Abstract
Evidence for early Archaean relicts in the northern part of the West African Craton are provided from ion-microprobe (SHRIMP) U-Pb zircon and Sm-Nd whole-rock ages in the West Reguibat Rise of Mauritania. The U-Pb ages range between 3515 ± 15 Ma and 3422 ± 10 Ma for concordant zircons from an orthogneiss which has also been affected by a 2.7 Ga old metamorphic event. Nd model ages calculated for adjacent metasediments range between 3.9 and 3.5 Ga, suggesting that these supracrustal rocks may be derived from the erosion of a similar early Archaean crust. Zircon ages and Nd depleted-mantle model ages provide the first evidence for an early Archaean crustal growth, at least 3.5–3.6 Ga old, in the West African Craton.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.