This study explores why sediment-hosted mineral deposits tend to form near the edges of ancient continental cores, or cratons. By combining a 1.8-billion-year plate motion model with seismic imaging of craton edges, geodynamic modelling and a global mineral deposit database, the authors show that mineralised craton edges typically formed 800-1800 km from active subduction zones, … Read more…
The internal structures and discontinuities of cratons hold considerable economic value due to their tendency for reactivation and different horizontal stress, serving as conduits for fluid flow and mineral deposition over time. Detecting these structures at various depths is critical for accurately mapping prospective zones of metallic mineralisation. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of integrating … Read more…
The lithospheric build-up of the African continent is still to a large extent unexplored. In this contribution, we present a new Moho depth model to discuss the architecture of the three main African cratonic units, which are: West African Craton, Congo Craton, and Kalahari Craton. Our model is based on a two-step gravity inversion approach … Read more…