Pliocene-Pleistocene climate change, sea-level and uplift history recorded by the Horingbaai fan-delta, NW Namibia.

Stollhofen H, Stanistreet IG, Von Hagke C, Nguno A (2014)

Publication Type: Journal article, Original article

Publication year: 2014

Journal

Sedimentary Geology Elsevier

Publisher: Elsevier

Book Volume: 309

Pages Range: 15-32

DOI: 10.1016/j.sedgeo.2014.05.008

Abstract

Its location on a tectonically relatively stable passive margin and its degree of interaction with the sea make the Horingbaai fan-delta, NW Namibia, an exceptional record of coastal activity, providing insights into the response of ephemeral fluvial systems to changes in climate, sea level and continent-scale uplift. The fan comprises upper, middle and lower segments. The upper fan and middle fan are dominated by a braided river system; only in the upper fan are fluvial sediments interleaved with hyperconcentrated flow deposits. Plio-Pleistocene sea level highstands have left marine terraces on the fan surface which enable correlation with the offshore marine record and provide timelines to constrain fan growth. The bulk of fan-delta progradation took place at ~. 2.7-2.4. Ma, between the formation of a widespread erosional surface incising the middle Pliocene Karpfenkliff and Kamberg Formations, but prior to the emplacement of the warm-water fauna-bearing late Pliocene "Oyster Terrace" (~. 2.4-2.2. Ma), an equivalent of the +. 30 mP (marine terrace package) in coastal southwestern Africa. Major fan progradation is contemporaneous with widespread regional uplift (~. 12. ±. 5. m/Ma) and climate change in southwestern Africa, the latter associated with intensification of northern hemisphere glaciations. Younger fan growth phases are weaker and constrained by <. 10. m asl marine terrace bodies that yield mostly cold-water fauna, corresponding to the onset of strong glacial/interglacial climatic fluctuations superimposed on a general aridification trend and the introduction of colder sea-surface temperatures after 2.2. Ma. © 2014 Elsevier B.V.

Authors with CRIS profile

Harald Stollhofen Lehrstuhl für Geologie (Exogene Dynamik)

Related research project(s)

Late Cretaceous to Recent post-breakup evolution of the African S-Atlantic margin: integrating onshore field studies; sequence development, offshore seismic data, numerical dating and modelling SPP 1375: SAMPLE: South Atlantic Margin Processes and Links with onshore Evolution Nov. 1, 2008 - Sept. 30, 2013

Involved external institutions

The University of Liverpool GB United Kingdom (GB) California Institute of Technology (Caltech) US United States (USA) (US) Geological Survey of Namibia NA Namibia (NA)

How to cite

APA:

Stollhofen, H., Stanistreet, I.G., Von Hagke, C., & Nguno, A. (2014). Pliocene-Pleistocene climate change, sea-level and uplift history recorded by the Horingbaai fan-delta, NW Namibia. Sedimentary Geology, 309, 15-32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sedgeo.2014.05.008

MLA:

Stollhofen, Harald, et al. "Pliocene-Pleistocene climate change, sea-level and uplift history recorded by the Horingbaai fan-delta, NW Namibia." Sedimentary Geology 309 (2014): 15-32.

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