[PDF] Volcanism And Evolution Of The African Lithosphere eBook

Author : Douwe J. J. van Hinsbergen
Publisher : Geological Society of London
Page : 392 pages
File Size : 19,31 MB
Release : 2011
Category : Africa
ISBN : 9781862393356

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The African continent preserves a long geological record that covers almost 75% of Earth's history. The Pan-African orogeny (c. 600-500 Ma) brought together old continental kernels (West Africa, Congo, Kalahari and Tanzania) to form Gondwana and subsequently the supercontinent Pangaea by the late Palaeozoic. The break-up of Pangaea since the Jurassic and Cretaceous, primarily through opening of the Central Atlantic, Indian, and South Atlantic oceans, in combination with the complicated subduction history to the north, gradually shaped the African continent. This volume contains 18 contributions that discuss the geology of Africa from the Archaean to the present day.

Author : Alik Ismail-Zadeh
Publisher : Cambridge University Press
Page : 431 pages
File Size : 32,13 MB
Release : 2014-04-17
Category : Nature
ISBN : 1107033861

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A unique interdisciplinary approach to disaster risk research, including global hazards and case-studies, for researchers, graduate students and professionals.

Author : John Barry Dawson
Publisher : Geological Society of London
Page : 116 pages
File Size : 36,52 MB
Release : 2008
Category : Geology, Stratigraphic
ISBN : 9781862392670

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The structure and volcanic activity of the northern Tanzania sector of the Gregory Rift Valley have hitherto been less well described than those in Ethiopia and Kenya. This book focuses on northern Tanzania where, although the volcanic area is smaller than those to the north, there are major features such as Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain on the African continent; Ngorongoro, one of the largest calderas on Earth; and Oldoinyo Lengai, the world's only active carbonatite volcano. Following an account of the discovery and early exploration of the rift valley, there are descriptions of the individual volcanoes. These are set within the context of the regional geology and geophysics of the rift valley, and in relation to the structural evolution of the rift and its associated sedimentary basins which include Olduvai, an important site in the history of human evolution The volume concludes with a discussion of the volcanism as related to the plume-related African Superswell.

Author : A.B. Kampunzu
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
Page : 661 pages
File Size : 27,85 MB
Release : 2012-12-06
Category : Science
ISBN : 3642739660

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The African continent is unique in that it has escaped widespread orogenic activity after the Pan African orogenic event. Therefore, the African Plate provides the world's best example of the relationship between extensional magmatism and structural setting. This first complete and up-to-date review, written by leading scientists, discusses the evolutionary model and offers a new and reliable basis for scientists working on plate tectonics and extensional areas in other continents.

Author : Jacques Varet
Publisher : Springer
Page : 345 pages
File Size : 44,82 MB
Release : 2017-11-14
Category : Science
ISBN : 3319608657

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This book summarizes the geological knowledge accumulated on Afar in the last 60 years, demonstrating that it is, and will remain, a real “hot spot” for geological and geophysical research. It provides insights into the Earth processes along diverging plate boundaries, the study of both the continental and oceanic lithosphere and underlying asthenosphere, and margins and transitions including magmatic, volcanic, tectonic, sedimentary, hydrothermal and geodynamic processes. The Afar triangle is a geological depression that developed where the Gulf of Aden, Red Sea and East African Rift Valley meet. It is considered to be one of the Earth system’s most important mantle plumes. In 1967, when the first expedition was organized, there was little information on the geology of the area, and even geographic base maps were lacking. However, the first satellite photographs from the Apollo and Gemini space missions offered a complete picture of the Red Sea-Gulf of Aden region, providing a new vision of the Afar triangle. The book describes the unique geological features that make Afar the only place in the world where an oceanic plate boundary with all its successive steps of development can be observed in the open air. It also presents the Afar triangle as one of the cradles of first, now extinct hominids. The Middle Awash area contains sites of several fossil discoveries, such as the well-known Lucy. The hydrothermal processes in Afar provide conditions suitable for the study of the most primitive forms of life (archaebacterial) and it is also one of the few places where significant quantities of telluric energy are available at the surface for geothermal development. Further, the area has economically interesting mineral deposits and illustrates a number of current climate change issues. In addition to providing geological information, the book shows that Afar is an area where an individual human population developed with its own language and culture, and which adapted to the rugged landscape and extremely dry and hot climate. It is a valuable resource for scientists and students, and also serves the needs of the Afar nation, currently split in three different countries as a result of recent historical events.

Author : A. J. Tankard
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
Page : 528 pages
File Size : 41,91 MB
Release : 2012-12-06
Category : Science
ISBN : 1461381479

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Syntheses of the geology of major areas of the Earth's crust are increasingly needed in order that the features of, and the problems associated with, the secular evolution of the continents can be understood by a wide audience. Southern Africa is fortunate in having a remarkable variety of geological environments developed without many breaks over 3. 8 Ga, and many of the rock groups are household names throughout the geological world. In one respect the geology of Southern Africa is particularly important: cratonization clearly began as early as 3. 0 Ga ago, in contrast to about 2. 5 Ga in most other continental areas such as North America. This book documents very well the remarkable change in tectonic conditions that took place between the Early and Mid-Precambrian; we have here evidence of the very earliest development of rigid lithospheric plates. This book is a tribute to the multitudes of scientists who have worked out the geology of Southern Africa over many years and decades. Whatever their discipline, each provided a step in the construction of this fascinating story of 3. 8 Ga of crustal development. In the book the reader will find a detailed review of the factual data, together with a balanced account of interpretative models without the indulgence of undue speculation. One of its attractions is its multidisciplinary approach which provides a stimulating challenge to the reader.

Author : Keith Bell
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
Page : 315 pages
File Size : 49,48 MB
Release : 2012-12-06
Category : Science
ISBN : 3642791824

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During the last few years, carbonatites have received a considerable amount of attention. Some of this interest was no doubt kindled by the importance of volatiles in the Earth's mantle, particularly CO , by the fact that carbonatites 2 can be used to monitor the chemical evolution of the sub-continental upper mantle, and by the fact that carbonatites may be effective metasomatizing agents at both mantle and crustal levels. The interest in Oldoinyo Lengai has extended over at least 100 years, but it was not until the eruptions of 1960, when the unique carbonatitic nature of its lavas was recognized, that the volcano took on special significance in volcanology and igneous petrology. The recognition of carbonatitic flows coin cided with the first successful laboratory experiments carried out on carbonatitic melts. Since then, Oldoinyo Lengai has formed a cornerstone in all carbonatite discussions. It is probably true to say that the findings from Oldoinyo Lengai have dominated our ideas about carbonatites, in spite of the fact that the alkali rich, natrocarbonatitic lavas of Oldoinyo Lengai are markedly different from other carbonatites.