The offshore East African Rift System: Structural framework at the toe of a juvenile rift

Franke D, Jokat W, Ladage S, Stollhofen H, Klimke J, Lutz R, Mahanjane ES, Ehrhardt A, Schreckenberger B (2015)

Publication Language: English

Publication Status: Published

Publication Type: Journal article, Original article

Publication year: 2015

Journal

Tectonics American Geophysical Union (AGU)

Publisher: Blackwell Publishing Ltd

Book Volume: 34

Pages Range: 2086-2104

Journal Issue: 10

DOI: 10.1002/2015TC003922

Abstract

The Cenozoic East African Rift System (EARS) extends from the Red Sea to Mozambique. Here we use seismic reflection and bathymetric data to investigate the tectonic evolution of the offshore branch of the EARS. The data indicate multiple and time transgressive neotectonic deformations along ~800 km of the continental margin of northern Mozambique. We observe a transition from a mature rift basin in the north to a juvenile fault zone in the south. The respective timing of deformation is derived from detailed seismic stratigraphy. In the north, a ~30 km wide and more than 150 km long, N-S striking symmetric graben initiated as half-graben in the late Miocene. Extension accelerated in the Pliocene, causing a continuous conjugate border fault and symmetric rift graben. Coevally, the rift started to propagate southward, which resulted in a present-day ~30 km wide half-graben, approximately 200 km farther south. Since the Pleistocene, the rift has continued to propagate another ~300 km, where the incipient rift is reflected by subrecent small-scale normal faulting. Estimates of the overall brittle extension of the matured rift range between 5 and 12 km, with an along-strike southward decrease of the extension rate. The offshore portion of the EARS evolves magma poor, similar to the onshore western branch. The structural evolution of the offshore EARS is suggested to be related to and controlled by differing inherited lithospheric fabrics. Preexisting fabrics may not only guide and focus extension but also control rift architecture.

Authors with CRIS profile

Harald Stollhofen Lehrstuhl für Geologie (Exogene Dynamik)

Involved external institutions

Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung (AWI) DE Germany (DE) Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe (BGR) DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Franke, D., Jokat, W., Ladage, S., Stollhofen, H., Klimke, J., Lutz, R.,... Schreckenberger, B. (2015). The offshore East African Rift System: Structural framework at the toe of a juvenile rift. Tectonics, 34(10), 2086-2104. https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/2015TC003922

MLA:

Franke, Dieter, et al. "The offshore East African Rift System: Structural framework at the toe of a juvenile rift." Tectonics 34.10 (2015): 2086-2104.

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