Journal articles on the topic 'West African Craton (WAC) volcanism'
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1
Billy Nankoum, Cissoko. "Geological bases and types of gold in carbonate deposits of the Birimian stage in West Africa." NEWS of the Ural State Mining University 4 (December 15, 2022): 26–32. http://dx.doi.org/10.21440/2307-2091-2022-4-26-32.
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Relevance. The Paleoproterozoic region of the West African craton (WAC) includes numerous world-class gold deposits. These deposits are located in belts of volcanic and volcanic-sedimentary Birimian greenstone rocks. Gold mineralization of the orogenic type is spatially, chronologically, and genetically associated with the compression stage in the northwest and southeast. Several deposits are located in more or less unaltered and deformed zones west of Côte d’Ivoire (Guinea) and the Keniba–Kedugou Senegal-Mali salient. To date, the role of this type of rocks from the standpoint of the model of “local structural traps” for hydrothermal and (or) metamorphogenic gold-bearing fluids remains underestimated. The purpose of the research. The purpose and objectives of the research are to study and reveal the relationship of precious metal mineralization with regional and provincial geotectonic events, igneous and volcanic rock complexes of different ages, types of metamorphic and metasomatic transformation of ore-bearing rocks and types of ores within the West African Сraton. Particular attention is paid to the origin and location of gold mineralization in the carbonate formations of the lower (early) Birimian dating up to 2.12 billion years. Conclusions. The author demonstrates the differences between the Proterozoic gold mineralization of the preorogenic and, in fact, orogenic stages of the geological development of West Africa (Burkina Faso, Ghana) from modern regional-geological, geohistorical and metallogenic positions. The results of our own research have shown and proved the endogenous nature of the precious metal mineralization of the region. This is especially important for gold ores in sedimentary carbonate strata, which for a long time were considered syngenetic (placer).
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Sakyi, Patrick Asamoah, Ben-Xun Su, Johnson Manu, Daniel Kwayisi, Chris Y. Anani, Melesse Alemayehu, Sanjeewa P. K. Malaviarachchi, Prosper M. Nude, and Ben-Can Su. "Origin and tectonic significance of the metavolcanic rocks and mafic enclaves from the Palaeoproterozoic Birimian Terrane, SE West African Craton, Ghana." Geological Magazine 157, no. 8 (March 12, 2020): 1349–66. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s001675681900150x.
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AbstractThe Palaeoproterozoic Birimian Supergroup of the West African Craton (WAC) consists of volcanic belts composed predominantly of basaltic and andesitic rocks and intervening sedimentary basins composed predominantly of wackes and argillites. Mafic metavolcanic rocks and granitoid-hosted enclaves from the Palaeoproterozoic Lawra Belt of Ghana were analysed for geochemical and Sr–Nd isotopic data to constrain the geological evolution of the southeastern part of the WAC. The metavolcanic rocks display mainly tholeiitic signatures, whereas the enclaves show calc-alkaline signatures. The high SiO2 contents (48.6–68.9 wt%) of the enclaves are suggestive of their evolved character. The high Th/Yb values of the samples relative to that of the mantle array may indicate derivation of their respective magmas from subduction-modified source(s). The rocks show positive εNd values of +0.79 to +2.86 (metavolcanic rocks) and +0.79 to +1.82 (enclaves). These signatures and their Nd model ages (TDM2) of 2.31–2.47 Ga (metavolcanic rocks) and 2.39–2.47 Ga (enclaves) suggest they were probably derived from juvenile mantle-derived protoliths, with possible input of subducted pre-Birimian (Archean?) rocks in their source(s). Their positive Ba–Th and negative Nb–Ta, Zr–Hf and Ti anomalies may indicate their formation through subduction-related magmatism consistent with an arc setting. We propose that the metavolcanic rocks and enclaves from the Lawra Belt formed in a similar island-arc setting. We infer that the granitoids developed through variable degrees of mixing/mingling between basic magma and granitic melt during subduction, when blobs of basic to intermediate parental magma became trapped in the granitic magma to form the enclaves.
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Aïfa, Tahar. "Mineralization and sustainable development in the West African Craton: from field observations to modelling." Geological Society, London, Special Publications 502, no. 1 (2021): 1–29. http://dx.doi.org/10.1144/sp502-2021-21.
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AbstractThis Special Publication combines results obtained by interdisciplinary groups from numerous academic institutions working on Paleoproterozoic formations to decipher the origins of the main mineralization resources in the West African Craton (WAC) and their impacts on African economic development. Structural, geophysical, sedimentological, stratigraphical, geochemical, petrophysical and mineralogical analyses have been used to highlight the complexities involved in mineralization emplacement and its origin and evolution within the WAC. Fourteen articles, mainly of basic research carried out in the WAC and surrounding areas, contribute to new knowledge in mineral research with updated references. They show that the geodynamic evolution of the WAC is complex from one area to another: it involves subduction, collision and obduction during several deformation phases ranging from Birimian (2.3–2.0 Ga) to Pan-African (650–450 Ma) events. Mineralization is mainly controlled by tectonics within shear zones, orogenic belts, basins and faulting systems occurring in the various corridors. Mineralized fluid circulation is stressed and injected into appropriate formations and precipitate several types of well-documented ore deposits: porphyry, metal-bearing, volcanogenic massive sulfide, sedimentary exhalative and lateritic. Various modelling techniques, when integrated, help in understanding the mechanisms of mineralization emplacement, some of which are still a matter of debate. Traditional and industrial exploitation of ore deposits, mainly gold, may inadvertently cause pollution to water tables and rivers, thus affecting the environment including watersheds. The challenge for further studies is mitigation for sustainable development that can be appropriately used to minimize such damage.The aim of this volume is thus to bring new insights to research activities on ore deposits within the WAC.
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Aïfa, T. "About this title - Mineralization and Sustainable Development in the West African Craton: From Field Observations to Modelling." Geological Society, London, Special Publications 502, no. 1 (2021): NP. http://dx.doi.org/10.1144/sp502.
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This Special Publication combines results obtained by interdisciplinary groups from numerous academic institutions working on Paleoproterozoic formations to decipher the origins of the main mineralization resources in the West African Craton (WAC) and their impacts on African economic development. Structural, geophysical, sedimentological, stratigraphical, geochemical, petrophysical and mineralogical analyses have been used to highlight the complexities involved in mineralization emplacement and its origin and evolution within the WAC. Fourteen articles contribute to new knowledge in mineral research. They show that the geodynamic evolution of the WAC is complex from one area to another: it involves subduction, collision and obduction during several deformation phases ranging from Birimian (2.3–2.0 Ga) to Pan-African (650–450 Ma) events. Various modelling techniques, when integrated, help in understanding the mechanisms of mineralization emplacement, some of which are still a matter of debate. The challenge for further studies is mitigation for sustainable development that can be appropriately used to minimize such damage.
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Villeneuve, Michel, and Boris Marcaillou. "Pre-Mesozoic origin and paleogeography of blocks in the Caribbean, South Appalachian and West African domains and their impact on the post “variscan” evolution." Bulletin de la Société Géologique de France 184, no. 1-2 (January 1, 2013): 5–20. http://dx.doi.org/10.2113/gssgfbull.184.1-2.5.
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Abstract New geodynamical data from West Africa bring consistent informations on the pre-Mesozoic reconstruction within a large area running from the western Sahara to the Colombian cordillera. These new data support a Neoproterozoic Ocean (WANO) between the Amazonian (AMC) and West African (WAC) cratons previously to the Iapetus and Rheic oceans. We delineate 31 blocs detached from the surrounding three continents: NAC (North American Craton), AMC and WAC. 7 came from the WAC margin, 7 from the NAC, 6 from the AMC and 11 from an intermediate volcano sedimentary domain (COB) built on a 1200–1000 Ma oceanic crust. These imbricated blocks formed a tight mosaic by the Hercynian/Alleghanian tectonic event which gave way to the Pangea super-continent. But, during the Atlantic Ocean opening these blocks began to move. They were separated by new oceanic basins. However, previously to the Pangea, blocks from the COB domain formed two sets of garlands located on the northwestern Gondwana margin. The northern one moved to the North until the Silurian to collide the NAC (Taconic tectonic event) meanwhile the southern one remains on the Gondwana margin. All together were gathered by the Carboniferous/Permian time. Then, the framework for the opening of the Atlantic Ocean was not totally disconnected from the “Variscan” collage and many variscan weakness zones were re-used as initial breaking zones. Beyond this tectonic impact, the pre-mesozoic assemblage allows us to compare this “Caribbean” island arc with another one: the Indonesian “Banda” arc. Thus, West Africa is a geological key area for correlations between the Caribbean, the Appalachian, the Brazilian “Nordeste” and the West European domains and for the understanding of the Atlantic Ocean opening process.
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Lucazeau, F., and F. Rolandone. "Heat-flow and subsurface temperature history at the site of Saraya (eastern Senegal)." Solid Earth 3, no. 2 (August 20, 2012): 213–24. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/se-3-213-2012.
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Abstract. New temperature measurements from eight boreholes in the West African Craton (WAC) reveal superficial perturbations down to 100 m below the alteration zone. These perturbations are both related to a recent increase in the surface air temperature (SAT) and to the site effects caused by fluid circulations and/or the lower conduction in the alterites. The ground surface temperature (GST), inverted from the boreholes temperatures, increased slowly in the past (~0.4 °C from 1700 to 1940) and then, more importantly, in recent years (~1.5 °C from 1940 to 2010). This recent trend is consistent with the increase of the SAT recorded at two nearby meteorological stations (Tambacounda and Kedougou), and more generally in the Sahel with a coeval rainfall decrease. Site effects are superimposed to the climatic effect and interpreted by advective (circulation of fluids) or conductive (lower conductivity of laterite and of high-porosity sand) perturbations. We used a 1-D finite differences thermal model and a Monte-Carlo procedure to find the best estimates of these site perturbations: all the eight borehole temperature logs can be interpreted with the same basal heat-flow and the same surface temperature history, but with some realistic changes of thermal conductivity and/or fluid velocity. The GST trend observed in Senegal can be confirmed by two previous borehole measurements made in 1983 in other locations of West Africa, the first one in an arid zone of northern Mali and the second one in a sub-humid zone in southern Mali. Finally, the background heat-flow is low (31±2 mW m−2), which makes this part of the WAC more similar with the observations in the southern part (33±8 mW m−2) rather than with those in the northern part and in the Pan-African domains where the surface heat-flow is 15–20 mW m−2 higher.
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Lucazeau, F., and F. Rolandone. "Heat-flow and subsurface temperature history at the site of Saraya (eastern Senegal)." Solid Earth Discussions 4, no. 1 (June 4, 2012): 599–626. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/sed-4-599-2012.
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Abstract. New temperature measurements from eight boreholes in the West African Craton (WAC) reveal superficial perturbations down to 100 meters below the alteration zone. These perturbations are both related to a recent increase of the surface air temperature (SAT) and to the site effects caused by fluids circulations and/or the lower conduction in the alterites. The ground surface temperature (GST) inverted from the boreholes temperatures is stable in the past (1700–1940) and then dramatically increases in the most recent years (1.5 °C since 1950). This is consistent with the increase of the SAT recorded at two nearby meteorological stations (Tambacounda and Kedougou), and more generally in the Sahel with a coeval rainfall decrease. Site effects are superimposed to the climatic effect and interpreted by advective (circulation of fluids) or conductive (lower conductivity of laterite and of high-porosity sand) perturbations. We used a 1-D finite differences thermal model and a Monte-Carlo procedure to find the best estimates of these sites perturbations: all the eight boreholes temperatures logs can be interpreted with the same basal heat-flow and the same surface temperature history, but with some realistic changes of thermal conductivity and/or fluid velocity. The GST trend observed in Senegal can be confirmed by two previous boreholes measurements made in 1983 in other locations of West Africa, the first one in an arid zone of northern Mali and the second one in a subhumid zone in southern Mali. Finally, the background heat-flow is low (30 ± 1 m Wm−2), which makes this part of the WAC more similar with the observations in the southern part (33 ± 8 m Wm−2) rather than with those in the northern part and in the PanAfrican domains where the surface heat-flow is 15–20 m Wm−2 higher.
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Koné, Adama Youssouf, Imen Hamdi Nasr, Baco Traoré, Adnen Amiri, Mohamed Hedi Inoubli, Souleymane Sangaré, and Saleh Qaysi. "Geophysical Contributions to Gold Exploration in Western Mali According to Airborne Electromagnetic Data Interpretations." Minerals 11, no. 2 (January 27, 2021): 126. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/min11020126.
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The Birimian of West African Craton (WAC) is known for its gold potential. Among Birimian structures, N-S and NE-SW trends have been defined as controlling gold mineralizations in Kedougou-Kenieba Inlier (KKI), whereas some of these structures are not gold-bearing. To determine structures related to gold mineralization, airborne electromagnetic data collected during the “Système Minier” of Mali have been processed and interpreted. Identified lineaments have been followed in the ground to establish their link with gold showings in the Kenieba area. Geophysical interpretations show trends similarity for different orders of conductivity. They allowed for characterizing resistance and conductive structures with prevalent N-S and NE-SW directionalities. Conductive structures are qualified as good conductors and are strongly related to known Artisanal Mining Sites (AMS). They coincide with tourmaline sandstones and quartz-albite veins, which are both often artisanally recognized as indicators of gold mineralization in Western Mali. Field observations show that resistance structures correspond to felsic rocks. These structures can bear gold only when silicified and they have spatial relations with Artisanal Mining Sites (AMS) within the Kenieba area. This study shows the efficiency of electromagnetic methods to characterize Birimian structures in relation to the gold mineralization in Kedougou-Kenieba Inlier (KKI).
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Montero, P., F. Bea, F. González-Lodeiro, C. Talavera, and M. J. Whitehouse. "Zircon ages of the metavolcanic rocks and metagranites of the Ollo de Sapo Domain in central Spain: implications for the Neoproterozoic to Early Palaeozoic evolution of Iberia." Geological Magazine 144, no. 6 (September 21, 2007): 963–76. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0016756807003858.
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AbstractDating the pre-Middle Ordovician metavolcanic rocks and metagranites of the Ollo de Sapo Domain has, historically, been difficult because of the small compositional variation, the effects of the Variscan orogeny and, as revealed in this paper, the unusually high fraction of inherited zircon components. The first reliable zircon data (U–Pb ion microprobe and Pb–Pb stepwise evaporation) indicate that the Ollo de Sapo volcanism spanned 495±5 Ma to 483±3 Ma, and was followed by the intrusion of high-level granites from 483±3 Ma to 474±4 Ma. In both metavolcanic rocks and metagranites, no less than 70–80% of zircon grains are either totally Precambrian or contain a Precambrian core overgrown by a Cambro-Ordovician rim. About 80–90% of inherited zircons are Early Ediacaran (602–614 Ma) and derived from calc-alkaline intermediate to felsic igneous rocks generated at the end of the Pan-African arc–continent collision. In the Villadepera region, located to the west, both the metagranites and metavolcanic rocks also contain Meso-Archaean zircons (3.0–3.2 Ga) which ultimately originated from the West African Craton. In the Hiendelaencina region, located to the east, both the metagranites and metavolcanic rocks lack Meso-Archaean zircons, but they have two different inherited zircon populations, one Cryogenian (650–700 Ma) and the other Tonian (850–900 Ma), which suggest older-than-Ediacaran additional island-arc components. The different proportion of source components and the marked variation of the 87Sr/86Srinit. suggest, at least tentatively, that the across-arc polarity of the remnants of the Pan-African arc of Iberia trended east–west (with respect to the current coordinates) during Cambro-Ordovician times, and that the passive margin was situated to the west.
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Petrescu, Laura, Graham Stuart, Gregory Houseman, and Ian Bastow. "Upper mantle deformation signatures of craton–orogen interaction in the Carpathian–Pannonian region from SKS anisotropy analysis." Geophysical Journal International 220, no. 3 (January 13, 2020): 2105–18. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/gji/ggz573.
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SUMMARY Since the Mesozoic, central and eastern European tectonics have been dominated by the closure of the Tethyan Ocean as the African and European plates collided. In the Miocene, the edge of the East European Craton and Moesian Platform were reworked in collision during the Carpathian orogeny and lithospheric extension formed the Pannonian Basin. To investigate the mantle deformation signatures associated with this complex collisional-extensional system, we carry out SKS splitting analysis at 123 broad-band seismic stations in the region. We compare our measurements with estimates of lithospheric thickness and recent seismic tomography models to test for correlation with mantle heterogeneities. Reviewing splitting delay times in light of xenolith measurements of anisotropy yields estimates of anisotropic layer thickness. Fast polarization directions are mostly NW–SE oriented across the seismically slow West Carpathians and Pannonian Basin and are independent of geological boundaries, absolute plate motion direction or an expected palaeo-slab roll-back path. Instead, they are systematically orthogonal to maximum stress directions, implying that the indenting Adria Plate, the leading deformational force in Central Europe, reset the upper-mantle mineral fabric in the past 5 Ma beneath the Pannonian Basin, overprinting the anisotropic signature of earlier tectonic events. Towards the east, fast polarization directions are perpendicular to steep gradients of lithospheric thickness and align along the edges of fast seismic anomalies beneath the Precambrian-aged Moesian Platform in the South Carpathians and the East European Craton, supporting the idea that craton roots exert a strong influence on the surrounding mantle flow. Within the Moesian Platform, SKS measurements become more variable with Fresnel zone arguments indicating a shallow fossil lithospheric source of anisotropy likely caused by older tectonic deformation frozen in the Precambrian. In the Southeast Carpathian corner, in the Vrancea Seismic Zone, a lithospheric fragment that sinks into the mantle is sandwiched between two slow anomalies, but smaller SKS delay times reveal weaker anisotropy occurs mainly to the NW side, consistent with asymmetric upwelling adjacent to a slab, slower mantle velocities and recent volcanism.
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Kroonenberg, S. B., E. W. F. de Roever, L. M. Fraga, N. J. Reis, T. Faraco, J. M. Lafon, U. Cordani, and T. E. Wong. "Paleoproterozoic evolution of the Guiana Shield in Suriname: A revised model." Netherlands Journal of Geosciences - Geologie en Mijnbouw 95, no. 4 (May 12, 2016): 491–522. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/njg.2016.10.
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AbstractThe Proterozoic basement of Suriname consists of a greenstone–tonalite–trondhjemite–granodiorite belt in the northeast of the country, two high-grade belts in the northwest and southwest, respectively, and a large granitoid–felsic volcanic terrain in the central part of the country, punctuated by numerous gabbroic intrusions. The basement is overlain by the subhorizontal Proterozoic Roraima sandstone formation and transected by two Proterozoic and one Jurassic dolerite dyke swarms. Late Proterozoic mylonitisation affected large parts of the basement. Almost 50 new U–Pb and Pb–Pb zircon ages and geochemical data have been obtained in Suriname, and much new data are also available from the neighbouring countries. This has led to a considerable revision of the geological evolution of the basement. The main orogenic event is the Trans-Amazonian Orogeny, resulting from southwards subduction and later collision between the Guiana Shield and the West African Craton. The first phase, between 2.18 and 2.09 Ga, shows ocean floor magmatism, volcanic arc development, sedimentation, metamorphism, anatexis and plutonism in the Marowijne Greenstone Belt and the adjacent older granites and gneisses. The second phase encompasses the evolution of the Bakhuis Granulite Belt and Coeroeni Gneiss Belt through rift-type basin formation, volcanism, sedimentation and, between 2.07 and 2.05 Ga, high-grade metamorphism. The third phase, between 1.99 and 1.95 Ga, is characterised by renewed high-grade metamorphism in the Bakhuis and Coeroeni belts along an anticlockwise cooling path, and ignimbritic volcanism and extensive and varied intrusive magmatism in the western half of the country. An alternative scenario is also discussed, implying an origin of the Coeroeni Gneiss Belt as an active continental margin, recording northwards subduction and finally collision between a magmatic arc in the south and an older northern continent. The Grenvillian collision between Laurentia and Amazonia around 1.2–1.0 Ga caused widespread mylonitisation and mica age resetting in the basement.
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Boya, Tokpa Kakeu Lionel-Dimitri, Allou Gnanzou, Aristide Ghislain Beugré Dago, Nahoua Silue, Koffi Raoul Teha, and Alain Nicaise Kouamelan. "Comparative Petro-Geochemistry of the Intrusive Granitoids of the Comoé Basin and the Granitoids of the Ferkessédougou Batholith (Côte D’Ivoire, Man-Leo Shield): Geodynamic Implications for the West African Craton (WAC)." Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection 10, no. 07 (2022): 98–118. http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/gep.2022.107007.
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Gong, Zheng, David A. D. Evans, Nasrrddine Youbi, Abdelhak Ait Lahna, Ulf Söderlund, Malika Ait Malek, Bin Wen, et al. "Reorienting the West African craton in Paleoproterozoic–Mesoproterozoic supercontinent Nuna." Geology, June 14, 2021. http://dx.doi.org/10.1130/g48855.1.
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The location of the West African craton (WAC) has been poorly constrained in the Paleoproterozoic–Mesoproterozoic supercontinent Nuna (also known as Columbia). Previous Nuna reconstruction models suggested that the WAC was connected to Amazonia in a way similar to their relative position in Gondwana. By an integrated paleomagnetic and geochronological study of the Proterozoic mafic dikes in the Anti-Atlas Belt, Morocco, we provide two reliable paleomagnetic poles to test this connection. Incorporating our new poles with quality-filtered poles from the neighboring cratons of the WAC, we propose an inverted WAC-Amazonia connection, with the northern WAC attached to northeastern Amazonia, as well as a refined configuration of Nuna. Global large igneous province records also conform to our new reconstruction. The inverted WAC-Amazonia connection suggests a substantial change in their relative orientation from Nuna to Gondwana, providing an additional example of large-magnitude cumulative azimuthal rotations between adjacent continental blocks over supercontinental cycles.
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Abu, Mahamuda, Mutiu Adesina Adeleye, Olugbenga Ajayi Ehinola, and Daniel Kwadwo Asiedu. "The hydrocarbon prospectivity of the Mesoproterozoic–Paleozoic intracratonic Voltaian Basin, West African Craton, Ghana." Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology, November 9, 2020. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s13202-020-01036-7.
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Abstract Neoproterozoic sedimentary basins are increasingly gaining hydrocarbon exploration attention globally following results of significant discoveries in these basins as a result of long, consistent and focused research and exploration efforts. The hydrocarbon prospectivity of the unexplored Mesoproterozoic–Early Paleozoic Voltaian basin is reviewed relative to global Neoproterozoic basins. Like the Voltaian basin of Ghana, global Neoproterozoic basins have experienced similar geological event of glaciation with accompanying deposition of marginal–shallow marine carbonates and associated siliciclastic argillaceous sediments. These carbonates and argillaceous sediments coupled with deep anoxic depositional environments, favored the preservation of organic matter in these sediments and carbonates globally making them source rocks and in some cases the reservoir rocks as well, to hydrocarbon occurrence. The hydrocarbon prospectivity of the Voltaian is highly probable with Neoproterozoic basins of similar geologic analogies, Amadeus basin, Illizi basin, the Tindouf and Taoudeni basins of the WAC, having proven and active petroleum systems with some listed as world class oil/gas producing basins together with other Neoproterozoic basins like South Salt Oman basin, Barnett shales and giant gas reserves of southwestern Sichuan basin of China.
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Markwick, Paul J., Douglas A. Paton, and Estelle J. Mortimer. "Mapping the complexity of transform margins." Geological Society, London, Special Publications, December 22, 2021, SP524–2021–82. http://dx.doi.org/10.1144/sp524-2021-82.
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AbstractTransform margins are a function of the pre-existing crustal architecture (pre-transform) and the interplay of syn- and post-transform geodynamic processes. We use a suite of geospatial databases to investigate four transform margins: East Africa (Davie Deformational Zone, DDZ), Equatorial Africa, and the South African and Falkland (Malvinas) margins (Agulhas–Falkland Fracture Zone, AFFZ). The East African margin is the most complex of the four. This is a consequence of Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous transform motion affecting highly heterogeneous crust, and post-transform deformation that varies along the margin. Equatorial Africa most closely adheres to traditional definitions of ‘transform margins’, but actually comprises two principal transform systems – the Romanche and St Pauls, dictated by the pre-transform distribution of mobile belts and West African craton. All four margins are spatially associated with volcanism, and each exhibits narrow uplifts associated with transpression or transtension. But the causal relationship of these features with transform processes differ. Volcanism along the East African margin is pre- and post-transform. Syn-transform volcanism on the AFFZ is spatially limited, with the AFFZ possibly acting as a conduit for magmatism rather than as a causal driver. Transform margins are varied and complex and require an understanding of pre-, syn- and post-transform geodynamics.