African phosphate geology and resources: a bibliography, 1979–1988

Abstract

Phosphate rock has been known in Africa since at least 1873, when it was discovered by Philippe Thomas in Algeria. Further discoveries were made in fairly rappid succession elsewhere in northern Africa, notably in Tunisia, Egypt and, in the early part of the 19th century, in Morocco, Mauritania and South Africa. Phosphate rock of diverse types is now known to occur in most other African countries, in rocks ranging from Late Precambrian (Late Proterozoic) to Pleistocene in age and of both sedimentary and igneous origin. Resources are unequally distributed, however, deposits of Lower Tertiary age in northern Africa accounting for the bulk of the resources as well as most of the commercial production of phosphate rock in Africa. There is considerable need for systematic and comprehensive geological reference data on known deposits and occurrences, particularly when the mineral potential of individual countries or regions is assessed. Several major reference works on phosphate rock are now available and include a bibliography of world resources published in 1983. As such, the present bibliography for the period 1979–1988 is a useful supplement, comprising a compilation of the more recent literature on the phosphate geology and resources of Africa. As previously, the bibliography is arranged by continent and under individual countries. References to literature are then given in alphabetical order by author.