The origin of intraplate deformation in the Atlas system of western and central Algeria:: from Jurassic rifting to Cenozoic-Quaternary inversion

Analysis of petroleum exploration data supplemented by paleostress data enabled discussion of the origin of the deformation in the western and central Saharan Atlas (Algeria). This intraplate area has recorded the breakup of Pangea (Late Triassic), the opening of the Maghrebian Tethys (since the Dogger) and subsequently its closure (Oligocene to Present). However, the two periods of strong coupling between Europe and Africa (late Lutetian and Pleistocene), which correspond to rapid uplifts of the Atlas system and important deformations, are not collision-related. They can be correlated to the beginning and the end of the development of the western Mediterranean Sea. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V All rights reserved.