The Transitional-Alkaline Magmatic Series of Moroccan Central High Atlas, (Imilchil, Jbel Hayim and Tamazert Area): Geochemical Signatures and Igneous Phosphate Exploration Implication

The igneous phosphate rocks are mined from alkaline magmatic rocks, like syenite, nephilinic syenite, and apatite carbonatites (e.g., the Kola Peninsula and Kola Peninsula in Russia, the waste rock of the iron mines of Kiruna, Sweden and Arax, in Brazil…). In Morocco, several syenite massifs are recorded from the Precambrian to the Mesozoic and Cenozoic, we respectively cite those of the Reguibat shield, Jbel Boho and Siroua massif in the Central Anti-Atlas, the High Atlas and Middle Atlas . In the Central High Atlas, Jurassic syenites are located in the Imilchil region at the south of Beni Mellal City. Petrographically, these rocks are composed of potassium feldspar, plagioclase, carbonates and traces of silica with secondary minerals mainly iron oxides/hydroxides (magnetite/Ilmenite). Accessory minerals are represented by apatite with trace elements (F, K and P, Ti) and trace Si. From geochemical point of view, the syenites of the Central High Atlas of Imilchil as well as those of Tamazert are characterized by a peralkaline magmatic affinity (strongly potassic alkaline) and set up in an anorogenic geodynamic context, while those of Jbel Hayim were set up in a collisional to post-collisional compressive context related to the closure of the High Atlas basin.