Universität zu Köln

Rixhon, Gilles, Bartz, Melanie ORCID: 0000-0002-4703-6057, El Ouahabi, Meriam, Szemkus, Nina and Brueckner, Helmut (2017). Contrasting terrace systems of the lower Moulouya river as indicator of crustal deformation in NE Morocco. J. Afr. Earth Sci., 126. S. 45 - 58. OXFORD: PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD. ISSN 1879-1956

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Abstract

The Moulouya river has the largest catchment in Morocco and drains an area characterized by active crustal deformation during the Late Cenozoic due to the N-S convergence between the African and Eurasian plates. As yet, its Pleistocene terrace sequence remains poorly documented. Our study focuses on the lowermost reach of the river in north-eastern Morocco, which drains the Zebra-Triffa sedimentary basin directly upstream of the estuary. New field observations, measurements and sedimentological data reveal contrasting fluvial environments on each side of a newly identified, W-E striking thrust zone disrupting the sedimentary basin. On the one hand, long-lasting fluvial aggradation, materialized by 37 m-thick stacked terraces, has occurred in the footwall of the thrust. On the other hand, the hanging wall is characterized by a well-preserved terrace staircase, with three Pleistocene terrace levels. Whilst the identification of this thrust zone question some previous interpretations about the local (hydro-) geology, it is consistent with the statement that most of the Plio-Quaternary deformation in the eastern Rif mountains has concentrated in this region of Morocco. Our new data and interpretations also agree with morphometric indicators showing that the whole Moulouya catchment is at desequilibrium state (i.e. several knickzones in its longitudinal profile), showing several knickzones in its longitudinal profile, is at disequilibrium state. We also suggest that the knickzone in the Beni Snassen gorge, located directly upstream of the Zebra-Triffa sedimentary basin, could (partly) result from a transient fluvial reaction to Late Cenozoic thrusting activity and correlated uplift in the hanging wall. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Rixhon, Gilles UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Bartz, Melanie UNSPECIFIED orcid.org/0000-0002-4703-6057 UNSPECIFIED El Ouahabi, Meriam UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Szemkus, Nina UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Brueckner, Helmut UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-241279
DOI:	10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2016.11.005
Journal or Publication Title:	J. Afr. Earth Sci.
Volume:	126
Page Range:	S. 45 - 58
Date:	2017
Publisher:	PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
Place of Publication:	OXFORD
ISSN:	1879-1956
Language:	English
Faculty:	Unspecified
Divisions:	Unspecified
Subjects:	no entry
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language NORTH-EASTERN MOROCCO; NORTHEASTERN MOROCCO; ACTIVE TECTONICS; RIF MOUNTAINS; TRIFFA PLAIN; HOLOCENE; BASIN; PLEISTOCENE; EVOLUTION; MIDDLE Multiple languages Geosciences, Multidisciplinary Multiple languages
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/24127