Petrographic and Kinematic Analysis of the Itombwe Synclinorium Formations Exposed at Tshondo and Bugoy (South-Kivu region, Democratic Republic of the Congo).

The purpose of this study is to investigate the Itombwe synclinorium formations that were affected by the late Pan-African orogenesis in the nordeastern Congo. A variety of controversies surround Tshondo and Bugoy's tectonic evolution and associated metasedimentary formations. A field-based approach combined with paleostress inversion techniques and petrographic analyses were conducted on 190 structural measurements and 6 rock samples used in this study. The results reveal the presence of four major petrographic facies: conglomeratic facies (conglomerate and diamictite), carbonate facies (travertine), greenschist facies (graphitic black shale and pelite), as well as quatzitic facies (quartzite and sandstone). The mineral assemblages consisting of high contents (>70%) of muscovite/sericite and biotite albite, plagioclase, quartz, and some opaque minerals. With the assistance of Win-Tensor software, the kinematic analysis reveals two major deformation phases, (1) a ductile deformation phase (D1- 2), which is associated with isoclinal folds and strike-slip faults, and (2) a sub meridian brittle deformation phase (D2), which generated extensive faults trending NNW-SSE to NE-SW directions, while reactivating bedding surfaces (NE-SW) in a series of secondary faults. The findings of this research may assist geologistsin conducting core logging operations and provide a baseline for understanding the relationship between rock, minerlization, and tectonics in mineral-rich areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]