Reply to the comment by Michard et al. on "Evidence of extensional metamorphism associated to Cretaceous rifting of the North-Maghrebian passive margin: The Tanger-Ketama Unit (External Rif, northern Morocco) by Vázquez et al., Geologica Acta 11 (2013), 277-293"

Abstract

Michard et al. (this issue) commented on certain aspects of the Alpine metamorphism and structural evolution of the Rif belt (Morocco) that were briefly noted in Vazquez et al. (2013). In particular, they criticize our interpretation of an extensional setting during the main metamorphic recrystallization of the Tanger-Ketama Unit that we considered related to slaty cleavage (S1) parallel to the lithological layering generated during the Cretaceous. Michard et al. (this issue) interpret the S1 syn-metamorphic foliation as being related to compressional folds, and the peak metamorphism temperatures, in the Lower Cretaceous sediments, as ranging between 200–300°C. Therefore, they conclude that recrystallization of the Ketama Unit occurred during Miocene thrust nappe tectonics. We explain our view in the following sections.