Kimberlites in western Liberia: an overview of the geological setting in a plate tectonic framework. Article

Haggerty, SE. (1982). Kimberlites in western Liberia: an overview of the geological setting in a plate tectonic framework. . JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-BIOGEOSCIENCES, 87(B13), 10.1029/jb087ib13p10811

cited authors

  • Haggerty, SE

authors

abstract

  • The Liberian kimberlite field lies in the S part of W African craton. Closely associated kimberlites are present in Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Guinea, and Mali and, as a group, are structurally controlled within the Archean basement complex of the Leo uplift. Three major kimberlite dike lineaments are recognized in the NW sector of Liberia all with prominently developed N-NE trends. These lineaments are termed the Kumgbo-Wuese trend, the Border trend, and the Lofa trend. The areas of dike intrusion are covered by the Bopolu geological quadrangle map of Liberia: the Border trend is close to Sierra Leone, the Kimgbo-Wuese trend is to the E, and the Lofa trend is coincident with the Lofa River. Only one kimberlite pipe has been recognized in Liberia (Mano Godua), but a second may be present, and both lie along the Kumgbo-Wuese trend. The kimberlite bodies intrude the approx 2700Ma old Liberian age province, which is comprised of granitic and granodioritic gneiss complexes. Two prominently developed features dominate the province: a general NE-SW basement fabric and an en echelon dolerite dike system that parallels the coast, dated at approx 180Ma and considered to represent intrusion at the onset of continental fragmentation. -from Author

publication date

  • January 1, 1982

published in

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

volume

  • 87

issue

  • B13