al-
kali basalts. The subalkaline basalts from El Koudiate
strombolian cone and associated flows likely originated
from the contamination of alkali basaltic magmas by sil-
ica-rich rocks from the upper continental crust.
The temporal transition from nephelinites to basanites
and alkali basalts traduces low but increasing partial melt-
ing degrees of heterogeneous mantle sources. These source
rocks are thought to correspond to variably enriched parga-
site + spinel + garnet lherzolites, located at depths slightly
shallower than 70 km (corresponding to pressures of
2 GPa). Melting was probably triggered by the dehydration
of pargasite at 1050-1075oC.
As the asthenosphere-lithosphere boundary is presently
70 km deep beneath the Middle Atlas, the partial melting
process affected therefore the base of the North-African
lithospheric mantle. The origin of the pargasite is attributed
to a previous metasomatic event due to mantle percolation
by deep OIB-type mafic melts of HIMU affinity, possibly
derived from the activity of an Early Cenozoic plume.
Melting is thought to have resulted from a high thermal
flux associated to the asthenospheric uprise, which caused
the thermal erosion of the base of the North-African
lithospheric mantle. The age and origin of this uprise be-
neath the “Moroccan Hot Line” extending from Siroua to
Oujda are still poorly constrained.
Acknowledgments. – This work has been initiated in the framework of the Moroc-
can-French CNRST-CNRS joint cooperative program SDU03/04/13841, which
funded the field trips and expenses of the participants. We acknowledge the
logistic help of the Faculté des Sciences, Université Mohammed-V, Rabat, du-
ring the field studies. Analytical expenses were funded by UMR 6538, Brest.
The pertinent comments and careful corrections of Stéphane Scaillet and Ani-
ta Cadoux led to significant improvements of the manuscript. We thank
Jean-Claude Philippet who measured in Brest half of the new K-Ar data pre-
sented in this work, until his retirement in October 2005. We also thank A.
Michard, D. Frizon de Lamotte and A. Charrière for stimulating discussions
concerning the tectonic setting and origin of Moroccan volcanics.
SGF associate editor: J. Barbarand.
BARRAT J.A., JAHN B.M., FOURCADE S. & JORON J.-L. (1993). – Magma ge-
nesis in an ongoing rifting zone: the Tadjoura Gulf. – Geochim.
Cosmochim. Acta, 57, 2291-2302.
BARRUOL G., DESCHAMPS A. & COUTANT O. (2004). – Mapping upper
mantle anisotropy beneath SE France by SKS splitting indicates
Neogene asthenospheric flow induced by Apenninic slab
roll-back and deflected by the deep Alpine roots. – Tectonophy-
sics, 394, 125-138.
BELLON H., QUOC BUU N, CHAUMONT J. & PHILIPPET J.-C. (1981). –
Implantation ionique d’argon dans une cible support. Applica-
tion au traçage isotopique de l’argon contenu dans les minéraux
et les roches. – C. R. Acad. Sci., Paris, 292, série II, 977-980.
Bull. Soc. géol. Fr., 2010, no 3
256 EL AZZOUZI M. et al.
BERNARD-GRIFFITHS J., FOURCADE S. & DUPUY C. (1991). – Isotopic study
(Sr, Nd, O and C) of lamprophyres and associated dykes from
Tamazert (Morocco): crustal contamination process and source
characteristics. – Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 103, 190-199.
BERRAHMA M. (1995). – Etudes pétrologiques des laves récentes du massif
du Siroua (Anti-Atlas, Maroc). – Notes et Mém. Serv. Géol. Ma-
roc, 380, 139 p.
BONATTI E. & HARRISON C.G.A. (1976). – Hot lines in the Earth’s mantle. –
Nature, 263, 402-404.
CAROFF M., MAURY R.C., GUILLE G. & COTTEN J. (1997). – Partial melting
below Tubuai (Austral islands, French Polynesia). – Contrib.
Mineral. Petrol., 127, 369-382.
CHARRIÈRE A. (1990). – Héritage hercynien et évolution géodynamique al-
pine d’une chaîne intracontinentale: le Moyen Atlas au sud-est
de Fès (Maroc). – Thèse Doctorat d’Etat, Toulouse, 559 p.
CHAZOT G. & BERTRAND H. (1993). – Mantle sources and magma-continen-
tal crust interactions during early Red Sea-Gulf of Aden rifting
in southern Yemen: elemental and Sr, Nd, Pb isotope evidence. –
J. Geophys. Res., 98, 1819-1835.
CLASS C. & GOLDSTEIN S.L. (1997). – Plume-lithosphere interactions in the
ocean basins: constraints from the source mineralogy. – Earth
Planet. Sci. Lett., 150, 245-260.
COTTEN J., LE DEZ A., BAU M., CAROFF M., MAURY R.C., DULSKI P., FOUR-
CADE S., B OHN M. & B ROUSSE R. (1995). – Origin of anomalous
rare-earth element and yttrium enrichments in subaerially expo-
sed basalts: Evidence from French Polynesia. – Chem. Geol.,
119, 115-138.
COULON C., MEGARTSI M., FOURCADE S., MAURY R.C., BELLON H., LOU -
NI -H ACINI A. & C OTTEN J. (2002). – Post-collisional transition
from calc-alkaline to alkaline volcanism during the Neogene in
Oranie (Algeria): magmatic expression of a slab breakoff. –
Lithos, 62, 87-110.
COX A. & DALRYMPLE G.B. (1967). – Statistical analysis of geomagnetic
reversal data and the precision of potassium-argon dating. – J.
Geophys. Res, 72, 2603-2614.
DALPÉ C. & BAKER D. R. (2000). – Experimental investigation of large-
ion-lithophile-element, high-field-strength-element- and rare-
earth-element-partitioning between calcic amphibole and basal-
tic melt: the effects of pressure and oxygen fugacity. – Contrib.
Mineral. Petrol., 140, 233-250.
DEFANT M.J., RICHERSON P.M., DE BOER J.Z., STEWART R.H., MAURY R.C.,
BELLON H., DRUMMOND M.S., FEIGENSON M.D. & JACKSON T.E.
(1991). – Dacite genesis via both differentiation and slab mel-
ting: petrogenesis of La Yeguada volcanic complex, Panama. –
J. Petrol., 32, 1101-1142.
DE JONGE M. R., WORTEL M. J. R. & SPAKMAN W. (1994). – Regional scale
tectonic evolution and the seismic velocity structure of the li-
thosphere and upper mantle: the Mediterranean region. – J. Geo-
phys. Res, 99, 12091-12108.
DÉNIEL C., VIDAL PH., COULON C., VELLUTINI P.J. & PIGUET P. (1994). –
Temporal evolution of mantle sources during continental rifting:
the volcanism of Djibouti (Afar). – J. Geophys. Res., 99,
2853-2869.
DÉRUELLE B., NGOUNOUNO I. & DEMAIFFE B. (2007). – The “Cameroon Hot
Line” (CHL): a unique example of active alkaline intraplate
structure in both oceanic and continental lithospheres. – C.R.
Geosciences, 339, 589-600.
DUGGEN S., HOERNLE K., VAN DEN BOGAARD P. & GARBE-SCHÖNBERG A.
(2005). – Post-collisional transition from subduction to intra-
plate-type magmatism in the westernmost Mediterranean: evi-
dence for continental-edge delamination of subcontinental
lithosphere. – J. Petrol., 46, 1155-1201.
DUGGEN S., HOERNLE K.A., HAUFF F., KLÜGEL A., BOUABDELLAH M. &
THIRLWALL M.F. (2009). – Flow of Canary mantle plume mate-
rial through a subcontinental lithospheric corridor beneath Afri-
ca to the Mediterranean. – Geology, 37, 283-286.
EL AZZOUZI M., BERNARD-GRIFFITHS J., BELLON H., MAURY R.C., PIQUE A.,
FOURCADE S., COTTEN J. & HERNANDEZ J. (1999). – Evolution des
sources du volcanisme marocain au cours du Néogène. –
C. R. Acad. Sci., Paris, 329, II, 95-102.
Bull. Soc. géol. Fr., 2010, no 3
E L A ZZOUZI M., M AURY R.C., F OURCADE S., C OULON C., B ELLON H.,
O UABADI A., SEMROUD B., MEGARTSI M., COTTEN J., BELANTEUR
A., LOUNI-HACINI A., COUTELLE A. PIQUE A., CAPDEVILA R.,
HERNANDEZ H. & REHAULT J.-P. (2003). – Evolution spatiale et
temporelle du magmatisme néogène de la marge septentrionale
du Maghreb: manifestation d’un détachement lithospherique. –
Notes et Mém. Serv. Géol. Maroc, 447, 107-116.
EL BAKKALI S., GOURGAUD A., BOURDIER J.-L., BELLON H. & GUNDOGDU
N. (1998). – Post-collision Neogene volcanism of the eastern
Rif (Morocco): magmatic evolution through time. – Lithos, 45,
523-543.
FACENNA C., PIROMALLO C., CRESPO-BLANC A., JOLIVET L. & ROSSETTI F.
(2004). – Lateral slab deformation and the origin of the western
Mediterranean arcs. – Tectonics, 23, TC2012, doi:
10.129/2002TC001488.
FAURE-MURET A. & MESLOUH S. (2005). – Carte géologique du Maroc
(1/50 000), feuille d’Azrou. – Notes et Mémoires Serv. Géol.
Maroc, no 461.
FRANCIS D. & LUDDEN J. (1995). – The signature of amphibole in mafic al-
kali lavas, a study in the northern Canadian Cordillera. – J. Pe-
trol., 36, 1171-1191.
FRIZON DE LAMOTTE D., ZIZI M., MISSENARD Y., HAFID M., EL AZZOUZI M.,
MAURY R.C., CHARRIÈRE A., TAKI Z., BENAMMI M. & MICHARD
A. (2008). – Chapt. 4: The Atlas system. In : A. MICHARD,
O. SADDIQI, A. CHALOUAN & D. FRIZON DE LAMOTTE, Eds., Con-
tinental evolution: the geology of Morocco. Structure, stratigra-
phy and tectonics of the Africa-Atlantic-Mediterranean triple
junction. – Lecture Notes in Earth Sciences, 116, Springer-Ver-
lag, Berlin, Heidelberg, 133-202.
GOES S., SPAKMAN W. & BIJWAARD H. (1999). – A lower mantle source for
Central European volcanism. – Science, 286, 1928-1931.
GRANET M., WILSON M. & ACHAUER U. (1995). – Imaging a mantle plume
beneath the French Massif Central. – Earth Planet. Sci. Lett.,
136, 281-296.
GUTSCHER M.-A., MALOD J., REHAULT J.-P., CONTRUCCI I., KLINGELHOEFER
F., MENDES-VICTOR L. & SPAKMANN W. (2002). – Evidence for
active subduction beneath Gibraltar. – Geology, 30, 1071-1074.
HARMAND C. & CANTAGREL J.-C. (1984). – Le volcanisme alcalin Tertiaire
et Quaternaire du Moyen Atlas (Maroc): chronologie K/Ar et
cadre géodynamique. – Journ. Afric. Earth Sci., 2, 1, 51-55.
HART S.R. (1988). – Heterogeneous mantle domains: signatures, genesis and
mixing chronologies. – Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 90, 273-296.
HART S.R., HAURI E.H., OSCHMANN L.A. & WHITEHEAD J.A. (1992). –
Mantle plumes and entrainment: isotopic evidence. – Science,
256, 517-520.
HART W.K., WOLDEGABRIEL G., WALTER R.C. & MERTZMAN S.A. (1989). –
Basaltic volcanism in Ethiopia: constraints on continental rifting
and mantle interactions. – J. Geophys. Res., 94, 7731-7748.
HERNANDEZ J. & BELLON H. (1985). – Chronologie K-Ar du volcanisme
miocène du Rif oriental (Maroc): implications tectoniques et
magmatologiques. – Rev. Géol. Dyn. Géogr. Phys., 26, 2, 85-94.
HERNANDEZ J., LAROUZIERE F.D. de, BOLZE J. & BORDET P. (1987). – Le
magmatisme néogène bético-rifain et le couloir de décroche-
ment trans-Alboran. – Bull. Soc. géol. Fr., 8, III, 2, 257-267.
HOERNLE K., ZHANG Y.S. & GRAHAM D. (1995). – Seismic and geochemical
evidence for large-scale mantle upwelling beneath the eastern
Atlantic and western and central Europe. – Nature, 374, 34-39.
HOFMANN A.W. (1988). – Chemical differentiation of the Earth: the rela-
tionship between the mantle, continental crust, and oceanic
crust. – Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 90, 297-314.
IONOV D.A. & HOFMANN A.W. (1995). – Nb-Ta-rich mantle amphiboles
and micas: implications for subduction-related metasomatic
trace element fractionations. – Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 131,
341-356.
IRVINE T.N. & BARAGAR W.R.A. (1971). – A guide to the chemical classifi-
cation of the common rocks. – Can. J. Earth Sci., 8, 523-548.
JORON J.-L. & TREUIL M. (1977). – Utilisation des propriétés des éléments
fortement hygromagmaphiles pour l’étude de la composition
chimique et de l’hétérogénéité du manteau. – Bull. Soc. géol.
Fr., XIX, 6, 1197-1205.
 PETROLOGY AND K-AR CHRONOLOGY OF THE NEOGENE-QUATERNARY MIDDLE ATLAS, MOROCCO
JORON J.-L. & TREUIL M. (1989). – Hygromagmaphile element distribu-
tions in oceanic basalts as fingerprints of partial melting and
mantle heterogeneities: a specific approach and proposal of an
identification and modelling method. In : A.D. SAUNDERS. &
M.J. NORRY, Eds., Magmatism in the ocean basins. – Geol. Soc.
London Sp. Publ., 42, 277-299.
LE BAS M.J., LE MAITRE R.W., STRECKEISEN A. & ZANETTIN B. (1986). – A
chemical classification of volcanic rocks based on the total alka-
li-silica diagram. – J. Petrol., 27, 745-750.
LEGENDRE C., MAURY R.C., BLAIS S., GUILLOU H. & COTTEN J. (2006). – A
typical hot spot chains: evidence for a secondary melting zone
below the Marquesas (French Polynesia). – Terra Nova, 18,
210-216.
LUHR J.F., ARANDA-GOMEZ J.J. & HOUSH T.B. (1995). – San Quintin volca-
nic field, Baja Califonia norte, Mexico: geology, petrology and
geochemistry. – J. Geophys. Res., 100, 10353-10380.
MARKS M.A.W., SCHILLING J., COULSON I.M., WENZEL T. & MARKL G.
(2008). – The alkaline-peralkaline Tamazeght complex, High
Atlas Mountains, Morocco: mineral chemistry and petrological
constraints for derivation from a compositionally heterogeneous
mantle source. – J. Petrol., 49, 1097-1131.
MARTIN J. (1981). – Le Moyen Atlas Central: étude géomorphologique. –
Notes et Mémoires Serv. Géol. Maroc, no 258 bis, 445 p.
MAURY R.C., FOURCADE S., COULON C., EL AZZOUZI M., BELLON H., COU-
TELLE A., O UABADI A., S EMROUD B., M EGARTSI M., C OTTEN J.,
BELANTEUR O., LOUNI-HACINI A., PIQUÉ A., CAPDEVILA R., HER-
NANDEZ J. & R EHAULT J.-P. (2000). – Post-collisional Neogene
magmatism of the Mediterranean Maghreb margin: a conse-
quence of slab breakoff. – C.R. Acad. Sci., Paris, II, 331 (3),
série II, 159-173.
MENZIES M.A., ROGERS N.W., TINDLE A.G. & HAWKESWORTH C.J. (1987).
– Metasomatic and enrichment processes in lithospheric perido-
tites, an effect of asthenosphere-lithosphere interactions. In:
M.A. MENZIES & C.J. HAWKESWORTH, Eds., Mantle metasoma-
tism. – Academic Press, New York, 151-188.
MERLE O. & MICHON L. (2001). – The formation of the West European
Rift: a new model as exemplified by the Massif Central area. –
Bull. Soc. géol. Fr., 172, 2, 213-221.
MEYERS J.B., ROSENDAHL B.R., HARRISON C.G.A. & DING Z.D. (1998). –
Deep-imaging seismic and gravity results from the offshore Ca-
meroon Volcanic Line, and speculation of African hot lines. –
Tectonophysics, 284, 31-63.
MIDDLEMOST E.A.K. (1975). – The basalt clan. – Earth Sci. Rev., 11, 337-364.
MISSENARD Y., ZEYEN H., FRIZON DE LAMOTTE D., LETURMY P., PETIT C.,
SEBRIER M. & SADDIQI O. (2006). – Crustal versus asthenosphe-
ric origin of relief of the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. – J. Geo-
phys. Res., 111, B03401, doi: 10.129/2005JB003708.
MIYASHIRO A. (1978). – Nature of alkali volcanic rocks series. – Contrib.
Mineral. Petrol., 66, 91-104.
MOREL J.-M. & BELLON H. (1996). – Le volcanisme quaternaire du plateau
d’Azrou, Maroc. Contribution à la datation isotopique des magmas
associés. – 13ème Colloque des bassins sédimentaires marocains,
Univ. Cadi Ayyad, Marrakech, 19-22 Mars 1996, Résumé, 113.
MOUKADIRI A. & BOULOTON J. (1998). – Pétrologie des granulites exhu-
mées par le volcanisme récent du Moyen Atlas: aperçu sur la
croûte inférieure néogène du Maroc central. – C.R. Acad. Sci.,
Paris, 327, II, 731-734.
MOURTADA S., LE BAS M.J. & PIN C. (1997). – Pétrogenèse des magné-
sio-carbonatites du complexe de Tamazert (Haut Atlas maro-
cain). – C.R. Acad. Sci., Paris, 325, II, 559-564.
NIIDA K. & GREEN D.H. (1999). – Stability and chemical composition of
amphibole in MORB pyrolite under upper mantle conditions. –
Contrib. Mineral. Petrol., 104, 700-721.
PANTER K.S., BLUSZTAJN J., HART S.R., KYLE P.R., ESSER R. & MCINTOSH
W.C. (2006). – The origin of HIMU in the SW Pacific: evidence
from intraplate volcanism in southern New Zealand and suban-
tarctic islands. – J. Petrol., 47, 1673-1704.
PERKINS D. III, HOLLAND T.J.B. & NEWTON R.C. (1981). – The Al2O3
contents of enstatite in equilibrium with garnet in the system
MgO-Al2O3-SiO2 at 15-40 kbar and 900-1600oC. – Contrib. Mi-
neral. Petrol., 78, 99-109.
257
PIK R., DÉNIEL C., COULON C., YIRGU G. & MARTY B. (1999). – Isotopic
and trace element signatures of Ethiopian flood basalts: evi-
dence for plume-lithosphere interactions. – Geochim. Cosmo-
chim. Acta, 63, 2263-2279.
PILET S., HERNANDEZ J., SYLVESTER P. & POUJOL M. (2005). – The metaso-
matic alternative for ocean island basalt chemical heterogeneity. –
Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 236, 148-166.
RACHDI H. N. (1995). – Etude du volcanisme plio-quaternaire du Maroc
central: pétrologie, géochimie et minéralogie. Comparaison avec
des laves types du Moyen Atlas et du Rekkam (Maroc). – Notes
et Mém. Serv. Géol. Maroc, 381, 157 p.
RACHDI H. N., BERRAHMA M., DELALOYE M., FAURE-MURET A. & DAHMANI
M. (1997). – Le volcanisme tertiaire du Rekkame (Maroc): pé-
trologie, géochimie et géochronologie. – J. Afric. Earth Sci., 24,
3, 259-269.
RACHDI H. N., VELDE D. & HERNANDEZ J. (1985). – L’association volca-
nique plio-quaternaire basanite-néphélinite-phonolite du Maroc
central. – C. R. Acad. Sci., Paris, 301, II, 1293-1298.
RAFFONE N., CHAZOT G., PIN C., VANUCCI R. & ZANETTI A. (2009). – Meta-
somatism in the lithospheric mantle beneath Middle Atlas (Mo-
rocco) and the origin of Fe- and Mg-rich wehrlites. – J. Petrol.,
50, 197-249.
RIMI A. (2001). – Carte du gradient géothermique au Maroc. – Bull. Inst.
Scient. Rabat, 23, 1-6.
SATO H. (1977). – Nickel content of basaltic magmas: identification of pri-
mary magmas and a measure of the degree of olivine fractiona-
tion. – Lithos, 10, 113-120.
SHAW D.W. (1970). – Trace-element fractionation during anatexis. – Geo-
chim. Cosmochim. Acta, 34, 237-243.
SOBOLEV S.V., ZEYEN H., GRANET M., ACHAUER U., BAUER C., WERLING F.,
ALTHERR R. & FUCHS K. (1997). – Upper mantle temperatures
and lithosphere-asthenosphere system beneath the French Mas-
sif Central constrained by seismic, gravity, petrologic and ther-
mal observations. – Tectonophysics, 275, 143-164.
SPAKMAN W., VAN DER LEE S. & VAN DER HILST R. (1993). – Travel-time to-
mography of the European-Mediterranean mantle down to
1400 km. – Phys. Earth Planet. Inter., 79, 3-74.
SPATH A., LE ROEX A. & OPIYO-AKECH N. (2001). – Plume-lithosphere in-
teraction and the origin of continental rift-related alkali volca-
nism – the Chyulu volcanic province, southern Kenya. – J.
Petrol., 42, 765-787.
SUN S.S. & MCDONOUGH W.F. (1989). – Chemical and isotopic systematics
of oceanic basalts: Implications for mantle composition and pro-
cesses. In : A.D. SAUNDERS. & M.J. NORRY, Eds, Magmatism in
the ocean basins. – Geol. Soc. London Sp. Publ., 42, 313-345.
STEIGER R.H. & JÄGER E. (1977). – Subcommission on geochronology:
convention on the use of decay constants in geo– and cosmoc-
hronology. – Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 36, 359-362.
TEIXELL A., AYARZA P., ZEYEN H., FERNANDEZ M. & ARBOLEYA M.-L.
(2005). – Effects of mantle upwelling in a compressional setting:
the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. – Terra Nova, 17, 456-461.
TURNER S. & HAWKESWORTH C. (1995). – The nature of the sub-continental
mantle: constraints from the major-element composition of
continental flood basalts. – Chem. Geol., 120, 295-314.
VIDAL PH., DÉNIEL C., VELLUTINI P.J., PIGUET P., COULON C., VINCENT J.
& AUDIN J. (1991). – Changes of mantle sources in the course
of a rift evolution: the Afar case. – Geophys. Res. Lett., 18,
1913-1916.
VILLEMANT B., JAFFREZIC H., JORON J.-L. & TREUIL M. (1981). – Distribu-
tion coefficients of major and trace elements: fractional cristalli-
zation in the alkali basalt series of Chaîne des Puys (Massif
Central, France). – Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 45, 1997-2016.
WEINSTEIN Y., NAVON O., ALTHERR R. & STEIN M. (2006). – The role of li-
thospheric mantle heterogeneity in the generation of Plio-Pleis-
tocene alkali basaltic suites from NW Harrat Ash Shaam
(Israel). – J. Petrol., 47, 1017-1050.
ZEYEN H., AYARZA P., FERNANDEZ M. & RIMI A. (2005). – Lithospheric
structure under the western African-European plate boundary: a
transect across the Atlas Mountains and the Gulf of Cadiz. –
Tectonics, 24, TC2001, doi: 10.129/2004TC001639.
Bull. Soc. géol. Fr., 2010, no 3