## 2 Materials and Methods
### The Geological and Metallogenic Setting of the Study Area
#### 2.1.4 Bou Azzer Mining District  
Located 120 km south of the city of Ouarzazate, the Bou Azzer mining district contains more than 100 cobalt arsenide orebodies (Figure 3). They are spatially and genetically associated with serpentinites, resulting from the transformation of ophiolitic ultrabasites. Their morphology largely depends on the rheology and the structuring of the surrounding rocks. Several ore models grouped into six types of orebodies (Figure 4) are distinguished [34]:  
* The vein-type mineralization of filon 7/5 is located at the tectonic contact of the serpentinites with the quartz diorite; the mineralization is in the form of aligned ENE/WSW columns. This type is mainly controlled by major Pan-African faults. * Tamdrost-type mineralization includes extension veins, cruisers, and bodies in the form of ore masses; the mineralization associated with these ore masses is particularly rich in nickel. The \"Ambed carapace\", a product of Late-Pan-African alteration of serpentinite, constitutes the main metallotect of this type of mineralization; it is represented by vein-type orebodies but also in filling of extensive fractures. Figure 3: Localization of Bou Azzer-El Graara ophiolitic complex and the main Co-As-Fe-Ni orebodies: **1. ** Méhoui, **2. ** Khoder, **3. ** Nickeline vein, **4. ** Taghouni, **5. ** Bou Azzer Vein No. 2, **6. ** Bou Azzer East deposit, **7. ** Vein No. 5, **8. ** Vein No. 7, **9. ** Aghbar, **10. ** Bouismas, **11. ** Tamdrost, **12. ** Oumli, **13. ** Ambed, **14, **15, **16. ** Isflemt, **17. ** Inguijem, **18. ** Agoudal Centre Quarry, **19. ** Agoudal, **20. ** Agoudal open pit, **21. ** Vein No. 52, **22. ** Vein No. 53, **23. ** Vein No. 55, **24. ** Vein No. 61, **25. ** Ait Ahmane, **26. ** Dolomite outcrop Ait Ahman. * The Mechoui type includes secondary veins, oriented NW and NE and included in the quartz diorite in contact with the serpentinites in the form of opened slits. * Ait Ahmaene type veins are solitary structures in the diabases and gabbros of the Bou Azzer ophiolitic complex. The disseminated texture predominates there, which makes their recovery more difficult. * Aghbar-type mineralization is concentrated on the flanks of the diapir in relation to the synchronous fracturing of the mineralizing system. It is controlled by the diapir rise (doming) of the serpentinites. * Vein II type mineralization is located at the northern contact of the serpentinite massif. Its particularity lies in the presence of Pan-African basic rocks between the serpentinite and the Adoudounian cover, which explains the development of the mineralization in veins rather than in ore masses. The paragenetic sequence of Bou Azzer mineralization has been frequently defined and discussed by various authors [21; 29; 36; 37; 38; 39]; thus, four major primary paragenetic stages have been defined in Bou Azzer (Figure 5):  
* Pre-arsenide \"Stage 1\": chalcopyrite, molybdenum, sphalerite, pyrite, amphibole, chlororite, sercite, brannerite, and hematite;
* Arsenide, Fe-arsenide, and Sulpharsenide \"Stage 2\": arsenopyrite, skutterudite, magnesium-brannerite, talc, loellingite, Co arsenides, cobaltite, gold, Ni, and Fe arsenides;
* Sulfide, sulfosalt, and native element \"Stages 3 and 4\": molybdenum, chalcopyrite, bornite, pyrite, sphalerite, galena, Au, Ag, and Bi. Various studies by different dating methods have been carried out to determine the age of the Bou Azzer deposits, but the latter is still debated. [PERSON] et al. estimates an emplacement of mineralization in the Precambrian and more precisely in the Neoproterozoic [29]. [PERSON] et al. [39] calculated it an age of 550 Ma in a brannerite related to the Co mineralization of the \"Cruisers\". [PERSON] el al. [40] determined an age of Ar/Ar muscovite at 392 \(\pm\) 15 Ma and an adular age at 218 \(\pm\) 8 Ma, respectively, in the \"Cruisers\" of the Tadmrost and Filon 7/5 mining site. Co veins intersecting trachyte sills have been dated in U/Pb on zircon at 533 \(\pm\) 2 Ma. [PERSON] el al.