Accretionary Wedge: Inselbergs of Nigeria
February 17, 2009 at 09:11 | In Granite, Inselberg's, Nigeria, accretionary wedge, geology, nigeosyncline | 9 CommentsThis month’s Accretionary Wedge Geosblogospheric carnival is hosted at Geotripper and the theme:
What are the places and events that you think should all geologists should see and experience before they die? What are the places you know and love that best exemplify geological principles and processes?
Since I’m a new in the geoblogosphere I figured that I take part.
There are many impressing geological features in Nigeria though the general awareness of these features by the general public leaves much to be desired. of these feature one of the most prominent and indeed awesome are the Granite inselbergs.Granite inselergs can be found in the areas of the basement complex which covers more than two-thirds of the country. Here are some of the most popular ones
Zuma Rock, Abuja, central Nigeria
Zuma rock Abuja Central Nigeria. View from the west
The most famous (Nigeria’s Ayer’s) and one of the largest at more than 1km across.
Idanre hills, Akure South west Nigeria
Idanre hills (Idanre town in the foreground)
Another famous one which has made the small town in the foreground a tourist destination.
Kwantankwashi hill, Zamfara North Central Nigeria
kwatankwarshi Inselberg
Wase rock, wase North east nigeria
Wase inselberg
Kajuru ludo hill, Kaduna Nigeria
Kajuru-Ludo hill
There are many more even outstanding examples in other parts of the country and is something that one cannot miss on any jurney around the nigeria.
The granite inselbergs are huge plutonic intrusions that were emplaced during the pan-african orogenic event which affected all of what is now Nigeria, most of africa and even the arabian peninsular and brazil (sugar loaf mountain). Though they were emplaced at depth 550 million years of erosion have brought them to the surface where the stand out due to their greater resistance to erosion than the surrounding migmatites , Gniesses and migmatic Gniesses.They dome shapes are result of exfoliation (a Chemical weathering process that peels away layers of rock).
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Thanks for your contribution! The results will be posted soon
Comment by Garry Hayes (Geotripper) — February 28, 2009 #
They are posted now, at http://geotripper.blogspot.com/2009/02/accretionary-wedge-16-is-one-life.html. Yours was the first contribution, so you were listed first! Thanks for participating!
Comment by Garry Hayes (Geotripper) — February 28, 2009 #
These are monstrous granitic plutons. Make the ones I live by in Arizona, USA look like pebbles. What a great post.
Comment by Geogypsy — March 1, 2009 #
[...] very first post was from Ikenna, a new geoblogger from Nigeria who offers us the Inselbergs of Nigeria. Check Ikenna’s blog for some nice views of a variety of granite domes that dot the terrain [...]
Pingback by The Accretionary Wedge #16: Is One Life Enough? « The Accretionary Wedge — April 7, 2009 #
Hi I.
I like your new blog.
I have a suggestion. I like to zoom on great pics like yours but the imposed borders on your site make that unworkable. When you zoom the right half of the pic is cut off. Perhaps you could look into this & thanks for listening.
Sea
Comment by Sea — April 7, 2009 #
Thanks Sea for the compliments
I’m not too sure about how it could be fixed. I search for answers and let you know.
You also have to be a bit patient as high speed internet is not something I come across often here (>5 kbs is rare).
Ikenna
Comment by Ikenna Okonkwo — April 7, 2009 #
hi,nice pics.well i am a student of university of Nigeria,nssuka and i have visited some of these areas listed above,on a field trip to the northern parts of nigeria.we have been asked to write a report on the field trip and i am finding it hard to find articles based on regional tectonics and regional stratigraphy of akwanga in nassarrawa state.
i am a very young ‘geologist to be’ full of zeal and determination and i would appreciate it if you could help me in any way you can…thank you in anticipation of your cooperation…..
Comment by ezeaniekwe cynthia — July 30, 2009 #
Hello Cynthia!
Glad to see a colleague of mine around. I graduated from the department in 2007 (you probably were in your 1st year then).
If it’s the report for the course Geol.351 then I will suggest you look out for Geology of Nigeria edited by C.A. Kogbe. You will find very good papers on the geology of the Basement Complex. You will also find articles that will help you in the soft rock aspect of the course (you guys went to Afikpo if I’m right). I doubt if you will find anything useful online.
Comment by Ikenna Okonkwo — July 30, 2009 #
[...] Accretionary Wedge: Inselbergs of Nigeria « Nig-eosyncline [...]
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