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AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS

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Succession of structural events in the Goren greenstone belt (Burkina Faso): Implications for West African tectonics

Journal of African Earth Sciences, Volume 56, No. 2-3, Year 2010

Ten years after field investigations in the SE Goren greenstone belt (GGB) of Burkina Faso by the Sanmatenga J.V., sponsored field studies conducted in 2007 have significantly enhanced structural datasets. The studies in 2007 were conducted across an expanded area of the GGB that included both southwestern and northeastern domains, and portions of the Pissila batholith to the west of the GGB. A revision of tectonic models proposed by Hein et al. [Hein, K.A.A., Morel, V., Kagoné, O., Kiemde, F., Mayes, K., 2004. Birimian lithological succession and structural evolution in the Goren Segment of the Boromo-Goren Greenstone Belt, Burkina Faso. Journal of African Earth Sciences 39, 1-23] is now possible. Three deformation events characterise the Goren greenstone belt. The deformation, D1 (previously D3) resulted in the formation of NW to NNW-trending steeply-dipping dextral-reverse shear zones folds and a penetrative S1-C schistosity that formed during a period of NE-SW shortening. The event is termed the Tangaean Event because it can be correlated across NE Burkina Faso in the Boromo, Bouroum, Yalago and Oudalan-Gorouol greenstone belts. The deformation, D2 (previously D2) resulted in the progressive development of NNE to NE-trending macroscopic to mesoscopic folds and a penetrative axial planar cleavage (S2), which was followed by the formation of dextral- and sinistral-reverse shears and a pervasive schistosity (S2-C). The first-order crustal-scale Sabce Shear Zone, which traverses the northern portion of the study area, is associated with macroscopic anticlockwise drag rotation of NW to NNW-trending D1 shears and folds: (the macroscopic fold was previously classified as D1). D2 in the GGB corresponds with the Eburnean Orogeny at 2130-1980 Ma, as described by [Feybesse, J.-L., Billa, M., Guerrot, C., Duguey, E., Lescuyer, J.-L, Milesi, J.-P., Bouchot, V., 2006, The paleoproterozoic Ghanian province: geodynamic model and ore controls, including regional stress modelling. Precambrian Research, 149-196]. The deformation D3 (previously D4) is recognised throughout the GGB. It is characterised by the formation of kinks and chevron folds (F3), or crenulation cleavage (S3) that are hosted by narrow WNW-trending shear zones. These formed during a period of north-south shortening termed the Wabo-Tampelse Event that post-dates the Eburnean Orogeny. © 2009.

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Study Locations
Burkina Faso