Sedimentary evolution and stratigraphy of the ~765–740 Ma Kansuki-Mwashya platform succession in the Tenke-Fungurume Mining District, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Abstract

<jats:p>The origin of the Mwashya Conglomerate at the base of the Mwashya Subgroup in the Lufilian Belt is uncertain since it is considered as either a tectonic or as a sedimentary breccia. At Tenke Fungurume Mining District (TFMD) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Mwashya Conglomerate is marked by an iron-bearing polymictic conglomerate embedded between the Kansuki and Kamoya formations. In this paper, the Kansuki-Mwashya platform succession at TFMD was investigated to shed light on the origin of this conglomerate, the depositional evolution and the tectonostratigraphic framework of the platform. Lithofacies analysis revealed that the Mwashya Conglomerate is a periglacial olistostrome, which was formed around ~765–745 Ma. A pre-Sturtian age for this conglomerate is supported by the Kamoya Formation, which is here interpreted as a post-glacial cap carbonate sequence. The Kansuki-Mwashya platform succession consists of a protected coastal lagoon adjacent to a tidal flat environment, both bordered by a barrier shoal. This paper concludes that the Kansuki-Mwashya platform succession was driven by rifting pulses, occurring gravity flows on instable slope, superimposed upon the ~750–717 Ma long-lasting Sturtian glacial period.</jats:p>

Cu-Bearing Mokama Granite Prospect of the Kibara Belt in the Maniema Province, DRC: A Preliminary Petrography, Geochemistry, and Fluid Inclusion Study

“…X-ray fluorescence (XRF, Zetium, Malvern Panalytical, United Kingdom) for major elements and Fusion ICP-MS for trace elements of the Mokama granite were performed at Activation Laboratories (Actlabs, Ontario, Canada). We have analyzed isotopes including 7 Li, 9 Be, 23 Na, 25 Mg, 27 Al, 29 Si, 39 K, 42 Ca, 45 Sc, 49 Ti, 51 V, 53 Cr, 55 Mn, 57 Fe, 59 Co, 61 Ni, 65 Cu, 66 Zn, 71 Ga, 73 Ge, 75 As, 85 Rb, 88 Sr, 89 Y, 90 Zr, 93 Nb, 95 Mo, 107 Ag, 111 Cd, 113 In, 118 Sn, 121 Sb, 133 Cs, 137 Ba, 139 La, 140 Ce, 141 Pr, 146 Nd, 147 Sm, Figure 2. Sub-Saharan tectonic-chronostratigraphic and tectonic-magmatic units showing magmatic events associated with Mesoproterozoic syn-to post-orogenic belts.…”

“…The sedimentary materials that filled up the aborted rift to form later on the Lufilian belt might come from pre-existing and eroded belt formation such as the Mesoproterozoic (Kibara belt, Karagwe-Ankole belt), Paleoproterozoic (Ubendian belt), Archean (Congo-Kasai craton, Bomu complex) [7].…”

“…The Katanga supergroup relies directly on the KIB basement and has no compelled data and evidence that show the possible material connection between the two belts. Some researchers showed that the LUB sediments originated from many sources from Precambrian and Archean formations [7] [8] [9] [13]. A few questions remained unsolved especially when it comes to addressing the source of Cu and Cu mineralization.…”

“…The Mesoproterozoic KIB is overridden by the Neoproterozoic Lufilian (Zambian belt) known for the occurrences of Cu-Cu mineralization [7] [8] [9]. Figure 1.…”

Geochemistry of Terrestrial Plants in the Central African Copperbelt: Implications for Sediment Hosted Copper-Cobalt Exploration

“…Although most studies subdivide the Katangan Supergroup into three main sequences [26,41,43], recently completed lithostratigraphic revision and sedimentary evolution suggest four subgroups of the Katangan stratigraphy, i.e., (from bottom to top of the basin) the Roan, Nguba, Kundelungu, and Biano Groups [40] (Figure 4). This subdvision is based on the presence of two regional markers formed by two globally significant glacially related diamictite units of Sturnian and Marinoan age, the Mwale, and Kyandamu subgroups at the base of the Nguba and Kundelugu groups, respectively [44]. The lithofacies associated with these diamictite intervals indicate a wide range of depositional regimes including glaciogenic, glaciomarine, glaciofluvial, glaciolucustrine and mass flows [40,45].…”