26/06/2026
Abstract:
The Tectono-sedimentary evolution of the Neoproterozoic basins of southern Africa
Neoproterozoic basins in southern Africa are amongst the most copper endowed basins on the planet. The Central African Copperbelt, situated within the Katangan Basin in Zambia and the DRC, is host to more than 300 Mt of copper, mostly accumulated in highly profitable, high grade ore bodies. The Kalahari Copperbelt, part of the Ghanzi-Chobe Belt in Botswana and Namibia, has a known copper endowment of ca. 16 Mt, with most of the basin being covered by Tertiary sands explaining the limited historic exploration. Numerous other Neoproterozoic basins occur in southwestern Africa, particularly within Namibia, including the Kaoko Belt, Gariep Belt, and the Damara Belt, all of which are currently not known to host significant copper. This discrepancy raises the question whether metallogenetic processes did not operate in these basins or whether deposits have simply not been discovered due to various reasons including cover, or historically unfavourable legal framework.
Each of these Neoproterozoic basins formed in response to the break-up of Rodinia, beginning with intracratonic rifting ca. 850 million years ago and were subsequently inverted between ca. 600 to 500 million years ago during the assembly of Gondwana. Their basin fills share similar first-order architecture marked by early siliciclastic sediments overlain by reducing facies and/or carbonate rocks. These shared characteristics provide a framework for a comparative tectono-sedimentary study to identify similarities and differences in each basin’s evolution. By systematically examining the structural and sedimentary evolution of related Neoproterozoic basins, this study may identify structural and depositional conditions shared with the metal-endowed Katangan Basin. This understanding will look to assist in identifying exploration opportunities in basins within Namibia, potentially opening valuable first-mover opportunities.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88567215331?pwd=S8p2bBRb3UVolyBaym3belsjVJvR4E.1
Meeting ID: 885 6721 5331
Passcode: 669258