Geology of Africa
(RES 406)
Second Term 2025/2026
INTRODUCTION:
Africa has a land area of 30.3 million km2, occupying about 21% of the land surface of the Earth. It is a very old
continent spanning at least 3,800 Ma of the Earth᾽s history. Most of Africa is a series of stable plateau, low in the north and west and higher in the south and east. The plateau is composed mainly of exposed Igneous and metamorphic rocks in the south and has been overlaid in places by sedimentary rocks in the north.
Geology is the science that studies the Earth—how it was born, how it evolved, how it works, and how we can help it. Africa plays a dominant role as a source of strategic metals such as chromium, cobalt, manganese, and platinum. Africa holds large resources of mineral deposits that need geologists to discover and leaders to properly use.
Africa has high potential explorations for precious metals, base metals, and diamonds. Metallic deposits are concentrated in Central and Southern Africa because of the predominance of Precambrian igneous and metamorphic rocks, while nonmetallic deposits are concentrated in North Africa.
Africa is a continent enriched in mineralization of all types of mineral deposits as a result of its geological legacy. It is well endowed with reserves of platinum, diamond, chromite, cobalt, phosphate, manganese, gold, and bauxite.
The present course focuses on the study of principles of geology, including minerals, types of rocks, plate tectonics, African rifts, earthquakes, mineral resources, and water resources.
Objectives:
The main objective of the course "Geology of Africa" is to understand the basic terms of geology and hydrogeology, the rock cycle, the global water cycle, the water budget, geologic factors controlling mineral and water resources, the origin and characteristics of some African mineral and water bodies, and their related deposits.
Teaching Materials:
Class notes handout to assist students on geology of Africa
Lecture presentations in PowerPoint in class.
Lecture presentations in PDF on the website.
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Plummer C.C., Carlson D.H., Hammersley L., 2016, Physical Geology, 15th ed., McGraw-Hill Education
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Tarbuck, E.J., and Lutgens, F.K., 2017, Earth: An Introduction to Physical Geology, 12th ed., Prentice Hall, New Jersey, 788p.
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Condie, C.K., 2022, Earth as an evolving planetary system, 4th ed., Elsevier, 379p.
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Plummer C.C., Carlson D.H., Hammersley L., 2016, Physical Geology, 15th ed., McGraw-Hill Education
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Schlluter, T., 2008, Geological Atlas of Africa, 2nd ed., 307p.
Grading:
Mid Term Exam (March 29, 2026) ....................... 15%
Oral Exam and Term Paper (May 17, 2026) ..….. 15% (How to write term paper in pdf)
Final Exam ………............................……............ 70%
Tentative LECTURE Schedule:
Main lecture topics: (Notes in pdf)
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TENTATIVE LECTURE SCHEDULE:
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• Week 1 Introduction, Outline and schedule (presentation in pdf)
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• Week 2 Water challenges in Africa (presentation in pdf)
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• Week 3 Minerals and Igneous rocks (presentation in pdf)
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• Week 4 Sedimentary rocks (presentation in pdf) (Video)
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• Week 5 Metamorphic rocks (presentation in pdf)
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• Week 6 Plate tectonics (presentation in pdf)
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• Week 7 Earthquakes
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• Week 8 Climate Change I
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• Week 9 Climate Change II
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• Week 10 Geology of Ethiopia
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• Week 11 Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD)
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• Week 13 Term paper presentations
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Last Updated in March 15, 2026
