Uplift and erosion of the livingstone basin rift flanks, malawi (nyasa) rift, east africa: apatite fission track analysis

Authors

• MBEDE E. I, Department of Geology, University of Dar es SalaamFollow

Section

Physical Sciences

Abstract

Apatite fission track (AFT) dating is a method applied in neotectonic studies of sedimentary basin and in constraining uplift histories of rift flanks. Dating of 20 AFT samples of basement rocks flanking the Livingstone (Karonga/Tukuyu) basin on the northern edge of the Malawi (Nyasa) rift is used to analyse the uplift and erosionofthe basin flanks. Results suggest that in the Livingstone basin, rift-related uplift and erosion of the flanks has modified the topographic patterns. The high elevation of the Livingstone Mountains is related to regionally distributed isostatic rebound, whereas the topography of the hanging wall flank has probably been severely modified by erosion. Approximately 2.0 ± 0.5 km of rift-related erosion affected the scarp of the foot-wall flank of the Malawi rift-related erosion affected the scarp of the foot-wall flank of the Malawi rift and areas behind the scrap, at some 10 - 20 km away from the rift, have not experienced any significant erosion during Cainozoic time. Erosion on the hanging was to the west reached 1.0 ± 0.5 km but affected a much wider area, possibly up to 100 km away from the rift.

Recommended Citation

E. I, MBEDE (1995) "Uplift and erosion of the livingstone basin rift flanks, malawi (nyasa) rift, east africa: apatite fission track analysis," Tanzania Journal of Science: Vol. 21: Iss. 1, Article 6.
Available at:https://doi.org/10.65085/2507-7961.2424

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