Petrographic and geochemical study of Precambrian and Paleozoic rocks in the western Anti-Atlas belt, Morocco: Facies, weathering, provenance and economic exploitation.

Detrital and volcanic-detrital rocks from the Ifni Buttonhole and Lakhssas Plateau were analyzed to determine their provenance, compositional maturity, and alteration source. Geochemically, the sediments were classified as arkoses, lithic arenites, grauwackes, sandstones, lithic arenites, and Fe-rich sands, indicating low compositional and mineralogical maturity. A high average SiO concentration and low AlO were consistent with a low abundance of shale and clay components.