Continental Crustal Structure Beneath Northern Morocco Deduced from Teleseismic Receiver Function: Constraints into structure variation and compositional properties.

In this study, we used the P-wave receiver functions (PRFs) to investigate the crustal structure of northern Morocco, located at the westernmost edge of the Mediterranean, near to the boundary between the African and Eurasian tectonic plates. This region is an integral part of the complex crustal deformation and tectonic system associated with the Alpine orogeny, characterized by concurrent compressional and extensional processes. These dynamics have led to the development of various structural and tectonic models aimed at explaining the area‘s geological evolution. The significant tectonic activity, evident in frequent seismic events, and complex lithospheric deformation, makes it an ideal location for studying crustal variations, lithospheric interactions, and mineralogical contrasts.

To achieve these objectives, we utilized high-quality seismic broadband data from the TopoIberia and Picasso seismic experiments, provided by the Scientific Institute, as well as from the broadband seismic stations operated by the National Center for Scientific and Technical Research (CNRST). The PRFs were extracted by decomposing teleseismic P-waves to isolate the effects of the local crustal structure. The dataset covers a wide range of regional stations, and the RFs provide detailed insights into crustal thickness, density and velocity contrasts, as well as deep discontinuities. Our preliminary results reveal significant variations in Moho depth, ranging from approximately 22.7 km in the eastern part of the region to 51.7 km in the western part. These variations correlate with changes in Vp/Vs and Poisson’s ratios, indicating mineralogical heterogeneity, with compositions spanning from mafic to felsic. These findings provide new constraints for tectonic models and enhance our understanding of the geodynamic processes involved, particularly the interactions between the crust and the upper mantle. This study not only improves our understanding of active tectonics and crustal composition in northern Morocco but also offers valuable insights for refining evolutionary models of the Western Mediterranean within its complex geodynamic context.

Keywords: Teleseismic event, P-wave, Receiver functions, Seismic Network, Vp/Vs ratio, Poisson ratio, Crustal structure, Mineralogical composition, Seismotectonics, Northern Morocco.