Tectonics of the Mw 6.8 Al Haouz earthquake (Morocco) reveals minor role of asthenospheric upwelling

A reliable identification of the fault responsible for the magnitude 6.8 Al Haouz earthquake that struck Morocco on 8 September 2023 has so far been hampered by a lack of accurate tectonic analyses. Here we provide the first updated tectonic framework of the earthquake epicentral area based on original field data. We cast our results into the context of available geomorphological, thermochronological and geophysical constraints, and discuss the earthquake characteristics within the framework of competing tectonic models either based on asthenospheric upwelling or transpressional tectonics. We found that the Al Haouz earthquake was likely generated by rupture along a north-dipping high-angle fault, linking former fault planes belonging to an orogen-scale WSW-ESE transpressional shear zone. The geological evolution and seismotectonic structure of the region are largely governed by the oblique convergence of tectonic plates. The impact of asthenospheric upwelling, if any, remains limited and may only influence the geomorphological evolution of the Western High Atlas, but cannot explain the seismotectonic and geological features observed today at the surface, which are instead effects of transpressional tectonics. • A field-based tectonic framework for the Al Haouz earthquake epicentral area. • Earthquake due to a north-dipping rupture within a transpressional shear zone. • The earthquake characteristics were tested against competing tectonic models. • Seismotectonics is largely governed by oblique convergence of tectonic plates. • The impact of asthenospheric upwelling on Atlas evolution remains limited.