Copper Mineralization in Adoudounian Cover of the Bou Azzer-El Graara (Anti Atlas, Morocco): Tectono-Stratigraphic Controls

Hugo Bourque (1) , Luc Barbanson (1) , Stanislas Sizaret (1) , Yannick Branquet (1) , Claire Ramboz (1) , Aomar Ennaciri (2) , Mustapha El Ghorfi (2) , Lakhlifi Badra (3)

1 ISTO - Institut des Sciences de la Terre d'Orléans - UMR7327
2 Groupe Managem
3 UMI - جامعة مولاي إسماعيل = Université Moulay Ismaïl

Copper mineralization in sedimentary cover is well known in association with Pb and/or Zn in Sedex, Kupferschiefer, Mississippi Valley-Type, or Red bed deposits. In spite of great economic potential, the syngenetic versus epigenetic origin of widespread Cu occurrences in the Adoudounian sedimentary cover, in the Moroccan Anti Atlas, remains debated. Significant investigations that would provide critical information for mining exploration are lacking. Whatever their origin, these mineralizations do not correspond to classical sediment-hosted deposits, the ore being exclusively Cu concentrations in dolostone units. This study, based on field and microscopic observations, is focused on Cu mineralization hosted in the Adoudounian cover of the Bou Azzer-El Graara inlier. Two morphologic types of ore bodies exist. The first consists of stratabound lenses and the second type is vein networks along Variscan faults. Both types of mineralization have a stockwork texture and clearly postdate sedimentary fabrics, such as beddings and slumps; this suggests a common epigenetic origin for the both ore types. The proposed interpretation involves the upflow of Variscan fluid-driven interaction between a basement and its sedimentary cover.

Mots clés: Copper mineralization; sedimentary cover; Anti Atlas; field relationships; morphology; texture

Domaines: Planète et Univers [physics]; Sciences de la Terre; Minéralogie

Hugo Bourque, Luc Barbanson, Stanislas Sizaret, Yannick Branquet, Claire Ramboz, et al.. Copper Mineralization in Adoudounian Cover of the Bou Azzer-El Graara (Anti Atlas, Morocco): Tectono-Stratigraphic Controls. 13th SGA Biennal Meeting , SGA, Aug 2015, Nancy, France. 4 p. ⟨insu-01290400⟩