Articles | Volume 17, issue 9
https://doi.org/10.5194/se-17-1063-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/se-17-1063-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
21 Sep 2026
Research article |
| 21 Sep 2026
| 21 Sep 2026
Petrogenesis and geodynamic setting of Ediacaran rocks from the Sirwa massif, Central Anti-Atlas of Morocco
Abdelhay Ben-Tami
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Laboratoire de Géologie Appliquée et Géo-Environnement, Département de la Géologie, Faculté des Sciences, Université Ibn Zohr, B.P.8106, Agadir, Morocco
Zgounder Millennium Silver Mining, Aya Gold and Silver Group, Rue De L'epargne, Quartier Racine, Casablanca, Morocco
Saïd Belkacim
Laboratoire de Géologie Appliquée et Géo-Environnement, Département de la Géologie, Faculté des Sciences, Université Ibn Zohr, B.P.8106, Agadir, Morocco
Jamal El Kabouri
Laboratoire de Géologie Appliquée et Géo-Environnement, Département de la Géologie, Faculté des Sciences, Université Ibn Zohr, B.P.8106, Agadir, Morocco
Bouchra Baidada
Higher school of Technology, Fkih Ben Salah, Beni Mellal, Morocco
Joshua H. F. L. Davies
Department of Earth and Atmosphere Sciences, University of Quebec in Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
Morgann G. Perrot
Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Mohamed Bhilisse
Zgounder Millennium Silver Mining, Aya Gold and Silver Group, Rue De L'epargne, Quartier Racine, Casablanca, Morocco
Mohamed Assalmi
Zgounder Millennium Silver Mining, Aya Gold and Silver Group, Rue De L'epargne, Quartier Racine, Casablanca, Morocco
Mariam Ferraq
Laboratoire de Géologie Appliquée et Géo-Environnement, Département de la Géologie, Faculté des Sciences, Université Ibn Zohr, B.P.8106, Agadir, Morocco
Mohamed Bouabdellah
Geology and Sustainable Mining Institute, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Benguerir, Morocco
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We present the first community-wide evaluation of the reproducibility of U–Pb zircon geochronology by isotope dilution thermal ionisation mass spectrometry (ID-TIMS). Eleven labs analysed aliquots of the same, homogenised, pre-spiked solution of natural zircon, which removed geological bias inherent to using heterogeneous natural zircon grain populations. We discuss remaining sources of inter-lab bias and propose areas of improvement to analytical procedures.
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This article presents a new method to date geological events affecting sedimentary rocks. This method relies on the potential for the zircon U-Pb system to be disturbed during fluid-flow, alteration, and metamorphic events in sedimentary rocks. This article presents synthetic datasets for benchmarking the accuracy and precision of the discordance dating method, as well as data from detrital zircons found in the contact metamorphic aureole surround the Alta stock.
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Short summary
Detrital zircons from Saghro Group sediments reveal the underlying basement's nature within the Sirwa massif. The returned 2.1 Ga age indicates Paleoproterozoic basement exposure along the Saghro Group basin margins, without Ediacaran sediment interaction. These findings support the hypothesis of Paleoproterozoic crust extending north of the Anti-Atlas Major Fault (AAMF), suggesting a definitive suture zone may extend further north, possibly aligning with the South Atlas Fault (SAF).
Detrital zircons from Saghro Group sediments reveal the underlying basement's nature within the...
