author
René Chudeau
1864–1921
A French geologist and explorer, he spent years surveying the Sahara and helped expand European understanding of the geology of regions that are now Mali, Mauritania, and Niger. His work ranged from desert landforms to ancient rock formations, blending field exploration with careful scientific study.
1 Audiobook
Missions au Sahara, tome 2 : Sahara soudanais
by René Chudeau
About the author
Born in Angers in 1864, René Chudeau studied geology at the École normale supérieure and later taught at the University of Besançon. He earned a doctorate in science in 1896, and his early academic work focused on geology before his career turned increasingly toward exploration.
From 1905 to 1914, he carried out a series of geological surveys across the Sahara. These expeditions took him through territories that are now part of Mali, Mauritania, and Niger, where he studied subjects including Quaternary deposits, sand dunes, and wind erosion. His research also contributed to knowledge of the Taoudeni Basin and the wider geological structure of the desert.
Chudeau died in 1921. He is remembered as both a scientist and an explorer: someone who combined demanding travel in remote regions with close observation of how deserts are formed and changed over time.