The Mekkam Inlier (Eastern Morocco): A Magmatic Domain with Mixed Characteristics: Contribution of Petrographic and Geochemical Data

Authors

  • Abdelali Gouiss

    Geosciences Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Tofaïl University, P.O. Box 133, Kenitra 14000, Morocco
  • Souad M' rabet

    Geosciences Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Tofaïl University, P.O. Box 133, Kenitra 14000, Morocco
  • Ali Lhachmi

    Polydisciplinary Faculty of Taza, Natural Resources and Environment Laboratory, Department of Geology, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Fez 1223, Morocco
  • Youness Taybi

    LCM2E Lab Géo-Environnement et Santé, Multidisciplinary Faculty of Nador, Mohamed First University, P.O. Box 300, Selouane 62702, Morocco
  • Youssef Gharmane

    1. Higher School of Technology, Sultan Moulay Slimane University of Beni Mellal, P.O. Box 336, Fkih Ben Salah 23000, Morocco; 2. Multidisciplinary Research and Innovation Laboratory, Faculté Polydisciplinaire Khouribga, Sultan Moulay Slimane University of Beni Mellal, P.O. Box 145, Khouribga 25000, Morocco

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30564/jees.v7i2.7784
Received: 17 November 2024 | Revised: 22 November 2024 | Accepted: 28 November 2024 | Published Online: 22 January 2025

Abstract

The Mekkam inlier is located 50 km southeast of the town of Taourirt, in northeastern Morocco. It offers a great opportunity for the study of Variscan magmatism in Morocco. This inlier is punctuated by small magmatic bodies which we will characterize through a petrographic and geochemical study to situate this inlier in its geotectonic context. The petrographic study revealed the existence of three trends: acidic, intermediate, and basic, which are represented by facies ranging from granites to basanites, including andesites, rhyolites, trachytes, dacites, quartz microdiorites, Aplite and microgranites. All these facies have a mineralogical assemblage dominated by quartz, plagioclase, oligoclase, potassium feldspar, pyroxene, and biotite; the most abundant accessory minerals are zircon and apatite. Green hornblende is found in microdiorites and dacites. The geochemical analysis, conducted through the examination of major elements, trace elements, and rare earth elements, has uncovered the presence of two distinct magmatic series: a calc-alkaline series of the island arc type or active continental margin, and another alkaline series of syn-collision. Based on this combined data, we propose that the Mekkam sector represents a magmatic arc developed within a compressional tectonic regime located above a subduction zone, which was later followed by an intracontinental collision phase.

Keywords:

Mekkam; Petrography; Geochemistry; Eastern Meseta; Morocco

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Gouiss, A., Souad M’ rabet, Ali Lhachmi, Youness Taybi, & Youssef Gharmane. (2025). The Mekkam Inlier (Eastern Morocco): A Magmatic Domain with Mixed Characteristics: Contribution of Petrographic and Geochemical Data. Journal of Environmental & Earth Sciences, 7(2), 49–61. https://doi.org/10.30564/jees.v7i2.7784

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