The Kenya rift revisited: insights into lithospheric strength through data-driven 3-D gravity and thermal modelling
We present three-dimensional (3-D) models that describe the present-day thermal and rheological state of the lithosphere of the greater Kenya rift region aiming at a better understanding of the rift evolution, with a particular focus on plume–lithosphere interactions. The key methodology applied is...
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doaj-79da565c7a344307a7aa0500771d29822020-11-25T01:35:56ZengCopernicus PublicationsSolid Earth1869-95101869-95292017-01-0181458110.5194/se-8-45-2017The Kenya rift revisited: insights into lithospheric strength through data-driven 3-D gravity and thermal modellingJ. Sippel0C. Meeßen1M. Cacace2J. Mechie3S. Fishwick4C. Heine5M. Scheck-Wenderoth6M. R. Strecker7GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Sections 6.1 & 2.2, Telegrafenberg, 14473 Potsdam, GermanyGFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Sections 6.1 & 2.2, Telegrafenberg, 14473 Potsdam, GermanyGFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Sections 6.1 & 2.2, Telegrafenberg, 14473 Potsdam, GermanyGFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Sections 6.1 & 2.2, Telegrafenberg, 14473 Potsdam, GermanyDepartment of Geology, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 7RH, UKNew Ventures, Upstream International, Shell International Exploration & Production B.V., 2596 HR, The Hague, the NetherlandsGFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Sections 6.1 & 2.2, Telegrafenberg, 14473 Potsdam, GermanyInstitute of Earth and Environmental Science, University of Potsdam, 14476 Potsdam, GermanyWe present three-dimensional (3-D) models that describe the present-day thermal and rheological state of the lithosphere of the greater Kenya rift region aiming at a better understanding of the rift evolution, with a particular focus on plume–lithosphere interactions. The key methodology applied is the 3-D integration of diverse geological and geophysical observations using gravity modelling. Accordingly, the resulting lithospheric-scale 3-D density model is consistent with (i) reviewed descriptions of lithological variations in the sedimentary and volcanic cover, (ii) known trends in crust and mantle seismic velocities as revealed by seismic and seismological data and (iii) the observed gravity field. This data-based model is the first to image a 3-D density configuration of the crystalline crust for the entire region of Kenya and northern Tanzania. An upper and a basal crustal layer are differentiated, each composed of several domains of different average densities. We interpret these domains to trace back to the Precambrian terrane amalgamation associated with the East African Orogeny and to magmatic processes during Mesozoic and Cenozoic rifting phases. In combination with seismic velocities, the densities of these crustal domains indicate compositional differences. The derived lithological trends have been used to parameterise steady-state thermal and rheological models. These models indicate that crustal and mantle temperatures decrease from the Kenya rift in the west to eastern Kenya, while the integrated strength of the lithosphere increases. Thereby, the detailed strength configuration appears strongly controlled by the complex inherited crustal structure, which may have been decisive for the onset, localisation and propagation of rifting.http://www.solid-earth.net/8/45/2017/se-8-45-2017.pdf |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
J. Sippel C. Meeßen M. Cacace J. Mechie S. Fishwick C. Heine M. Scheck-Wenderoth M. R. Strecker |
spellingShingle |
J. Sippel C. Meeßen M. Cacace J. Mechie S. Fishwick C. Heine M. Scheck-Wenderoth M. R. Strecker The Kenya rift revisited: insights into lithospheric strength through data-driven 3-D gravity and thermal modelling Solid Earth |
author_facet |
J. Sippel C. Meeßen M. Cacace J. Mechie S. Fishwick C. Heine M. Scheck-Wenderoth M. R. Strecker |
author_sort |
J. Sippel |
title |
The Kenya rift revisited: insights into lithospheric strength through data-driven 3-D gravity and thermal modelling |
title_short |
The Kenya rift revisited: insights into lithospheric strength through data-driven 3-D gravity and thermal modelling |
title_full |
The Kenya rift revisited: insights into lithospheric strength through data-driven 3-D gravity and thermal modelling |
title_fullStr |
The Kenya rift revisited: insights into lithospheric strength through data-driven 3-D gravity and thermal modelling |
title_full_unstemmed |
The Kenya rift revisited: insights into lithospheric strength through data-driven 3-D gravity and thermal modelling |
title_sort |
kenya rift revisited: insights into lithospheric strength through data-driven 3-d gravity and thermal modelling |
publisher |
Copernicus Publications |
series |
Solid Earth |
issn |
1869-9510 1869-9529 |
publishDate |
2017-01-01 |
description |
We present three-dimensional (3-D) models that describe the present-day thermal and rheological
state of the lithosphere of the greater Kenya rift region aiming at a better
understanding of the rift evolution, with a particular focus on
plume–lithosphere interactions. The key methodology applied is the 3-D
integration of diverse geological and geophysical observations using gravity
modelling. Accordingly, the resulting lithospheric-scale 3-D density model is
consistent with (i) reviewed descriptions of lithological variations in the
sedimentary and volcanic cover, (ii) known trends in crust and mantle
seismic velocities as revealed by seismic and seismological data and (iii) the observed gravity field.
This data-based model is the first to image a 3-D
density configuration of the crystalline crust for the entire region of
Kenya and northern Tanzania. An upper and a basal crustal layer are
differentiated, each composed of several domains of different average
densities. We interpret these domains to trace back to the Precambrian
terrane amalgamation associated with the East African Orogeny and to magmatic
processes during Mesozoic and Cenozoic rifting phases. In combination with
seismic velocities, the densities of these crustal domains indicate
compositional differences.
The derived lithological trends have been used to
parameterise steady-state thermal and rheological models. These models
indicate that crustal and mantle temperatures decrease from the Kenya rift
in the west to eastern Kenya, while the integrated strength of the
lithosphere increases. Thereby, the detailed strength configuration appears
strongly controlled by the complex inherited crustal structure, which may
have been decisive for the onset, localisation and propagation of rifting. |
url |
http://www.solid-earth.net/8/45/2017/se-8-45-2017.pdf |
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