Please cite this article as: Markwitz, V., Hein, K.A.A., Miller, J.,Compilation of West African mineral deposits: spatial distribution and mineral endowment, Precambrian Research (2015), http://dx.
Abstract
20The West African Craton is highly endowed in minerals, and their spatial and temporal 21 distribution varies from single to multi-phase mineralization events. They are broadly related 22 to three major tectono-metallogenic elements and formed during distinct mineral epochs:
23(1) In both Archean Shields (Kénéma-Man and Reguibat) and Paleoproterozoic domains 24 (Baoulé-Mossi, Eglab). These are characterized by giant iron ore deposits that formed 25 between ca. 2.5 -2.3 Ga, nearly all gold, porphyry copper, lead-zinc and sedimentary 26 manganese ore that developed between 2.2 -2.1 Ga, and primary diamonds that formed 27 between two intervals at ca. 2.2 -2.0 Ga and in the Mesozoic.
28(2) Across Pan-African and Variscan belts. These are distinguished by major Precambrian 29 IOCG's, copper-gold that formed at ca. 2.1 Ga and approx. 680 Ma, and Neoproterozoic 30 sedimentary iron ore and phosphate deposits. 31 (3) Within intracratonic and coastal basins. These include the development of Cenozoic 32 lateritic bauxites over Mesozoic dolerites, Tertiary / Quaternary mineral sands deposits, 33 oolitic iron ore and sedimentary phosphate deposits. 34 Geological, spatial and temporal correlations using the multi-commodity West African 35 Mineral Deposit Database highlight that gold and non-gold commodities formed in multiple 36 phases. This commenced in the Liberian Orogeny (2.9 -2.8 Ga) with the enrichment of iron 37 ore, nickel sulphides, diamonds and gold in the earth's crust. The pre-Eburnean or Tangaean-38 EoEburnean-Eburnean I Event yielded gold, and the major Eburnean Orogeny yielded gold, 39 iron ore, manganese, diamonds, magmatic nickel sulphides, copper-gold, lead-zinc, and REE 40 minerals. Throughout the Pan-African event sedimentary manganese deposits, lead-zinc, REE 41 minerals, sedimentary phosphates, and again gold were formed. Primary diamonds and 42 magmatic nickel sulphides are related to the break-up of Gondwana, followed by an intense 43 Page 3 of 87A c c e p t e d M a n u s c r i p t lateritic weathering period that formed bauxite deposits along the craton margin.