ABSTRACT The main objective of this work is to map the Curie depth of the West African Craton (WAC) using satellite magnetic data with the aim to provide first order evaluation, within this vast territory, for the spatial association between Curie-depth surface and known kimberlite locations. Taking into account Clifford’s rule, the first and foremost exploration guideline for diamond exploration is the existence of a sufficiently thick lithosphere that expected to have a low surface heat flow. The Curie depth is closely related to the surface heat-flow conditions and lithosphere thickness. In actual fact, the only few regions that have sufficient density of surface heat flow measurements corroborate the association of these conditions with the diamond resources. To better explore in an efficient way the spatial relationship between the Curie depth and known diamondiferous primary sources within the WAC, we used GIS-based weights of evidence method to provide a quantitative analysis. 1 INTRODUCTION The diamonds form from carbon within the high-pressure environment present in nature at depths of over 150 km. In most parts of the Earth, at such depths we are right in the asthenosphere and the temperatures at this depth are too high to allow the crystallization of diamonds. However ancient cratonic blocks have a sufficiently thick (150-250 km) and relatively cool lithosphere (less than about 1200° C) in which diamonds can form and be preserved. The diamondiferous kimberlites are confined to these Precambrian cratons, particularly on those of Archean age. This empirical association is known as Clifford’s rule (Clifford, 1966). Thick and cool lithosphere potentially has a regional signature in almost all geophysical techniques. Teleseismic and magnetotelluric methods are the only methods able to directly ‘‘look” into the mantle. However, magnetic method may predict the presence of lithospheric root (thick lithosphere) rather than direct detection. Surface heat flow measurements may be the first predictive approach for identifying conditions favorable for primary diamond deposits, as temperature at depth is the primary controlling parameter in diamond genesis. Exploration targets for diamond genesis are expected to have a low heat flow of 40–45 mW m -2 (Morgan, 1995). Several studies have shown a strong correlation between heat flow measured at the surface and the thickness of the magnetized crust. As is known, crustal rocks lose their magnetization at the Curie point temperature (about 525 ± 25° C). At this temperature, ferromagnetic rocks become paramagnetic, and their ability to generate detectable magnetic anomalies disappears. Mapping Curie Point Depth of the West African Craton from Satellite Magnetic Data and its Implication for Diamond Exploration A. Bouguern, K. Allek, M. Khalifa Laboratory of Earth Physics, University of Boumerdes, Algeria F. Bendiab ENAGEO, Hassi Messaoud, Algeria D. Boubaya University of Tebessa, Algeria