Geology of Ivory Coast

The geology of Ivory Coast is almost entirely extremely ancient metamorphic and igneous crystalline basement rock between 2.1 and more than 3.5 billion years old, comprising part of the stable continental crust of the West African Craton.

The Baoule-Mossi domain in eastern Ivory Coast continues into Ghana and includes northeast–southwest trending volcanic belts, with sedimentary basins in between.

The 2.9 to 2.15 billion year old volcanic belts formed from a tholeiitic magma series that experienced low-grade metamorphism and was intruded by granitoids.

Volcanic belts, formed 2.1 billion years ago, lack clear spacing and do not run parallel and the intervening basins are filled with granitoids and gneisses.

The Eburnean orogeny, 2.1 billion years ago metamorphosed many of the Paleoproterozoic rocks, creating shear zones and intruding granitoid plutons which vary between tonalite and peraluminous granite.

[5] Coastal sedimentary basins formed as a result of the rifting apart of the supercontinent Pangaea, opening the Atlantic Ocean and now hold Ivory Coast's offshore oil and gas reserves.

Near surface weathering in cocoa producing regions of the country has resulted in a layer of clay and argillaceous material, with low permeability and limited groundwater, in Late Precambrian Birrimian aquifers.

This high productivity aquifer recharges quickly from rainfall and has a lower layer of clay that often separates freshwater from saline water.

Ivory Coast also has bauxite, nickel and copper deposits associated platinum group minerals, as well as titanium and tantalite in beach sands.