An example of very consistent brittle deformation over a wide intracontinental area: The late Pan-African fracture system of the Tuareg and Nigerian shield

Abstract

Brittle deformation during the latter part of the Pan-African orogeny in the Hoggar and Nigeria was characterized by a conjugate strike slip fault system, consisting of NE—SW dextral and NW—SE sinistral trending sets of faults. This system is considered to be the result of a horizontal maximum stress axis σ 1 orientated E—W. In the crystalline basement, the faults have offset the N—S trending Pan-African mylonitic shear zones, and have cut the late orogenic granites (Taourirt) and ring complexes of Adrar des Iforas. In the western Hoggar, folding of the post-orogenic molassic “série pourprée” considered as Cambrian in age (Caby, 1970), is probably associated with the same stress regime. A similar fault system also affects the Phanerozoic sedimentary cover of the North-Saharian platform, the Ténéré desert, and the Djado basin. Later reactivation of this fault system by phanerozoic epeirogenic events, and recent uplift is demonstrated. The geometry of this late Pan-African brittle deformation is very consistent over a large area and may reflect the stress field operative during indentation of a “plastic” Pan-African shield, by a more rigid West-African craton.