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Rock Types
The city of Kumasi is located within the Birimian Supergroup geological region. This supergroup consists of rocks, including metavolcanic, metasedimentary, and granitoid rocks. Additionally, Birimian rocks are associated with gold mineralization, explaining why Kumasi is known for gold mining. The historical geology of Kumasi played a significant role in shaping the types of rocks present in the region. The Birimian Orogeny, a period of critical tectonic activity and mountain-building about billions of years ago, is how the Birimian Supergroup rocks were formed. (20)
Below is the "umbrella" rock located Ghana. (21)
Internal Processes & Plate Boundaries
The history of Kumasi has shaped various geological internal processes and plate tectonics. Geological processes like hydrothermal, which is associated with fluids movement contributed to the formation gold mineralization in the region.
In addition to this, the city is located in a region that's not situated near an active plate boundary, however the effects of past tectonic events still influence the landscape. (22)
Weathering and Erosion
Erosion and weathering, caused by the wearing down of the geological structure and the transportation of sediments during the intense rainfall of the wet season in Kumasi, are internal processes that shape the landforms in the city. This is a result of the extensive network of rivers and streams in the region. (23)
Weathering, involving the breakdown of rocks into smaller particles, can be influenced by the composition of rocks and climatic conditions. An example, as mentioned above, is rainfall, which can react with minerals in rocks, leading to their decomposition and alteration as time goes on. (23)
Below is a picture of soil erosion caused by the intense rainfall in Ghana. (24)
Liquid Water
The environment and ecosystem of Kumasi is shaped by liquid water in the form of rivers, lakes and various waterbodies in the regions along with other things. These rivers and waterbodies play a significant role in providing drinking water supply, agriculture, industrial activities, supporting diversity and influencing the landscape in the region. In addition to this, some rivers in the region are used for hydroelectric power generation. These flowing water dams are used to generate electricity. In terms of watershed, River Subin contributes to the overall watershed of Kumasi. (26)
The picture below is an image of Barekese dam located in Kumasi. (25)
Glaciers
Glaciers doesn't play any role in shaping the landforms in the city of Kumasi. This is as a result of the region being situated in a tropical region, where the climate is characterized by high temperatures, dry and wet seasons. Glacial activities are often associated with cold climates. (27)
Other Processes
Wind erosion: Wind erosion, although not prominent in Kumasi, still plays a role in shaping some landforms as it contributes to the transport of fine sediments from one soil to another. In addition to this, factors like wave action, and marine erosion can influence the surrounding coastal areas. (28)
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