The Geological Society of Africa (GSAf), since its establishment 40 years ago, remains the most inspiring Society in Africa. Its colloquia attracted experts from universities, Geological Survey Organizations, mining companies, and various other Earth Scientists from the continent and beyond. This Special Volume is a result of the 24th Colloquium of African Geology (CAG24) organized under the auspices of the Ethiopian Geosciences and Mineral Engineering Association (EGMEA) in partnership with the Addis Ababa University, Ministry of Mines and the Geological Survey of Ethiopia, from 8 to 14 January 2013, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The Colloquium held under the theme 40 years of (1973 2013): Earth Sciences Solutions to African Development Challenges has been a forum of fruitful deliberations leading to new provoking ideas, better understanding of African Geology as well as its resources in particular, and to numerous discussions on Earth Sciences related issues of worldwide significance. The CAG24 has been attended by close to 500 participants from 60 countries representing 6 continents, among which about 300 were delegates from 30 different African countries. Three hundred twenty-five papers were presented in various sessions discussing themes involving: Craton Formation and Destruction, the Pan-African orogeny; Sedimentology, Stratigraphy and Palaeontology; the East African Rift System; Earth Resources (Mineral, Geothermal, Hydrocarbon, Groundwater) and Remote Sensing methods of Resources Exploration; Environmental Geology; Geoheritage and Geotourism; In this Special Volume of the Journal, 36 manuscripts that have gone through rigorous review process are presented. They are organized in six sub-themes representing: Basement Geology and Geodynamics; Stratigraphy and Sedimentology; Energy Resources; Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology, Remote Sensing Application, Integration and Modelling; and Environmental Geology, Medical Geology and Geology for Society.