0000000000139569
AUTHOR
Klemens Link
Melt infiltration of the lower lithosphere beneath the Tanzania craton and the Albertine rift inferred from S receiver functions
[1] The transition between the lithosphere and the asthenosphere is subject to numerous contemporary studies as its nature is still poorly understood. The thickest lithosphere is associated with old cratons and platforms and it has been shown that seismic investigations may fail to image the lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary in these areas. Instead, several recent studies have proposed a mid-lithospheric discontinuity of unknown origin existing under several cratons. In this study we investigate the Tanzania craton in East Africa which is enclosed by the eastern and western branches of the East African Rift System. We present evidence from S receiver functions for two consecutive discontin…
Patterns and origin of igneous activity around the Tanzanian craton
Abstract Tertiary and later igneous activity is common on and around the Tanzanian craton, with primitive magma compositions ranging from kimberlites and varieties of picrites through nephelinites, basanites and alkali basalts. This review focuses on elucidating the conditions of origin of the melts, addressing the question of the state and involvement of the Tanzanian cratonic lithosphere in magma genesis. The Tanzanian craton is anomalous with a surface elevation of >1100 m reflecting buoyancy supported by a subcratonic plume whose effects are seen in the volcanics of both western and eastern rift branches. Magmatism on the craton and at its edge has high K/Na and primitive melts show fra…
Clockwise, low- metamorphism of the Aus granulite terrain, southern Namibia, during the Mesoproterozoic Namaqua Orogeny
Abstract The Aus granulite terrain forms part of the Mesoproterozoic Namaqua Metamorphic Complex (NMC) of southern Africa. The terrain consists of pre- to syn-tectonic granitoid gneisses containing subordinate aluminous metasediments, metapsammites, mafic granulite and calc-silicate, all of which have been metamorphosed and migmatised to varying degrees. Pseudosection modelling of garnet–sillimanite–cordierite–biotite aluminous metapelitic samples constrain peak metamorphic conditions at 5.5 kbar and 825 ° C. Pseudomorphs of sillimanite after andalusite constrain early prograde conditions of ∼ 550–600 ° C at below 4 kbar, whereas the replacement of sillimanite by garnet–cordierite and sub…
Fluid-triggered earthquake swarms in the Rwenzori region, East African Rift—Evidence for rift initiation
The Rwenzori Mountains are located within the Albertine Rift Valley in western Uganda. To monitor the microseismic activity in the area we have deployed a seismic network of up to 35 stations for a period of about 20 months. The analysis of the recordings revealed several earthquake clusters within a restricted area NE of the mountain block. The clusters form elongated pipes with 1–2 km diameter and vertical extensions of 3–5 km. Most of them are located in 5–16 km depths; however one cluster reaches down to 22 km. Each cluster is composed of a series of single earthquake swarms with durations between a few days and more than a week, interrupted by intervals of inactivity of up to several m…