Crustal structure of the NW Moroccan margin from deep seismic data (SISMAR Cruise)

During the SISMAR cruise (spring 2001), new deep seismic data were acquired on the Atlantic Moroccan margin. The purpose of the present work is to analyse and to interpret a part of the data consisting of four wide-angle seismic profiles (4, 5, 8 and 10) recorded offshore El Jadida. Lines 4 and 5, perpendicular to the margin, show a crustal thickness of 35 km under the western Moroccan Meseta which thins progressively seaward where it reaches a minimum thickness of 10 km. The calculated velocity models show that this crust consists of two crustal layers overlain by a sedimentary cover corresponding to the post-Paleozoic sediments, characterised by a low velocity. The detailed shallow structure is obtained primarily from multichannel seismic data. Half grabens are imaged and display deeper basins located at the foot of the continental slope where the sedimentary cover reaches a maximum thickness of 6 km. The sedimentary strata are disrupted by salt migration along faults and forming diapirs. The first crustal unit corresponds to the upper crust, with p-wave velocities ranging from 6 km/s at the top to 6.5 km/s at the base. The lower crust represented by the second unit is characterized by velocities increasing from 6.7 to 7.5 km/s at the base of the lower crust. To cite this article: M. Jaffal et al., C R. Geoscience 341 (2009). (C) 2009 Academie des sciences. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.