Richat Structure-The Eye of Sahara

Richat Structure-The Eye of Sahara

Tourism

The Eye of the Sahara, also referred to as the Richat Structure, is a geological phenomenon of significant cultural, historical, and scientific value in Mauritania. The structure emerged over millions of years due to the gradual erosion of rock layers and is visible from space. It holds immense importance for archaeology, given its composition of bimodal tholeiitic and alkaline volcanism dating back to the Cretaceous era. Because of its striking circular shape, the structure remains a subject of considerable scientific inquiry. Its study has contributed significantly to our understanding of plate tectonics and the evolution of the Earth's surface.

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100 million years ago

DiMei

English

Site

752

06/05/2023

[1] Matton G, Jébrak M. The “eye of Africa”(Richat dome, Mauritania): An isolated Cretaceous alkaline–hydrothermal complex[J]. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 2014, 97: 109-124. [2] Abdeina E H, Bazin S, Chazot G, et al. Geophysical modelling of the deep structure of the Richat magmatic intrusion (northern Mauritania): insights into its kinematics of emplacement[J]. Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 2021, 14: 1-13.

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richat_Structure

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Richat Structure-The Eye of Sahara

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richat_Structure

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Place Name

Sahara Desert of Mauritania, West Africa

1628

Now

public

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dm333@st-andrews.ac.uk

The site holds cultural and spiritual significance for the local Mauritanian population. It is believed to have functioned as a landmark for early traders and travelers because of its visibility from afar in the otherwise barren desert terrain. In an effort to promote and preserve this valuable heritage, digital technologies such as virtual tours and interactive maps have been utilized. 2D and 3D modeling techniques have also played a crucial role in this regard. Geophysical modeling founded on high-resolution airborne magnetic data and satellite gravimetric data has enabled the imaging of the buried structures of the Richat magmatic complex, the identification of hydrothermal alteration zones, and the elaboration of a kinematic model for its emplacement. The digital use of this heritage has the potential to facilitate a better understanding of how the Earth has evolved over hundreds of millions of years.