Orogenic and fluvio-tectonic insights into the formation of the Middle Atlas Caves in the Jurassic dolomites (Morocco)

IF 1.2 4区地球科学 Q2 Earth and Planetary Sciences

Proceedings of the Geologists Association Pub Date : 2025-03-03 DOI:10.1016/j.pgeola.2025.101097

Iliass Naouadir , Samira Adil , El Hassane Chellai , Abdallah Elaaraj , Abdennabi Alitane , Mohammed Ettaki , Márton Veress , Ismail Naouadir

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Abstract

This article examines the caves of the Moroccan Middle Atlas using a multi-scale approach, both at the regional and outcrop levels. Our study employs a dual approach, combining numerical analysis and field observation, to investigate the formation of karst features. The results reveal a notable diversity in cave morphology, shaped by regional geological structures, tectonic activity, karstifiable carbonate substrate, pluvial climatic phases, and fluvial dynamics. Over 80 cave entrances have been identified and analysed in the El Menzel Causse, showing a correlation between their development and the main tectonic features of the region, including the North Middle Atlas Fault, the Median Middle Atlas Fault, and the fluvial network of the Sebou River. We suggest that the presence of these tectonic structures, along with allochthonous units linked to the uplift of the Middle Atlas, combined with Quaternary fluvial dynamics, played a central role in the karstogenesis of the El Menzel Causse caves. For the first time, a comparative study has been conducted between the karst processes of the Moroccan Atlas Mountains and those of the Dinaric Alps. This comparison highlights similarities between the karst phenomena of these two mountain ranges. Our comparative study deepens the understanding of karst processes in this specific region of Morocco, whilst providing valuable insights in comparison with other global karst systems, thereby contributing to the advancement of knowledge in karstology on an international scale.

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摩洛哥侏罗系白云岩中阿特拉斯溶洞形成的造山构造与河流构造研究

本文考察了摩洛哥中部阿特拉斯的洞穴使用多尺度的方法，既在区域和露头水平。本文采用数值分析与野外观测相结合的方法，对岩溶特征的形成进行了研究。结果表明，受区域地质构造、构造活动、可岩溶碳酸盐底物、降雨气候阶段和河流动力学的影响，洞穴形态具有显著的多样性。在El Menzel成因中，已经识别和分析了80多个洞穴入口，显示了它们的发展与该地区的主要构造特征之间的相关性，包括北中阿特拉斯断层、中阿特拉斯断层和Sebou河的河流网络。我们认为，这些构造结构的存在，以及与中阿特拉斯隆起有关的异域单元，加上第四纪河流动力学，在El Menzel Causse洞穴的岩溶形成中发挥了核心作用。首次对摩洛哥阿特拉斯山脉和第纳尔阿尔卑斯山脉的喀斯特过程进行了比较研究。这一对比突出了这两个山脉喀斯特现象的相似之处。我们的比较研究加深了对摩洛哥这一特定地区喀斯特过程的理解，同时提供了与其他全球喀斯特系统比较的有价值的见解，从而有助于在国际范围内提高喀斯特学的知识。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Proceedings of the Geologists Association 地学-地质学

CiteScore

2.70

自引率

8.30%

发文量

审稿时长

6-12 weeks

期刊介绍： The Proceedings of the Geologists'' Association is an international geoscience journal that was founded in 1859 and publishes research and review papers on all aspects of Earth Science. In particular, papers will focus on the geology of northwestern Europe and the Mediterranean, including both the onshore and offshore record. Following a long tradition, the PGA will focus on: i) a range of article types (see below) on topics of wide relevance to Earth Sciences ii) papers on aspects of Earth Science that have societal relevance including geoconservation and Earth management, iii) papers on palaeoenvironments and palaeontology of the Mesozoic and Cenozoic, iv) papers on aspects of Quaternary geology and climate change, and v) papers on the history of geology with particular reference to individuals that have shaped the subject. These topics will also steer the content of the themes of the Special Issues that are published in the PGA.