TITLE:
Geochemical Siliceous and Silicified Facies of Phosphate Series of Ouled Abdoun Basin (Morocco)
AUTHORS:
H. El Haddi, A. Benbouziane, M. Mouflih
KEYWORDS:
Phosphates, Diagenesis, Silicification, Ouled Abdoun, Morocco
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Geology,
Vol.4 No.7,
July
21,
2014
ABSTRACT: Syn-sedimentary
post-diagenetic phenomena are remarkable in Moroccan phosphates. Indeed they
are reference deposits for geological study, where important interests are
given of determination and identification of these geochemical phenomena.
Silicification is one of the phenomena that we have studied to determine the
diagenetic processes that control the new-formation of silica in phosphate
series of Ouled Abdoun. This study was performed on deposit EL Halassa, which
belongs to the Ouled Abdoun Basin; they spread out the Maastrichtian to
Lutetian. At first, petrographic approach was applied on different terms
composing the phosphate series. In a second step, a geochemical approach on the
same silica and silicified facies of phosphate series Ouled Abdoun Basin for
characterizing silicification deduced the probable links between this
diagenetic phenomenon and facies and forms’ affect. Ten major trace elements
were measured. According to the phases’ petrographic relationship, the results
were presented and discussed: silicate phase, the carbonate phase and clay
phase.