Influence of Basement Structures on Salt Tectonics in the Essaouira Basin (Offshore, Morocco)

Abstract

ABSTRACT We integrate high‐quality 3D seismic reflection surveys and well data to investigate the influence of basement architecture on salt tectonics in the Essaouira Basin, offshore Morocco. Seismic interpretation and base salt mapping reveal previously undocumented rift‐related structures offsetting the base of salt, including the prominent Cap Ghir Graben and the South Cap‐Sim Fault. These features help define the boundaries between salt‐tectonic domains in the area, each characterised by unique salt thicknesses and structural styles. Thin depositional salt is associated with salt‐cored anticlines, punctuated by occasional diapirs. Conversely, the areas with thick depositional salt are characterised by thick salt withdrawal basins in places overlain by salt sheets and canopies. Salt province mapping in the Essaouira Basin illuminates the profound control exerted by inherited rift‐related salt structures on subsequent basin development. While subject to refinement with new data, this understanding provides a critical framework for future exploration and analysis within this structurally complex basin.