Precambrian Research, 65 (1994) 155-166 155

Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam

Evolution of the Precambrian In-Ouzzal block (Central Sahara,

Algeria)

H. Haddoum”, P. Choukroune**b and J.J. Peucatb

Vnstitut des Sciences de la Terre U.S. T.H.B., B.P. 32 El Alia, Alger, Algkrie
bGkosciences-Rennes, CNRS, Universitkde Rennes 1. 35042 Rennes Cedex, France
Received October 27, 1992; revised version accepted March 3 1, 1993

ABSTRACT

New structural and geochronological data are used to constrain the evolution of the Precambrian In-Ouzzal block situ-
ated on the eastern side of the West African Craton. The results of this study can be summarized as follows:
(i) The block can be subdivided into two series; one is mainly composed of Archaean granitic gneisses (3.2-2.5 Ga
old), while the other contains metasedimentary and basic to ultrabasic rocks which can be compared with those described
in Archaean supracrustal terrains.
(ii) The entire block is affected by very high temperature granulite-facies metamorphism.
(iii) The metamorphism is associated with two main deformational phases, the first of which is responsible for a re-
gional foliation refolded during the second phase.
(iv) The major tectono-metamorphic event in the area is related to a 2.0 Ga-old (Ebumian) orogeny which ended with
carbonatite emplacement. Nearly all evidence of the earliest crustal evolution events (i.e. the initial emplacement and
deformation of the granitic and supracrustal materials) has been erased by the Eburnian event.

1. Introduction Farther south, this is not the case in the brother

The In-Ouzzal granulitic block is isolated
between two branches of the Pan-African belt
(620-580 Ma) (Boullier, 1991) which out-
crops in Central Sahara, east of the West Afii-
can Craton (Fig. 1) . The basement unit is now
bordered by major vertical shears (Boullier,
1979; Bertrand et al., 1983) and is thought to
be composed of Archaean material affected by
Eburnian granulite facies metamorphism. Ra-
diametric ages have been obtained (Ferrara
and Gravelle, 1966; All&e and Caby, 1968,
1972; Lancelot et al., 1976) which show that
no reworking occurred during the Pan-African
orogeny, with the exception of the intrusion of
some hypovolcanic granitic rocks dated N 530
Ma (All&e and Caby, 1968, 1972) (Fig. 2).
*Corresponding author.
unit of Iforas (Lelubre, 1952) where a strong
Pan-African overprint has been reported
(Boullier and Barbey, 1988) in Eburnian
granulites (Boullier, 1979).
Two other nuclei of West Africa (Amsaga,
Man) are part of the West African Craton (Fig.
I), isolated by juvenile crust 2.2-2.1 Ga-old
(Boher et al., 1992). Both were affected by
Late Archaean granulite facies metamorphism
(Rocci et al., 1991).
The observed lithologies of the In-Ouzzal
block are all of granulite facies grade (Giraud,
1961; Le Fur, 1966; Kienast and Ouzegane,
1987; Bertrand et al., 1992). They can be
grouped into two main series: the first contains
granitic and gneissic rock-types, the second is
composed of metasediments and basic to ul-
trabasic rocks. Both series are intruded by
younger granitic bodies and carbonatites

0301-9268/94/$07.00 0 1994 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

SSDZ0301-9268(93)E0018-8
 H.HADDOlJMFI 41

BEL- r/

AflLlllf!C Ocean
g3
I

Fig. 1. Location of the In-Ouzzal block in the structural

setting of northwest Africa. 3=Archaean domain,
2= Birrimian domain, I = Neoproterozoic to Hercynian
basins.

(Ouzegane et al., 1988 ) . The carbonatites have

been dated at N 2 Ga (Bernard-Grifflths et al.,
1988). All the sequences are highly deformed
Indifferentiated Proterozoic
and broken into discontinuous shreds, except
the late intrusions which clearly post-date the Pan African ~3 granites
main tectonic event. The purpose of this study
is to define the structural relationships be-
tween the different rock units, to describe the
Fig. 2. Sketch-map of the In-Ouzzal massif: the general
geometrical characteristics of the deformation attitude of regional foliation is indicated in the Archaean
and, using new geochronogical data, to pro- material (modified after Caby, 1970); double-headed ar-
pose a model for the structural evolution of this row indicates the cross-section of Fig. 3. Areas of detailed
isolated segment of Archaean crust. investigation in the northern part of the block (Figs. 4-
6) are also shown.

2. Structural data
The most pronounced structures in the In-
Ouzzal massif are NE-SW- and NW-SE-
trending folds on the scale of mapping (Figs.
2, 3). On a general cross-section of the area
studied (Fig. 3)) they appear to be one of the
major structural features affecting both gneis-
sic and metasedimentary material. They are
clearly cut by undeformed Pan-African gran-
ites (73 ). These folds, which generally have
steeply plunging axes, affect a pre-existing fol-
iation (S 1) and lineation (Ll ). Metasedimen-
tary bodies, highly foliated granulitic gneisses
(y0) and more isotropic lenses of granitic
gneiss (71) are strongly flattened and (or)
elongated. These geometrical and structural
EVOLUTION OF THE PRECAMBRIAN IN-OUZZAL BLOCK, CENTRAL SAHARA 157

NNW SSE
, ALOUKI , TIN CHIK CHIK TEKHAMMALT

0 IOOkm.
i--- p-1 $4p supra crustal I 1
! ‘ii ‘nhp, 2 B Y Carbonatites

I +:+z+z+z+l 2 B.Y;y: granites

2

Fig. 3. Diagrammatic cross-section of the In-Ouzzal block: late-stage folding is well pronounced, affecting the regional
foliation. ~0, yl, y2 and y3 are granitic rock-types used as markers of the structural evolution (see text for explanation).
Vertical exaggeration ( x 4) in order to represent more clearly the observed relationships between the different lithologies.

relationships can be studied at two sites that
have been mapped in detail.
The first site (Ihouhaouene ), situated near
the northeastern limit of the In-Ouzzal massif
(Fig. 4)) displays a large volume of metasedi-
mentary and metabasic-ultramafic material
within the gneissic basement, as well as an in-
trusive carbonatite body dated at 2 Ga (Ber-
nard-Griffiths et al., 1988). Here, what is
termed the “supracrustal series” is formed of a
discontinuous and highly foliated layer of white
quartzo-feldspathic material (leptynite ) at the
base, overlain by pyroxenites mainly com-
posed of orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene, spi-

IHOUHAOUENE (site 2)
W

Late mylonites
(PanAlrican?)
Archean
m Pm=;;tse$ ;$:a’itic [*I Marbles ” [-TqZ:

Fig. 4. Detailed cross-section in the Ihouhaouene area showing the structural relationships between the supracrustal rocks
and the gneissic basement (see text). The 2 Ga-old late-stage carbonatites are schematically represented.
1.58
nel, phlogopite and plagioclase. Above these
members, quartzites, marbles and Fe (sideri-
tic) marbles occupy higher levels of the pile
that appears to be folded into a very tight sync-
line (Fig. 4); the regional foliation is parallel
to the axial plane of the syncline and follows
the gneiss-metasediment interface. Along
strike, the supracrustal series is not continuous
but disappears progressively, so the entire
syncline can be considered as a mega-boudin
in the gneisses. Moreover, the foliation here is
clearly affected by a late phase of folding; the
post-foliation folds (P2) are present on all
scales with NE-SW trending axial planes and
steeply dipping axes generally plunging toward
the NE (Fig. 5 ). The “supracrustal series”are
considered as a former cover deposited on a
gneissic basement.
The field relations of the intrusive carbona-
tites can be observed in this same area: they
are unfoliated, and are seen to cross-cut the
main foliation. They occupy the core of a late
anticline which exposes gneissic material (Fig.
4) affected by metasomatic transformations
(what was called syenitic gneisses by Giraud,
196 1 and Le Fur, 1966) linked to the carbon-
atite emplacement ( fenitisation ) (Bernard-
Grifliths et al., 1988). From this evidence, we
consider that the carbonatites were emplaced
+ 3
0 Pz Fold
Fig. 5. Stereographic projection of Sl foliation pole planes used to reconstruct the P2 fold axes in the Ihouaouene area
(Schmidt net, lower hemisphere).
H. HAI~DCXJM EI 241
after the main tectonic event, probably during
the late folding phase. Taking into account
these structural data, the Archaean ages of the
infracrustal basement (Ferrara and Gravelle,
1966; Allegre and Caby, 1972)) the 3.2-2.0 Ga
ages recorded by detrital zircon (Lancelot et
al., 1976) and the 2 Ga age of the carbonatites
(Bernard-Griffiths et al., 1988), it is possible
to infer that the main structural evolution of
the In-Ouzzal massif occurred between 3.2 and
2 Ga.
The second site studied is in the central part
of the In-Ouzzal unit (Tekhammalt-Tan
Afella), where the exposed terrains are com-
posed largely of granitic gneisses (~1) and
highly foliated gneisses (70)) with only small
relicts of supracrustal rocks, all being affected
by granulitic metamorphism (Fig. 6). Here, the
main foliation is folded into a large P2 antic-
line slightly overturned towards the NW,
marked out by lOO-m-scale boudins of mar-
bles and ultrabasic rocks. In the basement,
granitic gneisses (~1) can be observed which
are progressively affected by the main folia-
tion moulded around the better preserved len-
ses. Foliation trajectories support the hypoth-
esis of their strong competence during P2
folding (Fig. 6). We consider that these in-
completely foliated lenses represent magmatic
poles
Axis
EVOLUTION OF THE PRECAMBRIAN IN-OUZZAL BLOCK, CENTRAL SAHARA 159

spar, biotite and hypersthene. Field relation-

ships clearly demonstrate the link between the
partial melting, the intrusive y2 granites and the
second episode of deformation.
Finally, the youngest generation of granites
(~3 ) , which are mainly located along the bor-
der of the massif, can be easily distinguished
from the older ones. The y3 granites are gen-
erally isotropic, pink, fine-grained hypovol-
canic intrusions of late Pan-African to Cam-
brian ages (Caby, 1970); some of these bodies
contain two micas; they cross-cut the P2 struc-
tures and are only affected by transcurrent
ductile shearing along the margins of the In-
Ouzzal block. C-S structures (Berthe et al.,
Archean supracrustal
1979) provide evidence of dextral shearing
Archean gneiss along the eastern border, whereas they are
and granites ( Y, ) r\
compatible with sinistral shearing along the
western border. These granites, which were
clearly intruded after the granulite facies meta-
morphism, show the restricted influence of
Pan-African events in the structural develop-
ment of the block: this is a major difference
with the more southern Iforas block (Boullier,
1979,199l).
Fig. 7 summarizes the structural features and
the relative emplacement history of the recog-
nized magmatic units: oldest gneisses (yO),
Fig. 6. Structural map and cross-section showing the geo-
metrical and tectonic relationships between the ~1-72 granitic gneisses ( y 1)) leucocratic opx-bearing
granite bodies and the surrounding y0 gneisses (in Tek- granites (~2) with associated local migmatisa-
hamalt-Tan Affela area) tion, carbonatites and late granites (~3 ). For

bodies that have intruded the assumed base-

ment and undergone all the structural and ISW 600-550M+ d3 NE
metamorphic history of the massif.
Another interesting field observation in this
area concerns the second generation of gran-
ites (72) which are mainly located at the hinge
of the P2 fold. At this location, the gneissic
material is particularly affected by late-stage
partial melting and by the intrusion of y2 bod-
ies and veinlets which clearly cut the foliation
but which are locally affected by P2 folding.
These granites are internally weakly deformed Fig 7. Sketch section showing the relative timing of mag-
and more leucocratic than the yl bodies. They matic emplacement based on constraints from the in-
contain quartz, plagioclase, perthitic K-feld- ferred structural history.
 . mean concentration
0 fold axis (P2), x lineation
Fig. 8. Geometry of late-stage P2 folding (on the left) and reconstruction of Ll attitude before folding (on the right): Ll
is north-south trending, which is probably the direction of intense tangential shearing linked to Sl formation (Schmidt
net, lower hemisphere).
this central part of the massif, an attempt is
made to define the initial strike of Ll before
P2 folding. On the outcrop scale, the P2 folds
in some places have a steeply plunging axis to-
ward the SE. Assuming that the late folding af-
fected an initial horizontal S 1, the direction of
L 1 can be reconstructed around the N-S direc-
tion (Fig. 8 ).
3. Deformation and metamorphism
In recent studies, Ouzegane ( 1987 ), Kienast
and Ouzegane (1987) and Bertrand et al.
( 1992) have described three stages for the
granulite-facies metamorphism. Using rocks of
hyperaluminous composition in the supra-
crustal series, they defined an early assemblage
(stage 1) with corundum, orthopyroxene, spi-
nel and garnet, corresponding to pressure con-
ditions around 10 kbar at temperatures of
N 900°C. This first assemblage was destabi-
lized (stage 2) at the expense of sapphirine co-
existing with quartz, indicating an increase of
temperature to 1000°C. Lastly (stage 3), a
symplectic association of sapphirine, cordier-
ite and orthopyroxene grew during a general
drop in pressure to 5 kbar. The early parage-
nesis is only present as relicts. It is possible to
of St planes, + Sl Poles
( LI 1, 8 LI before Pz
correlate the appearance of sapphirine (stage
2) with the main foliation development. The
presence of garnets with sigmoidal inclusions
and orthopyroxene-sillimanite in pressure
shadows at their extremities demonstrate the
synkinematic character of the mineral growth.
Thus, development of the main foliation cor-
responds to the highest P-T conditions (Fig.
9). Field observations suggest that the late-
stage unoriented granulitic assemblage (stage
3) is contemporaneous with P2 folding as well
as with the partial melting of gneissic base-
ment and the emplacement of y2 granites. We
could only correlate the metamorphic stages 2
and 3 to the proposed deformation history. The
first paragenesis could represent either a dis-
tinct relictual event or the early stage of a sim-
ilar event.
4. New geochronological data
The second aim of this work is to determine,
in relation to the deformation history, the var-
ious stages of evolution from the igneous pro-
toliths to the granulite-facies metamorphism.
Results are here restricted to three key rock-
types: the granulitic gneisses ( yO), the granitic
gneisses ( yl ) and the syn-metamorphic grani-
EVOLUTION OF THE PRECAMBRIAN IN-OUZZAL BLOCK, CENTRAL SAHARA 161

Fig. 9. Photomicrograph (magn. x 20) of syn-kinematic fibrous sillimanite in pressure-shadows between stretched siilli-
manite laths.

toids (72 ) . These results are part of a larger in-
vestigation of the Pb-Sr-Nd isotope behav-
iour involved in very high temperature
metamorphism. In the present study, the sin-
gle zircon grain evaporation technique is ap-
plied following the procedure of Kober ( 1986);
the results are discussed along with some un-
published Sr, Nd and U-Pb data.
The highly foliated granulitic gneisses (JJO)
and granitic gneisses ( yl ) were investigated in
the Tin Chik Chik and Tekhammalt areas (see
location on Fig. 3 ) . These units correspond to
the two magmatic events which are recognized
as occurring prior to granulite-facies
metamorphism.
4.1. The y0 gneisses
The mineralogical composition of the ana-
lysed material is: quartz, K perthitic feldspar,
plagioclase, orthopyroxene + clinopyroxene,
biotite, apatite and opaques
Zircons from sample Inz 9 1 yields an upper
intercept with concordia at 3055 ? 10 Ma, a re-
sult which is in agreement with previous Rb-
Sr data (Ferrara and Gravelle, 1966; Allbgre
and Caby, 1972) and with single grain ages
ranging between 3.0 and 3.14 Ga (Table 1 and
Fig. 1Oc).The older dates may represent an in-
herited grain population, or may approach the
age of the protolith, if the present upper inter-
cept age of 3055 Ma results from slight reset-
ting of the U-Pb system during the high-grade
metamorphism. The ages close to 3.1 Ga are
also in agreement with TDM Nd model ages of
3.2 Ga calculated from the same rocks, indi-
cating that the magmas were derived from the
mantle shortly before protolith emplacement.
4.2. The yl gneisses
The mineralogical composition of the yl is
similar to the previous one ( JJO).
From sample Inz 73, the zircon provides an
TABLE 1

207Pb/206Pb single zircon data (two grains by sample) from the In-Ouzzal granulite facies gneisses and granites (rock-types: ,?!I_
;‘I and ~2)
_-._..___.
Sample Heat 206Pb/204Pb 207Pb/206Pb Error ‘07Pb / =06Pb Age 207Pb/206Pb Error
step measured measured 2 onl corrected Ma 2 O”,

Granulitic gneiss
Inz91 (y0) 1 50000 est. 0.2221 4 0.2229 3002 s
2+3 50000 est. 0.2340 5 0.2352 3088 6
lnz91 (y0) 1 49878 0.2438 3 0.2435 3143 2

Granitic gneiss
lnz 87 (~1) 1 35421 0.1542 1 0.1537 2388 I
2+3 35000 est. 0.1558 0.1555 2407 3
lnz 87 (yl) 1 41134 0.1682 2 0.1678 2536 1

Opx granite
lnz 12 (~2) 1 20000 est. 0.1225 2 0.1224 1992 5
2 20000 est. 0.1230 4 0.1230 2000 12
lnz 12 (~2) 1+2 26082 0.1234 4 0.1230 2000 12

Heatsteps: 1=1200+20”C;2=1270+20”c;3=137o+2o”c.

ll’“‘Pb/206Pb
ages
Single zircon In2 12 I

fl'~'
Pb?@Pb Single zircon ilzo7
Pb?Pb Single zircon
ages In2 91(2)

a
In2 87 (2)
2000:12MS
9- (f2om)
Y 1 Y 0
J-+
3143+2Ma
n 2536+ 1 Ma 1 (f 2um)
(?2om)
27. 24 1
18.
12
9-
Time (Ma)
0I
960 2000 2040 2450 2500 2550 2600 2650 2900 3000 3100 3200 3300 3400

a b C
Fig. 10. Single zircon ages: (a, 1 and 2) from y2 granite in the Alouki area; (b) from yl granite and (c) y0 granite in the
Tin Chik Chik area.
EVOLUT~ONOFTHEPRECAMBRIANIN-~~ZZALBLOCK,CENT~LSA~A~
upper intercept with concordia at 2568 220
Ma, which is in agreement with the Rb-Sr is-
ochron age of 2596 +_163 Ma obtained by Peu-
cat et al. ( 199 1) . Single grain ages clearly ex-
hibit resetting during the granulite-facies
metamorphism, ranging between 2.0 Ga and
2.54 Ga (Table 1 and Fig. lob). The oldest
date is in agreement with Rb-Sr and U-Pb re-
sults, and is interpreted here as the magmatic
age of the y 1 gneisses. TDM Nd model ages are
older than 3.0 Ga, indicating a crustal origin
for these granites which is probably related to
the melting of fl gneisses.
4.3. The opx-bearing y2 granites
The mineralogical composition of the ana-
lysed sample is: quartz, K-feldspar, orthopy-
roxene, apatite 2 clinopyroxene, plagioclase,
biotite and amphibole.
In sample Inz 12, the zircon provides a sim-
ilar result from both grains analysed close to
2.0 Ga (Table 1, Fig. 10a). This age corre-
sponds to an episode of high-temperature
metamorphism, according to the structural re-
lations and metamorphic assemblages dis-
cussed in the previous section.
5. Discussion and conclusions
In order to propose a consistent structural
evolution for the In-Ouzzal massif, we have to
take into account the following points.
Firstly, on the basis of the observed litholo-
gies and radiometric ages, the protoliths could
represent a typical Archaean association of
greenstone belt and T.T.G. igneous rocks; yl
represent a major Late Archaean magmatic
event.
Secondly, the initial material was largely
disrupted by a major tectonic event responsi-
ble for the development of a flat-lying folia-
tion, tight folds (and probable thrusts), which
were later refolded. The $I and yl granites are
affected by the main regional foliation, but y2
is only affected by the refolding phase.
163
Thirdly, this major tectonic event is also
characterized by granulitic metamorphism
with progressively decreasing P-T conditions
(second and third stage of Ouzegane, 1987)
and syntectonic magmatism (y2), the age of
which has been determined at N 2.O.Ga. This
result is in accordance with data obtained from
carbonatites (Bernard-Griffiths et al., 1988)
which intruded the whole massif after (or dur-
ing) late-stage folding. It also confirms the data
of Lancelot et al. ( 1976) obtained on detrital
zircons. The first granulitic stage of Ouzegane
( 1987) can be considered either as an Ar-
chaean relictual event or as part of the same
metamorphic Eburnian history.
Lastly, the high-level y3 Pan-African to
Cambrian granites within the block are not de-
formed but are affected by Pan-African shears
at its margins. Moreover, the structural and
geochronological data presented here clearly
show that the In-Ouzzal block is a segment of
Archaean crust largely reworked during the
Eburnian events.
This tectono-metamorphic history differs
from, but can be compared to, that of the West
African Craton, where Archaean tectonic
events are thought to have occurred prior to
the Ebumian orogeny (Rocci et al., 199 1). In-
deed, In-Ouzzal protoliths are similar to those
of Sierra Leone, Liberia and the Ivory Coast,
and are mainly composed of greenstone belt
rocks dated -2.8 Ga and TTG series dated
N 3.1 Ga, which were affected by 2.7 to 2.5 tec-
tono-metamorphic events before being slightly
reworked during the Ebumian orogeny 2.0 Ga
ago (Caen-Vachette, 1988; Abouchami and
Boher, 1990; Feybesse et al., 1990; Liegeois et
al., 1991;Roccietal., 1991;Auvrayetal., 1992;
Boher et al., 1992; Taylor et al., 1992).
The above considerations lead to the model
proposed in Fig. 11, in which the Archaean ini-
tial geometry is not constrained. As a working
hypothesis, this model assumes the classical
basement/cover relationships as seen between
infra- and supra-crustal rocks; we infer that the
initial geometry was affected by one or more
164 H. HADDOUM E’I 41

\ 2. By

2 BY
Fig. 11. Model for structural evolution of the In-Ouzzal block: Archaean history is unconstrained by structural data, but
is indicated as a working hypothesis which brings together available data from the West-African Craton.

tectono-metamorphic Archaean events, the
records of which could only be preserved as re-
licts of older destabilized granulitic assem-
blages (Ouzegane, 1987).
The main Ebumian tectonic event is repre-
sented as an episode of major tangential move-
ments; this is consistent with the deformation
style described elsewhere in the West African
Craton (Bertrand and Jardim de Sa, 1990;
Feybesse et al., 1990; Milesi et al., 1992; Rocci
et al., 199 1) . The shearing direction is approx-
imately trending N-S, but the sense of dis-
placement cannot be determined. The end of
the Ebumian orogeny is associated with re-
folding of the regional foliation and the em-
placement of y2 granites and carbonatites. This
part of the structural evolution was acquired in
granulitic metamorphic context. As has been
recognized for many years, y3 granites are the
only manifestation of the Pan-African events
in the In-Ouzzal block. This block, separated
from the other Archaean nuclei by the Pan-Af-
rican suture zone and by Birrimian juvenile
material, can be considered as remnants of Ar-
chaean crust with similar protoliths to those
found in the West African Craton and now iso-
lated within the Pan-African belt. The main
difference is that compared to the Liberian and
Amsaga nuclei, it was buried in a deeper crus-
tal level of the Ebumian belt. Equivalents of
this deep Ebumian crustal domain are not
present at surface outcrops in the West African
Craton, where only 2.0 Ga-old greenschist to
amphibolite facies transformations are ob-
served in Birrimian rocks.
Acknowledgements
The authors are indebted to the ORGM
(Office National de la Recherche Geologique
et Mini&e) for logistic support during the field
work. The work was carried out in the frame-
work of a cooperative programme between the
Universities of Algiers and Rennes, financially
supported in part by CNRS-INSU (Pro-
gramme Dynamique et Bilan de la Terre). K.
Ouzegane and J.R. Kienast were involved in
field works and in numerous and fruitful dis-
EVOLUTION OF THE PRECAMBRIAN IN-OUZZAL BLOCK, CENTRAL
cussions. J.M. Bertrand and R. Caby made
useful and pertinent comments on the
manuscript.
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