5.2 Resources in Africa

• Aardrijkskunde
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 3

Resources in Africa

Learning objectives 

You  will be able to:

• Understand why Africa is a resource-rich continent
  
• What cratons are and how kimberlite pipes are formed

Shifting continents

200 million years ago the african plate began to take shape

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Cratons

Pieces of continental plate that are

considered stable fundaments of 

a continent.

- made of (relative) light rock 
materials 

- stick deep into the mantle

Cratons in Africa

The many cratons in Africa is the reason of why there are a lot of metallic resources found here.  

How come there are a lot of metallic resources in Africa? How do they form?

Talking point!

The geology of the continent of Africa is a gift for the African people. Do you agree?

Kimberlite volcanos

Practical assignment

Resources in Africa

- continue with the practical assignment. 

Use the Cratons to figure out which resources are found where.

daltondenhaag.maps.arcgis.com

Learning objectives 

You  will be able to:

• Understand why Africa is a resource-rich continent
  
• What cratons are and how kimberlite pipes are formed

Essence

The shape of Africa has changed multiple times. After the breakup of Pangea and later Gondwana, Africa was transformed into the shape that we know today. The continent of Africa consists of three major cratons: the West African Craton, the Central African Craton and the South African Craton. These cratons are stable areas of the continental crust that contain a great store of resources.