Geological Society of Africa

History and objectives,The ambitious and forward-looking decision to establish a pan-African geological society was taken during the course of a conference on African geology held in Ibadan, Nigeria in 1970. A Steering Committee was convened at that meeting under the Chairmanship of Professor Russell Black of the Department of Geology, Haile Selassie University, Addis Ababa, and the provisional constitution drafted by his Committee was approved at a second conference on African geology in Addis Ababa in 1973. Thus was the Geological Society of Africa (GSA.t) born. Its first President was Professor M O Owawoye (Nigeria) and Dr S M E1 Rabba (Sudan) became its first Secretary General.     

富有勘探开发潜力的非洲石油资源

<正> 非洲大陆及附近岛屿而积为3021×10~4 km~2,具有油气勘探远景的沉积盆地面积为1302.8×10~4km~2。据统计,非洲最终的油气资源为石油总储量233.8×10~8t;天然气储量21.15×10~(13)m~3,具有巨大的勘探开发潜力。非洲油气资源主要赋存于地台内部的负向地区和滨海地带的沉积盆地内,石油最富集的盆地是北非的克拉通盆地、苏伊士裂谷盆地和西非尼日尔河三角洲盆地。陆上油气资源占整个非洲的三分之二,例如克拉通带的锡尔特盆地,     

Neogene desertification of Africa

Throughout the Neogene, the faunas and floras in Africa recorded global climatic changes. We present an overview of Neogene desertification in Africa by tracing stable isotopes in eggshells and mammalian enamel, by faunal (changes in hypsodonty, etc.) and floral changes in sequences at the latitudinal extremities of the continent and the equator. This work reveals that desertification started in the southwest ca 17–16 Ma, much earlier than the region of the present-day Sahara (ca 8–7 Ma) and long before the deserts in East Africa (Plio-Pleistocene). A consequence of this history is that animals and plants inhabiting the South of the continent had a long period of time in which to adapt to arid, unstable climatic conditions. When parts of East Africa became arid during the Late Miocene and Plio-Pleistocene, several of these lineages expanded northwards and occupied developing arid niches before local lineages could adapt. Several of the latter became extinct, while others withdrew westwards as the tropical forest diminished in extent. It is proposed that the history of desertification in Africa was related to that of the polar ice caps (Antarctic, Arctic).     

Precambrian metallogeny in West Africa

The West African Shield is composed of a diverse assemblage of crystalline rocks that range in age from approximately 500 to more than 3000 million jears. These Precambrian rocks constitute the principal source of mineral resources for the subcontinent. The distribution patterns and origin of Precambrian mineral deposits are examined in relation to their geotectonic setting and host- or source rock associations as a prelude to the understanding of regional controls of Precambrian mineralization in the West African Shield.Occurrences of chrome, asbestos, talc and nickel are associated with ultramafic rocks within greenstone and related schist belts. Mafic volcanic piles and related sediments within greenstone, schist and orogenic belts are hosts to banded iron formations, manganese and vein-type gold deposits. Sedimentary deposits of gold and diamonds are closely associated with molasse-facies sediments of orogenic belts whereas magnetitehematite quartzites occur as low-grade iron ores within gneissic belts. Pan-African orogenic granites and pegmatites show a close genetic association with tin, niobium and tantalum deposits.The Archean schist belts within the West African Shield are the most diversely mineralized relative to other geotectonic domains. Compared to the Precambrian hields of southern Africa and elsewhere, the variability in the type and intensity of mineralization is attributed to the considerable differences in lithologic types, proportions and thicknesses.

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Zusammenfassung Der Westafrikanische Schild besteht aus einer mannigfaltigen Ansammlung von kristallinen Gesteinen, deren Alter zwischen 500 m. und etwas mehr als 3000 m. Jahre liegen. Diese präkambrischen Gesteine sind die Quelle für manche Mineralien auf dem Subkontinent. Das Verbreitungsschema und die Herkunft der präkambrischen Minerallagerstätten werden in Beziehung zu ihrer geotektonischen Bildung und den Muttergesteinen untersucht. Dies zeigt die regionale Kontrolle der präkambrischen Mineralisation im Westafrikanischen Schild.Vorkommen von Chrom, Asbest, Talk und Nickel sind mit ultramafischen Gesteinen innerhalb der Grünsteine und anderen verwandten der Schiefergürtel verbunden. Gebänderte Eisenerzformationen, Mangan und Gold (Gang-Typ) befinden sich in den Lagerstätten mafisch vulkanischer Herkunft und zugehöriger Sedimente im Grünstein-Schiefer- und Orogen-Gürtel. Sedimentäre Lagerstätten von Gold und Diamanten sind eng mit Molasse-Fazies der Sedimente der orogenen Gürtel verbunden. Magnetit-Hämatit Quarzite kommen als arme Eisenerze im Gürtel der Gneise vor. Pan-afrikanische orogene Granite und Pegmatite zeigen einen engen genetischen Zusammenhang von Zinn, Niob und Tantal Lagerstätten.Der archaische Grünstein-Gürtel innerhalb des Westafrikanischen Schildes ist im Verhältnis zu anderen geotektonischen Einheiten am stärksten mineralisiert. Verglichen mit dem präkambrischen Schild des südlichen Afrika und anderen Kratonen sind die Varietäten im Typ und in der Intensität der Mineralisation von der unterschiedlichen Lithologie und den Mächtigkeitsverhältnissen geprägt.

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Résumé Le socle de l'Afrique occidentale se compose d'une abondante association de roches cristallines dont l'âge va de 500 à plus de 3000 millions d'années. Ces roches précambriennes constituent la principale source des ressources minérales pour le subcontinent. Les schémas de distribution et l'origine des gîtes minéraux précambriens sont étudiés en relation avec leur formation géotectonique, leur association avec la roche voisine ou la roche-mère comme introduction à la compréhension des facteurs régionaux controlant la minéralisation précambrienne dans le socle de l'Afrique occidentale.L'occurrence du chrome, de l'asbeste, du talc et du nickel est liée aux roches ultramafiques dans les roches vertes et autres roches apparentées des zones schisteuses (ceintures schisteuses). Les formations rubanées de minerai de fer, le manganèse et l'or (type filonien) se trouvent en liaison avec les accumulations volcaniques mafiques et les sédiments apparentés dans les roches vertes, schistes et ceintures orogéniques. Les gîtes sédimentaires d'or et de diamant sont liés étroitement au facies molassique des sédiments des ceintures orogéniques, tandis que les quartzites à magnétite et hématite, de qualité médiocre comme minerai de fer, se présentent, dans les ceintures de gneiss. Les granites et pegmatites de l'orogenèse panafricaine montrent une étroite relation génétique avec les gisements de Sn, Niob et Tantale.La ceinture archéenne de roches vertes du bouclier de l'Afrique occidentale est le plus souvent minéralisée là où elle est en liaison avec d'autres unités géotectoniques. Comparées au bouclier précambrien de l'Afrique du Sud et d'ailleurs, la variabilité dans le type et l'intensité de la minéralisation sont attribuées aux notables différences dans les types lithologiques, leur proportion et leur puissance.

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非洲矿业发展概况

矿业是非洲多数国家的支柱性产业之一,在其国民经济发展中起着关键性作用.本文综合中国地质调查局天津地质调查中心(南部非洲)和中国地质调查局武汉地质调查中心(北部非洲)取得的阶段性研究成果对非洲矿业发展情况进行了简要总结.39个非洲主要国家中,最新年度矿业产值超过150亿美元的国家有7个,矿业产值占其GDP的比例超过6％的国家有24个,近10年矿业产值占其GDP的平均比例超过6％的国家有22个.非洲大陆以冈瓦纳构造域为主体,其下伏基底主要为太古宙至古元古代变质沉积岩、变质岩浆岩和岩浆岩,内部的太古宙克拉通常被一系列新元古代造山带所包围,部分基底被泛非期岩浆岩侵入.非洲大陆构造演化主要包括古老克拉通陆核的形成阶段(>35亿年)、克拉通演化阶段(35～16.5亿年)、地台发育和陆内裂解阶段(16.5～6亿年)、地台盖层和大断裂发育阶段(6亿年以来)等四个阶段,以新元古代泛非事件为标志可以将非洲大陆进一步划分为5个Ⅱ级构造单元.非洲地区优势矿产主要包括石油、天然气、金、铁、钴、铜、铅锌、铝土矿、铀、钾盐等近30种,本文详细介绍了镍、钴、铬、铜、铁等11个矿种的矿业项目、储量和资源量以及矿床地质特征等相关信息,可为中资企业在非洲开展矿业投资等提供权威可靠的地质资料和理论认识.     

The precambrian of West Africa

Consequent upon continued active field investigations and the advent of radioactive dating of samples from the area, the time is thought opportune to attempt a synthesis of Precambrian correlations throughout West Africa. Some isotope age determinations would, at first glance, appear to necessitate radically new concepts of stratigraphic successions and correlations. For example, the Ahaggar Suggarian and the Anti-Atlas Precambrian I suggest age values consonant with Upper or then Middle Precambrian times; the Older and Younger Granites of Nigeria appear to have been emplaced in Lower Palaeozoic and Jurassic times respectively. These and other examples trend towards younger ages than had hitherto been surmised for many stratigraphic units. However, it is thought premature at this time to place too much emphasis on isotope age values obtained for these ancient rocks of West Africa.Field studies to date have been more successful in establishing successions rather than correlations, whereas isotope age determinations have achieved little in either respect.Several well-known series, once placed in the Precambrian, e.g. Falemian, Akjoujt, Bakel, are now thought to be rather Cambro-Ordovician in age. On the other hand, for other familiar units, e.g. Ahnet Purple Series, Buem Formation, the stratigraphic position remains problematical.

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Zusammenfassung Nach fortgesetzten aktiven Feldforschungen und mit dem Erscheinen von radioaktiven Datumsbestimmungen von Proben aus dem Gebiet, scheint es an der Zeit, eine Synthese der präkambrischen Verhältnisse in ganz Westafrika zu unternehmen.Einige isotopische Altersbestimmungen scheinen auf den ersten Blick eine vollkommen neue Auffassung der stratigraphischen Sukzessionen und Korrelationen nötig zu machen. So lassen zum Beispiel das Ahaggar Suggarien und das Anti-Atlas Präkambrium I Alterswerte vermuten, die mit dem oberen und mittleren Präkambrium übereinstimmen; die älteren und jüngeren Granite in Nigeria scheinen im unteren Paläozoikum bzw. im Jura übergelagert worden zu sein. Diese und andere Beispiele zeigen einen Trend zu jüngerem Alter, als bisher für viele stratigraphische Einheiten angenommen wurde. Jedoch wird es für verfrüht gehalten, den isotopischen Alterswerten für diese alten Gesteine in Westafrika eine zu große Bedeutung beizumessen.Feldstudien waren bisher erfolgreicher bei der Herstellung von Sukzessionen als bei der Herstellung von Korrelationen, während die isotopischen Altersbestimmungen für beides wenig erbracht haben.Einige wohlbekannte Reihen, z. B. Falemien, Akjoujt und Bakel, die zuvor ins Präkambrium gelegt wurden, werden nun dem Alter nach eher dem Kambro-Ordovicium zugeordnet. Andererseits bleibt für andere bekannte Reihen, z. B. die Ahnet Purple Series und de Buem Formation, die stratigraphische Position problematisch.

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Résumé Par suite des recherches actives et prolongées sur le terrain et de la venue d'échantillons radio-actifs datés de cette région, le temps semble opportun pour tenter une synthèse de corrélations précambriennes de toute l'Afrique Occidentale.A première vue, quelques déterminations d'âge absolu semblent nécessiter de nouvelles idées de successions et de corrélations stratigraphiques. Par example, l'Ahagar Suggarien et l'Anti-Atlas Précambrien I suggèrent des valeurs d'âge conforme au temps Précambrien supérieur ou moyen; les Vieux Granites (Older Granites) et les Granites Jeunes (Younger Granites) du Nigéria semblent avoir été placés respectivement dans le Paléozoique inférieur et le Jurassique. Ces examples-ci, et encore d'autres, tendent à indiquer pour beaucoup d'unités stratigraphiques des âges plus jeunes qu'on n'a supposés jusqu'à présent. Mais il est encore prématuré d'appuyer trop sur les valeurs d'âge absolu obtenus pour ces anciens terrains de l'Afrique Occidentale.Jusqu'à présent, des recherches sur le terrain ont réussi à établir des successions plutôt que des corrélations, pendant que les déterminations d'âge absolu n'ont eu que peu de succès des deux côtés.Quelques séries bien connues, qui jadis étaient placées dans le Précambrien, p. ex. le Falmien, la Série de l'Akjoujt et les Quartzites de Bakel sont à présent considérés d'être plutôt de l'âge Cambro-Ordovicien. Par contre, la position stratigraphique reste problématique pour d'autres unités bien connues, comme pour la Série Pourprée de l'Ahnet, la formation de Buem, et d'autres.

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The Karoo Basin of South Africa: type basin for the coal-bearing deposits of southern Africa

The coal-bearing sediments and coal seams of the Karoo Basin, Southern Africa are described and discussed. The Karoo Basin is bounded on its southern margin by the Cape Fold Belt, onlaps onto the Kaapvaal Craton in the north and is classified as a foreland basin. Coal seams are present within the Early Permian Vryheid Formation and the Triassic Molteno Formation.The peats of the Vryheid Formation accumulated within swamps in a cool temperate climatic regime. Lower and upper delta plain, back-barrier and fluvial environments were associated with peat formation. Thick, laterally extensive coal seams have preferentially accumulated in fluvial environments. The coals are in general inertinite-rich and high in ash. However, increasing vitrinite and decreasing ash contents within seams occur from west to east across the coalfields. The Triassic Molteno coal seams accumulated with aerially restricted swamps in fluvial environments. These Molteno coals are thin, laterally impersistent, vitrinite-rich and shaly, and formed under a warm temperate climatic regime.Palaeoclimate, depositional systems, differential subsidence and basin tectonics influence to varying degrees, the maceral content, thickness and lateral extent of coal seams. However, the geographic position of peat-forming swamps within a foreland basin, coupled with basin tectonics and differential subsidence are envisaged as the primary controls on coal parameters. The Permian coals are situated in proximal positions on the passive margin of the foreland basin. Here, subsidence was limited which enhanced oxidation of organic matter and hence the formation of inertinitic coals. The coals in this tectonic setting are thick and laterally extensive. The Triassci coals are situated within the tectonically active foreland basin margin. Rapid subsidence and sedimentation rates occurred during peat formation which resulted in the preservation of thin, laterally impersistent, high ash, vitrinite-rich, shaly coals.     

Review of coastal-area aquifers in Africa

The coastal aquifer systems of Africa are comprised of various geological formations. These aquifer systems consist of either folded, continental or alluvial deposits. Groundwater resource availability along the coastal areas of Africa is briefly reported and the current state of seawater intrusion has been summarized. A select number of notable examples are given to highlight the effect of saline intrusion on coastal development of cities and regional aquifers. The role of conflict resolution is briefly discussed, as well as management approaches, which include monitoring of contamination and governmental accountability. Regional cooperation is presented as a method of ensuring a sustainable water resource in an area, as well as strengthening social and political alliances.     

Neoliberalism and privatisation in South Africa

Perhaps the defining characteristic of development as a global discourse is its neoliberal character. Even recently liberated nations such as South Africa have not escaped its reach. In South Africa, there has been a movement from a development policy with a socialist resonance – the Reconstruction and Development Program (RDP) – to one decidedly neoliberal in form and substance – the Growth Employment and Redistribution (GEAR) policy. The articulation of neoliberalism through development policy is being facilitated through a series of measures among which are fiscal austerity, export oriented production and the privatisation of public sector services. While the GEAR policy, as a macroeconomic framework, is being contested by labour unions it is privatisation which is facing widespread opposition among communities. My intention is twofold, firstly, to investigate how neoliberalism as a global hegemonic discourse has succeeded in capturing, colonising and repackaging the development imaginary of the African National Congress (ANC). Secondly, I wish to examine how privatisation as a sub-discourse of neoliberalism is being articulated in the historically black township of Chatsworth, in Durban. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Earth Science Education in South Africa

Most of the statistics given in this overview of the history and current status of Geoscience Education in South Africa pertain to the more geologically inclined disciplines; while the report does mention the extent to which earth sciences are taught in mining and geography departments, no detailed information about these activities are given. There are 13 active geoscience departments countrywide (eleven at universities and two at technical institutions) teaching a wide range of geological topics, some at a highly specialised level. There are just over 100 academic staff members engaged in teaching, supported by 65 technical and administrative staff. Of the teaching staff, 89% have Ph.D. degrees, and most are engaged in active research. About 150 three-year B.Sc., slightly fewer B.Sc. (Hons.), graduates, plus 10 geological technicians pass through the system every year, with most finding employment in the mining industry. Approximately 120 M.Sc. and 60 Ph.D. candidates are currently registered at the universities, about 40% of whom graduate in any particular year.