Mount Toubkal:
GEOLOGY OF THE SURROUNDINGS OF MARRAKECH
On a local geological map we see 3 main groups:
- The Haouz
- The High Atlas of Marrakech
- The Jebilets
The city of Marrakech is built on a large sloping surface from the feet of the High Atlas in the south to the valley of the Wadi Tensift: the plain, or rather the piedmont, of Haouz. To the north extend the peeled hills of Jebilets crossed by the road to Casablanca.
The Haouz plain is made up of the products of the erosion of the High Atlas mountains by torrents. These torrential alluviums are made up of gravel and gravel and silt, particularly suitable for the cultivation of fruit trees.
The Jebilet are mainly made up of old detrital sediments deposited in the primary era, then folded and faulted and recrystallized, predominantly gray to yellowish in color. They represent the heavily eroded remains of an ancient mountain range.
The High Atlas of Marrakech is a young mountain range, contemporary with the Alps in Europe. It consists of sedimentary rocks of reddish color (sandstone, sandstone clays) or yellowish-white (limestone) mainly deposited in the marine environment during the secondary era and which were folded and fractured during the tertiary era.
These rocks are based on an older set of rather grayish to yellowish color, which was folded and fractured during the primary era like the Jebilet. This “Hercynian base” outcrops in the center of the chain, as in Tizi n’Tichka, Jebel Toubkal, it includes grayish schists and in particular granites.
Elements of geology for tourists in a hurry
- The geology of the Marrakech region provides a good illustration of continental drift (plate tectonics) which can be summarized as follows:
- – the continental masses move away (extension): the liberated spaces fill with marine sediments
- – the continental masses approach and collide (convergence and compression): the sediments fold, fracture, and form a mountain chain.
In the Marrakech region, the first well-known mountain range was formed during the Precambrian era, around 1 billion years ago. It was eroded during a large part of the primary era during a period of extension and provided the materials for marine sediments of the primary era, here especially detrital sediments (pebbles, sands, etc.)
At the end of the primary era, the continental masses approach, and the sediments are deformed and build a new mountain chain, the Hercynian chain, in Europe and Morocco. Its remains are still clearly visible in the Jebilet massif and in the axis of the High Atlas of Marrakech.
Primary lands deformed by the Hercynian orogeny:
- 1. Sandstone and primary folded schites
- 2. Flaw in a pleated ensemble.
In turn, the latter is eroded during the extension period of the secondary era; marine spaces are filled with debris (detrital sediments) and limestone rocks produced by the activity of living marine beings (corals). Extension fractures allow volcanic products to rise (basalt flows).
The red layers of the Permo-Triassic:
- 3 and 4. the “Grés de l’Oukaïmeden”
- 5. Fine clayey sandstone (siltstone) and sandstone
- 6. sloping surface of the Oukaïmeden sandstone, red siltstones, and gray basalt flow.
Finally, the convergence of the continents during the tertiary era produced the uplifting of the alpine chain which extends over Europe and North Africa and of which the High Atlas of Marrakech is a part.
The current Quaternary era is again a period of calm with the erosion of the reliefs and accumulation of detrital at their feet and beyond.
Road routes
The 3 roads which from Marrakech enter the High Atlas provide a good example of the different rocks constituting the High Atlas.
1.Ourika Valley, Oukaimeden: the red rocks of the Permo-Triassic (end of Primary-beginning of Secondary) are dominant. The sandstones from cliffs. Above the fine clayey sandstones (siltstones) lie flows of altered yellowish-gray basaltic lava.
- 2. Tizi n’Tichka road: it crosses the red layers, basalts, and very deformed dark schists and sandstones of the Primary
- 3. Tizi n’Test route: first small massifs of primary rocks (Guemassa), then the red series and Primary rocks as on the Tizi n’Tichka route.
Fossils and minerals
- Primary: trilobites (actually collected further south in the same land)
- Secondary: quartz geodes (amethyst) in the volcanic flows of the Triassic
To know more…
- Piqué A. (1994) – Geology of Morocco. Pumag, Rabat.
- Saadi M. (1982) – Structural map of Morocco. Ministry of Energy and Mines, Rabat.
Toubkal National Park summer Trek 8 days
From the Atlas to the heart of the medina of Marrakech, this Moroccan adventure offers us an astonishing combination of sporting challenge, magical encounters and spectacular landscapes. We will experience the hospitality of the Berber people in the High Atlas region where the highest peaks are located, including Toubkal at 4,167 m … From the top, the reward is fantastic: a panorama over the whole region.
Day 1:Marrakech – Imlil (1750m) – Camp of Toubkal (3200m)
Transfer to Imlil, from where we will start our trek. We will first cross magnificent gardens and apple and walnut orchards to arrive in Aremd. Our path continues on a mule trail very popular with pilgrims from Sidi Chamharouch, marabout confined under a white rock at the corner of the two wadis. Continue to the two shelters to camp nearby. Dinner and overnight in tents.
Walking time: 5h. Elevation: + 1450m. Transfer time: 1h30
Day2: Ascent of Toubkal (4167m)
Departure at dawn by a steep and rocky path without any difficulty to arrive at the highest peak of Morocco and North Africa. Magnificent view on the chain of the High Atlas and the neighboring valleys, the Siroua and the borders of the desert. Descent to base camp. Dinner and overnight in tents.
Walking time: 5 to 6 hours. Difference in height: + 1000m / – 1000m.
Day3: Ascent of Timzguida Ouanoukrim (4089m) and Ras Ouanoukrim (4083m)
Very early departure for the ascent of the second highest peak of the Atlas. Climb to the Tizi Ouaguane pass (3750m). Passage through a more technical and sporty slope to reach the small plateau of Ouanoukrim and then its summit. View of the entire Anti Atlas chain and the Souss plain. Dinner and night in tents near the refuge.
For those who do not feel like attacking a second ascent, it is possible to stay and rest at the base camp.
Walking time: 6 to 7 hours. Elevation: + 900m / -900m
Day 4 :Camp du Toubkal – Col de Aguelzim (3550m) – Azib Tamsoulte (2250m)
Morning climb via a mule track to reach the Aguelzim ridge. Dominant view of the Tazagharte massif, the Azzaden valley and the great plain of Haouz. Then descent to the waterfalls and the sheepfolds of Tamsoulte. Dinner and overnight in tents.
Walking time: 5h. Elevation: + 350m / -1300m.
Day 5:Azib Tamsoulte (2250m) – Tizi Oussem -Id Issa (1750m)
We continue our descent to the Berber villages and the green valley of Azzaden, passing through the beautiful village of Tizi Oussem, where we will have lunch with the locals. Then descent through terraced crops to Id Issa. We will arrive at our cottage which overlooks the entire valley, and will take advantage of the hammam to relax our muscles. Night and Berber evening in a cottage.
Walking time: 3h30 – M: 50m / D: 500m
Day 6: Id Issa – Col du Tacht (2000m) – Im Oughlad (1400) – Marrakech
After breakfast, we take the direction of the Tacht pass, from where we will have a panoramic view of the Imlil valley. Then we will arrive at the village of Imi Oughlad. Lunch in the shade of the walnut trees before finding our vehicle for the return to the ocher city. Massage to relax and night in a riad in Marrakech.
Walking time: 4h00. Difference in height: + 250m / -600m. Transfer time: 1h15.
Including:
- Transfer by car to the mountain.
- Transfer by car from Imlil to Marrakech.
- Full board during the 2 day trek.
- night at the refuge with half board./ Camping
- Mule for transporting food and bags during 2 days of trek.
- The services of an English-speaking guide.
Not including:
- The drinks
- Tips