July 2025: publication Geoheritage
Inventory and Assessment of the Geoheritage Potential of the Imilchil District (Central High Atlas, Morocco)
The Imilchil area is a very special part in the Moroccan central High Atlas mountain. Its geological, hydrogeological and geomorphological landscapes are varied and diverse. It is a mountainous area with narrow ridges intruded by Triassic and Jurassic–Cretaceous magmatic rocks. The Tassent, Msadrid, and Aït Ali Ou Ikkou ridges enclose synformal structures composed mostly of Jurassics and Cretaceous red beds. The latter contains a remarkable record of dinosaur bones and tracks. The igneous, hydrogeological and geomorphological geosites are evidence of the geodiversity of forms, processes and events that characterise the particular geoenvironment of this part of Morocco. A number of geosites were selected on the basis of their characteristics and their scientific, educational and tourism importance. They were assessed using a quantitative methodology that takes into account these different criteria. The selection of the sites required the contribution of multiple geoscientific disciplines. Our assessment revealed that the Imilchil region has considerable scientific, educational and tourism potential in the Tassent, Akhiam, Isli and Tislit geosites. This diagnosis leads to the criteria of deterioration, which has enabled us to highlight the importance of adopting a strategy for the preservation and protection of all the geosites in the Imilchil district.
Fig. 14 Different structures and crystallisations on faults mirrors
References
Elfaiz E., Tayebi M., Mhamdi H. Si, Benammi M. & Charroud A. 2025 – Inventory and Assessment of the Geoheritage Potential of the Imilchil District (Central High Atlas, Morocco) – Geoheritage 17:105 – https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sedgeo.2025.106923