The Quaternary stratigraphy and its associated fossil fauna and flora of the Holili area, NE Tanzania

Abstract

The basement for the Holili area (NE Tanzania) comprises gneisses of the Mozambique Belt. These rocks are overlain by a Middle Pleistocene (0.35 Ma) olivine basalt which is part of the Kilimanjaro volcanic massif. A red paleosol was formed from this basalt. This paleosol is covered successively by mudstone and calcareous tuffaceous gritty breccia. Some faunal fossil remains (bone fragments, a tooth and horns) and floral fossil remains ( angiosperm dicotyledon plant leaf impressions, twigs and wood) were discovered on the paleosol–mudstone–gritty breccia lithological boundary. The animal fossil remains were recovered from the paleosol surface while the plant fossil remains were recovered from within the mudstone that overlies the paleosol. A primitive hominid stone tool associated with chopped bones and a tooth were also discovered on the paleosol surface. The geological environment of Holili area and its associated fossil fauna and flora resembles other paleontological sites in Tanzania.