The Impact of Complex Volcanic Plumbing on the Nature of Seismicity in the Developing Magmatic Natron Rift, Tanzania
Constraining the architecture of complex 3D volcanic plumbing systems within active rifts, and their impact on rift processes, is critical for examining the interplay between faulting, magmatism and magmatic fluids in developing rift segments. The Natron basin of the East African Rift System provide...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Earth Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2020.609805/full |
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| author | Miriam Christina Reiss James D. Muirhead Amani S. Laizer Frederik Link Emmanuel O. Kazimoto Cynthia J. Ebinger Georg Rümpker |
| author_facet | Miriam Christina Reiss James D. Muirhead Amani S. Laizer Frederik Link Emmanuel O. Kazimoto Cynthia J. Ebinger Georg Rümpker |
| author_sort | Miriam Christina Reiss |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Constraining the architecture of complex 3D volcanic plumbing systems within active rifts, and their impact on rift processes, is critical for examining the interplay between faulting, magmatism and magmatic fluids in developing rift segments. The Natron basin of the East African Rift System provides an ideal location to study these processes, owing to its recent magmatic-tectonic activity and ongoing active carbonatite volcanism at Oldoinyo Lengai. Here, we report seismicity and fault plane solutions from a 10 month-long temporary seismic network spanning Oldoinyo Lengai, Naibor Soito volcanic field and Gelai volcano. We locate 6,827 earthquakes with ML −0.85 to 3.6, which are related to previous and ongoing magmatic and volcanic activity in the region, as well as regional tectonic extension. We observe seismicity down to ∼17 km depth north and south of Oldoinyo Lengai and shallow seismicity (3–10 km) beneath Gelai, including two swarms. The deepest seismicity (∼down to 20 km) occurs above a previously imaged magma body below Naibor Soito. These seismicity patterns reveal a detailed image of a complex volcanic plumbing system, supporting potential lateral and vertical connections between shallow- and deep-seated magmas, where fluid and melt transport to the surface is facilitated by intrusion of dikes and sills. Focal mechanisms vary spatially. T-axis trends reveal dominantly WNW-ESE extension near Gelai, while strike-slip mechanisms and a radial trend in P-axes are observed in the vicinity of Oldoinyo Lengai. These data support local variations in the state of stress, resulting from a combination of volcanic edifice loading and magma-driven stress changes imposed on a regional extensional stress field. Our results indicate that the southern Natron basin is a segmented rift system, in which fluids preferentially percolate vertically and laterally in a region where strain transfers from a border fault to a developing magmatic rift segment. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T16:39:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ddcb312d9d1c4f01867862de2012616d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-6463 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T16:39:16Z |
| publishDate | 2021-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Earth Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-ddcb312d9d1c4f01867862de2012616d2022-12-21T22:54:21ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Earth Science2296-64632021-02-01810.3389/feart.2020.609805609805The Impact of Complex Volcanic Plumbing on the Nature of Seismicity in the Developing Magmatic Natron Rift, TanzaniaMiriam Christina Reiss0James D. Muirhead1Amani S. Laizer2Frederik Link3Emmanuel O. Kazimoto4Cynthia J. Ebinger5Georg Rümpker6Institute of Geosciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, GermanySchool of Environment, University of Auckland, Auckland, New ZealandDepartment of Geology, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam, TanzaniaInstitute of Geosciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, GermanyDepartment of Geology, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam, TanzaniaDepartment of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, United StatesInstitute of Geosciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, GermanyConstraining the architecture of complex 3D volcanic plumbing systems within active rifts, and their impact on rift processes, is critical for examining the interplay between faulting, magmatism and magmatic fluids in developing rift segments. The Natron basin of the East African Rift System provides an ideal location to study these processes, owing to its recent magmatic-tectonic activity and ongoing active carbonatite volcanism at Oldoinyo Lengai. Here, we report seismicity and fault plane solutions from a 10 month-long temporary seismic network spanning Oldoinyo Lengai, Naibor Soito volcanic field and Gelai volcano. We locate 6,827 earthquakes with ML −0.85 to 3.6, which are related to previous and ongoing magmatic and volcanic activity in the region, as well as regional tectonic extension. We observe seismicity down to ∼17 km depth north and south of Oldoinyo Lengai and shallow seismicity (3–10 km) beneath Gelai, including two swarms. The deepest seismicity (∼down to 20 km) occurs above a previously imaged magma body below Naibor Soito. These seismicity patterns reveal a detailed image of a complex volcanic plumbing system, supporting potential lateral and vertical connections between shallow- and deep-seated magmas, where fluid and melt transport to the surface is facilitated by intrusion of dikes and sills. Focal mechanisms vary spatially. T-axis trends reveal dominantly WNW-ESE extension near Gelai, while strike-slip mechanisms and a radial trend in P-axes are observed in the vicinity of Oldoinyo Lengai. These data support local variations in the state of stress, resulting from a combination of volcanic edifice loading and magma-driven stress changes imposed on a regional extensional stress field. Our results indicate that the southern Natron basin is a segmented rift system, in which fluids preferentially percolate vertically and laterally in a region where strain transfers from a border fault to a developing magmatic rift segment.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2020.609805/fulllocal stress field changesmagmatic plumbing systemsvolcano-rift interactionsrift seismicityvolcano seismicity |
| spellingShingle | Miriam Christina Reiss James D. Muirhead Amani S. Laizer Frederik Link Emmanuel O. Kazimoto Cynthia J. Ebinger Georg Rümpker The Impact of Complex Volcanic Plumbing on the Nature of Seismicity in the Developing Magmatic Natron Rift, Tanzania Frontiers in Earth Science local stress field changes magmatic plumbing systems volcano-rift interactions rift seismicity volcano seismicity |
| title | The Impact of Complex Volcanic Plumbing on the Nature of Seismicity in the Developing Magmatic Natron Rift, Tanzania |
| title_full | The Impact of Complex Volcanic Plumbing on the Nature of Seismicity in the Developing Magmatic Natron Rift, Tanzania |
| title_fullStr | The Impact of Complex Volcanic Plumbing on the Nature of Seismicity in the Developing Magmatic Natron Rift, Tanzania |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Impact of Complex Volcanic Plumbing on the Nature of Seismicity in the Developing Magmatic Natron Rift, Tanzania |
| title_short | The Impact of Complex Volcanic Plumbing on the Nature of Seismicity in the Developing Magmatic Natron Rift, Tanzania |
| title_sort | impact of complex volcanic plumbing on the nature of seismicity in the developing magmatic natron rift tanzania |
| topic | local stress field changes magmatic plumbing systems volcano-rift interactions rift seismicity volcano seismicity |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2020.609805/full |
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