U–Pb geochronology of Variscan granitoids from the Moroccan Meseta (Northwest Africa): Tectonic implications

This paper present new U–Pb geochronological data (LA-ICP MS on zircon) of granitoids from the Moroccan Meseta Variscan belt. Zircons Oulad Ouaslam granodiorite in Jebilet massif Western highlight a peak magmatic activity at 335.2 ± 0.8 Ma. In Eastern Meseta, ages obtained several facies High Moulouya complex restrained its to early Visean: 339.6 1.9 Ma for Perdreaux granite, 337 1.6 calc-alkaline «grey» granite and 343.1 1.2 El Hassir granodiorite. Similar late Tournaisian – Visean were Zekarra (348.1 2.3 Ma) Merguechoum (345.2 2.8 Horsts pre-orogenic Eovariscan is contemporaneous with opening Carboniferous intracontinental basins whole Northwest Africa but relationship deformation typifying remains temporally unclear. Then, 308.2 2.7 Beni Snassen monzogranite, 303.5 1.7 Tanncherfi 305.2 1.4 Boudoufoud belt show that they all are synchronous main convergent event Africa. tectonic tempos contrast one described European belt, where syn-collisional magmatism forms coevally African event, re-interpreted as possible extensional event. We proposed due propagation Paleotethys ocean within Gondwana continent. contrary, Permian tectono-magmatic could reflect docking east margin Iberian branch