Rare Earth Element Geochemistry And Protoliths Of Schists In Southeast Lokoja, Central Nigeria

Abstract

The Nigerian schist belts constitute the most important lithologic units necessary for the unravelling of the geochemical and geodynamic evolution of the basement complex. The schists have however undergone extensive alterations owing to weathering and metamorphism. REE abundance and distribution patterns of Lokoja schists indicate that the schist belts are metamorphosed shale-greywacke sequence. Their provenance possibly contained volcanogenic debris and the passive margin of the West African craton provided most of the materials. The reworking and metamorphism of the sediments took place during the Pan-African Orogeny ca. 687 Ma ago.

KEY WORDS: Schists, Provenance, Reworking, Rare Earth Element, Evolution

Global Journal of Geological Sciences Vol.3(1) 2005: 9-15