Mesozoic Sedimentary Cover Sequences of the Congo Basin in the Kasai Region, Democratic Republic of Congo - Geology and Resource Potential of the Congo Basin - page 161

Fig. 9.3 Shaded relief map of the Kasai study area and the location of the De Beers exploration
cores investigated in this project. The locations of known kimberlite fields, in relationship to the
study localities, are also shown. Note the highly bisected topography and modern fluvial
drainage network. The Kasai margin of the Congo Basin is characterized by broad savanna-
like interfluve plateaus, and (in places deep) river valleys, with the major rivers progressively
incising through cover sediments into underlying basement lithologies (Figs. 9.1 , 9.2 , and 9.3 ).
Major rivers in the area are from west to east the Lovua, Tshikapa (alt. Chicapa), Longatshimo

(alt. Luachimo), Tshiumbe (alt. Chiumbe), Lubembe (alt. Luembe), Kasai, Luebo, Lulua, Lubi
and Mbuji-Mayi-Sankuru flowing northward and draining into the trunk Kasai River. Different
drainage patterns reflect variations in the underlying geological terrain, with linear drainage
patterns marking bedrock incision; broad, flat river valleys developed on Gr`s Polymorphs and
Kalahari sands, and dendritic drainage patterns with cirque development on Cretaceous
lithologies