The Middle Atlas hosts calcite veins of considerable economic value, being found in the Mahdi and Bou Naceur ridges in the eastern part of the Moroccan Middle Atlas. In this study, we aim to identify the fundamental factors controlling mineralization, which could be essential for the exploration of calcite minerals. Jurassic dolomites and limestones host calcite deposits. Mineralization is controlled by the NE-SW sinistral fault system of the Mahdi Ridge as well as by the NW-SE dextral fault system of the Bou Naceur Ridge. These veins exhibit a Riedel shear system. The edges of the veins display different textures, such as banded and brecciated calcite. At the heart of the veins are deposits of massive, automorphic, pure crystalline calcite. Geochemical analyses revealed carbonate rock dissolution and carbonate fluid infiltration, indicating the presence of a low-temperature hydrothermal system. These mineralizations are a response to the evolution of the geodynamic uplift of the Middle Atlas during the Neogene, which occurred during the Alpine orogeny.

The Boudahar massif is located in the southern part of the eastern belt of the Moroccan High Atlas and it corresponds to a reef mass of about ten kilometers in length. Jbel Boudahar is a district of lead-zinc-barite mineralization, known by a strong artisanal exploitation of its ores. This district is characterized by its topography with a contrast of altitude and an arid environment, which makes the information acquired more valuable. The processing of Landsat 8 OLI data allowed us to extract a lithological and structural map, aiming to make correlations to understand the distribution of lead-zinc mineralization. To this end, several tests were carried out, including the composition of color, principal component analysis and band ratio transformation. The location of the main deposits at Jbel Boudhar coincides well with the lineament derived from band 1 of principal component analysis and with the dolomitic pliensbachian formations mapped by MNF and BR from Landsat Oli8. A remote sensing geological prospecting model has been established for the Jbel Boudhar lead-zinc deposits, providing a basis for future prospecting of new deposits in a similar context.

The Tansrift mine is an open-pit exploitation mine that mines copper substances. It is located on the SW flank of the Beni Mellal Atlas, 9 km Northeast of Ouaouizaght village. The mining activity delivered about 650 000 t of 1.5% Cu, with an estimated reserve of 1 Mt to 1.32% Cu. In this study,...