The Cretaceous to recent West and Central African Rift System is a major geological feature in Africa, extending 4000 km from the west to the east. Its formation is related to the breakup of Gondwana and the separation of Africa from South America, during which a complex network of extensional, wrench and pull-apart basins formed. These basins can be separated into two coeval rift sub-systems, the West African Rift System and the Central African Rift System. Both systems are genetically related but are physically separated and show significant structural as well as sedimentological differences. However, despite its great importance for the history of the African continent, our understanding of its origins and evolution is limited due to a scarcity of geophysical and sedimentological data. In this review paper, we examine the sedimentary and igneous basin-fill of the major West and Central African Rift System basins using literature data from the previous five decades. We analyse basin evolution, sequence stratigraphy, changing environmental and palaeoclimatic conditions, and economic aspects of the basins. Furthermore, we address future needs and challenges in research and collaboration between academia and industry to better understand the vast economic potential of the West and Central African Rift System basins. Ultimately, our findings shed light on the complicated geological history of the West and Central African Rift System and offer vital insights for future research and development in the region.

中文翻译：

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穿越裂缝：西非和中非裂谷系统的演变及其经济潜力回顾


白垩纪至近期的西非和中非裂谷系统是非洲的一个主要地质特征，从西向东延伸 4000 公里。它的形成与冈瓦纳的解体和非洲与南美洲的分离有关，在此期间形成了一个由伸展、扳手和拉开盆地组成的复杂网络。这些盆地可以分为两个同时代的裂谷子系统，即西非裂谷系统和中非裂谷系统。这两个系统在遗传上是相关的，但在物理上是分开的，并显示出显着的结构和沉积学差异。然而，尽管它对非洲大陆的历史具有重要意义，但由于地球物理和沉积学数据的缺乏，我们对它的起源和演变的理解是有限的。在这篇综述论文中，我们使用过去五十年的文献数据研究了西非和中非裂谷系统主要盆地的沉积和火成盆地填充物。我们分析了盆地的演变、层序地层学、不断变化的环境和古气候条件以及盆地的经济方面。此外，我们在学术界和工业界之间的研究和合作中解决未来的需求和挑战，以更好地了解西非和中非裂谷系统流域的巨大经济潜力。最终，我们的研究结果揭示了西非和中非裂谷系统复杂的地质历史，并为该地区的未来研究和开发提供了重要的见解。