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Palaeozoic and Mesozoic age trends for some ring complexes in Niger and Nigeria

Abstract

OVER 40 individual granitoid ring complexes exhibiting similar petrological and geochemical variations have been recognised in Nigeria1. They range in size from 1,500 km2 to < 2 km2. The ring complexes form part of a more extensive chain along the ninth meridian, extending from the north of the Aïr Massif through southern Niger and northern Nigeria to the northwestern margin of the Benue Trough in Nigeria (Fig. 1). In general the suite of Nigerian complexes are concentrated in a 200-km wide north-south zone and centred around the Jos Plateau. We have previously2 investigated the group of ring complexes forming the central zone of anorogenic magmatism in Nigeria, and found a southerly decreasing age trend from early Jurassic to mid-Jurassic times. We give here further evidence for this trend, and point out that its recognition may be useful in ascertaining the drifting motion of the African continent.

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BOWDEN, P., VAN BREEMEN, O., HUTCHINSON, J. et al. Palaeozoic and Mesozoic age trends for some ring complexes in Niger and Nigeria. Nature 259, 297–299 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1038/259297a0

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