Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The West Congo Orogen: A key to Pan-African thermotectonism

  • Aufsätze
  • Published:
Geologische Rundschau Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Zusammenfassung

Die Achse des West-Congo-Orogens befindet sich im Basement-Complex-Gürtel entlang der Westküste von Zentralafrika. Deformation und Metamorphismus nehmen in den flankierenden Geosynklinalschichten der West-Congo-Sequenz in östlicher Richtung ab, sowie westwÄrts in ihrem spiegelsymmetrischen Gegenstück in Ostbrasilien. Die orogene Achse markiert den langsamen Aufstieg der Geothermen, in Korrelation zur sedimentÄren, tektonischen und metamorphen Entwicklung des Orogens. Das panafrikanisch-brasilianische intraplattentektonische Netzwerk von thermalen Zonen und benachbarten ensialischen Becken wird damit erklÄrt.

Abstract

The orogenic axis of the West Congo orogen is located in a Basement Complex belt along the west coast of Central Africa. Deformation and metamorphism decrease eastwards in the flanking geosynclinal strata of the West Congo Sequence, and westwards in its mirror-symmetrical counterpart in East Brazil. The orogenic axis marks the slowrise of geotherms, which is correlated with sedimentary, tectonic and metamorphic evolution of the orogen. The Pan-African-Brazilian network of intraplate thermal welts and adjoining ensialic downwarps is seen in this light.

Résumé

L'axe de l'orogène du Congo Occidental est situé dans le complexe de base qui borde la cÔte atlantique en Afrique Centrale. La déformation et le métamorphisme diminuent d'intensité vers l'est dans les formations géosynclinales avoisinantes de la Succession du Congo Occidental, ainsi que vers l'ouest dans leurs pendants symétriques dans le Brésil oriental. L'axe orogénique marque la longue montée et la culmination des géothermes, en corrélation avec l'évolution sédimentaire, tectonique et métamorphique de la chaÎne. Le réseau Pan-Africain-Brésilien, intraplaque, qui est constitué par des zones thermiques et des bassins avoisinants, ensialiques, est interprété dans ces termes.

кРАткОЕ сОДЕРжАНИЕ

жАпАДНО-кОНгОлЕжскИ И ОРОгЕН пРОстИРАЕтс ь ВДОль ВОстОЧНОгО пОБЕРЕжь ь цЕНтРАльНОИ АФРИкИ. В БОкОВых ОтлОжЕНИьх гЕОсИНклИНАлИ жАпАД НО-кОНгОлЕжскОИ сВИты ДЕФОРМАцИь И МЕ тАМОРФИжМ УМЕНьшАЕт сь В ВОстОЧНОМ НАпРАВлЕНИИ; тОжЕ сАМ ОЕ НАБлУДАЕтсь В ВОст ОЧНОИ БРАжИлИИ В жАпАДНОМ НАпРАВлЕНИИ. РАспОлО жЕНИЕ ОРОгЕНА ОтМЕЧА Ет МЕДлЕННОЕ пОВышЕНИЕ гЕОтЕРМы В сОстВЕтстВИИ с РАжВ ИтИЕМ ОсАДкОНАкОплЕ НИь, тЕктОНИкИ И МЕтАМОРФ ИжМА В НЕМ. ЁтИМ ОБЩьсНьЕтс ь НАлИЧИЕ ВНУтРИглыБ ОВОИ тЕктОНИЧЕскОИ пАНАФРИкАНО-БРАжИль скОИ сЕтИ тЕРМАльНых жОН И пОьВлЕНИЕ ЁИсИАлИЧЕ скИх БАссЕИНОВ.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Allen, P. M. &Reedman, A. J.: Stratigraphic classification in Pre-Cambrian rocks. - Geol. Mag.,105, 290–297.

  • Cordani, U. G., Amaral, G. &Kawashita, K.: The precambrian evolution of South America. - Geol. Rdsch.,62, 309–317, 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dadet, P.: Notice explicative de la carte géologique de la République du Congo Brazzaville au 1/500.000. - Mém. Bur. Recherches Géol. Minières,70, 99 p., 1969.

  • Engel, A. E. J., Dixon, T. H. &Stern, R. J.: Late Precambrian evolution of Afro-Arabian crust from ocean arc to craton. - Geol. Soc. America Bull., Part I,91, 699–706, 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferreira, E. O.: Carta tectÔnica do Brasil. Notícia Explicativa. - Departamento Nacional da ProduÇÃo Mineral, Rio de Janeiro, Boletim1, 19 p., 1972.

  • Fyfe, W. S. &Leonardos, Jr., O. H.: Ancient metamorphic-migmatite belts of the Brazilian Atlantic coast: the African connection. - Revista Bras. GeociÊncias,4, 247–251, 1974.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gass, I. G.: The evolution of the Pan African crystalline basement in NE Africa and Arabia. - J. geol. Soc. Lond.,134, 129–138, 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hudeley, H.: Carte géologique de la République Gabonaise au 1/1.000.000. - Mém. Bur. Recherches Géol. Minières,72, 188 p., 1970.

  • Jackson, N. J. &Ramsay, C. R.: Time-space relationships of Upper Precambrian volcanic and sedimentary units in the Central Arabian Shield. - J. geol. Soc. Lond.,137, 617–628, 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kennedy, W. O.: The structural differentiation of Africa in the Pan-African (±500 m. y.) tectonic episode. - Ann. Rep., Res. Inst. Afr. Geol., Univ. Leeds,8, 48–49, 1964.

    Google Scholar 

  • Korpershoek, H. R.: The geology of Degree Sheet Sul B-33/H-N (Noqui-Tomboco). - Bol. Serv. Geol. Minas Angola,9, 1–183, 1964 a.

    Google Scholar 

  • —: The geology of Degree Sheet Sul B-33/H-N (Noqui-Tomboco). - Bol. Serv. Geol. Minas Angola,10, 1–105, 1964 b.

    Google Scholar 

  • -: The geology of Quarter Degree Sheet Sul C-33/C-NW (Vila General Freire). - Serv. Geol. Minas Angola, unpub. report, 83 p., 1965.

  • Leblanc, M.: Minéralisations cuprifères et volcanisme albitophyrique dans les ophiolites précambriennes de Bou Azzer (Anti-Atlas, Maroc). - Bull. Volcanol.,38, 1095–1109, 1974.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lepersonne, J.: Notice explicative de la Carte géologique de ZaÏre au 1∶2.000.000. - Rép. ZaÏre, Dépt. Mines, Dir. Géol., 62 p., 1974.

  • Ramberg, H.: Gravity, Deformation and the Earth's Crust. - Academic Press, London, 214 p., 1967.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schermerhorn, L. J. G.: Sedimentary cycles in the West Congo Geosyncline of North-west Angola. - Bol. Serv. Geol. Minas Angola,3, 47–62, 1961.

    Google Scholar 

  • -: The geology of Quarter Degree Sheet Sul C-33/C-NE (Quibaxe-Aldeia ViÇosa). - Serv. Geol. Minas Angola, unpub. report, 66 p., 1964.

  • —: Late Precambrian mixtites: glacial and/or nonglacial? - Am. Jour. Sci.,274, 673–824, 1974.

    Google Scholar 

  • —: Protoclasis in the Vista Alegre and Quibaxe granites (Northwest Angola). - Proc. Kon. Nederl. Akad. Wetensch., Ser. B,79, 55–68, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  • -: Stratigraphy, structure and plutonism in the West Congo geosyncline of North-west Angola (in preparation).

  • Schermerhorn, L. J. G. &Stanton, W. I.: Tilloids in the West Congo geosyncline. - Quart. Jour. geol. Soc. Lond.,119, 201–241, 1963 a.

    Google Scholar 

  • —: The geology of Degree Sheet Sul B-33/U (Bembe). - Bol. Serv. Geol. Minas Angola,7, 5–101, 1963 b.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stanton, W. I.: The geology of Degree Sheet Sul B-33/J-P (Maquela do Zombo). - Bol. Serv. Geol. Minas Angola,8, 79–136, 1963.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stanton, W. I., Korpershoek, H. R. &Schermerhorn, L. J. G.: The geology of Degree Sheet Sul B-33/I-O (SÃo Salvador). - Bol. Serv. Geol. Minas Angola,6, 15–86, 1962.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wernick, E. &De Almeida, F. F. M.: The geotectonic environments of Early Precambrian granulites in Brazil.- Precambrian Res.,8, 1–17, 1979.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. L. J. G. Schermerhorn

    Present address: Institut für Mineralogie, Freie UniversitÄt Berlin, Takustra\e 6, 1000, Berlin 33

Authors and Affiliations

    Authors
    1. L. J. G. Schermerhorn
      View author publications

      You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

    Rights and permissions

    Reprints and permissions

    About this article

    Cite this article

    Schermerhorn, L.J.G. The West Congo Orogen: A key to Pan-African thermotectonism. Geol Rundsch 70, 850–867 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01820166

    Download citation

    • Issue Date:

    • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01820166

    Keywords

    Search

    Navigation