The development of rifting and magmatism in the multiply rifted Turkana Depression, East Africa: Evidence from surface-wave analysis of crustal and uppermost mantle structure

Kounoudis, R.; Bastow, I.D.; Ebinger, C.J.; Darbyshire, F.; Ogden, C.S.; Musila, M.; Ugo, F.; Ayele, A.; Sullivan, G.; Bendick, R.; Mariita, N.; Kianji, G.

doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2023.118386

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…A relatively small uplift is observed beneath the GP, which is located west of the SMER and north of the Chamo Basin that extends south toward the Kenyan Rift. A comparison of results from earlier work (Braile et al., 1994; Kounoudis et al., 2023; Musila et al., 2023; Ogden et al., 2023; Sippel et al., 2017) with the one from this work showed that the EARs south of the MER are in an advanced stage of the rifting process than the SMER. Bonini et al.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 68%

“…(2006), Kounoudis et al. (2023), and Ogden et al. (2023), multiple rifting phases during the Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras have thinned the crust between the Ethiopian and East African Plateaus by approximately 10–15 km and they have directly attributed the observed elevation variations to crustal thinning, with no significant changes in mantle structure between the two plateaus.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…Numerous geophysical techniques, such as receiver function analysis (Ahmed et al, 2013(Ahmed et al, , 2022Dugda et al, 2005;Ebinger et al, 2017;Hammond et al, 2011;Keranen et al, 2009;Kibret et al, 2019Kibret et al, , 2022Kibret et al, , 2023Lavayssière et al, 2018;Ogden et al, 2019Ogden et al, , 2023Stuart et al, 2006), inversion of seismic data including tomography (Alemayehu et al, 2023;Chambers et al, 2019;Eshetu et al, 2021;Kounoudis et al, 2023;Petruska & Eilon, 2022), controlled source seismic (Berckhemer et al, 1975;Maguire et al, 2006;Makris & Ginzburg, 1987) and gravity (Cornwell et al, 2006;Gedamu et al, 2020;Globig et al, 2016;Kassa et al, 2021;Lewi et al, 2016;Mahatsente et al, 1999;Mickus et al, 2007;Tedla et al, 2011;Tiberi et al, 2005;Woldetinsae & Götze, 2005), have been used to examine the crustal thickness in the region. According to these studies, crustal thickness varies substantially over the region, ranging from an average maximum depth of about 46 km beneath Northwestern Ethiopian Plateau (NWEP) to about 7 km in the GAR and even to less than 4 km in the RSR (e.g., Ahmed et al, 2013;Hammond et al, 2011;Keranen et al, 2009;Maguire et al, 2006).…”

Section: Crustal Structurementioning

confidence: 99%

“…As we go further south, the EAR splits into the Western and Eastern Rifts. According to Benoit et al (2006), Kounoudis et al (2023), andOgden et al (2023), multiple rifting phases during the Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras have thinned the crust between the Ethiopian and East African Plateaus by approximately 10-15 km and they have directly attributed the observed elevation variations to crustal thinning, with no significant changes in mantle structure between the two plateaus. An extensive literature review on the development of the EAR can be found in Purcell (2018).…”

Section: Tectonicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Seamless Map of Depth to the Moho Interface in the Afro‐Arabian Region Using Gravity Data Derived From EGM2008

Lewi

2024

Geochem Geophys Geosyst

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The Afro‐Arabian region is one of the few places on land, where rifting processes at divergent plate boundaries can be thoroughly investigated. One of the crucial factors in understanding rifting processes involves assessing the crustal thickness. In this study, gravity data from the Earth Gravitational Model 2008 is used to create a seamless map of the depth to the Moho interface. Unlike many previous investigations that focused on specific localized areas, within the region, results from the current study provide a comprehensive view. The depth obtained from the current investigation aligns well with findings from earlier studies, exhibiting a bias of 0.69 km and a standard deviation of 3.89 km. Within the region, maximum and minimum depths to the Moho interface are observed beneath the northwest Ethiopian Plateau and the Gulf of Aden Rift (GAR), respectively. Analyzing profiles across the Red Sea, Main Ethiopian, and GARs, the study concluded that the Southern Main Ethiopian Rift is in an earlier stage of the rifting process, while the GAR is at an advanced stage. Furthermore, the interpretation of the current findings led to the inference that there might exist two potential plume tails driving the rifting process in the East Africa Rift—one originating from the Afar region and the other from South Kenya. This inference primarily relies on the isostatic compensation stages observed in the various rift systems throughout the region.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 68%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Section: Crustal Structurementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Tectonicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Seamless Map of Depth to the Moho Interface in the Afro‐Arabian Region Using Gravity Data Derived From EGM2008

Lewi

2024

Geochem Geophys Geosyst

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The uplift of the East Africa - Arabia swell

Sembroni,

Faccenna,

Becker

et al. 2024

Earth-Science Reviews

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Basaltic Pulses and Lithospheric Thinning—Plio‐Pleistocene Magmatism and Rifting in the Turkana Depression (East African Rift System)

Cancel Vazquez,

Rooney,

Brown

et al. 2024

JGR Solid Earth

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The East African Rift System (EARS) provides an opportunity to constrain the relationship between magmatism and plate thinning. During continental rifting, magmatism is often considered a derivative of strain accommodation—as the continental plate thins, decompression melting of the upper mantle occurs. The Turkana Depression preserves among the most extensive Cenozoic magmatic record in the rift. This magmatic record, which comprises distinct basaltic pulses followed by periods of relative magmatic quiescence, is perplexing given the lack of evidence for temporal heterogeneity in the thermo‐chemical state of the upper mantle, the nonexistence of lithospheric delamination related fast‐wave speed anomalies in the upper mantle, and the absence of evidence for sudden, accelerated divergence of Nubia and Somalia. We focus on the Pliocene Gombe Stratoid Series and show how lithospheric thinning may result in pulsed magma generation from a plume‐influenced mantle. By solving the 1D advection‐diffusion equation using rates of plate thinning broadly equivalent to those measured geodetically today we show that despite elevated mantle potential temperature, melt generation may not occur and thereby result in extended intervals of quiescence. By contrast, an increase in the rate of plate thinning can generate magma volumes that are on the order of that estimated for the parental magma of the Gombe Stratoid Series. The coincidence of large‐volume stratiform basalt events within the East African Rift shortly before the development of axial zones of tectonic‐magmatic activity suggests that the plate thinning needed to form these stratiform basalts may herald the onset of the localization of strain.

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The development of rifting and magmatism in the multiply rifted Turkana Depression, East Africa: Evidence from surface-wave analysis of crustal and uppermost mantle structure

Cited by 4 publications

References 56 publications

Seamless Map of Depth to the Moho Interface in the Afro‐Arabian Region Using Gravity Data Derived From EGM2008

Seamless Map of Depth to the Moho Interface in the Afro‐Arabian Region Using Gravity Data Derived From EGM2008

The uplift of the East Africa - Arabia swell

Basaltic Pulses and Lithospheric Thinning—Plio‐Pleistocene Magmatism and Rifting in the Turkana Depression (East African Rift System)

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