Abstract
The sedimentary record of the Eyasi-Wembere Basin (EWB) in northeastern Tanzania has not yet been characterized in detail. Previous studies in the EWB focused on tectonic development, basin geometry, planning of seismic surveys, timing of tectonic events and volcanic eruptions, and age assignment to different stratigraphic levels. Little attention has been given to the broad understanding of the overall stratigraphy and factors that controlled the evolution of the basin fill. This work has combined core logging, extensive geological map** and qualitative analysis of elemental proxies to reconstruct paleodepositional conditions and processes that influenced the sedimentary development of the study area. Evidences of lithologies that were mentioned previously are shown for the first time. This study also describes widespread desiccation marks indicative of dry climate, extensive Holocene limestone beds, localized stromatolites, igneous intrusions, and recent debris flow deposits. Overall, results show that the evolution of the basin fill was controlled by several factors, including tectonics, occasional water-level fluctuations, climate variability, hydrothermal activities, bio-productivity, redox potentials, and sediment gravity flows. Multiple sediment sources existed during basin development; they include regional and local clastic sources, volcanic products, river inputs, biogenic sediment, and hydrothermal precipitates.
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Acknowledgements
This project received funds from the University of Dar es Salaam. Access to the Eyasi-Wembere stratigraphic cores was granted by Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC). Thomas Mugwe is thanked for his help to improve the location map of this study. Elemental proxies presented in this work were recorded by Jeremiah Yohana Samweli using the pXRF scanner available at the Department of Geosciences, University of Dar es Salaam. Reviewers Jenni Scott and Sergio Bergamaschi helped to improve the manuscript
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This project was funded by the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
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EBK: conceptualization, outcrop logging, core logging, analysis of elemental proxies, writing of initial manuscript draft, annotation of figures, review of final manuscript draft, submission. VEM: conceptualization, outcrop logging, writing of initial manuscript draft, final manuscript review. SE: conceptualization, sedimentological core logging, discussion, text editing, final manuscript review. JJS: conceptualization, sedimentological core logging, discussion, text editing, final manuscript review. CHK: conceptualization, discussion, review of final manuscript draft, supervision.
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Kiswaka, E.B., Mboya, V.E., Emanuel, S. et al. The Eyasi-Wembere sedimentary successions, NE Tanzania: constraints from core and outcrop logging and elemental proxies. J. Sediment. Environ. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43217-024-00180-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43217-024-00180-y