Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.17794/rgn.2026.2.7

GEODYNAMIC AND PARAGENETIC EVOLUTION OF THE JBEL HOUANITE MINERALIZATION (Sb-Au; Pb-Zn) EASTERN HIGH ATLAS OF MOROCCO

Jaouad Choukrad orcid.org/0000-0001-7303-2781 ; LaRSI, Science and Engineering Research Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences and Technics, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, BP 2202, Fez, Morocco *
Abdelkhiar Ait ali ; LaRSI, Science and Engineering Research Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences and Technics, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, BP 2202, Fez, Morocco
Mohammed Charroud ; LaRSI, Science and Engineering Research Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences and Technics, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, BP 2202, Fez, Morocco
Nacir El moutaouakkil ; Geoscience, Water and Environment Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences Rabat, Mohammed V University in Rabat, 4 Avenue Ibn Battouta, B.P. 1014 RP, Rabat, Morocco
Boubker Boukili ; Geoscience, Water and Environment Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences Rabat, Mohammed V University in Rabat, 4 Avenue Ibn Battouta, B.P. 1014 RP, Rabat, Morocco
Amine Talih ; Geo-Biodiversity and Natural Patrimony Laboratory (GEOBIO), Geophysics, Natural Patrimony and Green Chemistry Research Center (GEOPAC), Department of Geology and Remote Sensing, Scientific Institute, Mohammed V University, Avenue Ibn Battouta, P.B. 703, 10106 Rabat-Agdal, Morocco

* Corresponding author.

Abstract

The district of Jbel Houanite is an important metallogenic province rich in polymetallic mineralization (Sb-Au-Pb-Zn Ba-Fe-Cu) located in the northern part of the Eastern High Atlas of Morocco, along the North High Atlasic Fault. The earliest identified mineralization corresponds to quartz veins rich in antimony and gold hosted in the Paleozoic formations, while the later mineralization corresponds to Pb-Zn deposits hosted in the Liassic limestones. Geological reconnaissance and mineral exploration work in the Jbel Houanite region determined the presence of antimony mineralization in the form of Stibnite (Sb2S3) and Bindheimite (Pb₂Sb₂O₆(O,OH)), while the lead mineralization in the sedimentary cover consists of galena (PbS) and cerussite (PbCO3). The lead anomalies are intimately linked to the presence of antimony, and this mineralization is the result of hydrothermal remobilization during the Atlas phases, which reactivated the basement faults, facilitating the establishment of lead mineralization in a Mississippi Valley Type (MVT) system. Petrographic and geochemical investigations of mineral parageneses allowed us to establish temporal relationships between mineralization events: the primary Sb-Au mineralization is linked to late Hercynian extensional tectonics, while the Pb-Zn mineralization is related to early Atlas compressional phases. This sequential evolution highlights a complex polyphase tectono-metallogenic history controlling ore deposition. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the genetic models of Sb-Au-Pb-Zn mineralization in the High Eastern Atlas and demonstrate the crucial role of tectonic inheritance and structural reactivation in ore formation and localization.

Keywords

Antimony; lead; paragenetic evolution; Paleozoic basement; Meso-Cenozoic cover; Eastern High Atlas; Morocco

Hrčak ID:

345679

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/345679

Publication date:

13.3.2026.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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