The Keraf Suture, formed during the Neoproterozoic consolidation of Gondwana, is a ϳ500 km long, ϳ50 km wide, N-trending suture between the Neoproterozoic Arabian-Nubian Shield in the east and the older Nile Craton to the west. The Keraf Suture is superimposed on E-and NE-trending structures on both sides. The northern part of the suture is dominated by N-trending, upright folds, whereas the southern part is characterized by N-and NNW-trending, sinistral, strike-slip faults. A major antiform defines a structural divide between the northern and southern parts of the suture. 40 Ar/ 39 Ar ages on biotite and hornblendes separated from a deformed granitic body indicate that the sinistral movement along the N-and NNW-trending faults took place at ϳ580 Ma. The difference in structural styles along strike is due to formation of the Keraf Suture by sinistral transpression, which accompanied early NW-SE oblique collision between East and West Gondwana at ϳ650-600 Ma and terminal collision at ϳ580 Ma.

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