## 1 Introduction  
The Anti-Atlas area in east-central Morocco is known for its numerous copper mines, mineral resources, and copper deposits. Numerous archeological sites (slag, blast furnace traces, etc.) have been exploited since the Middle Age [1;2]. The current increased demand and higher copper prices are attracting the greed of large-scale miners. From this perspective, a lot of geological mining and laboratory work is taking place. The National Geological Surveying and Mapping Program (PNCG), planned by the Moroccan Ministry of Energy, will allow for the elaboration of a geological platform based on detailed geological maps to accompany the exploration efforts. In general, three types of copper mineralization can be distinguished on the Anti-Atlas scale: (i) volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) type exhalative deposits hosted in the Pre-cambrian basement, for example, the Cryogenian Bleida deposit in the Bou Azzer-El Graara inlier [3; 4; 5; 6]; (ii) epithermal deposits associated with Upper Ediacaran andesite to rhyolite lavas (Alous, Assif n'Imider, and Issougri) [7; 8; 9; 10; 11]; (iii) epigenetic copper mineralization, the subject of this work, hosted mainly in the Lower Paleozoic cover (Tazalaght, Tizert, Jbel Laassel, Oumjrane-Bou n'Hass, etc.) [12; 13; 14; 15; 16; 17; 18; 19; 20; 21; 22]. Although a large number of copper deposits are operating or under development (Ouanssimi, Agjagl, Tazalaght, Tizert, Jbel Laassel, and Oumjrane-Bou n'Hass), in addition to a large number of artisanal and small-scale mining(Tasserirt, Imi n'Ifri, Talat n'Ouamane, Tadenst, Tiferki, Amadouz, Tazert, Bou Skour, Asfalou, Akka n'Oulili, Bou Kerzia, etc. ), only the Tizert site is eligible for large deposits with an estimated potential of 56,820,000 tons including 1.03% copper and 23 g/t silver [15]. The genesis of copper mineralization, hosted mainly in the Lower Paleozoic cover, is shared between the synergetic diagenetic and synsedimentary models [7; 12; 13; 14; 15; 16] and epigenetic processes [17; 18; 19; 20; 21; 22] or superposition of both syngenetic and epigenetic processes [7]. Nonetheless, there is consensus that the Upper Ediacaran basement, composed of volcanic, volcanic, and intrusive rocks, represents a likely source of copper, as evidenced by the andesite and rhyolite lavas of Alous, Assif n'Imider, and Issougri [7; 8; 9; 10; 11; 12]. The synergetic diagenetic and synsedimentary models suggest that the Early Cambrian organic-rich sedimentary sequence represents a chemical trap of disseminated copper sulfides. These first deposits from the first Cambrian transgression filled a system of depressions bounded by emerging paleohighs. This paleogeography was caused by a volcanism-rich rifting in the Upper Ediacaran, which appears to have continued into the Lower Cambrian [23]. Instead, the presence of a different type of sulfide mineralization, typified by copper-filled fractures and veins, with the same mineralogical signature as the disseminated deposits, supports the epigenetic model [21]. The timing of these copper occurrences is still debated, although most works mention Hercynian compressions [15; 16; 17; 18; 19; 20; 21; 22]. In general, a common feature of the Lower Paleozoic copper deposits in the Anti-Atlas is that they all have simple mineral assemblages including hypogene assemblages of bornite, chalcopyrite, and incidental pyrite as well as supergene assemblages with a copper-rich mineral phase, native copper, chalcolcite, covellite malachite, and azurite. Except for the Bou Skour deposit and some localized occurrences in the Tamjout Formation, there are little or no lead and zinc sulfides. These sulfides should not be confused with the galena and sphalerite found in the deposits that form the lead-zinc belt around the Anti-Atlas copper area: the Jbel Jaouad and Bou Lbaroud deposits in the west, the Addana vein in the south, and the eastern deposits in the Ougnat and Tafilat areas in the eastern Anti-Atlas [24] (Figure 1).