Title: Rift structures and facies distributions in Lake Malawi
Abstract: Lake Malawi floods most of its rift valley floor and the interaction of tectonic setting and climate-induced lake level change have controlled the formation and distribution of its bottom deposits. Studies of some 150 short cores show that diatomites occur in shallow rift setting with small catchment areas and that homogeneous diatomaceous muds occur in oxygenated, and consequently bioturbated, areas with high clastic inputs from adjacent major catchments. Varve-like pelagic units are found in deep basin anoxic settings, particularly in regions where climate is markedly seasonal. Turbidite sands are closely associated with major boundary faults. Broad sandy sheets are found on horst blocks and ramp structures, as well as in littoral zones, which bring the lake floor within the influence of wave-induced bottom currents. Pisolitic nontronite sands show a close relationship with the slopes of horst blocks in waters 100 to 160 m deep.
Publication Year: 1989
Publication Date: 1989-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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Cited By Count: 18
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