Precambrian of the African Continent

Abstract

Precambrian rocks are exclusively found in the vast shield areas such as the Antarctic and the African Continents. Drastic revision of Precam­ brian geology in the African Continent has been done in recent years. Current knowledge on Craton and Precambrian orogenic belt, on relationship among Precambrian orogenic belt, continental drift and rift valley, and on two distinct types of structural-metallogenic domains is reviewed in Introduction. The Association for African Studies, Nagoya University made a start in 1962. Some contributions by the Association to Precambrian studies in Africa have been described: Precambrian anorthosites, chromian phlogopite in Bushveld anorthosite, contact aureole of the Bushveld Complex, palaeornagnetism of Precambrian kimberlites, isotope geochemistry of Precambrian carbonatites, geochronology of the Mozambiquian orogenic belt, and metamorphic and plu­ tonic rocks in the Mozambiquian belt around Machakos, Mgama ridge, Lin­ thipe, Aswan and other areas.