Basin evolution associated to curved thrusts: The Prerif Ridges in the Volubilis area (Rif Cordillera, Morocco)

Roldán, Francisco Javier; Galindo-Zaldı́var, Jesús; Ruano, Patricia; Chaloüan, Ahmed; Pedrera, Antonio; Ahmamou, M.; Ruíz-Constán, Ana; Galdeano, Carlos Sanz de; Benmakhlouf, M.; López-Garrido, A. C.; Anahnah, Farida; González-Castillo, Lourdes

doi:10.1016/j.jog.2013.11.001

Cited by 30 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 24 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…As documented in the Saf Lahmame section of the Tanger‐Al Manzla area, a pre‐Tortonian erosional phase was sufficiently effective to completely remove all the “Numidian Sandstones” (>1 km thick) and possibly the deposits related to middle Miocene wedge top basins. During the Tortonian‐Messinian tectonic phase, the leading edge of the Rif thrust‐and‐fold belt was located close to the present day frontal thrust of the Rif Chain (e.g., Taza, Fes, Pre‐Rifian Ridges, Kenitra), involving the External Prerif units in the compressional deformation (Chalouan et al, 2008; Roldán et al, 2014; Sani et al, 2000, 2007; Zizi, 1996). Thus, during the Tortonian‐Messinian interval, compressional tectonics affected almost the whole Rif Chain, including the Prerif, Mesorif, and Intrarif, as suggested by the distribution of the Tortonian‐Messinian wedge‐top basins (Figure 2).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…According to Feinberg (1986), Chalouan et al (2008, and references therein), and Capella et al (2017), in the outermost part of the Rif orogen, the frontal Prerif nappes were emplaced over the African Foreland during the late Tortonian. Within the Prerif Unit, Roldán et al (2014) recognized two stages of late Miocene ridge formation and propagation. The first stage of deformation occurred during the middle Miocene‐early Tortonian, with the arrival of the “Nappe Prerifaine” in the northern part of the Volubilis Basin.…”

Section: Geological Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The late Tortonian and Messinian compressional tectonics were also important for the orogenesis of the southern Apennine chain (Cosentino et al, 2018; Vitale & Ciarcia, 2013, 2018) and the Sicilian Maghrebides (Gugliotta, 2012; Gugliotta & Gasparo Morticelli, 2012). Late Tortonian and Messinian foredeep and wedge‐top basins also developed in response to the deformation of the Betic Cordillera (e.g., Crespo‐Blanc, 2007; Crespo‐Blanc et al, 2016; Jiménez‐Bonilla, Expósito, Balanyá, Barcos, et al, 2015; Jiménez‐Bonilla, Expósito, Balanyá, Díaz‐Azpiroz, et al, 2015; Mattei et al, 2006; Ruiz‐Constán et al, 2009; Viseras et al, 2005; Weijermars, 1985) and the Rif Chain (Bernini et al, 1999; Chalouan et al, 2008; Di Staso et al, 2010; Roldán et al, 2014; Sani et al, 2000, 2007; Zizi, 1996). This deformation phase also resulted in shallowing and subsequent closure of the Rifian and Betic corridors, which shut off the gateway between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea (Capella et al, 2017; Krijgsman et al, 2018; Krijgsman, Hilgen, et al, 1999; Krijgsman, Langereis, et al, 1999; Martín et al, 2001) and consequently triggered the Messinian Salinity Crisis of the Mediterranean Basin (Hsü et al, 1977).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

The Rif Chain (Northern Morocco) in the Late Tortonian‐Early Messinian Tectonics of the Western Mediterranean Orogenic Belt: Evidence From the Tanger‐Al Manzla Wedge‐Top Basin

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

During the Neogene, the Western Mediterranean subduction-related orogen developed under differing modes and senses of subduction, resulting in the formation of the Apennines, Maghrebides, Rif, and Betics. In this work, we present the Neogene kinematic evolution of the Rif, based on literature data and new results from structural-stratigraphic analyses and biostratigraphic investigations carried out in the External Zone of the Rif. We analyzed three stratigraphic sections: Dar Zhirou, Saf Lahmame, and Seguedla. The results of these analyses allow us to reconstruct a wide Tortonian-Messinian wedge-top basin in the Tanger-Al Manzla area, when the leading edge of the Rif was at the frontal thrust of the Prerif. The presence of this wedge-top basin points to a Tortonian-Messinian compressional deformation that affected a wide area of the Rif, including the Prerif, Mesorif, and Intrarif. The late Miocene compressional deformation that affected the Mesorif and Intrarif occurred as out-of-sequence thrusting, due to renewed compressional tectonics in the internal zone of the chain triggered by the collision of the Rif accretionary wedge with the North African Margin. In the Neogene evolution of the Western Mediterranean subduction-related orogen, the late Miocene was a major pulse in the interplay between African and European plates, as evidenced by the increase in migration rates of some segments of the circum-Mediterranean fold-and-thrust belt, the out-of-sequence thrusting in the Rif, as well as the occurrence of late Miocene imbricate thrust structures in oceanic fracture zones of the African Plate (Central Atlantic Ocean).

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Geological Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

The Rif Chain (Northern Morocco) in the Late Tortonian‐Early Messinian Tectonics of the Western Mediterranean Orogenic Belt: Evidence From the Tanger‐Al Manzla Wedge‐Top Basin

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The studied sections are situated just north of the Saiss Basin, where the seafloor morphology contained subaqueous highs formed by the Prerif Ridges ("PR" in Fig. 1; Roldán et al, 2014) and the imbricate wedge (Prerifian Nappe in Capella et al, 2017a). The frontal part of this wedge forms the northern slope of the corridor, which consists of intraslope subbasins related to the main thrust faults.…”

Section: Regional Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Late Miocene contourite channel system reveals intermittent overflow behavior

Weger

Hernández-Molina

Flecker

et al. 2020

Geology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Paleoceanographic information from submarine overflows in the vicinity of oceanic gateways is of major importance for resolving the role of ocean circulation in modulating Earth’s climate. Earth system models are currently the favored way to study the impact of gateways on global-scale processes, but studies on overflow-related deposits are more suitable to understand the detailed changes. Such deposits, however, had not yet been documented in outcrop. Here, we present a unique late Miocene contourite channel system from the Rifian Corridor (Morocco) related to the initiation of Mediterranean Outflow Water (MOW). Two channel branches were identified consisting of three vertically stacked channelized sandstone units encased in muddy deposits. Both branches have different channel-fill characteristics. Our findings provide strong evidence for intermittent behavior of overflow controlled by tectonic processes and regional climatic change. These fluctuations in paleo-MOW intermittently influenced global ocean circulation.

show abstract

“…In the external Rif, Miocene basin evolution was controlled by thin‐skinned thrusting associated with the westward drift of the Alborán domain which locally created W‐ to SW‐ward transport kinematics (Platt et al, ), and SW‐ward migration of the foredeep (Capella et al, , ; Chalouan et al, ) (Figure ). By the late Miocene, the Rifian Corridor developed as a system of interconnected basins on top of thrust‐sheets and a partly submerged foreland, as either piggy‐back or foredeep depocentres, with the marginal marine incursions dating ~8 Ma (Capella et al, ; Roldán et al, ). Between 8 Ma and the latest Tortonian (~7.25 Ma), a marked switch occurred from basin subsidence to thick‐skinned contraction resulting in fault kinematics orientated N‐S to NE‐SW.…”

Section: Geodynamic Control On the Evolution Of The Atlantic‐mediterrmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mantle resistance against Gibraltar slab dragging as a key cause of the Messinian Salinity Crisis

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The Messinian Salinity Crisis (5.97–5.33 Ma) was caused by the closure of the Atlantic‐Mediterranean gateways that cut through the Gibraltar orogenic system. The geodynamic drivers underlying gateway closure and re‐opening are still debated. Here, we interrogate the gateway successions to find the imprints of surface deformation, infer the timing and nature of associated geodynamic drivers, and test such inferences against numerical simulations of slab dynamics. We find that since the latest Miocene, a tectonic framework was established in the gateway region dominated simultaneously by (a) relative plate convergence, (b) slab tearing under the eastern Betic Cordillera and (c) mantle resistance against north‐northeastward dragging of the Gibraltar slab by the African plate's absolute motion. We propose that mantle‐resisted slab dragging and slab tearing operated in concert closing the gateways that caused the Messinian Salinity Crisis, whereas sinking of heavy oceanic lithosphere located between buoyant continental plates re‐opened the Strait of Gibraltar at 5.33 Ma.

show abstract

Basin evolution associated to curved thrusts: The Prerif Ridges in the Volubilis area (Rif Cordillera, Morocco)

Cited by 30 publications

References 24 publications

The Rif Chain (Northern Morocco) in the Late Tortonian‐Early Messinian Tectonics of the Western Mediterranean Orogenic Belt: Evidence From the Tanger‐Al Manzla Wedge‐Top Basin

The Rif Chain (Northern Morocco) in the Late Tortonian‐Early Messinian Tectonics of the Western Mediterranean Orogenic Belt: Evidence From the Tanger‐Al Manzla Wedge‐Top Basin

Late Miocene contourite channel system reveals intermittent overflow behavior

Mantle resistance against Gibraltar slab dragging as a key cause of the Messinian Salinity Crisis

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About