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Articles 1 - 5 of 5
Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Topography Of The 410 And 660 Km Discontinuities Beneath The Cenozoic Okavango Rift Zone And Adjacent Precambrian Provinces, Youqiang Yu, Stephen S. Gao, Kelly H. Liu
Topography Of The 410 And 660 Km Discontinuities Beneath The Cenozoic Okavango Rift Zone And Adjacent Precambrian Provinces, Youqiang Yu, Stephen S. Gao, Kelly H. Liu
Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works
By taking advantage of the recent availability of a broadband seismic data set from Networks NR and BX covering the entire country of Botswana, we conduct a systematic receiver function investigation of the topography of the 410 and 660 km discontinuities beneath the incipient Okavango rift zone (ORZ) in northern Botswana and its adjacent Archean-Proterozoic tectonic provinces in southern Africa. Similar to a previous mantle transition zone (MTZ) discontinuity study using data from a 1-D profile traversing the ORZ, a normal MTZ thickness is observed in most parts of the study area. This is inconsistent with the existence of widespread …
Aeromagnetic, Gravity, And Differential Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar Analyses Reveal The Causative Fault Of The 3 April 2017 MW 6.5 Moiyabana, Botswana, Earthquake, Folarin Kolawole, Estella A. Atekwana, S. Malloy, Dorothy Sarah Stamps, Raphael Grandin, Mohamed G. Abdel Salam, Khumo Leseane, Elisha M. Shemang
Aeromagnetic, Gravity, And Differential Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar Analyses Reveal The Causative Fault Of The 3 April 2017 MW 6.5 Moiyabana, Botswana, Earthquake, Folarin Kolawole, Estella A. Atekwana, S. Malloy, Dorothy Sarah Stamps, Raphael Grandin, Mohamed G. Abdel Salam, Khumo Leseane, Elisha M. Shemang
Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works
On 3 April 2017, a Mw 6.5 earthquake struck Moiyabana, Botswana, nucleating at >20 km focal depth within the Paleoproterozoic Limpopo-Shashe orogenic belt separating the Archean Zimbabwe and Kaapvaal Cratons. We investigate the lithospheric structures associated with this earthquake using high-resolution aeromagnetic and gravity data integrated with Differential Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (DInSAR) analysis. Here we present the first results that provide insights into the tectonic framework of the earthquake. The ruptured fault trace delineated by DInSAR aligns with a distinct NW striking and NE dipping magnetic lineament within the Precambrian basement. The fault plane solution and numerical modeling …
A Joint Receiver Function And Gravity Study Of Crustal Structure Beneath The Incipient Okavango Rift, Botswana, Youqiang Yu, Kelly H. Liu, Cory A. Reed, Moikwathai Moidaki, Kevin Mickus, Estella A. Atekwana, Stephen S. Gao
A Joint Receiver Function And Gravity Study Of Crustal Structure Beneath The Incipient Okavango Rift, Botswana, Youqiang Yu, Kelly H. Liu, Cory A. Reed, Moikwathai Moidaki, Kevin Mickus, Estella A. Atekwana, Stephen S. Gao
Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works
Rifting incorporates the fundamental processes concerning the breakup of continental lithosphere and plays a significant role in the formation and evolution of sedimentary basins. In order to decipher the characteristics of rifting at its earliest stage, we conduct the first teleseismic crustal study of one of the world's youngest continental rifts, the Okavango Rift Zone (ORZ), where the magma has not yet breached the surface. Results from receiver function stacking and gravity modeling indicate that the crust/mantle boundary beneath the ORZ is uplifted by 4-5 km, and the initiation of the ORZ is closely related to lithospheric stretching. Possible decompression …
No Thermal Anomalies In The Mantle Transition Zone Beneath An Incipient Continental Rift: Evidence From The First Receiver Function Study Across The Okavango Rift Zone, Botswana, Youqiang Yu, Kelly H. Liu, M. Moidaki, Cory A. Reed, Stephen S. Gao
No Thermal Anomalies In The Mantle Transition Zone Beneath An Incipient Continental Rift: Evidence From The First Receiver Function Study Across The Okavango Rift Zone, Botswana, Youqiang Yu, Kelly H. Liu, M. Moidaki, Cory A. Reed, Stephen S. Gao
Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works
Mechanisms leading to the initiation and early-stage development of continental rifts remain enigmatic, in spite of numerous studies. Among the various rifting models, which were developed mostly based on studies of mature rifts, far-field stresses originating from plate interactions (passive rifting) and nearby active mantle upwelling (active rifting) are commonly used to explain rift dynamics. Situated atop of the hypothesized African Superplume, the incipient Okavango Rift Zone (ORZ) of northern Botswana is ideal to investigate the role of mantle plumes in rift initiation and development, as well as the interaction between the upper and lower mantle. The ORZ developed within …
Thermal Perturbations Beneath The Incipient Okavango Rift Zone, Northwest Botswana, Khumo Leseane, Estella A. Atekwana, Kevin Lee Mickus, Mohamed G. Abdel Salam, Elisha M. Shemang, Eliot A. Atekwana
Thermal Perturbations Beneath The Incipient Okavango Rift Zone, Northwest Botswana, Khumo Leseane, Estella A. Atekwana, Kevin Lee Mickus, Mohamed G. Abdel Salam, Elisha M. Shemang, Eliot A. Atekwana
Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works
We used aeromagnetic and gravity data to investigate the thermal structure beneath the incipient Okavango Rift Zone (ORZ) in northwestern Botswana in order to understand its role in strain localization during rift initiation. We used three-dimensional (3-D) inversion of aeromagnetic data to estimate the Curie Point Depth (CPD) and heat flow under the rift and surrounding basement. We also used two-dimensional (2-D) power-density spectrum analysis of gravity data to estimate the Moho depth. Our results reveal shallow CPD values (8-15 km) and high heat flow (60-90 mW m-2) beneath a ∼60 km wide NE-trending zone coincident with major …