Middle and Late Devonian paleogeography of the eastern Anti-Atlas (Morocco)

Abstract The eastern Anti-Atlas of Morocco represents one the most completely exposed and perfectly documented biostratigraphic records entire Devonian worldwide. Paleogeographically it is clearly differentiated into shallow basins, pelagic platforms, land areas which are newly defined illustrated, from top Middle Devonian, other middle Famennian as two characteristic intervals. dominant paleogeographic feature T-shaped Tafilalt Platform which, in spite common unconformities hiatuses, provides best-documented record through Devonian. westernmost termination this platform was emerged during (and locally even earlier) became only flooded again by Tournaisian transgression. In contrast to previous interpretations, area considered autochthonous. Mader Basin subsidence up hundred times higher with respect adjacent but water depth interval generally remained above storm-wave base. rocks patchily incompletely preserved on Platform, can be an intermittently peninsula connected Lower Paleozoic farther west. major paleotectonic element Great Fault, a sinistral strike-slip fault, sharply confines above-mentioned realms south.