The Geology of Nyasaland

Abstract

I. I ntroduction . I n the past several African travellers have explored parts of what is now known as Nyasaland, and have given a brief account of its geology, while in more recent years comparatively detailed geological work has been carried out in neighbouring countries. A short summary of these researches is given below:— 1865.—Livingstone (1) spent most of his time outside of the Protectorate, but he also travelled to the southern end of Lake Nyasa, and for a short distance on its west coast. He discovered the coal at Tete in Portuguese East Africa. He also reported coal from the neighbourhood of Port Herald. His description would lead one to think that coal occurred on the slopes of Malawe Hill, though really there is none nearer than 6 miles away. 1881.—Stewart (2) passed up the shores of Lake Nyasa, and discovered coal in the Zindira Stream (Chesindire), near the mouth of the Malawe or Southern Rukuru River. 1881.—Joseph Thomson (3) passed through what is now German territory to the north of Nyasaland, and found there a large development of volcanic rocks, near the northern end of the lake. 1882.—An expedition (4) was sent out to study the resources of Portuguese East Africa. Its members were chiefly occupied with the district near Tete, from the coal-seams of which Prof. Zeiller identified eleven species of fossil ferns. 1888.—Drummond (5) discovered the sedimentary beds with Karroo fossils at Mpata, near Karonga. 1890.—Prof. T. Rupert Jones (6) described the fossils obtained by Drummond, and compared