Mohammed Benssaou

Prof. Mohammed Benssaou

geology, Université Ibn Zohr, Agadir, Souss-Massa, Morocco

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

6Years (2021-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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5 November 2021 in Geomechanics and Geophysics for Geo-Energy and Geo-Resources
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PDF file
IFIsaac Fea
Isaac Fea
Mohamed AbiouiMohamed Abioui
Mohamed Abioui
BNBassem Nabawy
Bassem Nabawy
SJSreepat Jain
Sreepat Jain
DBDigbehi Z. Bruno
Digbehi Z. Bruno
MBMohammed Benssaou
Mohammed Benssaou

30 March 2023 in Minerals
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
MOMohammed Ouchchen
Mohammed Ouchchen
EAEl Hassan Abia
El Hassan Abia
SASOULAIMANI Abderrahmane
SOULAIMANI Abderrahmane
Mohamed AbiouiMohamed Abioui
Mohamed Abioui
BLBrandon Lutz
Brandon Lutz
BSboutaleb said
boutaleb said
Copper mineralization in the Lower Paleozoic sedimentary cover of the Anti-Atlas (Morocco) is continually being revised not only to improve its mining capacity, but also to determine its origin, which remains a matter of debate. As evidenced by the various models proposed, the related research is fragmented, localized, and confusing. The origin of the Anti-Atlas Lower Paleozoic copper mineralization is shared between synergistic and epigenetic processes or a superposition of the two processes. Based on new tectono-magmatic data and a reinterpretation of the ore structural arrangement, we propose a link between the last concentration of copper deposits and the Late Triassic–Early Liassic CAMP (Central Atlantic Magmatic Province) tectono-thermal event, as evidenced by the significant concentration of copper mineralization in the three NE–SW corridors affected by extensional faults, some of which are filled with dolerite CAMP magma. The heat flow generated by the mafic dykes within these reactivated corridors causes mineralized fluids to up well into the sedimentary layers, depositing material rich in juvenile or leached copper, or even a mixture of the two. In some cases, these fluids are trapped by fracture systems that accompany passive folds initiated on normal faults. In other cases, these fluids can infiltrate bedding planes, and even karst caves, formed during carbonate exhumation. Notably, extensive NE–SW faults systematically cover the early Hercynian structures, suggesting that they belong to a post-Hercynian extensional episode. During the Late Triassic, the global fragmentation of the Pangaea supercontinent was manifested by the stretching of the continental crust at the margin of northwest Africa, with the simultaneous opening of the Central Atlantic Ocean and emplacement of CAMP magmatism. This last and often overlooked tectonothermal event must be considered in the remobilization and reconcentration of copper mineralization and other mineralization in Morocco.