Structural Evolution of a Precambrian Segment: Example of the Paleoproterozoic Formations of the Mako Belt (Eastern Senegal, West Africa)

Abstract

The western part of the Kedougou Kenieba Inlier is located in the West African Craton. It consists of paleoproterozoic NE-trending elongate belts (subprovinces) of metavolcanic and granitic rocks that alternate with metasedimentary belts. Major linear fault such as the MTZ which also approximate a north-easterly trend form the eastern boundaries. The field observations and geophysics analyses were completed by a microscopic study. Based on these data we define across this region four lithostructural domains from east to west. The western domain is structurally complex. The rocks of this domain have been subjected to a complex history of polyphase deformation and metamorphism. The structural analyse allow us to distinguished three deformation events. The deformation results in the formation of D1thrust tectonic and D2 and D3 transcurrent tectonic. The structural evolution of the Mako Belt is characterized by deformation dominated by the intrusion of large TTG batholiths (D1) followed by basins formation and transpression accommodating oblique convergence and collision (D2 and D3). The change from thrusting (D1 deformation to transcurrent motion (D2 and D3) is recorded in the marginal basin of the central domain and in Tinkoto pull apart basin. The timing of these basins indi-cates a diachronous evolution. Deformation styles within the basin are compatible with a dextral transpression which terminated at ca 2090 Ma. Small extensional basins formed over the rocks of the Mako Belt are filled with continental detrital sedimentary rocks that show weak foliation and active felsic volcanism. We suggest that the sinistral transpres-sive tectonic associated with oblique subduction may have generated the pull-apart basin and subaqueous volcanism. In part these features are now related to terrain accretion, thrusting and strike slip movement during oblique convergence. The inversion of the large scale structural evolution from thrusting to strike slip is common to modern orogenies.