The Chowe - Chongwe whiteschists, timing and nature

with Simon Johnson

Mapping along traverses along the Chongwe and Chiawa (Chowe) rivers in Lower Zambezi National park (Zambia) resulted in detailed geology, cross sections, and various samples collected for microprobe studies, geochronology and geochemistry.

U-Pb SHRIMP zircon dates have been obtained, and indicate the presence of a Mesoproterozoic basement similar to the one described in the Chewore inliers in northern Zimbabwe.

The age of peak metamorphism associated with the formation of the whiteschist has been determined through U-Pb SHRIMP dating of low Th/U zircon overgrowths.

Numerous polished sections have been prepared in Japan, and were analysed on microprobe to establish p-T conditions and elucidate the metamorphic history of the rocks.

The results of this study will be published near the end of 2004.

Bert De Waele is "examining" Spectacular folding in high grade gneisses along the Chiawa (Chowe) river

Click on the thumbnails below for more images:

	Meta-dacite cut by whiteschist (ie a fluid front).
	Meta-Dacitic / Meta-andesitic units
	Spectacular sheath folds
	Augen gneiss unit
	Sheat folds