Journal of African Earth Sciences 207 (2023) 105074

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Journal of African Earth Sciences

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

Subsurface structure of the Tarfaya-Laayoune-Dakhla basin (West African

Craton Margin, Morocco) revealed from the analysis of aeromagnetic data
Oualid El Amraoui a, *, Mustapha Boujamaoui a, Abdellah Nait Bba b, Ibtissam Rezouki a,
Abdelilah Fekkak c, Hassane Sahbi a, Ahmed Manar d, Lahssen Baidder e
a
Moulay Ismail University, Faculty of Sciences, Earth Sciences Department, P.O. Box 11201, Zitoune, Meknes, Morocco
b
Mohamed Premier University, Faculty of Sciences, Earth Sciences Department, P.O. Box 717, 60000, Oujda, Morocco
c
Chouaïb Doukkali University, Faculty of Sciences, Earth Sciences Department, P.O. Box 20, 24000, El Jadida, Morocco
d
Ministry of Energy, Mines, and Sustainable Development, Directorate of Geology, Rabat, Morocco
e
Hassan II University, Faculty of Sciences Aïn Chock, Earth Sciences Department, P.O. Box 5366, Casablanca, Morocco

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

Keywords: The Tarfaya-Laayoune-Dakhla basin is the largest coastal basin in the Moroccan Atlantic margin. It is filled by a
Aeromagnetic data thick Meso-Cenozoic sedimentary cover that overlies unconformably the NW margin of the West African Craton
Edge enhancement and its Proterozoic to Paleozoic peripheral orogenic belt. In this study, we aim to decipher the structure of hidden
Depth estimation
part of these terranes and discuss the tectonic evolution of the basin. To achieve these objectives, aeromagnetic
Fault reactivation
Tectonic domains
data were processed by the application of edge enhancement and depth estimation operators. The combination of
Tarfaya-laayoune-dakhla basin their results with geological information and boreholes data allowed the construction of a detailed structural map
of the subsurface of the study area. The resulted map delineates three distinct tectonic domains: the Northeastern
Domain, the Western Domain and the Southern Domain. These domains exhibit geological evidences of four
major tectonic periods: the Eburnean, Pan-African and Variscan orogenies, and the Triassic rifting. The Eburnean
dextral transpression event formed a shear-zone with a large magmatic body in the Western Domain. This
domain was not affected by the subsequent Pan-African orogeny and the following Ediacaran intracontinental
rifting phase. Meanwhile, this event led to the formation of an N- to NNE-trending large half-graben structure in
the Northeastern Domain, and an Ediacaran bimodal magmatic series in the Southern Domain. The Paleozoic
Variscan orogeny has reactivated the N- to NNE-trending normal faults, allowing thrusting in these domains.
Eventually, the Central Atlantic opening event reworked pre-existing reverse faults resulting increases in depth in
the Northeastern and Western Domains, meanwhile, the extension was reduced in the Southern Domain.

1. Introduction et al., 2001; 2014; Litto et al., 2001; Zühlke et al., 2004; Abou Ali et al.,
2005; Klingelhoefer et al., 2009; El Jorfi et al., 2015; Uranga et al.,
The break-up of the Pangea supercontinent during the early Meso­ 2022). These basins consist of a Precambrian and/or Paleozoic basement
zoic times led to the opening of the Central Atlantic Ocean by reworking covered unconformably by a Meso-Cenozoic series of coarse sediments.
pre-existing faults (Labails et al., 2010). This extensional tectonic results These sediments are interbedded with evaporitic facies and volcanic sills
in the development of both the north American and northwest African of the Central Atlantic Magmatic Province (CAMP) (Brown, 1980; Youbi
atlantic passive margins (Lehner and De Ruiter, 1977; Jansa and et al., 2003; Abou Ali et al., 2005; Hafid et al., 2008).
Wiedmann, 1982). The latter is represented by the The Tarfaya-Laayoune-Dakhla basin (TLD) is a NE-trending coastal
Morocco-Mauritania-Senegal-Guinea Bissau-Conakry coastal basins basin presenting a length of about 800 km, and a width of more than
(Fig. 1A) (Davison, 2005). From the north to the south, the Moroccan 200 km (Fig. 1B). During the period from Precambrian to the Triassic
coastal basins of Gharb, Doukkala, Essaouira, Agadir-Souss and times, the basement of the TLD basin underwent a sequence of
Tarfaya-Laayoune-Dakhla (Fig. 1A) were largely investigated by seismic compressional and extensional tectonic events. These tectonic events
and boreholes data (Ranke et al., 1982; Tari et al., 2000, 2003; Le Goff affected the West African Craton (WAC) together with its Proterozoic to

* Corresponding author.
E-mail addresses: [email protected], [email protected] (O. El Amraoui).

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2023.105074
Received 15 November 2022; Received in revised form 20 September 2023; Accepted 20 September 2023
Available online 21 September 2023
1464-343X/© 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
O. El Amraoui et al. Journal of African Earth Sciences 207 (2023) 105074

Fig. 1. A: Simplified geological map of the northwest African margin (Roussel and Lesquer, 1991). West African Craton (WAC) limit is indicated in the global map in
top left corner of Fig. 1A with transparent pink polygon (Jessell et al., 2016). Reguibat and Man-Leo shields are the outcrops of the WAC in western Africa. Black
dashed rectangles indicate locations of Fig. 1A and B. B: Detailed geological map of the study area (after Lindner and Querol, 1971; Saadi et al., 1985). Purple
polygon delineates the area covered with the aeromagnetic survey used in this study. Red line in Smara shows location of Fig. 3. Pink lines trace the location of
correlations presented in Fig. 4. Legend was subdivided based on the main geological domains boarding the basin to facilitate their identification in the map.

Paleozoic peripheral orogenic belt (Sougy, 1962, 1969; Sahabi et al., out by the national office of hydrocarbon and mines (ONHYM) in the
2004; Villeneuve, 2008; Labails et al., 2010). However, large parts of basin aiming for subsurface geological investigation and hydrocarbons
these terranes are hidden underneath a thick Meso-Cenozoic sedimen­ exploration. However, regarding the large extend of the basin, these
tary sequence, which makes the structure of the basement of the TLD data are not able to cover its entire area, and will not provide detailed
basin poorly known. imagery of subsurface geological features. Alternatively, in areas where
The TLD basin presents promising economic prospects, as it hosts seismic data are of poor quality, sparse or nonexistent, aeromagnetic
significant deposits of iron oxide, particularly in the Aghracha banded acquisition is the most efficient and economical geophysical method to
iron formation (BIF) deposit (Gavala y Laborde, 1952; Alia Medina, map and characterize the subsurface structural setting (Isles and Rankin,
1953; Comba Ezquerra, 1965, Zerdane et al., 2011). Moreover, the 2013; Gernigon et al., 2014; Hackney et al., 2015).
identification of carbonatite dikes to the northeast of Aghracha through The identification of the structural configuration of the basement
airborne radiometric surveys (Zerdane et al., 2011), and the discovery of involves the application of various edge detectors (e.g., Evjen, 1936;
additional carbonatite bodies in the southernmost part of the basin Grauch and Cordell, 1987; Cooper and Cowan, 2008; Eldosouky et al.,
(Zerdane et al., 2011; Benaouda et al., 2020; Bouabdellah et al., 2022; 2022), and depth estimation techniques (e.g., Reid et al., 1990; Thurston
Malainine et al., 2022), indicates an interesting potential for rare earth and Smith, 1997). In our study, the magnetic data was processed and
elements (REE). Additionally, the basin was largely investigated for interpreted using the total horizontal (THDR) and vertical derivatives
hydrocarbons since 1960, involving drilling of 68 deep oil boreholes in (VDR) as edge detectors, as well as Euler deconvolution for depth esti­
the onshore (Auxini, 1969), and other ones in the offshore as part of the mation. Results were integrated with stratigraphic correlations estab­
Deep-Sea Drilling Project (DSDP) (von Rad and Einsele, 1980). After­ lished from several boreholes distributed within the TLD basin. The
ward, exploration activities were escalated (Klingelhoefer et al., 2009; main aim of the study is to identify concealed structures controlling the
Sachse et al., 2016; Tari et al., 2017; ONHYM, 2019; Lawrence, 2019; geometry of the basin and to understand their kinematic during multiple
Galhom et al., 2022) following the discovery of a significant hydrocar­ tectonic periods, from the Eburnean orogeny to the Triassic rifting.
bons reserve in a sequence of middle Jurassic to lower Cretaceous Additionally, owing to the promising economic prospects of the basin,
lagoonal shales in the offshore basin (Jarvis et al., 1999), as well as results of this study will serve as a guide for mineral and hydrocarbon
intriguing hydrocarbon reserves in the Senegalo-Mauritanian basin, explorations.
located directly to the south of the study area (Fig. 1A) (Brownfield and
Charpentier, 2003; Davison, 2005). More recently, an acquisition of
seismic data from a total of 6100 km of 2D seismic profiles was carried

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O. El Amraoui et al. Journal of African Earth Sciences 207 (2023) 105074

E-trending Oued Lekrae-El Mdena fault zone (OMFZ) (Fig. 1B) (Scho­
field et al., 2006; Schofield and Gillespie, 2007).
Subsequently, the study area has experienced a Pan-African and
Variscan tectonic evolutions that can be evident in the Dhlou-Zemmour
belt and the Ouled Dlim massif (Sougy, 1961; Lecorché et al., 1991;
Belfoul, 2005; Villeneuve et al., 2015; Bea et al., 2020). The
Dhlou-Zemmour belt is a N- to NNE-trending Paleozoic belt (Fig. 1B)
consists of a Cambrian to Carboniferous sedimentary sequences domi­
nated by limestones and detrital sediments with locally ferruginous
layers (Fig. 2) (Sougy, 1961; Dacheux, 1967; Guerrak, 1989; Wendt,
1991; Belfoul, 2005; Guiraud et al., 2005; Wendt et al., 2006; Villeneuve
et al., 2015).
The Paleozoic sedimentary sequence was deposited in N- to NNE-
trending large half-grabens structures formed during a post-Pan-
African extensional event. This extensional regime was then reworked
into a compressional one in response to the shortening tectonics of the
Variscan orogeny, forming the Dhlou-Zemmour thrusts and folds belt
(Fig. 3) (Belfoul, 2005). The deformation is controlled by NE-SW to
NNE-SSW, and NNW-trending thrust faults, in addition to sinistral and
dextral strike-slip faults oriented in ENE-WSW and WNW-ESE directions
(Fig. 3) (Belfoul, 2005; Villeneuve et al., 2015). The deformation rate is
decreasing toward Reguibat shield (Belfoul, 2005).
The peri-cratonic Ouled Dlim massif (Fig. 1B) is an NNE-trending
strongly deformed terranes formed by four juxtaposed tectonic sectors
(Bea et al., 2020). They are organized in an Eastern and Western
Archean sectors separated by a Pan-African one, with a
Silurian-Devonian sector located in the western margin of the massif.
This structural configuration suggests a large Archean terrane affected
by an NNE-trending Ediacaran intracontinental rift, forming the
Pan-African central sector that consisted of a bimodal mafic-felsic serie
(Fig. 1B) (Bea et al., 2020). Then, the upper Silurian-lower Devonian
collision phase affected the entire massif (Bea et al., 2020). This tectonic
event was responsible of the thrusting of the Pan-African sector on the
Eastern Archean one, and this latter on the Dhloat-Ensor Paleozoic unit
(Molina et al., 2018; Bea et al., 2020).
During the Central Atlantic opening event, the basin underwent a
WNW-trending extensional regime, reworking pre-existing structures
from previously mentioned orogenies (Le Roy and Piqué, 2001; Labails
et al., 2010). This extensional event had structured the basin into
NNE-trending normal faults coupled with NW- to WNW-trending
strike-slip faults (Le Roy and Piqué, 2001). The Post rifting evolution
Fig. 2. Lithostratigraphic log summarizing the lithologic sequence of the TLD of the basin allowed a significant deepening of the basin from the east
basin (modified after Sougy, 1961; Ranke et al., 1982; Villeneuve et al., 2015). toward the Atlantic Ocean (Ranke et al., 1982; Le Roy and Piqué, 2001;
The log indicates the dominance of detrital sediments and carbonates in the Sehrt, 2014; Leprêtre et al., 2015). Based on seismic data, the crystalline
Paleozoic and Meso-Cenozoic sequences, with a doleritic basalts of the CAMP
basement of the Reguibat shield is located at a depth ranging from 12 to
layer interbedded in the Triassic sediments (Choubert et al., 1966; Hafid et al.,
14 km in the offshore basin (Ranke et al., 1982).
2008). The entire sequence is deposited unconformably on the Precambrian
basement of Reguibat shield.
The Meso-Cenozoic fill consists of a red silico-clastic syn-rift series
with evaporites (Fig. 2) (Hafid et al., 2008; Uranga et al., 2022) and
basalts belonging to the CAMP (Choubert et al., 1966; Davison, 2005;
2. Geological setting
Hafid et al., 2008). The post-rift series is formed by Jurassic marine
deposits, deltaic deposits of Lower Cretaceous age, limestones and
The TLD basin is bounded to the east by the Precambrian of Reguibat
marly-limestones from the Upper Cretaceous to the Lower Eocene and
shield, and its Paleozoic cover of Dhlou-Zemmour belt and Zag-Tindouf
the Miocene regressive deposits (Ali et al., 2014). The basin was then
basin to the northeast (Fig. 1A). To the north, it is limited by the Anti-
invaded by a transgression during the Pliocene-Pleistocene transition
Atlas belt, and its southern boundary is represented by Ouled Dlim
(Ratschiller, 1970; Davison, 2005).
massif and the Senegalo-Mauritanian basins. The Atlantic Ocean limits
the TLD onshore basin westward (Fig. 1A). The basin consists of a Pre­
3. Data and methods
cambrian basement covered unconformably by Paleozoic to Meso-
Cenozoic sedimentary sequences (Fig. 1B and 2).
As described in the geological setting, the structural makeup of the
The basement of the TLD basin is predominantly formed by the
basement of the TLD basin is controlled by a polyphased tectonic his­
Precambrian crystallin rocks of Reguibat shield (Choubert et al., 1966;
tory. Pre-existing fault systems are largely covered by the Meso-
Auxini, 1969), represented by Tonalities-Trondhjemites-Granodiorites
Cenozoic cover. In this study, an integration of high-resolution aero­
(TTG), gneisses and granitic rocks (Montero et al., 2017). The Reg­
magnetic data with boreholes data was done in order to decipher the
uibat shield can be subdivided into a southwestern Archean terrane and
subsurface structural geometry of the basement, as well as to discuss the
a northeastern Paleoproterozoic one. These terranes have been collided
tectonic evolution of the basin.
during a NE-trending transpressive Eburnean event, along the
The adopted methodology consists firstly of analyzing direct and

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O. El Amraoui et al. Journal of African Earth Sciences 207 (2023) 105074

Fig. 3. Schematic cross-section illustrating the structural makeup of the Dhlou-Zemmour belt after Variscan orogeny (Villeneuve et al., 2015). Throughout the E-W
oriented Variscan shortening, several NNE-oriented thrusts were created along the Paleozoic layers to form the Dhlou-Zemmour belt (Villeneuve et al., 2015). Note
that pre-existing normal faults affecting the crystallin basement during the post-Pan-African extensional event were not reworked in the Variscan shortening,
indicating that the Dhlou-Zemmour belt was formed by thin-skinned tectonic (Villeneuve et al., 2015).

punctual subsurface information obtained from boreholes through derivative (VDR) (Evjen, 1936; Elkins, 1951) are high-pass filters,
establishing stratigraphic correlations across the TLD basin. These permitting the attenuation of long wavelength magnetic signature, and
stratigraphic correlations aim to illustrate the vertical and lateral vari­ intensifying short ones. THDR has the ability to identify source edges by
ation of the Meso-Cenozoic series, which is due to the geometry of plotting its maximum value approximately above edges of contrasting
basement. For an accurate representation of thickness variations in the magnetization, allowing the detection of lateral changes of lithology and
Meso-Cenozoic series, we considered the actual distances between structural contacts (Cordell, 1979; Nait Bba et al., 2019; Rezouki et al.,
boreholes, their total depth and their elevation relative to the main sea 2020; Bouazama et al., 2023). VDR is a powerful process works on
level (Table 1). Subsequently, the analysis and interpretation of aero­ isolating magnetic anomalies of contiguous magnetic sources and
magnetic data will yield fault systems affecting and controlling the improving special and structural resolution by reflecting closely the
structural geometry of the basement. The obtained structural data will width of anomaly source (Isles and Rankin, 2013). These two filters are
then be used to discuss the tectonic evolution of the basin during its complementary and considered a basic necessity in lineaments detec­
polyphased tectonic history. tion. Given that these filters work on intensifying short wavelength, they
The airborne aeromagnetic survey used in this study was conducted produce noise. Thus, lineaments were drawn manually with caution,
in 2004 for the Moroccan Geological survey. The dataset was collected because automatic method considers noise as lineaments.
with G.822A Geometrics Cesium magnetometer at a nominal flight Depth estimations in this study was based on Euler deconvolution.
height of 100 m, with a sensitivity of 0.01 nT and a 10 Hz frequency of This technique can yield meaningful results about the geometry of
sampling. The survey covered an area of about 110 000 km2. It consists causative body without prior geological knowledge (Hinze et al., 2012).
of a 110◦ directed flight lines with a varying line spacing of 500 m and Thus, the objective of applying this technique is to identify the geolog­
1000 m. The tie lines are trending 20◦ and spaced by 10 km. ical source of detected lineaments in THDR and VDR and estimate their
In order to depict the structural configuration of the of the basement depth. Euler deconvolution is a mathematical application based on Euler
of the TLD basin, an application of fundamental transformations and homogeneity equation to determine the horizontal location and esti­
filtering techniques is mandatory to delineate edges of magnetic caus­ mates the depth of magnetic causative bodies (Thompson, 1982; Reid
ative bodies and estimate their depth. Numerous methods can be found et al., 1990). Depending on the choice of the structural index, window
in existing literature (e.g., Evjen, 1936; Baranov and Naudy, 1964; size and depth tolerance, the deconvolution helps in detecting various
Grauch and Cordell, 1987; Cooper and Cowan, 2008; Eldosouky et al., geological features, with various geometries, such as faults and
2022; Pham et al., 2022), which work on detecting abrupt lateral magmatic bodies at different levels of depth (Reid et al., 1990; Reid,
changes in lithology that can be represented by fractures and faults 2003; Hinze et al., 2012; Reid and Thurston, 2014). The structural index
(Milligan and Gunn, 1997). Transformations and filtering techniques (SI) depends on the shape of magnetic sources, assuming that they can
applied in this study are the reduction to north magnetic pole (RTP), be approximated by simple geometries, such as vertical edge, sheet,
vertical (VDR) and total horizontal derivatives (THDR) and Euler horizontal cylinder and sphere. These shapes can be detected using
deconvolution. structural indices of 0, 1, 2 and 3 respectively (Reid, 2003; Hinze et al.,
Owing to the dipolar nature of magnetic field, residual anomalies are 2012). The window size (W) is selected to include anomaly of interest
not symmetric over their causative bodies, except in the magnetic poles. without including adjacent anomalies. Eventually, depth tolerance (T)
Therefore, the RTP transformation is applied on the residual anomalies refers to the percentage of accepted error for depth estimation. In
to recalculate the magnetic field as if it was measured at the magnetic practice, Euler deconvolution is an iterative approach that requires
poles (Baranov and Naudy, 1964; Baranov and Naudy, 1964). As a application of several different parameters in relation to various ge­
result, the RTP anomalies become symmetric with respect to their ometries and depths of magnetic sources. Optimal parameters must
sources, exhibiting relatively high amplitudes. This will facilitate a exhibit best clustering of Euler solutions (Hinze et al., 2012).
strong correlation between the magnetic anomalies and the geological
features from which they originate. Nevertheless, RTP transformation 4. Results and interpretation
assumes that the magnetization is mainly induced and its direction is
equivalent to ambient field during the acquisition, which is not the case 4.1. Borehole data processing
in real data that present remanent and induced components. Though, it
still a necessity in the interpretation as it provides less complex image of The stratigraphic correlations reveal significant lateral and vertical
anomalies than the residual magnetic field (Isles and Rankin, 2013). variation of the Meso-Cenozoic series thickness (Fig. 4). These variations
The total horizontal derivative (THDR) (Cordell, 1979) and vertical highlight a complex subsurface geometry of the basement. The NNE-

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O. El Amraoui et al. Journal of African Earth Sciences 207 (2023) 105074

Fig. 4. Stratigraphic correlations illustrating the subsurface geometry of the TLD basin (see Fig. 1B for locations). A: NNE-trending correlation displays the thickness
variation along the entire length of the basin. The correlation depicts a complex subsurface geometry of uplifted and subsided areas that are likely controlled by NW-
and NNE-trending faults or differential subsidence in the basement. B. and C: are respectively ENE- and E-trending correlations revealing increase of thickness and
deep of Mesozoic series toward the west. This increase in thickness and deep that is most likely controlled by NNE-trending hidden faults suggest syn-sedimentary
tectonic during Lower Mesozoic rifting phase. This tectonic was still active until the Lower Cretaceous evident from thickening and deepening of Lower Cretaceous
sediments to the west.

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O. El Amraoui et al. Journal of African Earth Sciences 207 (2023) 105074

Table 1
Specifications of borehole data used in this study. MSL refers to mean sea level.
Borehole Longitude Latitude Elevation relative to MSL Total depth Depth of Crystallin basement (relative References
(meter) (meter) to MSL)

Daora 1-1 − 13.20 27.47 12 4245 Not reached Auxini (1969)

Hagunia 1-2 − 12.35 27.52 224 2410 Not reached Auxini (1969)
Amseiquir 1-8 − 12.82 27.20 112 4117 Not reached Auxini (1969)
D-2-9 − 12.15 27.23 283 2064 Not reached Auxini (1969)
Corc 23-1 − 12.87 26.57 179 4199 Not reached Auxini (1969)
Corc 23-2 − 12.85 26.45 205 4385 Not reached Auxini (1969)
Eassi Tarar 1-43 − 14.72 25.40 70 3972 Not reached Auxini (1969)
Ugranat A-1-32 − 13.10 26.00 201 3689 Not reached Auxini (1969)
Uetat A-2-41 − 12.90 25.95 245 2175 Not reached Auxini (1969)
44–1 − 13.95 25.38 170 2532 Not reached Auxini (1969)
48–1 − 13.58 25.22 254 3926 Not reached Auxini (1969)
52–1 − 14.30 24.72 188 4131 Not reached Auxini (1969)
77–2 − 16.02 23.20 65 2703 Not reached Auxini (1969)
97–1 − 16.92 21.42 8 3455 Not reached Auxini (1969)
Puerto- − 12.33 27.97 4 4091 Not reached Hafid et al. (2008)
Cansado-1
El Amra-1 − 11.69 27.95 282 2574 Reached at − 2114 (Choubert et al., 1966; Hafid et al.,
2008)
Chebeika-1 − 11.67 28.20 80 4201 Reached at − 4090 Choubert et al. (1966)
F-1-3 − 11.60 27.37 325 1704 Reached at − 1348 Auxini (1969)
56–1 − 14.18 24.38 247 1620 Reached at − 1348 Auxini (1969)
E-1-66 − 15.53 23.50 138 1640 Reached at − 1475 Auxini (1969)
77–1 − 15.82 23.20 132 610 Reached at − 478 Auxini (1969)
Alisio 15-A-1 − 13.92 26.81 − 98 3825 Not reached von Rad and Wissmann (1982)
DSDP 397A − 14.99 26.93 − 2914 1453 Not reached (von Rad and Wissmann, 1982; DSDP,
1989)
Spansah 51-A-1 − 16.10 24.92 − 83 3330 Not reached von Rad and Wissmann (1982)
B-2-10 − 11.78 27.17 285 1784 Not reached Auxini (1969)
A-1-10 − 12.01 27.16 330 551 Reached at − 213 Auxini (1969)

Fig. 5. Residual magnetic anomalies map of the study area.

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O. El Amraoui et al. Journal of African Earth Sciences 207 (2023) 105074

Fig. 6. Reduced to magnetic pole anomalies (RTP) map of the study area with location of positive (P) and negative (N) anomalies. The RTP was overlayed with a
simplified geological map in order to correlate between magnetic anomalies and major geological units. Magnetic survey is mainly covering the Meso-Cenozoic area
of the basin. Boreholes were plotted on the map to assess the relative depth of anomalies. It displays 7 positive anomalies and 4 negative ones.

trending correlation across the total length of the basin, reveals a ge­ region of the basin, boreholes F-1-3 and B-2-10 report a series of Lower
ometry of uplifted and subsided regions of the basement (Fig. 4A). This Cretaceous sediments unconformably deposited on the Paleozoic
vertical movement might be due to an NW-trending hidden faults or a sequence with a paleohigh structure of the basement penetrated by
differential subsidence of NNE-trending blocs. Remarkable variation of borehole A-1-10 is bordering this Paleozoic sequence to the west
the Meso-Cenozoic series thickness is documented between boreholes (Fig. 4B). Hence, this paleohigh structure was probably the western limit
52-1 and 56-1. The area between these two boreholes is truncated by the of Paleozoic basins during post-Pan-African extensional event. Also,
proposed eastern limit of the crustal thinning due to Triassic rifting (von significant deepening of the basement is noticed to the west of the
Rad et al., 1982). A precambrian basement was penetrated by boreholes paleohigh structure between boreholes A-1-10 and D-2-9, and this latter
56-1, E-1-66 and 77-1 at shallow depths of − 478 to − 1475 m (Fig. 4A). with Hagunia 1–2, coupled with appearance of syn-rift sediments of the
Moreover, significant contrast of depth is noticed between 77-1 and 77-2 Lower Mesozoic (Fig. 4B). Hence, this paleohigh structure was also the
boreholes indicates the existence of a NE-trending normal fault that eastern limit of the Lower Mesozoic rifting phase, evident from the lack
allows the thickening of the Meso-Cenozoic sequence in borehole 77-2. of Lower Mesozoic syn-sedimentary sequence farther to the east. Further
This normal fault may correspond to the Dakhla fault mapped north­ to the west, the correlations display deepening and thickening of the
eastward of these boreholes (Fig. 1B). Mesozoic series, particularly the Lower Cretaceous sequence (Fig. 4B
Both ENE- and E-trending correlations display clearly the increasing and. 4C), suggesting a syn-sedimentary tectonic along NNE-trending
of depth and thickness of the Meso-Cenozoic series from east to west hidden faults.
(Fig. 4B and. 4C). This variation can be attributed to a half-graben
structure formed during the early Mesozoic rifting. In the northeastern

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O. El Amraoui et al. Journal of African Earth Sciences 207 (2023) 105074

Fig. 7. Total horizontal derivative map (THDR) juxtaposed with the major geological boundaries of the study area to establish correlation between THDR linea­
ments, represented by black solid lines, and geological ones (see Fig. 6 for geology legend). The map demonstrates distinctive organization of gradients between a
northern part with large-scale gradients and a southern part with relatively small-scale ones. Due to the small-scale of gradients in the southern part of the basin, a
zoom on important areas marked by dashed dark blue rectangles will be illustrated on Fig. 9.

4.2. Magnetic anomalies identification P1 to P4 anomalies are located in the northern and the central parts
of the basin and coincide in the surface with the Meso-Cenozoic cover,
The residual magnetic anomaly map of the TLD basin displays which is dominated by non-magnetic sediments. Moreover, Amseiquir
several distinct anomalies, exhibiting intensities ranging between 1–8, Corc 23-1, Corc 23-2, Ugranat A-1-32 and Uetat A-2-41 boreholes
− 162.9 nT and +126.5 nT and represented by various geometries and drilled within these anomalies (Fig. 6) display a thick Meso-Cenozoic of
wavelengths (Fig. 5). The RTP anomalies of the basin was computed more than 4000m (Fig. 4). Accordingly, these anomalies are related to
from this magnetic residual field using an inclination of 31.199◦ and a underlying deep magnetic rock units.
declination of − 5.987◦ , which correspond to magnetization direction of The P1 anomaly, located in northernmost part of the basin, consist of
the magnetic field during acquisition. RTP anomalies were overlayed two sub-circular anomalies aligned in an NE-SW direction. Considering
within Major geological units and faults of the basin to visualize their their sub-circular geometry and positive response, they are likely to
corresponding anomalies. The RTP map indicates several positive (P) represent the magnetic signature of underlying igneous bodies. To the
and negative (N) anomalies represented by various dimensions, geom­ north of this anomaly, Triassic doleritic basalt flows of the CAMP were
etries and directions with amplitudes ranging between − 414.4 and penetrated by the Chebeika-1 borehole (Fig. 4A). Thus, P1 anomaly
233.1 nT (Fig. 6). Upon initial examination of the RTP map, it becomes might be related to the same basaltic flows in the basin.
apparent that the northeastern area displaying large-scale anomalies (P1 The positive anomaly P2 consists of several positive anomalies
to P4) with long wavelength. In contrast, the southwestern part is aligned in an N-S direction and extending over 150 km, from Boukra in
dominated by linear-shaped anomalies of shorter wavelength (P5 to P7). the north to Galtat Zemmour southward. Borehole drilled within the
The transition between these areas is marked by the large-scale negative emplacement of P2 anomaly (Fig. 6) are highlighting a thick and non-
anomaly N4 (Fig. 6). This compartmentalization in the RTP map denotes magnetic sedimentary sequence. Hence, this anomaly can be related to
the complexity of the basement of the basin, indicating various con­ a deep magnetic unit in the basement. In the northwest of Galtat Zem­
cealed geological units. mour, the P2 is truncated by small-scale NE-trending positive magnetic

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O. El Amraoui et al. Journal of African Earth Sciences 207 (2023) 105074

Fig. 8. Vertical gradient map (VDR) juxtaposed with the major geological boundaries of the study area to correlate between VDR lineaments, represented by black
solid lines, and geological ones (see Fig. 6 for geology legend). Similar to THDR map, VDR map shows wide gradients to the north and narrow ones to the south. A
large curvilinear gradient derived from P4 anomaly fit roughly with OMFZ marking the transitional zone between the northern and the southern parts of the basin.

lineaments (Fig. 6). The positive anomaly P6 presents a high intensity and a sub-circular
P3 positive anomaly is presented as two sub-circular anomalies shape trending NW-SE. The southeastern part of P6 shows curvilinear
aligned in an N-S direction. Similar to P1, P3 reflects the magnetic positive features with short wavelengths (Fig. 6), indicating strongly
signature of large igneous body. It is capped by a thick Meso-Cenozoic deformed magnetic source. P7 positive anomaly can be subdivided into
sedimentary cover as indicated by boreholes 48-1 and 44-1. an eastern region with short wavelength linear anomalies and a western
P4 anomaly crosses the entire width of the study area in an NW-SE region with relatively large-scale and long wavelength ones (Fig. 6). The
direction from the southeast to Boujdour northwestward (Fig. 6). This eastern region consists of several N- to NNE-trending magnetic linea­
direction fits, roughly, with the trend of OMFZ (Fig. 6). Hence, P4 can be ments accompanied with small-scale sub-circular anomalies. Long
attributed to hidden terranes consisting of magmatic and metamorphic wavelength anomalies in the western region are coinciding with thick
rocks formed within collision zone of the Archean and Paleoproterozoic and non-magnetic Meso-Cenozoic sedimentary sequence of more than 2
terranes during Eburnean orogeny (Feybesse and Milési, 1994; Schofield km as shown by borehole 77-2 (Fig. 4A and 6). Consequently, these
et al., 2006). latter are associated with deep magnetic source.
On the other hand, P5, P6 and P7 anomalies are located nearby Negative anomalies N1, N2 and N3 in the northern part of the basin
Ouled Dlim massif and display short wavelength features indicating occur in areas of thick sedimentary sequences. N1 and N2 negative
shallow causative sources. The P5 anomaly is trending NW-SE and co­ anomalies coincide with a lower Cretaceous sequence deposited un­
incides on its southeastern part with Aghracha iron deposit that crops conformably on the Dhlou-Zemmour Paleozoic belt, formed mainly by
out in the surface (Fig. 6). This iron deposit depicts a lenticular sedimentary rocks (Fig. 2). Additionally, the precambrian basement in
magmatic mineralization (Zerdane et al., 2011) trending in the same this area is formed by sericite and chlorite-rich shales (Choubert et al.,
direction of the anomaly. Magnetic data shows that this iron deposit is 1966). Hence, the magnetic lows can be related to this sequence that
linked to a NW-trending magnetic feature that display approximately lacks magnetic minerals. In regard to N3 negative anomaly, it is
the same magnetic intensity. This magnetic feature is likely to be the attributed to the non-magnetic and thick Meso-Cenozoic sedimentary
extend of the iron deposit beneath sedimentary cover. cover in this area as shown in borehole Daora 1-1 (Fig. 4B).

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O. El Amraoui et al. Journal of African Earth Sciences 207 (2023) 105074

Fig. 9. Zoomed images of distinctive areas A, B and C that are not clearly visible in the survey map of the study area (See Fig. 7 for locations). They are illustrated
with their signal in 1: RTP, 2: THDR and 3: VDR. A: display the magnetic signature of sinistral offset of a N-trending magnetic feature along an ENE-trending one,
which is clearly highlighted in THDR and VDR images. B: exhibit complex pattern of NW-trending lineaments in the THDR and VDR images of P5 and P6 anomalies.
C: illustrates the main linear features of the P7 anomaly which are mainly trending in an NNE-SSW direction. From B and C. positive and narrow lineaments in RTP
image, particularly for P6 and P7 anomalies, appear to be highlighted by two parallel maxima in THDR image and a single and narrow maxima in VDR image, which
suggest plausible dikes.

At Bir Anzarane, the large negative anomaly N4 shows a strong The transition zone between the eastern and the western part
negative low of more than − 413.6 nT (Fig. 6). It coincides in the south matches with the P2 anomaly. In THDR and VDR, this anomaly was
with the Eastern Archean sector of Ouled Dlim massif formed by TTG segmented into NW- and N-trending gradients (Figs. 7 and 8). The two
and gneisses rocks (Montero et al., 2017). This unit has been affected by NNE-trending lineaments to the west of Galtat Zemmour were clearly
an intense thermal event during the Upper Silurian-Lower Devonian identified cross-cutting an NW-trending gradient (Figs. 7 and 8). These
(Bea et al., 2020), which might have caused its demagnetization. NNE-trending lineaments are attributed to faults of Dhlou-Zemmour
belt, as they are parallel to mapped faults in the belt (Fig. 7). Their
intersection with the NW-trending gradient suggest that this latter is
4.3. Edges enhancement filters older and likely related to the basement. This NW-trending lineament is
roughly aligned with the trend of the Eburnean NW-trending AFZ
The main objective of magnetic exploration consists in mapping (Figs. 7 and 8), and is continue northwestward toward Laayoune. Thus,
subsurface geological contacts, faults, magmatic intrusions and ore de­ it is probably the extend of AFZ in the basin.
posits. The identification of these geological features is based on the To the south, gradients are mainly trending in an NNE-SSW and NW-
application of filters to emphasize sources edges and discontinuities they SE directions with a small-scale linear shapes (Fig. 9B and C). Boreholes
produce. In this study, the identification of subsurface discontinuities 56-1, E-1-66 and 77-1 drilled in this area (Fig. 6) display shallow depth
relies on THDR and VDR filters. to basement of Ouled Dlim massif (Table 1 and Fig. 4A), which explain
The THDR and VDR maps (Figs. 7 and 8) reveal differences in gra­ the density of gradients due to the strongly deformed basement.
dients pattern between the northern part of the basin with large-scale P5 and P6 anomalies in the RTP map reveal several NW-trending
gradients and the southern part with narrow ones. The transition area gradients mainly in THDR and VDR maps (Fig. 9B and C). Gradients
is materialized by an NW-trending curvilinear gradient that can be seen coinciding with Aghracha iron deposit are highlighting the lenticular
in VDR map (Fig. 8) derived from P4 anomaly. shape of iron mineralization (Fig. 9B) (Zerdane et al., 2011). Curvilinear
P1 and P3 anomalies circular shape is well highlighted in the VDR lineaments of P6 anomaly are well highlighted in the THDR and VDR.
map (Fig. 8), and their edges were emphasized by the THDR map THDR shows two parallel maximas for each lineament while VDR re­
(Fig. 7). Thus, they are related to underlying igneous bodies formed by veals its narrow shape. In terms of their shape and the positive anomaly
magnetic minerals. in the RTP map (Figs. 9B-1), these lineaments reflect plausible dikes,
The eastern part exhibits several N-trending gradients around similarly to those identified in the north of Mauritania (Ba et al., 2020),
Boukra, Smara and Awlitis (Figs. 7 and 8). Nearby Awlitis, an N-trending where THDR lineaments are over their edges (Figs. 9B-2) and VDR ones
gradient depict sinistral offset along an NE-trending lineament (Fig. 9A). reveal their shape (Figs. 9B -3).
This tectonic setting resembles to Dhlou-Zemmour belt structural These interpreted dikes are intruded the Ediacaran leucogranite
configuration discussed above in geological setting (Belfoul, 2005).

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O. El Amraoui et al. Journal of African Earth Sciences 207 (2023) 105074

Fig. 10. Euler deconvolution solutions plotted on the geological map of the study area (see Fig. 6 for geology legend). Solutions were calculated using SI = 1; W = 9;
T = 15%. Boreholes and VDR lineaments (brown line) were also plotted to correlate with the obtained solutions in term of depth and trend. Regarding the used
parameters, solutions are highlighting sheet-like shapes, namely faults and thin dikes, which are predominantly of shallow depth (less than 3 km) and located in the
northeastern region west of Dhlou-Zemmour belt, and to the south around Ouled Dlim massif. Solutions are aligned with VDR lineaments which confirm its relation
to faults in the northeastern region and dikes in the southern part of the basin.

complex of Ouled Dlim massif and linked to their northwestern end with do not show any indication of Ouled Dlim shear tectonic. Hence, they
a sub-circular shape magnetic body. These geological bodies are intruded Ouled Dlim massif subsequently to its deformation.
showing a curvilinear trend suggesting that they experienced the last
shear tectonic event related to the Silurian-Devonian collision docu­
4.4. Depth estimation of magnetic sources
mented in Ouled Dlim massif (Bea et al., 2020).
Similar to P6 anomaly, NNE-trending linear magnetic features
In order to identify the geological source of various geometries
located in the eastern region of P7 anomaly (Figs. 9C-1) present for each
delineated in the study area, different Euler parameters were applied.
lineament, two parallel NNE-trending THDR maximas (Figs. 9C-2) with
After several iterations, better clustering of solutions was obtained in
a single NNE-trending narrow VDR gradients (Figs. 9C-3) reflecting a
two Euler solution maps (Figs. 10 and 11). The first Euler map was
plausible dike intrusion. These dikes are intruded in the Silurian-
obtained using a structural index of 1, a window of 9 and a depth
Devonian and the Western Archean sectors of Ouled Dlim massif. They
tolerance of 15%. In magnetic data, the used structural index plots

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O. El Amraoui et al. Journal of African Earth Sciences 207 (2023) 105074

Fig. 11. Euler deconvolution solutions plotted on the geological map of the study area (see Fig. 6 for geology legend). Solutions were calculated using SI = 0; W = 9;
T = 15%. Also, Boreholes and VDR lineaments (brown line) were plotted to correlate with the obtained solutions in term of depth and trend. Solutions in this map are
delineating geological contacts or vertical faults that are mainly located in the western regions of the basin, roughly align with VDR lineaments and reach more than
10 km in depth. To the south, solutions are relatively shallow of less than 3 km south to Dakhla and are not aligned with VDR lineaments particularly around Ouled
Dlim massif. Hence, Lineaments in the north can be identified as geological contacts of vertical faults, while to the south they are likely dike intrusion as they were
highlighted in the first Euler map Fig. 10 using SI = 1.

solutions on top of sheet-like shapes such as faults and thin dikes (Reid, predominantly less than 3 km in depth, and align with lineaments of
2003; Hinze et al., 2012). The map displayed a good cluster of solutions VDR. Considering the interpretation of THDR and VDR map, N- to
in the northeastern region and in the southern part of the basin, where NE-trending lineaments in the northeastern region are likely to be faults,
boreholes reach the basement at shallow depths. On the other hand, and NW- and NNE-trending ones in the southern region are suggesting
meaningless scatter of solutions was produced in the western area where dike related lineaments.
the basement is relatively deep. Consequently, the investigated depth by The second Euler map was calculated using a structural index of
Euler solution in the first map was limited to 4 km, maximum depth of 0 while keeping window size and depth tolerance same as the first map.
which boreholes in the eastern regions penetrated the precambrian The used structural index emphasizes contacts or vertical faults. These
basement, to eliminate the meaningless scatter (Fig. 10). The produced geological features were detected in the central part of the basin
solutions are delineating faults and dikes in the study area which are (Fig. 11). They indicate great depths reaching more than 10 km, and

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O. El Amraoui et al. Journal of African Earth Sciences 207 (2023) 105074

Fig. 12. A. Subsurface structural map of the TLD basin defined from aeromagnetic data interpretation, illustrating hidden geological features (see Fig. 1B for li­
thology legend). Dark blue solid line indicates location of Fig. 13. B, C, D and E: are respectively rose diagrams for geological faults, geological dikes, magnetic faults
and magnetic dikes. Rose diagrams were calculated based on coordinates of endpoints of mapped lineaments. The map distinguishes clearly three areas of distinct
structural pattern. The northeastern area is primarily marked by N- to NNE-trending faults of the BFZ that are in agreement with the main trends in Dhlou-Zemmour
belt cropping out to the east. To the west of BFZ, two identified NW-trending faults were detected and attributed to AFZ and OMFZ. The south is marked by dense
network of NW- and NNE-trending dikes and faults truncating mainly the Ouled Dlim massif.

along the coast in the southern region with relatively shallower depth of 5. Discussion
less than 8 km north of Dakhla to less than 3 km south of it. Moreover,
the map was successfully able to delineate sub-circular geometries in the 5.1. Subsurface structure of the TLD basin
basin that are related to P1 and P3 anomalies in RTP map (Fig. 6). Also,
lineaments previously related to AFZ and OMFZ were detected in this 5.1.1. Lineaments analysis
map presenting depths of 1–8 km. To the south, solutions are not plotted In light of the geological framework of the study area, the integration
within NW- and NNE-trending VDR lineaments, which likely confirms of results from THDR, VDR and Euler deconvolution allows the elabo­
that these lineaments are related to dike intrusions rather than geolog­ ration of a structural scheme of the subsurface structure of TLD basin.
ical contact or vertical fault. The interpreted faults, dikes, and magnetic bodies were overlayed on the

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O. El Amraoui et al. Journal of African Earth Sciences 207 (2023) 105074

Fig. 13. Schematic cross-section of the subsurface structure of the basin (see Fig. 12A for location). The cross-section is constrained based on our interpretations of
magnetic data. Boreholes were implemented to characterize the variation of depth of the Paleozoic and Meso-Cenozoic sequences. Question marks indicates area
where the depth of the Meso-Cenozoic is unknown. The cross-section shows the subdivision of the basin into three domains displaying distinct subsurface structural
configuration. The Northeastern domain is characterized by a fractured Precambrian basement by the N- to NNE-trending BFZ. Faults in this area were less affected
by the Triassic extensional phase, which is limited by the paleohigh structure revealed by A-1-10 borehole. To the southwest of this paleohigh structure starts the
Western Domain. It is the deepest part of the basin formed by horst and graben structures and controlled by reworking of pre-existing faults. This domain is limited to
the south by the Eburnean OMFZ. Southward the OMFZ, the Southern Domain is predominantly occupied by the Ouled Dlim massif, which is located at shallow
depth. Faults in this domain are related to Pan-African and Variscan orogenies, whilst the Triassic extensional regime is limited to the southwesternmost margin of
the Ouled Dlim massif, where a significant deepening was reported between boreholes 77-1 to the east and 77-2 westward.

geological map of the study area (Fig. 12A). increasing of depth of basement to the west (Fig. 13) inferred from Euler
Rose diagrams of mapped geological faults display a dominance of deconvolution maps (Fig. 11) and confirmed by boreholes data, partic­
NW-SE direction (Fig. 12B) unlike inferred magnetic faults which reveal ularly between D-2-9 and Hagunia 1–2 (Fig. 4B). Additionally, it
three main directions striking N-S to NNE-SSW, NW-SE and NE-SW matches with the proposed eastern limit of the crustal thinning due to
(Fig. 12D). N- to NE-trending faults are more frequent in the north­ the Mesozoic rifting (von Rad et al., 1982). Accordingly, the BZF was
eastern part of the study area (Fig. 12A). Euler deconvolution solutions also the eastern limit of the extensional regime during the Central
along these faults estimates their depths to the top ranging from 1 to 3 Atlantic opening event (Fig. 13).
km (Fig. 10), showing consistency with boreholes data, particularly F-1- The Western Domain of the study area exhibits large-scale magnetic
3 and A-1-10 drilled in the area (Fig. 4B). On the other hand, NW-SE anomalies (Fig. 6). They reveal great depth to basement of more than 4
extracted faults correspond to the Eburnean AFZ and OMFZ (Fig. 12A) km evidenced in boreholes data (Fig. 4), and can reach 12 km in depth as
were identified in the western part of the basin and show great depths in shown in Euler deconvolution map (Fig. 11). These depth values are due
Euler deconvolution map (Fig. 11) confirming crustal fault zones. to N- to NNE-trending pre-existing faults of BFZ in the basin that were
To the south, all dikes intruding the Reguibat shield are striking reworked during the extensional regime of the Triassic rifting. Addi­
mainly in ENE-WSW with a secondary group trending NW-SE (Fig. 12C). tionally, sub-circular positive anomalies P1 and P3 are interpreted as
This study revealed two dike groups that are trending in NW-SE and magmatic bodies. Euler deconvolution map, using a structural index of
NNE-SSW directions (Fig. 12E). NW-trending dikes are concentrated 0 (Fig. 11), displays solutions of depths ranging mainly between 3 km
over Aghracha region, and were related to banded iron formation (BIF) and 10 km over the P1 anomaly, of which the lower Mesozoic sequences
mineralization of Aghracha iron deposit that trend in the same direction might lay. The Triassic-lower Jurassic sequence is at least 5 km thick (Le
(Zerdane et al., 2011; Benaouda et al., 2022). NNE-trending identified Roy and Piqué, 2001), and it might be thicker oceanward. Moreover, the
dikes are located in the western margin of Ouled Dlim massif and proved depth to the top of the Lower-Middle Jurassic sediments inferred from
to be intruded the massif after its deformation. Accordingly, and Amseiquir 1–8 borehole drilled within emplacement of the anomaly
regarding their NNE-trend that indicate a WNW-trending stress, and (Fig. 6) is 3.8 km (Fig. 4B). Adding the 5 km thickness of the
their proximity to the Atlantic margin, these interpreted dikes were Triassic-Lower Jurassic to the depth to the top of Lower-Middle of 3.8
attributed to CAMP event contemporaneous with the Central Atlantic km suggest a Lower-Triassic sequence located at least at 8.8 km of depth.
opening event. Therefore, P1 anomaly is produced by magnetic rocks interbedded in the
Triassic-Lower Jurassic sequence, which are likely related to CAMP
5.1.2. Tectonic domains basaltic flows, similar to those penetrated by Chebeika-1 borehole
The obtained structural map of the study area clearly defines three (Fig. 4A). On the other hand, Euler solutions delineating the positive
main tectonic domains with different lineaments trend. The North­ anomaly P3 indicates deeper depths of more than 10 km (Fig. 11) sug­
eastern Domain depicts a slightly dense network of lineaments (Fig. 13) gesting its relation to the basement.
striking mainly in N-S to NNE-SSW directions. They are interpreted as In contrast to the other domains, the Southern Domain depicts denser
Variscan faults related to a western part of Dhlou-Zemmour belt that is network of NW- and NNE-trending lineaments, that were interpreted as
covered by Meso-Cenozoic sedimentary cover. The structural pattern of dikes intrusions (Fig. 12A). Being to the south of OMFZ suggest that the
the Northeastern Domain is limited to the west in Boukra region. This crystallin basement in this domain is Archean in age (Fig. 13). This
area was marked by the N-trending P2 anomaly (Fig. 6). Hence, this domain shows also shallower depth to crystallin basement evident in
anomaly corresponds to a magnetic rock unit related to the basement boreholes 56-1, E-1-66 and 77-1 (Fig. 13), and Euler deconvolution map
forming the western limit of the Paleozoic basins during their opening in (Fig. 10). These observations confirm that this area was less affected by
the post-Pan-African extensional phase. This limit area is referred in this the Lower-Triassic rifting (Labails and Olivet, 2009), which is likely due
study by the Boukra Fault Zone (BFZ) (Fig. 13), where faults are mainly to the relatively thickened lithosphere under Archean terranes in
trending in an N-S to NNE-SSW direction. This BFZ demonstrates an contrast to Paleoproterozoic ones (Ouattara et al., 2019).

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O. El Amraoui et al. Journal of African Earth Sciences 207 (2023) 105074

(caption on next page)

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O. El Amraoui et al. Journal of African Earth Sciences 207 (2023) 105074

Fig. 14. Simplified schematic block diagrams illustrating the tectonic evolution of the TLD basin. Events are classified from the oldest event in the bottom to the
recent one in the top. A: Dextral transpressional tectonic of the Eburnean orogeny. The N-trending compression led to subduction of Archean terranes under
Paleoproterozoic one, which generate a subduction-related igneous body between OMFZ and AFZ. B: Ediacaran extensional phase of the Pan-African orogeny that has
reworked pre-existing N- to NNE-trending faults. The E-to NW-trending extensional stress has created Paleozoic basins in the north, whilst in the south it was
expressed by the bimodal magmatism of Ouled Dlim massif. C: Variscan shortening phase that has reworked Ediacaran normal faults. The E-to NW-trending
shortening stress has formed the Dhlou-Zemmour belt in the north and Ouled Dlim massif to the south, and allow their thrusting over Reguibat shield. D: The
tectonic setting during the Central Atlantic rift, where N- to NNE-trending pre-existing reverse faults from the Variscan orogeny were reworked allowing deepening of
the basin to the west. This tectonic period was marked by CAMP basaltic flows identified in the north and dikes in the south.

5.2. Tectonic evolution slightly thicker under southern Archean terranes (Ouattara et al., 2019).
This suggests that the basement is quite rigid and characterized by a
In light of previous geological studies and the obtained results, we thick crust that resisted the southward propagation of rifting. The same
aim to elaborate a tectonic evolution of the basin. It is marked by four phenomenon is observed in the East African Rift system, where the rift
main tectonic events: the Eburnean, Pan-African, the Variscan orog­ zone follows the ancient tectonic belts instead of crossing the rigid
enies, and the Central Atlantic rifting event (Fig. 14). Tanzanian craton (Corti, 2012; Adams et al., 2018). CAMP magmatic
During the Eburnean orogeny, Archean terrains were juxtaposed activities, characteristic of this tectonic period, were mapped in the
with those of the Paleoproterozoic along the NW-oriented OMFZ. This northern part of the basin, expressed by the positive anomaly P1,
zone exhibits a polyphased tectonic history divided into three defor­ interbedded in the Mesozoic sequence and NNE-trending dikes identi­
mation episodes with a dominance of the transpression regime (Feybesse fied in the Southern Domain.
and Milési, 1994; Schofield et al., 2006). These tectonic phases began
with a NE-directed shortening, followed by sinistral transpression in the 6. Conclusion
same direction, and finally, dextral transpression with an NNE-SSW
orientation. This change in tectonic regime is associated with a reor­ The present study involves the integration of aeromagnetic in­
ientation of crustal blocks (Schofield et al., 2006). In the study area, terpretations along with previous geological studies and boreholes data.
these events created a shear corridor between the AFZ and the OMFZ It was successfully able to provides a detailed insight of the subsurface
(Fig. 14A). The NNE-SSW direction of the last episode of dextral trans­ structure of the Tarfaya-Laayoune-Dakhla basin (TLD), despite the de­
pression led to the development of a large-scale N-trending tensional gree of uncertainty arising from several limitations in the applied
gash within the shear zone, producing the P3 anomaly. transformations and filtering techniques.
The E-to NW compressional stress of the Pan-African orogeny in the The established structural map reveals three main tectonic domains
basin had created N- to NE-trending faults (Belfoul, 2005; Villeneuve characterized by distinct structural pattern. The Northeastern Domain
et al., 2015). These faults are localized in the northern part of the basin correspond to a western part of Dhlou-Zemmour belt covered by Meso-
truncating the AFZ (Fig. 14B). The E-to NW- divergent stress during the Cenozoic sediments. The Western Domain presents great values of
Ediacaran extensional regime had reworked Pan-African faults creating depth. The Southern Domain represented by the Ouled Dlim massif and
a large N- to NNE-trending half-graben structure in the Northeastern its western part hidden under the Meso-Cenozoic sedimentary cover.
Domain (Belfoul, 2005; Villeneuve et al., 2015). The half graben is These domains were controlled by a polyphased tectonic history
controlled and limited to the west by the N- to NNE-trending BFZ. marked by four main tectonic events. The Eburnean with its last dextral
Meanwhile, the Ediacaran extensional regime in the south was transpressional motion has led to collision of the southern Archean and
expressed by bimodal magmatism in Ouled Dlim massif represented by the northern Paleoproterozoic terranes along the E-to NW-trending
the Adrar Souttouf metamafic and Ediacaran leucocratic complexes Oued Lekrae-El Mdena fault zone (OMFZ). The collision allows the
(Fig. 1B) (Montero et al., 2017; Bea et al., 2020). Paleozoic basins in the formation of a large-scale igneous body in the center of the basin
south are limited to a thin band separating the Ouled Dlim massif from bounded by Oued Lekrae-El Mdena and Aridal fault zones (AFZ). The
Reguibat shield (Fig. 14B). subsequent Pan-African orogeny and its following Ediacaran extensional
The Paleozoic evolution of the study area is also different between phase were the origin the newly discovered N- to NNE-trending Boukra
the northern and southern parts. The northern part of the basin is fault zone (BFZ) and the formation of a large half-graben structure in the
documented to be affected by a Variscan orogeny (Belfoul, 2005; Vil­ Northeastern Domain. The same event was the origin of a voluminous
leneuve et al., 2015). Ediacaran normal faults of the BFZ were reworked magmatic activity occurred in the Southern Domain and formed the
(Fig. 14C). Structural features of this shortening period are mainly central Pan-African sector of Ouled Dlim massif. Subsequently, the
striking in N-S to NNE-SSW directions, coupled with NE-trending Variscan tectonic event reactivated the Boukra fault zone as reverse
strike-slip faults as revealed for the Northeastern Domain. In this faults forming the Dhlou-Zemmour belt. Meanwhile, geological units of
study, the western part of the Variscan structure is limited at Boukra the Ouled Dlim massif have thrusted onto each other, and onto the
region by the BFZ. The evolution of the southern part is marked by Reguibat basement. Eventually, during the Central Atlantic opening
Silurian-Devonian collision event (Bea et al., 2020). This tectonic period event, reverse faults were reworked as normal faults allowing significant
is evident by the curvilinear structure of the interpreted dikes revealed deepening of the basin in the Western domain, whereas the opening
to the northwest of Ouled Dlim massif. These dikes were probably stress was confirmed to be reduced in the Southern Domain. Addition­
formed during the Ediacaran extensional event. ally, CAMP magmatic activities characterizing the Mesozoic rifting were
The last tectonic event recorded in the basin is the Triassic break-up discovered in the northern part of the Western Domain, presented as
event (Fig. 14D). It has reworked pre-existing N-S to NE-SW Pan-African basaltic flows interlayered in the Mesozoic sequence, and in the
and Variscan reverse faults of the BFZ in the northern part (Fig. 14D) Southern Domain as dikes intruding the western margin of Ouled Dlim
(Labails et al., 2010). This tectonic period was evidenced in this study by massif.
the high contrast of depth that was documented along the western part Finally, the presented structural map will serve as a guide for mineral
of BFZ confirming that BFZ is the eastern limit of the Triassic extensional exploration as it highlights areas of interesting magnetic anomalies,
stress and suggesting a plausible crustal fault in this area. On the other particularly in the Southern Domain. Additionally, the subsurface ar­
hand, the Southern Domain remains less affected by this extensional chitecture of the basin and major faulting identified in the Northeastern
regime, evident from shallow depth to basement revealed by Euler so­ and Western domains might be potential targets for hydrocarbon and
lutions (Fig. 10). It is probably due to differences in basement rheology water exploration.
(Feybesse and Milési, 1994), and in the lithosphere thickness, where it is

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O. El Amraoui et al. Journal of African Earth Sciences 207 (2023) 105074

Declaration of competing interest Cooper, G.R.J., Cowan, D.R., 2008. Edge enhancement of potential-field data using
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