In this paper, we present an integrated landform-regolith mapping protocol/chart for West Africa developed
using a case from Central Burkina Faso. The chart accounts for (i) the specificities of the ubiquitous, duricrust-
capped remnants of the regional paleolandsurfaces – particularly the residual or detrital character of the Fe
duricrusts – and (ii) the diversity of the remaining, non-duricrusted portions of the landscape, with an emphasis
on the pitfalls encountered in determining the in-situ or transported character of the regolith. The paper also
provides field identification criteria and illustrations of the typical West African landform-regolith associations.
The landform-regolith mapping chart is integrated into a prospectivity chart, which is used to define exploration
guides: (i) defining sampling strategies, (ii) interpreting potential geochemical anomalies and (iii) targeting
lateral extensions of known bedrock mineralizations. The mapping protocol further allows for the definition ofa
class of landform-regolith association propitious to supergene mineral concentrations. The mapping protocol is
shown to be transposable to wetter contexts and, more generally, to other tropical shield provinces.

Pediment Weathering profile Duricrust Detrital duricrust Mineral exploration