Volume 19 N°1

2008

Abstrait

The dolerite/gabbro dyke of Boussouma area in Burkina Faso, more than one hundred km in length, cuts Birimian volcano-sedimentary series following E-W to NWW-SEE trend. Petrologic studies highlight a layered structure within the dyke due to magmatic segregation flow and accumulation processes as well as grain-size change from the margin to the core of the intrusion. Deformation of the surrounding Birimian country rocks took place and thermal metamorphism reaching near the contact to the biotite-gamet isograd occurred.

The presence of Birimian rocks xenoliths in dolerite and the development of micro li tic or microgranular chilled margin at the contact, indicates a post Eburnean (2200-2000Ma) probably a Mesoproterozoic emplacement of this dyke which is undeformed and unmetamorphosed. Similar characters were enhanced in numerous post-Birimian doleritic dykes of Burkina Faso and of West African countries.

Mots clés : Burkina Faso – Dyke – Dolerite/gabbro – Layering – Birimian – Volcano-sedimentary – Contact metamorphism.

Urbain WENMENGA and Pascal AFFATON