Geological characteristics of gold deposits in West Africa

West Africa plays a significant economic role in the world gold industry. Gold deposits have various morphogenetic types: vein, disseminated, porphyry, stratiform, paleoplacer, and laterite. They were formed as a result of the intertaction of lithostratigraphic, structural, and other ore-controlling factors. Principal features of the geological development and structure of the West African craton bear a strong resemblance to those of other significant Precambrian cratons in Africa; their metallogenic features are also similar. The West African craton has much economic potential for prospecting and exploration not only traditional vein and paleoplacer deposits, but also new types, as, for example, disseminated, and stratiform. The possibility of discovery of deposits older than "Birimian" in West Africa also cannot be ruled out.