North Africa contains some 4% of the world's remaining oil and gas reserves, and is now one of the most active exploration areas. This volume represents the first attempt at a compilation of the petroleum geology of North Africa, documenting a series of papers collected on the petroleum geology of Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Ubya and the western part of Egypt. The main objectives of this book are to increase the level of documentation towards that appropriate for such major petroleum provinces and to facilitate the application of analogues between North African countries and beyond.

The geological maps show that Africa is almost entirely made up of basement Precambrian rocks. The only exceptions are constituted by northwestern and southern parts of the continent where narrow Phanerozoic mountains belts are stacked against the Precambrian landmass. Structurally, the Precambrian geology of Africa is grossly divided into cratons and mobile belts (Petters, 1991). The two most important cratons are the West African craton and the Congo (Zaire) craton (Fig. 1 (a,b)). Surrounding the cratons are the belts, which have been deformed or metamorphosed during the Early Palaeozoic Pan-African orogeny. Cratonic nuclei are observed in the central, northeastern and northwestern parts of the Congo (Zaire) craton. According to Cahen (1984), the African orogenic history indicates that the bulk of this craton was stabilised after an early Proterozoic orogeny. The history of the tectonic evolution of Africa is based on a collection of radiometric ages.

В объяснительной записке к «Карте четвертичных отложений Африки» масштаба 1 : 5 000 000 дано описание основных генетических типов пород четвертичного возраста. Впервые по единой стратиграфической схеме для всего континента проведено их расчленение и дано сопоставление основных литостратиграфических комплексов аллювиальных, озерных и аллювиальноозерных образований, проведена корреляция морских трансгрессий для побережий континента.

It is with deep regret to report that ‘Palaeoecology of Africa (PoA)’ lost two of its long-time editorial board members: the German-born, US-American geographer, palaeoecologist and archaeologist, Karl W. Butzer in 2016; and the French palaeobiologist (diatom specialist), palaeoclimatologist and palaeohydrologist, Françoise Gasse in 2014. Both supported and accompanied over many years the long-term success story of PoA.

I take pleasure in presenting a further edition (volume 32) of the internationally recognized and acclaimed series ‘Palaeoecology of Africa’ (PoA). Already since 1966 the series has published a large number of interdisciplinary scientific papers on landscape evolution and on former environments of selected areas within the African continent. Since the re-edition and re-launch of ‘Palaeoecology of Africa’ in 2007/2008 it is the fifth volume of the yearbook series that follows the new concept and layout under the restructured editorial board and by support of the publishing houses Routledge and CRC Press. Therefore, the ambitious goal of the editorial board and its editor in chief to have one book a year was almost reached. Many thanks go to all the contributing authors, colleagues and friends who directly and indirectly contributed during the last years to make this re-edition of ‘Palaeoecology of Africa’ a reality and a success. <...>

Carthaginian, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Ottoman, Italian, and Allied military control after the Second World War. There was little organised scientific activity before the annexation of Libya by Italy in 1911, although a number of expeditions, some with scientific interests, passed through Libya in the 19th century. The main objective of these expeditions, mostly organised by the London-based African Association, was to explore the region southwards from Murzuq to Timbuktu, determine the course of the Niger River and assess the commercial potential of the area. The earliest of these expeditions was undertaken by Friedrich Hornemann who travelled with a camel caravan from Egypt into Libya passing through the oases of Siwa and Awjilah, and then across the Haruj al Aswad to Murzuq, and subsequently to Tripoli.

Справочник «Страны Африки: минеральные ресурсы» содержит информационно-статистические материалы по 48 странам континентальной Африки и Республике Мадагаскар. Справочник содержит общие сведения о стране, ее населении, экономике, внешней экономической деятельности, состоянии минерально-сырьевой базы основных видов твердых полезных ископаемых и производстве основных видов товарной минерально-сырьевой продукции. Также приведена общая характеристика законодательства в области лицензирования недропользования.

Satellite remote sensing technology has progressed to advanced levels of practical application, particularly in the areas of optical and radar imagery. Optical imagery can be utilised to map lithological details as well as identifying mineral deposits. The multi-parameter imaging radar proved useful in mapping structures as well as estimating surface roughness. In addition, new satellite sensors are planned for the next few years which promise better spectral and spatial resolutions. <...>

The status of sampling practices in the Gold Mining Industry in Africa was determined as an initial step in a process to standardise sampling practices in the Mining Industry. Several mines, metallurgical plants and laboratories were visited and the status of equipment, standards and procedures were rated to determine the potential influence of the relevant sampling errors on each component of the particular sampling system.