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DYNAMICS OF PLATE INTERIORS, GEODYNAMICS SERIES, VOL. 1, PAGES 73–80, 1980

Genesis and geodynamic evolution of the Taoudeni Cratonic Basin (Upper Precambrian and Paleozoic), western Africa

Bronner, G., J. Roussel, and R. Trompette

Laboratoire de Géologie dynamique, Université d'Aix-Marseille III, Centre de St-Jérôme, France et Laboratoire, associé au C.N.R.S. n° 132 “Etudes géologiques ouest-africaines”

N. Clauer

Centre de Sedimentologie et Géochimie de la surface C.N.R.S, Institut de Géologie Université L. Pasteur, Strasbourg Cedex, France

Abstract

The Taoudeni basin is one of the major structural units of the western African craton. To the north and northwest, it is bounded by the basement of the Reguibat shield. The southern boundary is the Leo shield, the Mauritanide fold belt occurs to the west, and the so-called Pan-African fold belt is to the east. During the period 1100-1000 to 300 Ma, the geodynamic evolution of the Taoudeni basin was controlled by two main factors:

1. An early regional Pan-African orogenic event circa 650 Ma – which gave elasticity again to the West African shield and craton which was stable since 1800 Ma. Before 650 Ma, the subsidence rate was extremely low, 3–4 m/Ma, then after 650 Ma, it rose to 15 m/Ma, a normal value for large cratonic basins.

2. The more local occurrence of heavy material, like ferruginous quartzite associated with aluminous gneisses, in the Lower Precambrian basement, which increased the density of the lower part of the crust and induced, during the 1100–1000 to 650 Ma period, important but local subsidence.

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Citation: Bronner, G., J. Roussel, R. Trompette, and N. Clauer, (1980), Genesis and geodynamic evolution of the Taoudeni Cratonic Basin (Upper Precambrian and Paleozoic), western Africa, in Dynamics of Plate Interiors, Geodyn. Ser., vol. 1, edited by A. W. Bally et al., pp. 81-90, AGU, Washington, D. C.