Pan-African granulite formation in the Kabye Massif of northern Togo (West Africa): Pb−Pb zircon ages

Abstract

Metamorphic zircons from seven granulite facies orthogneisses of tonalitic composition (enderbites), collected from four different nappes of the Kabye Massif in the Dahomeyide belt of northern Togo, were dated by the Pb–Pb evaporation method. They yielded consistent Neoproterozoic ages with a mean of 612.5 ±0.8 Ma, interpreted to reflect the peak of regional granulite facies metamorphism following Pan-African continental collision between the West African and Benin-Nigerian plates. These results support previous ages obtained by various chronometers on high-grade rocks from the same suture zone and from surrounding units in Togo, Benin and Ghana. They are also similar to zircon ages from granulites in the Mozambique belt of souteastern Africa. These Pan-African metamorphic ages reflect continental amalgamation resulting in the formation of the Gondwana supercontinent towards the end of the Neoproterozoic.