Cyclicity of Triassic to Lower Jurassic continental red beds of the Argana Valley, Morocco: implications for palaeoclimate and basin evolution

Cyclical playa deposits form a prominent part of the continental clastic succession of the Argana Valley, Western High Atlas of Morocco. The red beds formed in Triassic to Lower Jurassic times during rifting of the North American and African plates. Detailed stratigraphic work revealed asymmetrical, metre-scale cycles in mudstone-dominated successions that constitute the intermediate and upper portion of the basin fill. Sedimentary cycles commonly comprise ephemeral lake shales at the base, playa mudflat mudstones in the intermediate part, and both fluvial and aeolian sandstones at the top. Cycles of the Aglegal Member (T4) are mainly characterized by analcime-rich playa mudflat deposits displaying features indicative of palaeo-Vertisols. Cycles of the Sidi Mansour (T7) and Hasseine (T8) Members are represented by ephemeral lake or dry playa mudflat deposits grading into saline mudflat mudstones that are overlain by sheet flow and minor aeolian sandstones. Sedimentary cycles of the Imerhrane Member (T9) comprise sheet delta sandstones at the base overlain by ephemeral lake and dry playa mudflat mudstones. Upper cycle portions consist of aeolian dune and sand sheet sandstones. Cyclicity is attributed to palaeoclimatic and associated palaeohydrological fluctuations, probably within the Milankovitch frequency band. Sedimentary facies of each cycle provide evidence for a gradual climatic drying with time. The asymmetrical drying-upward cycles possibly record the precession cycle, since they are modulated by symmetrical (i.e., oscillating drying/wetting) cycles of a lower frequency indicative of eccentricity. A long-term change in palaeoclimate ranging from semi-arid conditions with seasonal precipitation (T4) towards an arid, non-seasonal climate (T8) is preserved within the cyclical units spanning a time interval of several million years. Individual cycles can be traced laterally for tens of kilometres. Correlative sections are almost identical in thickness, suggesting a phase of tectonic quiescence during their deposition. Sediment accumulation was not restricted to small-scale grabens, but took place continuously throughout the exposed area of the Argana Valley, implying that accommodation space has not been controlled by syndepositional tectonism.