Deposits of phosphorites in North Africa. Arabian-African phosphorite-bearing province

The world's largest phosphorite basins of Asia Minor, North and Northwest Africa - the North Arabian, Arabian-Nubian, East Atlas, West Atlas and West Sahara form a giant belt stretching along the eastern and southern coasts mediterranean sea from Syria, Jordan and Israel, through Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, to Morocco and Western Sahara on the Atlantic coast. The western flank of this belt is traced further into Senegal, turning southeast into Togo, while its eastern flank is traced into Turkey, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Phosphorite-bearing deposits are alternating layers of dense or loose granular phosphorite masses with marls, limestones and cherts, sometimes containing carbonaceous material, pyrite, glauconite, phosphatized bone remains and other organogenic debris. The phosphate-bearing series is dislocated, partially washed out and denuded, preserved mainly in synclinal structures. Its thickness varies from 10 to 100 m, and the number of phosphorite layers ranges from 2 to 11.

The study of the abundant fauna of marine molluscs, fish, and reptiles made it possible to determine the age of the phosphorite-bearing series, which includes the largest deposits of phosphorites, in the interval from the Maastrichtian stage of the Upper Cretaceous to the Middle Eocene inclusive.

Mineralogically and chemically, phosphorites in the deposits of the belt are similar. They consist of small phosphate grains (pellets) enclosed in phosphate or lime cement. The composition of the phosphate part corresponds to carbonate fluorapatite. The content of Р 2 O 5 in phosphorites is high, 28-35%. In appearance, phosphorites resemble fine- and medium-grained loose or dense sandstones.

One of the largest deposits of the belt is Khouribga, which is part of the West Atlas Basin (Morocco). Its relatively small thickness (20-25 m) is compensated by the high content of P 2 O 5 in the ores. The series includes three main phosphorite beds: the first (Eocene) up to 5 m thick with a P 2 O 5 content of 32%; the second (Paleocene) - up to 6 m, 30%; and the third (Upper Cretaceous) - up to 2m, 27%. The layers are separated from each other by limestones and marls.

Phosphorites are soft, loose, crumbly, fine- and coarse-grained, light gray. Phosphate grains (pellets, oolites, pseudo-oolites) have a dimension of 0.05-2 mm and make up 60-80% of the ore mass. Clay cement with calcite and silica. Fragments of bones of vertebrates, shells of pelecypods and foramenifera are noted. The phosphate substance is represented by francolite with a content of P 2 O 5 of 34.8-35.1%. The presence of uranium oxide U 3 O 8 is characteristic.

In some areas of the belt, the primary phosphate beds that come to the surface underwent intense lateritization with the formation of aluminum phosphates.

The formation of the considered giant phosphorite-bearing belt is associated with the shelf zone of the Tethys Sea. Phosphate material was brought in by strong Western currents from the depths of the then formed Atlantic Ocean deposited in a biochemogenic way together with carbonates and siliceous sediments. It is believed that about 70 billion tons of marine phosphate sediments were deposited in the Tethys Sea sedimentation zone in K 2 -Early Quaternary.

This is the largest belt in the world in terms of reserves of phosphorite ores.

Morocco(Kingdom of Morocco) is a state in northern Africa.

Map

Geography

Morocco is a densely populated country with a population of 33 million.

The capital of the country is the city of Rabat.

The largest city is Casablanca (3 million 300 thousand inhabitants).

Other major cities are Rabat, Fes, Tangier, Marrakech. Rabat also has over a million inhabitants.

Morocco is located on two coasts - the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.

There are two Spanish enclave cities in Morocco - Ceuta and Melilla.

By land, Morocco shares borders with Algeria and Western Sahara.

Morocco has a mixed relief. In the north of the country there are mountains, in the southern part of the country there are the Sahara Desert and the plains adjacent to it.

Morocco has large arrays forests, mostly found in the mountains. Cork oak, holm oak, olive trees, bananas, oranges, lemons, tangerines, pomegranates, junipers, pines, cedars, acacia, date palm, pistachio grow in the desert. different kinds cacti, as well as argan - a tree that grows only in Morocco and is not found anywhere else in the world.

Morocco is administratively divided into 16 regions: Taza-El Hoceima-Taunat, Meknes-Tafilalet, Eastern Region, Chavia-Oardiga, Greater Casablanca, El Aaiun-Boujdour-Seguiet-el-Hamra, Marrakech-Tensift-El Haouz , Rabat-Sale-Zammur-Zaer, Tadla-Azilal, Wadi-ed-Dahab-el-Kuvira, Souss-Massa-Draa, Fes-Bulman, Gharb-Shrarda-Beni-Hsen, Doukkala-Abda, Gulimim-es-Smara , Tangier-Tetouan.

Morocco has one time zone. The country is one of the few countries in the world whose time coincides with Greenwich Mean Time.

home mountain system Morocco - Atlas Mountains.

The highest point of the country is Mount Toubkal. The height of the peak is 4167 meters.

The largest river in Morocco is Cebu. Its length is 458 km. Another major river is the Muluya.

There are many picturesque lakes in Morocco. The largest of them are Aziza, Sidi Ali.

Roads

Morocco has railways. The total length is 2100 km. Half railways electrified. Passenger traffic is developed, the main direction is Rabat - Casablanca.

Length highways Morocco is 51 thousand kilometers. The country has some of the best quality roads in Africa. There is a high-speed autobahn between Rabat and Casablanca.

Story

Morocco has an interesting history.

Main historical periods country development:

a) ancient history(from 700 thousand years BC) - the settlement of the country's territory by primitive people, the Acheulian culture, the Mousterian culture, the Aterian culture, the Ibero-Mauritanian culture, the Capsian culture, the Culture of bell-shaped goblets;

b) antique period(from the end of the 2nd millennium BC) - the foundation of colonies on the coast of Morocco by the Phoenicians, the subordination of the northern part of Morocco to Carthage, the kingdom of Mauretania (IV century BC), the conquest of the territory of Mauretania by Ancient Rome (42 BC) , the spread of Christianity (3rd century AD);

c) Morocco in the Middle Ages (since 429) - the invasion of Morocco by the Vandals (429) and the inclusion of Northern Morocco into the Kingdom of the Vandals, the defeat of the Vandals by the Byzantines (534) and the transition of Northern Morocco under control Byzantine Empire, the invasion of the Arabs (700) and the accession of Morocco to the Arab Caliphate, the state of the Idrisids, the fall of the power of the caliphate (739) and the formation of the Midrarid state, the state of the Almoravids, the state of the Almohads, the capture of severallarge cities by the Portuguese and Spaniards (in the 15th century), the expulsion of the Portuguese and Spaniards, the capture of part of Algeria and Western Sahara;

d) Morocco in modern times - the spread of piracy in the Mediterranean, the establishment of diplomatic relations with the United States (1777), the seizure of part of the land by Spain (1859), the struggle between Spain, France and England for possession of Morocco, the transition of Morocco under the control of France (1912 year);

e) Morocco - a colony of France and Spain (since 1912) - the delimitation of the spheres of influence of France and Spain in northern and southern Morocco;

f) Independent Morocco (since 1956) - declaration of independence, constitutional reform and limitation of the power of the Moroccan king (2011).

Minerals

Morocco is a country rich in minerals. The country has oil, gas, and coal. Moreover, there are a lot of reserves of all three hydrocarbons in the country, the country fully provides itself with these types of raw materials.

From other minerals in Morocco, oil shale, uranium, iron, manganese, cobalt, nickel, tungsten, molybdenum, tin, copper, lead, zinc, antimony, mercury, gold, silver, asbestos, barite, gypsum, diatomite, magnesite, rock salt, potassium salt, fluorites, phosphorites, graphite.

Climate

The climate of Morocco is subtropical, in the Sahara region it is tropical desert. Winters are mild and frost-free, summers are very hot. In the desert regions (Sahara), frosts are possible in winter, and summers are dry.

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Large deposits of phosphorites abroad are located in the USA, Brazil, Peru, Algeria, Morocco, the UAR, Tunisia, Senegal, Togo, South Africa, Israel, Jordan, Vietnam, on the Christmas Islands, Makatea, Nauru, Ocean. North African phosphorite deposits are of the stratal type. In most cases, the ore is mined in an open pit. It contains 23 - 33% RA and 1 - 2% KaOz and is used without enrichment.

There are also large deposits of phosphorites in Kdzhakhstan (Karatau, Kursk, Bryansk, Kaluga and other regions.

Large deposits of phosphorites are located in North Africa; two-thirds of all production comes from Morocco, small amounts come from Tunisia, Algeria and Egypt. On islands Pacific Ocean The phosphate mines of the islands of Nauru, Ocean and Ma-Katea are well known;

Scheme of phosphorite formation - precipitation.

Many large deposits of phosphorites in the USSR are sedimentary rocks composed mainly of calcium phosphates of the apatite type. The rocks have a very different appearance and color, and in the field they are often mistaken for marl, flask (described below), sandstone, etc.

In the USSR, large deposits of phosphorites are located in Kazakhstan. The most important deposits of this region are Chulaktau, Dzhanatas, Kokdzhon, Aksai, Koksu. Phosphorites of Karatau are difficult to be enriched by flotation due to deep germination of impurities in phosphate grains. As a result of chemical acid enrichment, calcium and magnesium-containing impurities decompose, and the phosphate part practically does not change.

Kara-Tau - the largest deposit of phosphorites in the USSR, located in the South Kazakhstan region. The phosphorites of Kara-Tzu are close to apatites in their composition.

In 1941, a large deposit of phosphorites was discovered in the Soviet Union in the Kazakh SSR. Phosphorite deposits are also found in other parts of our country.

Before the Great October Socialist Revolution, a number of large deposits of phosphorites in the form of nodules and slabs were discovered in the European part of the country and in Central Asia.

The main deposits of: apatite in the US are located in the states of Florida, Tennessee, Idaho, Utah, Montana and Wyoming. Large deposits of phosphorites are located in North Africa; two-thirds of all production comes from Morocco, small amounts come from Tunisia, Algeria and Egypt. On the islands of the Pacific Ocean, the phosphate mines of the islands of Nauru, Ocean and Makatea are well known;

The largest deposits of high-quality phosphorite were discovered in 1933-1936. in the Kara-Tau mountains ( South Kazakhstan), 90 km from the city of Dzhambul. Large deposits of phosphorites are also found in the Kirov region (Vyatsko-Kamskoe deposit), in the Chuvash Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic of the Moscow region and in a number of regions of the Ukrainian SSR and the Byelorussian SSR. Of foreign deposits, large deposits of high-quality phosphorites in North Africa should be noted.

Place of Birth iron ores in the Rif Atlas occur in the Jurassic limestones. Large deposits of phosphorites are associated with sedimentary rocks Cretaceous and early Tertiary periods.

Since phosphorites and apatite are the starting products for the production of phosphate mineral fertilizers, sufficient reserves of these minerals are extremely important for the development Agriculture countries. A number of large deposits of phosphorites are known in the USSR, and on Kola Peninsula there are huge deposits of apatite.

In addition, it owns large deposits of phosphorites in the states of Florida, Tennessee and Idaho.

Soviet Union has rich resources of phosphate raw materials. Somewhat later, in 1936, in the area mountain range Kara-Tau (Kazakhstan) large deposits of phosphorites were discovered, with a higher content of phosphorus than in phosphorites of other deposits known at that time. In terms of reserves of phosphate raw materials, these deposits surpassed other deposits in our country, and in terms of the thickness of the reservoirs they had no equal in the whole world. In the USSR there are also other deposits of phosphorites of industrial importance. The development of the richest deposits of phosphates has acquired enormous economic and economic importance.

Morocco is washed in the north by the waters of the Mediterranean Sea and in the west by the Atlantic Ocean. The Strait of Gibraltar separates Morocco from mainland Europe. In the east and southeast it borders on Algeria, in the south - on Western Sahara. The southeastern border in the Sahara desert is not exactly defined. The total area of ​​the country is 446,550 km2. According to this indicator, Morocco ranks 57th in the world.

The total length of land borders is 2,018 km. Including with such countries as: Algeria - 1,559 km, Western Sahara (occupied by Morocco) - 443 km, Spain (Ceuta) - 6.3 km, Spain (Melilla) - 9.6 km. Coastline countries: 1,835 km.

On the northern coast of Morocco are the Spanish exclaves of Ceuta and Melilla. The country is divided into four physiographic regions: Rif, or mountainous region, which lies parallel to the Mediterranean coast; the Atlas Mountains, stretching across the country from the southwest to the northeast from the Atlantic Ocean to Rif, from which they are separated by the Taza depression; a region of extensive coastal plains Atlantic coast; valleys south of the Atlas Mountains, merging into the desert. The highest point of the country - Mount Jebel Toubkal (4165 m) - is located in the High Atlas ridge. Rif rises to (2440 m) above sea level, Sebha Tah is the lowest located place in Morocco - 55 meters below sea level. The main rivers of the country are the Muluya, which flows into the Mediterranean Sea, and the Cebu, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean.

Nature and relief of Morocco

Morocco is one of the most picturesque countries in Africa. Until the first century AD, the territory of the state was occupied by boundless savannah. However, the Sahara gradually advanced from the north. It has displaced part of the savannah. However, Morocco is the greenest country in North Africa. The landscape of the country is very diverse. To the south is the Sahara. The coast of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean is located in the north and west. The majestic Atlas Mountains stretch from the southwest to the northeast.

The coast of the Atlantic Ocean has flat terrain. There are many wonderful beaches, which are separated from each other by rocks. Mountains dominate the Mediterranean coast. These areas have a large number of massifs of rocks that end at the sea. The strip of beaches here is clearly narrower. Between the Meseta (Central Moroccan Plateau) and the Rif arc is the Gharb plain. The Cebu River flows through it. The valley of the Mouluya River is located in the northeast of Morocco. In the west of the country are coastal fertile plains such as Abda, Shauya and Duhala.

Four mountain ranges, among which: High Atlas, Anti-Atlas, Rif and Middle Atlas, occupy a third of the territory of Morocco. educated by them convex arc towards the Sahara. In the vicinity of the Reef is the end of the arc - the rock of Jebel Mu-sa. She is one of the legendary pillars of hercules". The second one can be seen in clear weather.

Statistical indicators of Morocco
(as of 2012)

The mountains are comparatively young. They appeared about 40 million years ago when the African Plate moved north. Then the European Alps and the African Atlas rose after bilateral compression continental plates. Despite the fact that earthquakes rarely occur in Morocco, the mountains make the seismic situation quite unstable. On the High and Middle Atlas, tourists can go trekking. There are all conditions for this.

The Reef mountain range stretches from the valley of the Muluya River to Gibraltar. The Cebu Ueda Depression (Taz Gate) separates the Reef from the Middle Atlas. Geologists believe that earlier the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea were connected through the gates of Taz. Today they connect the northern territory of Morocco with Algeria.

The Middle Atlas is also called Moroccan Switzerland. The reason for this are wonderful ski resorts, forests, lakes, meadows and waterfalls. Marrakech is located in the southwestern part of the Middle Atlas.

The High Atlas is the highest, most extensive and longest mountain range in the country. highest point chain - Jebel Toubkal - reaches a height of 4165 meters. It is covered with eternal snows. Jebel Toubkal - the highest peak of the northern part African continent. The High Atlas, like the Sahara, is a sparsely populated part of Morocco. The Jebel Sirva volcano and the oueda Sous depression separate the High Atlas from the Anti-Atlas. The height of Jebel Sirwa is 3304 meters.

Anti-Atlas is a mountain range. It is characterized by a dry climate and the presence of a large number of oases. Gradually, the southern slopes of the massif merge with the Dra plateau. The plateau itself - passes into the Sahara. The desert landscape consists of sand dunes, plains and rocky areas. Desert territories stretched to Mauritania.

Minerals of Morocco

In Morocco, deposits of oil, natural combustible gas, fossil coals and oil shale, ores of uranium, iron, manganese, cobalt and nickel, tungsten, molybdenum and tin, copper, lead and zinc, antimony, mercury, gold and silver, rare metals and mica pegmatites, as well as asbestos, barite, bentonite clays, gypsum, anhydrite, diatomite, magnesite, pyrrhotite, rock and potassium salts, fluorite and phosphorites.

On the territory of Morocco, 12 oil and 5 gas fields in the Cis-Rif and Western Moroccan oil and gas basins. The pre-Rif basin (an area of ​​35.0 thousand km2, including 22 thousand km2 on the shelf up to the 500 m isobath) is composed of sandy-argillaceous and carbonate deposits of the Mesozoic and Cenozoic age up to 5 km thick. All deposits are insignificant in terms of reserves and most of them have been developed (Ain-Khamra, Duar-Jabar, Sidi-Fili). The Western Moroccan basin covers the Doukkala and Essavira basins (40 thousand km2 in area, including 10 thousand km2 on the shelf) and is filled with Paleozoic-Mesozoic coastal-continental and sea ​​formations up to 5 km.

All coal reserves are concentrated in the Dzherada basins in the deposits of the Middle Carboniferous. Significant reserves of oil shale have been explored at the Timkhadit and Tarfaya deposits. Uranium was found as an admixture (0.013% uranium oxide) in the Maastrichtian-Eocene phosphorite deposits in the areas of the Phosphate Plateau, Gantur and Meskala. Ore occurrences of uranium are also known in the red sandstones of the Triassic (Argana-Bigudin in the northwest of the High Atlas) and Hauterivian (Waffaga, Upper Muluya in the Midelt region).

Iron ore reserves are concentrated in metasomatic replacement deposits in the Nador region (Viksan-Afra, reserves of 40 million tons of ore with an Fe content of 54-60%) and in bedded deposits of oolitic ores among Ordovician mudstones and sandstones (Ait-Ammar, Satur, Ben- Slimane, Imi-Nturza, Taklimt and others). Morocco has significant reserves of manganese ores. The largest Imini deposit (reserves of 7.5 million tons of ore with a metal content of 40-56%) is represented by lenticular deposits among Cretaceous arkoses and dolomites in the Ouarzazate (High Atlas) basin.

The reserves of ores of cobalt and copper in Morocco are significant. Cobalt hydrothermal deposits of the "five-element formation" are associated with serpentinized ultramafic rocks in the Bou-Azzer-El Graar region. The predominant part of copper ore deposits is located in the south of the country in Anti-Atlas and the High Atlas. They are represented by copper pyrite and pyrite polymetallic deposits in Precambrian volcanic rocks (Blade deposits, ore reserves 2.6 million tons, average Cu content 8%; Tizzert, 3 million tons, 6.9%) and stratiform deposits in carbonate- terrigenous deposits of the Vendian (Talaat-Nuaman, Tazalagt, etc.).

According to the reserves of lead and zinc ores, Morocco occupies the 2nd and 3rd places in Africa, respectively (1985). Stratiform deposits were found in Jurassic carbonate deposits (Beddian and Oued Mokta, reserves of 1200 thousand tons of Pb with a metal content in ores of 16%) and in Triassic terrigenous rocks (Zeida, Bu-Mia, reserves of 600 thousand tons of Pb, its content in ores 3 -3.6%), as well as numerous vein and lenticular deposits of relatively small scale (Jebel Avam, Auli, Mibladen, Sidi Lahsen, etc.). The ores of many deposits also contain copper and silver. In terms of reserves of antimony ores, Morocco is in 2nd place in Africa. Hydrothermal vein deposits have been identified in Er-Rif (Beni-Mezzala, Fahama, Kenatar-Novoe) and in the Paleozoic massif of Central Morocco (Mejma-es-Salikhin, Ish-u-Mellal, Sidi-Mbarek, etc.).

Morocco ranks first in terms of phosphorite reserves among industrialized capitalist and developing countries(1985). Phosphorite deposits are localized in the deposits of Maastricht - Lower Eocene in the areas of the Phosphate Plateau, Gantur and Meskala. The largest deposits are Khuribga, Yusufiya, Ben Guerir and Meskala.

On the territory of Morocco there are also deposits of ores of gold (Bou-Gaffer, Tivit), silver (Sidi-Lahsen, Zgunder), barite (Jebel-Irkhud - reserves of 2 million tons of barite with a BaSO4 content of 15-96%; Tesaut - 2 million tons). t, 25-90%), potassium salts (Hemisset), fluorite (El-Hammam, Jebel Tirremi, Jebel Zrahina), muscovite (Timgarin), bleaching clays, gypsum, pozzolans, quartz sands (Meknes), asbestos (Agbar ), graphite and non-metallic building materials.

Water resources of Morocco

The western territories of the country are washed by the Atlantic Ocean, and the northern ones by the Mediterranean Sea. The Strait of Gibraltar, thirteen kilometers wide, separates Morocco from the Iberian Peninsula.

Wonderful Moroccan beaches alternate with picturesque lagoons, bays and cliffs. Fans of surfing, swimming, spearfishing and fishing will definitely find something to do here.

The country is famous for its dense network of rivers. These rivers carry their waters from the mountains to the Mediterranean Sea, the Sahara and the Atlantic Ocean. Most of the rivers, most often in the south of Morocco, dry up in the summer. They form dry channels - ueda. The water level in the rivers directly depends on the melting of snow and seasonal precipitation. Groundwater is the main source of water.

Falling from the mountain slopes, the rivers turn into beautiful waterfalls. Some of the most picturesque waterfalls in Morocco are Immuzer, Seti Fatima and Ouzoud. Apart from the areas that have dried up, the most long river is Dra. The length of its channel reaches 1100 km. However, only its upper reaches are full of water. Major rivers the countries are Cebu, Muluya, Bou Regreg and Um Er Rbiyu.

The Middle and High Atlas are rich in freshwater lakes. There are no such lakes in other regions of this mountain range. largest lake Morocco - Binet el Ouidane. In addition, there are sebkha lakes in the mountainous regions. The largest of them are Schott Tigri and Schott Garbi. In the northern part of the country there are many swampy lakes.

Climate Morocco

The climate when moving through the territory of Morocco changes somewhat. On the Mediterranean coast of the country, the climate is mild, subtropical. average temperature here in summer it is about + 24-28 C (sometimes reaching + 30-35 C), and in winter + 10-12 C. When moving south, the climate becomes more and more continental, with hot (up to +37 C) summers and cool (up to + 5 C) in winter. The daily temperature difference can reach 20 degrees.

The northwestern part of the country is greatly influenced by air masses from the Atlantic Ocean. Because of this, the climate here is cooler, and daily temperature differences are much lower than in the rest of the country. In the mountainous regions of the Atlas, the climate is highly dependent on the altitude of the place. Precipitation falls from 500-1000 mm. per year in the north to less than 200 mm. a year in the south. The western slopes of the Atlas get up to 2000 mm from time to time. rainfall, even floods of a local scale are not uncommon, while in the south-east of the country there are years when precipitation does not fall at all.

Flora of Morocco

The landscapes of Morocco are represented by dense forests, desert oases, steppes and mountain meadows. Of all the countries of North Africa, only Morocco has large forest areas left. The most common here is low-stemmed light forest. In the central regions of the Reef, the eastern part of the High and the northern parts of the Middle Atlas, the Atlas cedar, which is a very valuable tree, has grown abundantly. Many of the trees are over 1000 years old. In the forests of the Rif, you can also find holm and cork oaks, Allep pines and Spanish firs. The Middle Atlas is famous for its pine forests. Citrus and olive trees grow on its slopes. Interestingly, in Morocco, scientists have about 100 species of citrus trees.

On the almost bare slopes of the High Atlas, juniper somehow survives. In addition, this plant has chosen the territories bordering the desert. In the southwest of Morocco, you can see the argan tree, which is also known as the iron tree.

The territory of the country mainly consists of steppes. In the northeastern steppes, a large number of esparto (a type of feather grass) grows. This plant is exported by Morocco. Esparto is a valuable fiber. It is used to make paper High Quality, pulp, mats, ropes and paintings.

Along with esparto in the area of ​​the Algerian-Moroccan border, there are jujube, poisonous colchicum, asphodel lily, and white wormwood. And near the gushing springs of warm water in the Mului valley, rose laurel and tamarisk grow. Thickets of prickly jujube, which are eaten by domestic animals, are common in the riverbeds of the ueds. There are also tamarisks and pistachio trees. Takout is harvested from tamarisks.

Many Moroccan plants come from other areas where the Mediterranean climate prevails. Among them: agaves, eucalyptus, prickly pear cacti, prickly bushes, dwarf oaks, oregano, lavender, etc.

As for herbs, clover, bindweed and thyme grow in Morocco. Mint grows in the Meknes region, and geraniums, orchids and peonies bloom in the mountains. The meadows of the Middle Atlas are covered with beautiful flowering poppies.

Apart from the pre-Saharan lands, the soils of Morocco are distinguished by their increased fertility. They say that everything you plant here will grow here. Cereal crops, tropical and subtropical fruit trees and cotton give excellent yields.

Animal world of Morocco

Many animals that lived in North Africa during the Roman era are now extinct, including the crocodile, hippopotamus, giraffe, buffalo, elephant, and lion (Barbary lion). In the desert regions of Morocco, there are gazelles and many types of snakes, in particular vipers.

Boars, foxes, lynxes, jackals and tailless macaques are found on the plateau of the Middle Atlas, and maned sheep (Ammotragus) in the highlands of the High Atlas. Tropical species of fauna are represented by individual specimens of predators - panthers and hyenas. Horses were brought into the country around 1600 BC, and one-humped camels (dromedaries) appeared here with Islamic conquerors in the 7th century.

Morocco is on the path of seasonal bird migration between Europe and Africa. Here you can often see storks and their nests. Owls, cuckoos, rollers and magpies are common in agricultural areas, and herons are common in swamps. Buzzards, vultures, golden eagles, hawks, kites, kestrels and merlins are often found in the mountains.

The waters of the Atlantic abound with valuable species of fish: sardines, tuna, mackerel, anchovies, whiting, etc. South of Agadir there are large colonies of crustaceans: lobsters, lobsters, crabs. Freshwater ichthyofauna is represented the following types- eel, loach, trout, striped mullet, barbel.

Population of Morocco

In ancient times, the territory of Morocco was inhabited by the Berbers (descendants of the ancient Libyans). So called local residents Romans who conquered most of Morocco in the 1st century. BC.; the Phoenicians called them mahurs (lat. - maurus), whence comes the name "Moors", which was assigned to the population of the entire Maghreb. Phoenician colonies settled here in the 12th century. BC, were captured by Carthage, and after its fall in the II century. BC. - the Romans, then - the Van-Dals, and a hundred years later - the Byzantines. Arab troops marched throughout North Africa and at the end of the 7th century. went to the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. However, the first Arab settlements arose here only in the second half of the 8th century, when the first Muslim cities of Sijilmas and Fez were founded. In the 8th century Morocco was part of the Arab Caliphate; in the XI-XIV centuries. was the core of the military-theocratic states of the Almoravids, Almohads and Marinids, which flourished in the 12th century. (“golden age” of Morocco), disintegration into separate principalities, struggle against Europeans and Ottoman Empire. In the XVIII-XIX centuries. Morocco was considered a pirate state. In 1859-60. Morocco was captured by Spain, but France also claimed this territory. Therefore, in 1912 the country was divided into three parts: the protectorates of France, Spain and the international zone - the city of Tangier. The independence and territorial integrity of Morocco were recognized in 1956. National holiday - March 3 - "Throne Day" - accession to the throne of King Hassan 11 (1961). Morocco is now a constitutional monarchy. The head of state is the king, he is also the supreme commander in chief and the spiritual ruler of the faithful. The highest legislative body is the Parliament (House of Representatives). Administratively, the territory is divided into 37 provinces.

The population of Morocco is 30.55 million people (2004). 99.1% of the population are Moroccans. OK. 2/3 of them are Arabs and Arabized Berbers. State language is Arabic, French is widely spoken.

The official religion is Sunni Islam. 1/3 of Moroccans are purebred Berbers, live in the mountains and speak only the Berber language. They are divided into three communities: the first community (Rif people) lives in the Rif mountains, the other (Tamazites) - in the Middle Atlas, the third (shlu) - in the High Atlas and the South valley. In the Moroccan south, in the oases, as well as in major cities live dark-skinned Moroccans-kharatins (farmers of oases), descendants of immigrants from Sudan. 0.9% of the population are Europeans (Spanish and French), as well as Moroccan Jews. Most of The Spanish and French communities left the country after Moroccan independence, while Jews emigrated to Israel. Large communities of Moroccans exist in Spain and France.

Source - http://ru.wikipedia.org/
http://www.mining-enc.ru/m/marokko/
http://travelenc.ru/node/586
http://www.turlocman.ru/morocco/animals

Occupying a vast territory in northern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. The area of ​​the Arabian-African phosphorite-bearing province is over 9 million km2. The following phosphorite-bearing basins are distinguished: Moroccan, Algerian-Tunisian, Middle Eastern, Western Sahara, Mali-Nigerian, Senegalese, Togo-Nigerian, Congolese with phosphorite reserves of 75 billion tons, incl. explored at least 26 billion tons (1981). The largest deposits of phosphorites are Khouribga, Ben-Guerir and Yusufiya (), Bu-Kraa (Western Caxapa), Jebel-Onk (), Abu-Tartur (), El-Xaca (Jordan) and Eastern (Syria). The largest reserves of phosphorites are concentrated in Morocco, Western Caxape, Egypt and Tunisia.

The first information about phosphorite occurrences was obtained in 1885 for the Algerian-Tunisian and Egyptian basins, in 1908-11 for the Moroccan and Eastern Mediterranean, in the 30s. for Senegal and others. Industrial exploitation of the province's deposits has been carried out since the beginning of the 20th century. It reached its peak in the 1970s and 1980s. The deposits are represented by granular phosphorites associated with deposits of the Upper Senon, Paleocene and Eocene in the area of ​​large tectonic structures marginal parts of the Precambrian African-Arabian platform and the young Atlas epiplatform folded area.

A close paragenetic relationship is characteristic of reservoir deposits of granular phosphorites (1-11 m thick, sometimes more) with, and clayey rocks. Phosphorites and their host rocks belong to shallow-water formations of epicontinental seas of oceanic basins - and. The areas of maximum phosphorite formation in the Late Nun and Paleogene epochs were extensive latitudinal and meridional depressions on the slopes of the platform basement. Most of the deposits in the eastern part of the province (Egypt, Syria, Jordan and other countries of the Middle East) are associated with the Upper Campanian and Lower Maastrichtian deposits. The western part of the province (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Western Caxapa, Senegal, Togo) is characterized by the Maastrichtian-Paleocene and Eocene age of phosphorites. Among the ores, rich (more than 28% P 2 O 5), medium-grade (20-28% P 2 O 5) and low-grade (less than 20% P 2 O 5) ores are distinguished. Ores mostly contain (0.005-0.07%), sometimes - high concentrations of rare earth elements (0.07-0.3%). Deposits of rich and medium-grade ores in the Arabian-African phosphorite-bearing province with total volume production of about 36.8 million tons (1980) are developed by open and underground methods. Phosphorites of the province are subjected to mechanical methods (crushing, drying, etc.) and calcined to obtain marketable ones at a content of 30-36% P 2 O 5 . Most of the phosphorites mined in the Arabian-African phosphorite-bearing province are exported. The largest suppliers of phosphorites to the international market (mainly to the countries Western Europe) - Morocco, Jordan, Togo, Tunisia, Israel, Senegal, Syria and Algeria.