Salt tectonics and structural styles of the western High Atlas and the intersecting Essaouira‐Cap Tafelney segments of the Moroccan Atlantic margin

Abstract

The Safi-Agadir Moroccan coastal region is the only area where the Moroccan Atlantic salt province makes an inland incursion. It is also an area where the High Atlas alpine fold-belt intersects at right angles the Atlantic passive margin. Regional reflection seismic transects have been constructed across this area and its offshore extension. These are used here to analyze the effects of the post-sedimentary mobility of salt on sedimentation and on structural styles, and to link these effects to the main stages of the geodynamic evolution of the Atlas and the Atlantic systems. Salt was deposited in Late Triassic-Early Jurassic times during the last stage of rifting prior to continental breakup. It played an important role in the genesis of most of the structures presently encountered in the area. A great variety of salt structures have been identified, including: gentle salt-cored folds and pillows; compressional diapirs; and salt withdrawal synclines. Completely allochthonous pluri-kilometric salt sheets and canopies are bounded to the west by toe-thrust salt structures that overlie oceanic crust in the deep offshore basin. This offers a great variety of favourable settings for possible hydrocarbon traps.

Discovery of a gliding salt‐detached megaslide, Calabria, Ionian Sea, Italy

“…The study of salt‐related structures and of rock salt properties (deformation rate and viscosity) is relevant for different applications, including hydrocarbon exploration and safe storage of hazardous wastes [ Jackson and Talbot , ; Rowan and Vendeville , ; Hudec and Jackson , ; Hou et al ., ; Jackson , ]. Additionally, where salt tectonics occur on land [e.g., Hafid et al ., ], it may pose serious hazard to civil works and constructions. Understanding salt tectonics processes and measuring the related deformation rates are hence crucial both for industrial and for civil reasons.…”