Facies evolution and cyclicity of alluvial coal deposits in the Lower Permian of East Africa (Tanzania) |
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| Authors: | Priv Doz Dr Thomas Kreuser |
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| Institution: | (1) Present address: Geologisches Institut, Universität zu Köln, Zülpicherstr. 49, D-5000 Köln 1 |
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| Abstract: | The Ruhuhu Basin in SW Tanzania contains several small coal basins (i.e. Mchuchuma, Ngaka North, Mbalawala, Lumecha), consisting of fault controlled half-grabens submitted to several stages of tectonic activation. All basins underwent fragmentation in the ? middle Jurassic and late Miocene to Pliocene. Palaeotopography of pre-Karoo basement was partly responsible for the development of coal seam thickness distribution. Facies characteristics of the lower/middle and upper Mchuchuma Formation and the »Scarp sandstone« of the overlying Ketewaka formation exhibit synsedimentary basin subsidence. Vitrinite reflectance data suggest similar temperature gradients and burial history for the Mchuchuma and Ngaka subbasins. The application of a computer simulation program revealed the considerable effect of post-sedimentary tilting of depositional surfaces. In the Mchuchuma basin the back rotation of the base of the economic coal seam was calculated at -2°, the Ngaka basin showed an even higher degree of back rotation of -6°. Cyclicity was determined by Markov chain analysis for both basins. Mainly fining upward cycles prevail being characteristic for a fluvial environment. The depositional model for the Mchuchuma basin represents a meandering river system with a lower basal channel fill and an upper suspension load dominated cycle with accompanying overbank and flood plain sediments. The Ngaka basin shows an environment tentatively attributed to a braided river system. Thinning of coal seams and increased ash values in upper stratigraphic units depict deteriorating peat forming and preserving conditions. Swamp water chemistry was responsible for peat preservation, channel configuration and to some degree differential compaction governed the coal seam geometry. A slightly warmer climate than usually described for the Gondwana coals is proposed for the Lower Permian Tanzania coals. The diversity of microfloral evolution, eustatic sea level rises in the Sakmarian of Australia and available palaeotemperature curves demonstrate a probable mean annual temperature of 10–12 °C for a palaeolatitude of 60° S for the Tanzania coal fields. |
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