Evolution tectonique récente de la zone de faille du Nékor: importance paléogéographique et structurale dans le Rif externe, Maroc

The cartographic description, based on new observations, shows that the Nekor major fault is constituted of several segments which had an independent evolution in space and time. The stratigraphic, structural and tectonometamorphic correlations recently made in the central and eastern Rif show a perfect correspondence between the two Subrif blocks, separated by the Nekor fault. Therefore, the Nekor fault cannot be considered as a typical transform zone, nor as a mobile zone of major paleogeographic importance. The attempt of correlation between the seismicity and the brittle structures related to the Nekor fault, shows that the remobilization of the north-south second order faults is responsible of the present-day seismicity in the central and oriental Rif. This remobilization is consistent with the North-South compressional stress field linked to the convergence between Africa and Europe plates.