What Exactly Is the Eye of the Sahara, aka the Richat Structure? | Maqvi News

The formation’s concentric rings are primarily composed of sedimentary rocks, including sandstone and limestone. The outer ring of the structure is composed of harder, more resistant rock layers, while the innermost depressions consist of softer rock layers that have eroded more rapidly over time.

These sedimentary layers offer a glimpse into the Earth’s past, recording millions of years of geological history. As hard as it may be to imagine moisture in the Sahara Desert, the circular ridges of the Richat Structure have helped scientists study both wet and dry periods in the area’s history.

The Eye of Sahara features an underlying alkaline igneous complex, including igneous rocks called gabbroic rocks, which form as a result of magmatic activity and hydrothermal alteration.

That’s a fancy way of saying that the Earth’s material became so hot it turned into magma, or liquid rock, and then forced itself into the surrounding rocks, slowly cooling into a crystalline structure.

Erosion, both by wind and water, has also helped to sculpt the Richat Structure into its present form, exposing different rock types and creating its concentric layers and circular shape. Differential erosion rates between the softer and more resistant layers have further contributed to the striking appearance of the formation today.