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West African Shield

geological formation, Africa

Quick Summary

The West African Shield is a geological formation composed of ancient Precambrian crystalline rocks, with ages ranging from 2.7 to 3.4 billion years old. It is part of the larger African Shield and is characterized by intensely folded and faulted granite, schist, and gneiss, interspersed with iron-bearing formations. This stable area of low relief is a significant component of the Earth's crust, representing some of the oldest geological structures on the continent.123

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