Archaean Zircon Xenocrysts and timing of Gold Mineralization in Nigerian Schist Belts.

Abstract

The occurrence of xenocryst zircon cores with Paleoarchean model ages in Alagbede gold-field confirms that southwestern Nigeria is underlain by rocks of great antiquity. A Pan-African age of between 617 and 563 (590+27) Ma is proposed as the period of gold mineralization in Alagbede. The timing of the gold mineralization is related to the formation of structural lineaments and felsic magmatism. A two-phase gold mineralization is proposed with an earlier Birrimian/Eburnean and a later epigenetic Pan-African dispersal/amalgamation phase in the West Gondwana mobile belts with obvious consequences on mineral deposit preservation.