Structure and emplacement of granite plutons in the Paleoproterozoic crust of Eastern Burkina Faso: rheological implications

International audienceThe Fada N?Gourma area in Burkina Faso is underlain by Paleoproterozoic rocks that make the northeastern West-African Craton. This region is composed of NE-trending volcano-sedimentary belts and foliated tonalites, affected by several shear zones. A generation of younger, ?2100 Ma-old, non-foliated biotite-bearing granites intrudes the former rock units. We have investigated the younger granite pluton of Kouare that was previously considered as forming a single body with the pluton of Satenga to the west, a pluton which likely belongs to the ?20 Ma more recent Tenkodogo-Yamba batholith. Magnetic fabric measurements have been combined with microstructural observations and the analysis of field and aeromagnetic data. The granite encloses angular enclaves of the host tonalites. Magmatic microstructures are preserved inside the pluton and solid-state, high-temperature deformation features are ubiquitous at its periphery. The presence of steeply plunging lineations in the pluton of Kouare and its adjacent host-rocks suggests that large volumes of granitic magmas became crystallized while they were ascending through the crust that was softened and steepened close to the contact. Around Kouare, the foliation in the host tonalites conforms with a map-scale, Z-shaped fold in between NNE-trending shear zones, implying a bulk clockwise rotation of the material contained in-between the shear zones, including the emplacing pluton. Regionally, the Fada N?Gourma area is concluded to result from NW-shortening associated with transcurrent shearing and vertical transfer of granitic magmas. This study concludes that the ?2200 Myears old juvenile crust of Burkina Faso was brittle before the intrusion of the biotite-granites, became softened close to them and that gravity-driven and regional scale wrench tectonics were active together

Structural characterization of the Misaj, granitic pluton (NW Cameroon): constraints from magnetic and field observations

International audienceThe Misaj, granitic pluton, emplaced between 569 and 560 Ma in an amphibolitic and gneissic host rock, comprises four petrographic units namely biotite-hornblende granite (BHG), granodiorite (Gd), biotite granite (BG), and leucocratic granite (LG). Four major tectonic events have been described in the studied area: a D-1-early tectonic event, responsible of the E-W flat foliation which has been progressively transposed by a D-2 tectonic event. A D-2 event has developed heterogeneous simple shear in a dextral transpressive context with moderate to strong dipping NE-SW striking foliation; a D-3 tectonic event has lead to a sinistral N-S ductile shear characterized by N- to ENE-striking foliation and E-W strike-slip shear corridors and a D-4 tectonic event that developed N-S dextral ductile strike-slip deformation. The magnetic study of the pluton, based on the AMS parameters, reveals the coexistence of both paramagnetic (dominated by iron-bearing silicates; 54 % of sites) and ferromagnetic (due to the occurrence of PSD and MD grains of magnetite or other ferromagnetic minerals; 46 % of sites) behaviors. Magnetic foliation shows best poles at 55/82 for the whole pluton, 95/32 in BHG, and 273/83 in BG, and the magnetic lineation trends are mostly NNE-SSW with best lines at 210/8, 198/19, and 36/3, respectively. The trend of the magnetic lineation in BG indicates an S-shape trajectory, suggesting a sinistral sense of shear motion along discrete E-W corridors situated at the northern and southern ends. Kinematic indicators in BG point to a sinistral sense of shear, suggesting its emplacement during the D-3 event. The close relationship between K (1) and K (3) points to a syn-kinematic emplacement and crystallization of the Misaj, granitic pluton during the Pan-African event, and the tectonic evolution of the study area is considered to be coeval with the tectonic evolution of the trans-Saharan Pan-African belt of eastern Nigeria

When Proterozoic Crusts Became Thick: New Insights from Magma Petrology

The Earth’s continental crust represents the outermost envelope of the solid Earth, controlling exchanges within the geosphere and reflecting geodynamics processes. One of the fundamental issues of Earth Science aims to determine crustal thickness in past geodynamic environments in order to discuss the evolution of certain geodynamic processes through time. Despite presenting a continuing challenge, the evolution of crustal thickness during the last 3 billion years can be investigated using indirect clues yielded by the chemical signature of mafic magmas and associated ferromagnesian minerals (pyroxene, amphibole). Here, we present a new statistical assessment of a global database of magmatic and mineral chemical information. Analysis reveals the increasing occurrence of high-temperature pyroxenes and amphiboles growing in Ca-rich, Fe-poor magma since ~1 Ga, which contrasts with lower temperature conditions of minerals crystallization throughout the Meso- and Palaeoproterozoic times. This is interpreted to reflect temporal changes in the control of Earth’s crust on mantle-derived magma composition, related to changes in lithospheric thickness and mantle secular cooling. We propose that thick existing crust is associated with deeper, hotter magmatic reservoirs, potentially elucidating the mineral chemistry and the contrasting iron content between primary and derivative mafic magmas. Based on both the chemical and mineral information of mafic magma, an integrated approach provides qualitative estimates of past crustal thickness and associated magmatic systems. Our findings indicate that the Proterozoic was characterized by thicker crustal sections (>40⁻50 km) relative to the Phanerozoic and Archean (<35 km). This period of crustal thickening appears at the confluence of major changes on Earth, marked by the onset of mantle cooling and Plate Tectonics and the assembly of Columbia, the first supercontinent

Abstracts of the 1st International Colloquium in Mine & Society

This book presents the abstracts of the selected contributions to the First International Colloquium on Mines and Society (CIMS) organized by The Higher Institute of Mining and Geology of Boke. The theme of this colloquium was "Mining and Sustainable Development, a major challenge for an Emerging Africa" which aims to bring together teachers, researchers, and Professionals from different backgrounds in order to exchange the results of their research work, share their points of view on the issue of mining and sustainable development. It also aims to define, in a collaborative and inclusive manner, research prospects or future projects between all the actors involved in this field. Colloquium Title: 1st International Colloquium in Mine & SocietyTheme: Mining and Sustainable Development, A Major Challenge for an Emerging AfricaColloquium Date: 20-22 May 2022Colloquium Location: A L’Hôtel Rio Nunez de BokeColloquium Organizer: The Higher Institute of Mining and Geology of Bok