Atakor has erupted basalts, phonolite and trachyte, the latter two form lava domes. The basalts are characterized by alkali basalts and basanite and form about 80% of all volcanic rocks in Atakor, with less important occurrences of benmoreite, hawaiite, mugearite and rhyolite. Phenocrysts in some volcanic rocks include amphibole, clinopyroxene, olivine and zircon. The Taessa lavas from this volcanic complex have a porphyritic texture. The volcanic rocks appear to ultimately derive from mantle plume melts, although a tectonic origin resulting from the convergence between African and Europe has also been suggested.