Precambrian lithospheric controls on the development of the East African rift system

Research Article| August 01, 2002 Precambrian lithospheric controls on the development of the East African rift system Andrew A. Nyblade; Andrew A. Nyblade 1Department of Geosciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Richard A. Brazier Richard A. Brazier 2Mathematics Division, Commonwealth College, Pennsylvania State University, DuBois, Pennsylvania 15801, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Andrew A. Nyblade 1Department of Geosciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA Richard A. Brazier 2Mathematics Division, Commonwealth College, Pennsylvania State University, DuBois, Pennsylvania 15801, USA Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 29 Nov 2001 Revision Received: 18 Apr 2002 Accepted: 30 Apr 2002 First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (2002) 30 (8): 755–758. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2002)030<0755:PLCOTD>2.0.CO;2 Article history Received: 29 Nov 2001 Revision Received: 18 Apr 2002 Accepted: 30 Apr 2002 First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Andrew A. Nyblade, Richard A. Brazier; Precambrian lithospheric controls on the development of the East African rift system. Geology 2002;; 30 (8): 755–758. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2002)030<0755:PLCOTD>2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract We propose a new kinematic framework for the East African rift system linking the development of the Eastern and Western rifts via stress transmission across the Archean Tanzania craton. The proposal is based on three observations. (1) A new map of uppermost-mantle P-wave velocities beneath Tanzania, in combination with the results of other seismic, gravity, heat-flow, and xenolith studies, reveals that the craton's thick, cold lithosphere has largely resisted modification by the Cenozoic extensional tectonism and has therefore behaved as a rigid tectonic block. (2) As the southward-propagating Eastern rift reached the craton margin ca. 12–10 Ma, the Western rift began to develop. (3) Subsequently, the Western rift enlarged into a 2500-km-long system of en echelon rift basins while development of the Eastern rift stalled where it ran into the craton. These observations suggest that when the Eastern rift reached the margin of the rigid craton ca. 12–10 Ma, the transmission of extensional stresses across the strong cratonic lithosphere caused rift faulting to develop in the weaker mobile-belt lithosphere on the west side of the craton. This new kinematic framework for rift development is consistent with models for both active and passive rifting in East Africa. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.