Formation and evolution of the Kenya Rift,the eastern branch of the East African Rift System
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    Abstract:

    The Kenya rift in the eastern branch of the East African Rift System (EARS)consists of fivekey sags where, with the exception of the South Lokichar sag, no hydrocarbonsare found. The key issue hinderingexploration is the lack of clarity about the formation, evolution and dynamic mechanism of the Kenya Rift.By systematically analyzing the formation age, rift type, dynamic mechanism, structural evolution, and sedimentary filling process of different sags in Kenya rift, the following findings are reached: ① The South Lokichar sag was formed earlier, during Upper Oligocene- Middle Miocene, and its strata areolder than other four sags.The Turkana, Kerio and North Lokichar sags are mainly Miocene- Holocene in age, and the Kerio Valley sag belongsmainly to the Middle- Late Miocene; ② the uplift of the Afar mantle plume and the Kenya mantle plume controls the formation and evolution of the Kenya rift. The formation and evolution of the South Lokichar sag is mainly controlled by the Afar mantle plume, while that of other four sags are mainly controlled by the Kenya mantle plume; ③ different types of sags have various structural evolution and sedimentary filling processes. Boththe South Lokichar and Kerio Valley sags arepassive rift type, the structural evolution of which underwent three stages:initial rifting stage, main rifting stage, and the late rifting stage with good source rock developing in the main rifting stage. The Turkana, Kerio and North Lokichar sags are active rifts, with a two structural stages: active stage and intermittent stage of volcanic events. The strata are dominated by thick volcanic rocks and coarse sandstones; ④ the evolution of Kenya rift can be divided into three periods: periodⅠis Late Oligocene- Miocene; period Ⅱ is Middle- Late Miocene; and period Ⅲ is Pliocene- Present.

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Jia Shen, He Dengfa, Han Wenming, Hu Bin.2021. Formation and evolution of the Kenya Rift,the eastern branch of the East African Rift System[J]. Acta Geologica Sinica,95(4):1114-1127

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History
  • Received:October 30,2020
  • Revised:November 09,2020
  • Adopted:November 26,2020
  • Online: December 02,2020
  • Published: