Large Meteorite Impacts and Planetary Evolution V (2013) 3074.pdf EVIDENCE OF NON IMPACT CRATERING ORIGINE OF IMILCHIL (MOROCCO) LAKES ( ISLI AND TISLIT ). S. Chaabout1, H. Chennaoui Aoudjehane1, W.U. Reimold2,3, M. Aboulahris1, M. Aoudjehane4, 1Hassan II University Casablanca, Faculty of Sciences Aïn Chock, GAIA Laboratory, BP 5366 Maarif, Casablanca 20000 Morocco, 2Museum für Naturkunde Berlin, Invalidenstrasse 43, 10115, Berlin Germany, 3Humboldt – Universität zu berlin, Unter den Linden 6, 10099 Berlin, Germany, 4302 Boulevard Panoramique, 20150 Casablan- ca, Morocco. (
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[email protected]). Introduction: Isli and Tislit in the Imilchil region es, with alternating calcareous sandstone, red sand- are two widely known lakes in Morocco. Local legend stone, silt and clay deposition. Both lakes have dolerite tells that these lakes were formed from the tears of intrusions crossing all layers that likely relate to a post separated lovers. The origin of these depressions has Jurassic regional magmatism. been discussed by some researchers [1,2] in terms of Our observations include: three processes: formation of a karstic depression, syn- - There is no elevated crater rim at either structure. cline formation, or meteorite impact. The most widely - The layers surrounding the lakes are not overturned. considered mode of origin is due to tectonic effects - Pre-lake strata dip inward towards the lake center. related to syncline formation. - The lake shores are sites of thick sub-horizontally, In 2012, newspapers in Morocco reported the pres- often cross-bedded lake terraces. In other places, the ence of two impact craters (Isli and Tislit) related to shallowly inward dipping beds forming the base of the the Agoudal iron meteorite find.