Quaternary faulting and volcanism in the Main Ethiopian Rift

Abstract

The Main Ethiopian Rift (MER) is associated with bimodal Quaternary magmatism. Field, remote sensing, and geochronology data are used to examine the relationships between axial acidic volcanoes and basaltic eruptions. Two main Quaternary magmatic episodes are recognizeable in MER: (a) basaltic flows followed by ignimbrites and silicic centers in the rift floor (2–1 Ma) and (b) axial silicic volcanoes and basalts since ∼650 Ka. The first episode consists mainly of basaltic flows related to the Afar Stratoid and outcrops in the central and northern MER. Scattered silicic centers developed subsequently along the rift floor. In the second episode, spatial and temporal correlation between rift localization and silicic centers becomes more evident. The silicic centers are located at the intersection of the WFB with earlier structures, especially E–W faults. With ageing, these centers become faulted and allow basalts to erupt right through the volcanic edifice, suggesting a decrease in the amount of differentiation in the magma chambers. This style of evolution appears to be characteristic of continental rifts prior to the onset of drifting.