Lahssen Baidder

• Full Professor
• Professor at University of Hassan II Casablanca

Remote sensing techniques have become a vital resource for geological mapping and analysis. This research focuses on litho-structural mapping in the Northern Errachidia area in the southern Atlas range, Morocco, formed by Jurassic and Cretaceous formations shaped by the Alpine orogeny. This study combines remote sensing with field investigations. T...

Geological mapping through remote sensing is an essential method for georesource exploration. This study focuses on mapping structural lineaments in the Ait Atmane region, located at the limite between the Central High Atlas and Eastern High Atlas sub-domains. The area is characterized by a Meso-Cenozoic sedimentary cover. The primary objective is...

During the Early to Late Paleozoic time, several extensional tectonic events occurred in the eastern Anti-Atlas Belt along the northern margin of the West African Craton. In this paper, and based on lithostratigraphic and structural analysis, we evaluate the effect of the Variscan pre-orogenic events on the Paleozoic tectono-stratigraphic pattern i...

Bottom-current deposits, formed in association with ancient oceanic gateways, preserve records of past global oceanic circulation, plate-tectonic events, and palaeogeographic change. This outcrop study showcases a Pragian to early Emsian carbonate-contourite drift, plastered on the northern upper margin of Gondwana, which recorded the convergence o...

Analysis of a Devonian contourite depositional system in the eastern Anti-Atlas of Morocco reveals the formation of widespread erosional hiatuses and organic-rich bioclastic contourites (ORCs) coinciding with the expansion of an anoxic water mass during Frasnian bioevents, ultimately culminating in the Kellwasser crisis (Frasnian-Famennian extincti...

The present study reports the first structural analysis of tectonic-controlled ore deposits in the Paleozoic southern flank of the Saghro massif (Anti-Atlas belt, Morocco). The mineralization consists mainly of quartz-barite and occurs as a vein system along tectonic damage zones (fault/fracture), predominantly hosted within the Tabanit sandstones...

This research is freely available on this link. https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1jI8UhdGqkLXY

The Ougnat Massif of the eastern Anti-Atlas (Morocco) hosts barite and sulfide vein-type deposits of vital economic importance. With over 150 mineralized structures reported in the Ougnat Massif, the ore-bearing ones are predominantly composed of barite, quartz, calcite, and minor portions of sulfides. The mineralized veins are driven by NW-SE and...

Located between the tabular Middle Atlas Mountains and the Rif belt, the Meso-Cenozoic Saïss basin is one of the most hydric resource-rich intraorogenic basins of Morocco. It is made up of Paleozoic to Quaternary sedimentary formations, hosting two main aquifers: the shallow Plio-Quaternary and the deep Liassic. This study aims to establish a 3D-ge...

This study provides interpreted aeromagnetic databases combined with structural and metallographic investigation to examine the surface versus subsurface faults interaction and the tectonic pattern of fault-driven mineralization in the Southwestern Saghro massif (Eastern Anti-Atlas, Morocco). Many Precambrian inherited faults have undergone conside...

The Errachidia region is known for its specific geological and oasis landscape as well as its mineral wealth. This study concerns two geotrails of geoeducational and geotourism interest in the southern front of the central High Atlas of Morocco. These area are located in the Errachidia Boudnib Bassin which is a hinge region between the Anti-Atlas...

The Tarfaya-Laayoune-Dakhla basin is the largest coastal basin in the Moroccan Atlantic margin. It is filled by a thick Meso-Cenozoic sedimentary cover that overlies unconformably the NW margin of the West African Craton and its Proterozoic to Paleozoic peripheral orogenic belt. In this study, we aim to decipher the structure of hidden part of thes...

The research investigated the potential of natural ore with a low manganese content gradient, imported from the Tiouine region of Morocco, as an adsorbent of cadmium ions in a phosphoric acid medium. For the first time, the ore was prepared and used as adsorbent in three different sizes (60, 315, and 500 µm), and characterized by X-ray diffraction,...

The Coastal Block (CB) of the Western Meseta (Morocco) is located between the Atlantic passive margin and the Middle and High Atlas Mountains. In this contribution, a morpho-structural analysis using topographic data and an aeromagnetic data interpretation have been integrated to map tectonically related structures and to unravel the surface-subsur...

Tectonic and micro-tectonic studies at different scales are of primary importance in a modern metallogenic investigation. In the Ougnat massif of the eastern Anti-Atlas belt (Morocco), the barite ore deposit is hosted within mafic to felsic rocks of the Ediacaran Saghro and Ouarzazate groups together with their folded Paleozoic cover. Here, we prov...

Purpose. The purpose of the present research is to provide a new lithological, structural and magmatic features of the Oumjrane-Boukerzia Mining District. The results obtained are used to guide exploration works for identifying the new Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn depositions and Ba-bearing mineralization within the whole Oumjrane-Boukerzia domain. Methods. This...

Purpose. The purpose of the present research is to provide a new lithological, structural and magmatic features of the Oumjrane-Boukerzia Mining District. The results obtained are used to guide exploration works for identifying the new Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn depositions and Ba-bearing mineralization within the whole Oumjrane-Boukerzia domain. Methods. This...

Geological heritage is now a main component in the current patterns of socio-economic and sustainable development and is becoming essential in the educational process. Morocco is among the countries with the most fascinating geological diversity in the world. This work presents a result of the proposal for a pedagogical and geotouristic trail in th...

The study examines bioclastic carbonate contourites that arise from the broad spectrum of bottom‐current related sedimentary processes ranging from deposition to erosion. The result of the intermittent accumulation of sediment are thin and condensed successions with abundant hiatuses. Such bottom‐current deposits are poorly known, since the broadly...

Geothermal reservoirs refer to any heat stored, naturally, in the earth's crust; it is considered as resource coming from a natural complex depending on the geological, geophysical aspect and territories geochemistry. Although this natural resource remains distinguished by his characters to be a renewable, ecological, universal and sustainable mini...

At the northern border of the West African Craton (WAC), the Saghro massif of the Moroccan Anti-Atlas belt is renowned for its tectonic complexity inherited from Pan-African, Variscan, and Alpine orogenic cycles. This makes it an ideal area to investigate the tectonic evolution of the northern fringe of the WAC from Precambrian to present times. In...

New lithostratigraphical and structural data provide a better assessment of the still controversial metallogenetic context of the world-class Ag–Hg Imiter deposit, located in the north-eastern part of the Saghro massif (Anti-Atlas, Morocco). Three Ediacaran volcano-plutonic cycles separated by two major angular unconformities are identified: (1) ea...

The Western Moroccan Meseta exposes in the Zaian region a pre-Visean, Eo-Variscan belt of inclined to recumbent folds detached from their Precambrian basement and embedded in the Variscan Orogen. Using the Raman Spectroscopy of Carbonaceous Material (RSCM) method, we obtained the first quantitative thermometric characterization of the Cambro-Ordovi...

This note is a reply to the comment on "The Cu-Pb-Zn-bearing veins of the Bou Skour deposit (Eastern Anti-Atlas, Morocco): structural control and tectonic evolution” by Hmidou El Ouardi et al., published in Comptes Rendus Géoscience in Volume 354, 2022, pages 119–123 (https://doi.org/10.5802/crgeos.115). It concerns the article “The Cu Pb-Zn-bearin...

Becker, R. T. & Aboussalam, Z. S. & El Hassani, A. & Baidder, L. & Hüneke, H. & Mayer, O. & Cozar, P. & Helling, S. & Seyffert, K. & May, A. (2021): Devonian and the Carboniferous transgression in the Skoura region, Sub-Meseta Zone, Morocco. - Frontiers in Science and Engineering, vol. 10 (2): p. 229-311; Rabat, Maroc. Abstract The Sub-Meseta Zone...

The long-known Devonian of the Jebel Ardouz west of Marrakesh, and just north of Mzoudia, is composed of an allochthonous stack of clastic and carbonate rocks that were thrusted onto each other from the northeast. New biostratigraphic data prove an age range of sedimentation from the lower Eifelian to ?upper Famennian. The lowest, western thrust un...

Based on new field work, sampling for conodonts, ammonoids, and microfacies analysis, the Lower to Upper Devonian stratigraphy of the Benahmed region is refined. Fossiliferous neritic limestones of the Pragian/lower Emsian represent a continuation of the shallow carbonate platform of the Al Attamna region to the north (Units A/B of Sidi Ahmed Lemdo...

At Boudouda NW of Benahmed, upper Frasnian goniatite shales are in unconformable contact with massive, partly dolomitized conglomerate boulders of the new Oued Ayada Formation. They represent debris flow deposits of localized channels and contain reworked supposed Emsian reefal organisms and Frasnian to lower/?middle Famennian conodonts. Rare foram...

Fieldwork, petrographic description and geochemistry are presented for the Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous magmatic intrusions from the Mesozoic Eastern High Atlas in Morocco. The magmatic complexes are ellipsoid-shaped and a diapiric-dominated mechanism is suggested for the emplacement of the intrusions into Paleozoic faulted basement as well as i...

In the central Saghro massif of the Moroccan Anti-Atlas belt, the Bou Skour polymetallic deposit is hosted within mafic to felsic rocks of the Ediacaran Saghro Group and the lower Ouarzazate Group together with Pan-African plutons and dykes. The mineralizations occur in a brittle-ductile shear zone as a vein-type system recently dated at 574.9 § 2....

Sedimentologic and lithostratigraphic studies carried out along the southern Front of the Central High Atlas in a mostly terrigenous Jurassic-Cretaceous series (Red beds) allow specifying the paleoenvironmental and paleogeographic evolution of three units: Guettioua, Ifezouane and Aoufous formations. The Bathonian Guettioua Fm, composed of terrigen...

Geothermal energy exploration is an old technique, updated in recent years and expected to develop strongly in the near future. Its potential is inexhaustible. Indeed, it is an energy drawn from the heat of the basement and is renewed permanently. Its uses are many and varied: individual heating, collective heating, networks of heat, production of...

The geological and paleoenvironmental setting and the vertebrate taxonomy of the fossiliferous, Cenomanian-age deltaic sediments in eastern Morocco, generally referred to as the “Kem Kem beds”, are reviewed. These strata are recognized here as the Kem Kem Group, which is composed of the lower Gara Sbaa and upper Douira formations. Both formations h...

Abstract The Guercif Basin of the northeastern Morocco is regarded as a particular sedimentary basin influenced by the tectonics of the Middle Atlas Fault Zone, the Rif orogenic belt and the stable eastern Meseta. Its faulting structures are poorly perceived on surface because of the thick recent sedimentary cover that overlies the Mesozoic-Paleozo...

From the Neoproterozoic to Cenozoic, different extensional and transpressional tectonics events occurred during the Pan-African, Variscan and Alpine orogenic cycles in the Precambrian and Paleozoic terrains of the Saghro Massif of the eastern Anti-Atlas, Morocco. This makes it a key zone to investigate fault distribution and basement- cover interac...

Stratigraphic, sedimentologic, and micropaleontologic studies have been undertaken on the “InfraCenomanian” continental red beds (¼ Dekkar Group) located on the northern side of the Moroccan eastern High Atlas. Rich charophyte assemblages containing Sphaerochara magna, Ascidiella stellata, Hemiclavator sp. A, Globator trochiliscoides, Atopochara tr...

The thermal structure inherited from the high-temperature rifting phase may control the deformation regime during the first phase of compression. The Zaian Mts of Western Meseta provide a nice example studied here with the help of the Raman method.

Numerous mafic dykes, sills and laccoliths crop out in the southern part of the Tafilalt basin (Eastern Anti-Atlas, Morocco). These rocks intrude the mildly folded Ordovician to Early Carboniferous formations, consisting mainly of lamprophyric dolerites and camptonites with minor gabbros and syenodiorites. Previous geochemical studies have shown th...

The thermal structure inherited from the high-temperature rifting phase may control the deformation regime during the first phase of compression. The Zaian Mountains and adjoining Jebel Hadid constitute a demonstrative case study in the southern branch of the Variscan belt in Central Meseta, Morocco. There the thick, Cambrian-Ordovician quartzite s...

The territory covered by Ayt Khojmane Sheet at 1/50 000 belongs to of the Moroccan eastern High Atlas domain, consisting of a Tertiary intra-continental Atlas-Alpine chain uplifted southern of the Africa-Europe collision chains. Almost the entire map is covered by the Jurassic sedimentary series. The Mesozoic cover begins with the detrital synrift...

The N'kob-Tazarine basin, located in Southeastern Morocco (Eastern Anti-Atlas), is characterized by a semi-arid to arid climate, accentuated by its geographical position in border of steep reliefs, where the groundwater resources are limited. The Tazarine wadi is the main stream and usually shows intermittent flow with frequent floods following bri...

The Western Saghro inlier is located in eastern part of the Moroccan Anti-Atlas belt. Geologically, it is composed mainly by Lower Ediacaran metasedimentary rocks of Saghro group, covered and intruded by Upper Ediacaran plutonic, volcanic and volcano-sedimentary rocks of Ouarzazate super-group. The previous set is connected to the north by Mezo-Cen...

Geological mapping in desert, mountainous or densely vegetated areas are sometimes faced with many constraints. Recently several remote sensing methods are used on ASTER or LANDSAT imagery for making that task easier. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the applicability of some of these methods on Sentinel-2A images. The study, therefore, focuses...

Geological mapping in desert, mountainous or densely vegetated areas are sometimes faced with many constraints. Recently several remote sensing methods are used on ASTER or LANDSAT imagery for making that task easier. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the applicability of some of these methods on Sentinel-2A images. The study, therefore, focuses...

Geothermal energy refers to any heat stored, naturally, in the earth's crust and is considered as renewable, ecological, universal and sustainable energy. In Morocco, geothermal energy is not yet exploited, neither considered, to support the institutional energy mainly focused on solar and wind energy. However, modest researches and some interventi...

Stratigraphic, sedimentologic, and micropaleontologic studies have been undertaken on the “Infra-Cenomanian” continental red beds (= Dekkar Group) located on the northern side of the Moroccan eastern High Atlas. Rich charophyte assemblages containing Sphaerochara magna, Ascidiella stellata, Hemiclavator sp. A, Globator trochiliscoides, Atopochara t...

Because of its location in the boundary zone between the Anti-Atlas and the Atlas–Meseta crustal domains of Morocco, the Mougueur Paleozoic Massif is a key area to decipher the evolution of the Gondwana NW margin during the Paleozoic. In this work, we report for the first time the occurrence of Hirnantian sandstones, Silurian (Gorstian) graptolitic...

Coastal lagoons have significant biodiversity and ecologic and socio-economic interest. Several resident and migratory birds live in coastal lagoons as well as fish and other aquatic biota. Over the years, lagoons worldwide have been subject to considerable sediment deposition coming especially from soil erosion due of agricultural activities, and...

Gravity and aeromagnetic potential methods are proven to be adequate geophysical techniques for studying the subsurface structure of continental basement areas hidden beneath sedimentary basin. In this study, we present the study of that large part of the Moroccan Western Meseta which is hidden beneath the Phosphates Plateau and Tadla Basin, based...

Between the High Atlas and the Saharan platform, the Anti-Atlas of Morocco offers large exposures of Precambrian rocks beneath the moderately folded Paleozoic series. These inliers allow reconstructing a segment of the Pan-African Belt and of its foreland at the northern outskirts of the West African Craton (WAC). From ∼ 885 Ma to ∼ 540 Ma, three p...

Geological map

Highlights - Lower Emsian dysoxic shales with the oldest bactritid and goniatite faunas. - Daleje Shale Equivalents with the globally oldest anarcestid faunas. - Rich Eifelian goniatite and nautiloid succession, interrupted by the global Chotec and Ka ák events. - Excellent ammonoid record around the global Taghanic and Frasnes Events. - Upper Fras...

Highlights - Lower Emsian limestone at the base. - Daleje Shale Equivalents in the lower slope. -Rich upper Emsian-Eifelian goniatite and nautiloid succession. - Eifelian-Givetian global stratotype section and point (GSSP) with rich Ka ák Event Interval ammonoid fauna (including the globally oldest maenioceratids). - Middle Givetian Maenioceras Bed...

Introduction to the geology of the Eastern Anti Atlas (Tafilalt and Maider), Morocco; with focus on Devonian and Lower Carboniferous strata and Events.

Résumé : Le territoire couvert par la feuille de Galb-at-Tour au 1/50 000 appartient au domaine géographique de l’Haut Atlas oriental marocain, constitué par une chaîne intracontinentale atlaso-alpine formée au Tertiaire à l’arrière des chaînes de collision entre Afrique et Europe. Le territoire de la feuille de Galb at Tour est occupé, dans partie...

Résumé : Le territoire couvert par la feuille d’Ayt Wazag au 1/50 000 appartient au domaine géographique de l’Haut Atlas oriental marocain, constitué par une chaîne intracontinentale atlaso-alpine formée au Tertiaire à l’arrière des chaînes de collision entre Afrique et Europe. Le territoire de la feuille d’Ayt Wazag est entièrement occupé par des...

Notes et Mémoires du Service Géologique du Maroc, n° 594. ISSN 0369-1748

Notes et Mémoires du Service Géologique du Maroc, n° 595. ISSN 0369-1748

ABSTRACT: Field and microfacies analyses of supposed Middle Devonian reef limestones at El Moussira (Haouz region south of Marrakech) showed that they represent in fact a shallowing upwards, shallow marine, crinoid-rich, open carbonate ramp that ends with a regionally unique, current/storm ridden, laminated microbial facies. Rare records of Mestogn...

Remote sensing technology plays an important role today in the geological survey, mapping, analysis and interpretation, which provides a unique opportunity to investigate the geological characteristics of the remote areas of the earth's surface without the need to gain access to an area on the ground. The aim of this study is achievement a geologic...

New Palaeogene vertebrate localities were recently reported in the southern Dakhla area (southwestern Morocco). The Eocene sediment strata crops out on cliffs along the Atlantic Ocean coast. Vertebrate remains come from five conglomeratic sandstone beds and are principally represented by isolated teeth belonging to micromammals, selachians and bony...

The Eocene-Oligocene boundary (EOB; ~ 34Ma) is the largest global cooling of the Cenozoic Era and led the Earth’s climatic system to change from a greenhouse to an icehouse mode. The cooling interval, initiated in the late Eocene, comprise several isotopic events, which have been coded by Miller et al. (1991). The oldest of the events, coded Oi-1 o...