Contribution a l’étude géologique du gisement de M’Zaïta, Ras El Oued (Région de Sétif)

Abstract

The M’Zaïta phosphate deposit located near Ras El Oued (Sétif region) is a former mine that was operated during the colonial period. This deposit is of Thanetian-Ypresian age and occurs in the form of sedimentary layers carrying hosphate mineralization rich in fossils and organic matter. In order to determine the conditions of formation of this phosphate deposit, a petrographic, geochemical and mapping study was carried out. The results obtained show that these phosphates are of biogeochemical origin deposited under reducing conditions and in a confined environment which corresponds to a lagoon and shallow environment.