Faciological Sectioning and Mapping of Intra-Tarat Mineralization Systems in the Taossa Sector of SOMAIR (Tim Mersoï Basin, North-West Niger)

Authors

  • Abdoulwahid Sani

    Geosciences and Processes Department, National School of Engineering and Energy Sciences, University of Agadez, Agadez B.P. 199, Niger
  • Karimou Dia Hantchi

    UMR of Water Sciences, Mineral Resources, Uses and Management, Dan Dicko Dankoulodo University, Maradi B.P. 465, Niger
  • Abdel Kader Ahmed Akassa

    Groundwater and Geosciences Laboratory, Abdou Moumouni University, Niamey B.P. 10896, Niger
  • Moussa Konaté

    Groundwater and Geosciences Laboratory, Abdou Moumouni University, Niamey B.P. 10896, Niger

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30564/jees.v8i6.13417
Received: 15 April 2026 | Revised: 30 April 2026 | Accepted: 7 May 2026 | Published Online: 24 June 2026

Abstract

This work focuses on the sedimentological study of the Taossa deposit (Tim Mersoï Basin), one of the ore deposits belonging to the concession area of SOMAÏR (Société des Mines de l'Aïr). The Tarat Carboniferous formation hosts numerous uranium deposits, including the Taossa deposit. The study of this deposit led to the proposal of a new division based on intra-Tarat facies characteristics. The Tarat formation has thus been subdivided into five units (instead of four). These are, from bottom to top: U1, U2, U3G, U4a and U4b. Each of these units is distinguished from the others by its specific facies pattern. Thus, the U1 unit consists of coarse to very coarse microconglomeratic sandstones, the U2 unit consists of argillites or alternating argillites-fine sandstones, U3G sub-unit consists of coarse to very coarse sandstones at its base. U4 is subdivided into 2 sub-units (U4a and U4b). U4a encompasses the summit part of Unit U3 and the fine sandstone base of Unit 4, and U4b consists of Tarat-Madaouéla argillite or clay-silt alternations in the Taossa area. The advantage of this division is that it could facilitate ore categorization during the mining phase. Isohypsic and isopaque maps of the various intra-Tarat units have also been produced. They show that the Tarat sediments were deposited in a fluvio-deltaic environment. Geological modeling suggests that uranium mineralization at the Taossa deposit is concentrated along the flanks of anticlines and synclines, which are sites of preferential accumulation of organic matter and sulfides, reputed to be reducing and fixing agents for uranium.

Keywords:

Faciological Sectioning; Intra-Tarat Mineralization; Taossa Deposit; Tim Mersoï Basin; SOMAÏR

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How to Cite

Sani, A., Hantchi, K. D., Akassa, A. K. A., & Konaté, M. (2026). Faciological Sectioning and Mapping of Intra-Tarat Mineralization Systems in the Taossa Sector of SOMAIR (Tim Mersoï Basin, North-West Niger). Journal of Environmental & Earth Sciences, 8(6), 178–197. https://doi.org/10.30564/jees.v8i6.13417

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Vol. 8 , Iss. 6 (June 2026): In Progress

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Copyright © 2026 Abdoulwahid Sani, Karimou Dia Hantchi, Abdel Kader Ahmed Akassa, Moussa Konaté

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This is an open access article under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) License.

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