This book is the first comprehensive compilation of data and ideas relating to the origin, evolution, and significance of the world's greenstone belts, and includes contributions from over 100 experts. In the first of two parts, reviews are presented on broad topics relating to the geology of greenstone belts and their surroundings, covering mainly post-1980 research. These include: historical, sedimentologic, volcanic, structural, metamorphic, metallogenic, and thermal aspects; summaries of mafic/ultramafic magnetism, strain, fluids, geophysics and deep structures; relations with associated granitoids, tectonic evolution, and geochronology; and field relationships. The second part takes a more focused look at the geology of specific cratons and individual greenstone belts worldwide, including Archaean, Proterozoic, and Phanerozoic examples. Detailed geologic maps on large and small scales, extensive tabulations of data, and short written summaries of the salient features are included for all belts. The book will be a valuable reference tool for academic and industrial researchers, students, explorationists, and anyone interested in the evolution of Earth processes over geologic time.

Archean Greenstone Belts

A study on the Bellingwe Greenstone Belt, presenting the stratigraphy of the belt, its structure and tectonic setting, the sedimentology of what may be a rift basin, the geochemistry of the freshest Archaean komatiites yet found, and models of the evolution of the region.

The Abitibi greenstone belt of eastern Canada represents the world's largest Neoarchean terrane of supracrustal rocks. Straddling the border between the provinces of Ontario and Quebec, the belt covers an area that is approximately 700 km from southeast to northwest and 350 km from north to south. The belt is comprised of several major east-trending successions of folded volcanic and sedimentary rocks, with intervening intrusions. The supracrustal rocks of the Abitibi greenstone belt are uniquely well preserved and have mostly been overprinted only at a low metamorphic grade, allowing the study of primary geological relationships.

A study on the Bellingwe Greenstone Belt, presenting the stratigraphy of the belt, its structure and tectonic setting, the sedimentology of what may be a rift basin, the geochemistry of the freshest Archaean komatiites yet found, and models of the evolution of the region.

T is atlas is intended primarily for anybody who is in-some background for the arrangement of how the terested in basic geology of Africa. Its originality lies atlas was done. T e second chapter is devoted to the in the fact that the regional geology of each African history of geological mapping in Africa, necessary nation or territory is reviewed country-wise by maps for a fuller appreciation of why this work in Africa is and text, a view normally not presented in textbooks worth doing. Chapter 3 provides an executive s- of regional geology. It is my belief, that there has long mary on the stratigraphy and tectonics of Africa as a been a need in universities and geological surveys, whole, i. e. in the context of no political boundaries. both in Africa and in the developed world, for sum- T e main part of the atlas lies in Chapter 4, where in marizing geological maps and an accompanying basic alphabetical order each African country or territory text utilising the enormous fund of knowledge that is presented by a digitized geological overview map has been accumulated since the beginning of geologi- and an accompanying text on its respective strat- th cal research in Africa in the mid-19 century. I hope raphy, tectonics, economic geology, geohazards and that, in part, the present atlas may satisfy this need. geosites. A short list of relevant references is also a- ed.