《Attoh et al.》.pdf

Pregmdrjap Hesenrrn ELSEVIER Precambrian Research 82 (1997) 153-171 Chronology of nappe assembly in the Pan-African Dahomeyide orogen, West Africa: evidence from 4°Ar/39Armineral ages Kodjopa Attoh a.,, R.D. Dallmeyer b, Pascal Affaton c aDept of GeologicalSciences, Cornell University, lthaca, NY14853, USA bDept of Geology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA cDkpartement de Gkologie, Universitkde Niarney, BP 338, Niamey, Niger Received 9 October 1995; accepted 18 June 1996 Abstract The Pan-African Dahomeyide orogen represents the southwestern segments of the eastern tectonic zone along which the West African Craton was incorporated into Gondwana. Orogenic contraction produced nappe complexes comprised of passive margin sediments and accreted exotic magmatic rocks in Ghana and Togo. External nappes include the Atacora, composed of lower amphibolite facies quartzite and mica schist which were structurally imbricated with mylonitic gneiss derived from c. 2.0 Ga foreland basement. The suture zone is represented by high-pressure granulite facies garnet hornblende gneiss. We have analyzed muscovite and homblende concentrates from external and suture-zone nappes in incremental heating 4°Ar/39Ar experiments. Muscovites which define the penetrative foliation in the Atacora nappes and a shear foliation in the basement parautochthon record 4°Ar/agmr plateau ages of 579.4_ 0.8 Ma and 578.1 __+0.5 Ma respectively. In contrast, c. 600