ABSTRACT Intralava geochemical variations resulting from subtle changes in magma composition are used here to provide insights into the spatial-temporal development of large basalt lava flow fields. Recognition that flood basalt lavas are emplaced by inflation processes, akin to modern pāhoehoe lava, provides a spatial and temporal frame-work, both vertically at single locations and laterally between locations, in which to examine lava flow emplacement and lava flow field development. Assuming the lava inflation model, we combined detailed field mapping with analysis of compositional profiles across a single flow field to determine the internal spatio-temporal development of the Palouse Falls flow field, a lava produced by an individual Columbia River flood basalt eruption. Geochemical analyses of samples from constituent lobes of the Palouse Falls lava field demonstrate that systematic compositional whole-rock variations can be traced throughout the flow field from the area of the vent to the distal limits. Chemical heterogeneity within individual lava lobes (and outcrops) shows an increase from lava crusts to cores, e.g., MgO = 3.24–4.23 wt%, Fe 2 O 3 = 14.71–16.05 wt%, Cr = 29–52 ppm, and TiO 2 = 2.83–3.14 wt%. This is accompanied by a decrease in incompatible elements, e.g., Y = 46.1–43.4 ppm, Zr = 207–172 ppm, and V = 397–367 ppm. Systematic compositional variations from the source to distal areas are observed through constituent lobes of the Palouse Falls flow field. However, compositional heterogeneity in any one lobe appears less variable in the middle of the flow field as compared to more proximal and distal margins. Excursions from the general progressive trend from vent to distal limits are also observed and may reflect lateral spread of the flow field during emplacement, resulting in the juxtaposition of lobes of different composition. Transport of magma through connected sheet lobe cores, acting as internal flow pathways to reach the flow front, is interpreted as the method of lava transport. Additionally, this can explain the general paucity of lava tubes within flood basalt provinces. In general, flow field development by a network of lava lobes may account for the occurrence of compositionally similar glasses noted at the proximal and distal ends of some flood basalt lavas.

Abstract A major rifting episode began in the Afar region of northern Ethiopia in September 2005. Over a 10-day period, c. 2.5 km 3 of magma were intruded into the upper crust along a 60 km-long dyke separating the Arabian and Nubian plates. There was an intense seismic swarm and a small rhyolitic eruption; extension of up to 10 m occurred across the rift segment. Over the next five years, a further 13 dyke intrusions caused continued extension, eruptions and seismicity. The activity in Afar led to a renewed international focus on the role of magmatism in rifting, with major collaborative projects involving researchers from Ethiopia, the UK, the USA, France, Italy and New Zealand working in Afar and Ethiopia to study the ongoing activity and to place it in a broader context. This book brings together articles that explore the role of magmatism in rifting, from the initiation of continental break-up through to full seafloor spreading. We also explore the hazards related to rifting and the associated volcanism. This renewed focus on magmatism and its role in rifting has implications for our understanding of how continents break-up and the associated distribution of resources in rift basins and continental margins.

Abstract Continental rifting has a fundamental role in the tectonic behaviour of the Earth, shaping the surface we live on. Although there is not yet a consensus about the dominant mechanism for rifting, there is a general agreement that the stresses required to rift the continental lithosphere are not readily available. Here we use a global finite element model of the lithosphere to calculate the stresses acting on Africa. We consider the stresses induced by mantle flow, crustal structure and topography in two types of models: one in which flow is exclusively driven by the subducting slabs and one in which it is derived from a shear wave tomographic model. The latter predicts much larger stresses and a more realistic dynamic topography. It is therefore clear that the mantle structure beneath Africa plays a key part in providing the radial and horizontal tractions, dynamic topography and gravitational potential energy necessary for rifting. Nevertheless, the total available stress ( c. 100 MPa) is much less than that needed to break thick, cold continental lithosphere. Instead, we appeal to a model of magma-assisted rifting along pre-existing weaknesses, where the strain is localized in a narrow axial region and the strength of the plate is reduced significantly. Mounting geological and geophysical observations support such a model.

Abstract New eruptive volume estimates have been calculated for the Kenyan segment of the East African Rift. Since the initial publications of volume estimates for the Kenyan Rift, numerous age dates have been obtained for the region allowing for temporal analysis of eruptive volumes. Additionally, more recent available datasets allow for the independent testing of map-derived volumes. Newly calculated volumes from available seismic data indicate a total volume of c. 310 000 km 3 , which is significantly more than map-derived volumes found here or published previously. It is suggested that the map-based estimates are likely affected by biases against recognizing small volume events in the older record. Such events have been, however, the main driver of erupted volume over the last 5 Ma. A simple ratio-adjustment technique was developed to counter these biases and results in convergence of the volume estimates from the two independent datasets examined. Supplementary material: Volume calculations and classifications are available at http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/SUP18800 .

Abstract Calderas are formed by the collapse of large magma reservoirs and are commonly elliptical in map view. The orientation of elliptical calderas is often used as an indicator of the local stress regime; but, in some rift settings, pre-existing structural trends may also influence the orientation. We investigated whether either of these two mechanisms controls the orientation of calderas in the Kenyan Rift. Satellite-based mapping was used to identify the rift border faults, intra-rift faults and orientation of the calderas to measure the stress orientations and pre-existing structural trends and to determine the extensional regime at each volcano. We found that extension in northern Kenya is orthogonal, whereas that in southern Kenya is oblique. Elliptical calderas in northern Kenya are orientated NW–SE, aligned with pre-existing structures and perpendicular to recent rift faults. In southern Kenya, the calderas are aligned NE–SW and lie oblique to recent rift faults, but are aligned with pre-existing structures. We conclude that, in oblique continental rifts, pre-existing structures control the development of elongated magma reservoirs. Our results highlight the structural control of magmatism at different crustal levels, where pre-existing structures control the storage and orientation of deeper magma reservoirs and the local stress regime controls intra-rift faulting and shallow magmatism. Supplementary material: Details of the Standard Deviation Ellipse function and statistical methods are available at http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/SUP18849 .

Abstract The Rwenzori region, which is located between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, is part of the western branch of the East African Rift. With elevations of c. 5000 m a.s.l., the Rwenzori Mountains are situated between the Albert Rift and the Edward Rift segments and cover an area of approximately 120 km by 50 km. In this study we investigate the Moho topography beneath the Rwenzori region based on data from a network of 33 broadband seismic stations that were operated from September 2009 until August 2011. Variations of crustal thickness are obtained from the H-κ stacking method applied to P-receiver functions. We discuss the effect of low velocity layers within the crust on the determined Moho depths, which range from 20 km up to 39 km. The lack of a crustal root beneath the Rwenzori Mountains and its location in an extensional setting are contrary to the orogenesis generated by collisions of tectonic units. Our results indicate crustal thinning and provide evidence for the alternative mechanism of crustal bending, triggered by the tensile stress and the elasticity of the crust. Supplementary material: Examples and methods for identifying crustal structures and sediment layers are available at http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/SUP18801 .

Abstract Inland and offshore gravimetric determinations in the Southern Colima rift in western Mexico allowed for the construction of a Bouguer anomaly map of the area. Four submarine canyons of tectonic relevance are located in the offshore area. Gravimetric models of the oceanic subducting slab were calculated from the residual Bouguer anomaly along six trench-parallel lines and three trench-perpendicular lines including the area of the canyons. The former lines show considerable distortion of the slab that we attribute to compression, while the latter show distinct dipping angles of the oceanic slab at distances of around 75 km from the trench: the westernmost line shows a dip angle of 55° between depths of 20 and 70 km, while the easternmost shows a dip angle of 32° at depths between 18 and 50 km. We submit that the former represents a section of the subducting Rivera plate, and the latter represents a section of the Cocos plate. Extracting coordinates of representative points on the surface of the nine slab models allowed for a reconstruction of the slab surface: the transition from the Rivera to the Cocos plate is marked by topographic gradients in the modelled slab surface suggesting the trajectory of the boundary between the plates. We propose a tectonic model that includes a transpression zone involving the marine platform and the Southern Colima rift and a transtension zone in the Northern Colima rift: the Colima Volcanic Complex is located in the transition zone between them.

Abstract This paper presents broadband magnetotelluric data collected along profiles over two magmatic segments comprising part of the subaerial Red Sea arm of the Afar triple junction. One of these segments has been active since late 2005 and the other segment is currently inactive. After robust processing and galvanic distortion analysis, we found that the data passed the two-dimensional subsurface resistivity modelling criteria. Profiles across the segments had well-defined geoelectrical strike directions parallel to the local rift axes. Data from the northern end of the active segment had a more ambiguous strike oblique to the profile and rift axes, but the direction did not have a severe impact on the deduced model. All three models displayed prominent zones of low resistivity, interpreted as arising from magma and partial melt. Petrological information has been used to constrain the resistivity of the parent melt and hence to estimate the melt fractions from the bulk resistivity. The total amount of melt estimated beneath the profile crossing the active segment ( c. 500 km 3 ) is approximately an order of magnitude greater than that beneath the profile crossing the currently inactive rift. This implies that the availability of magma is at least one factor affecting whether a rift segment is active.

Abstract Low seismic velocities and/or strong seismic anisotropy are often interpreted as being caused by partial melt. To better understand this, we used numerical modelling, varying the shape and amount of melt, to show how seismic phases are affected by melt. We observed that seismic waves are more sensitive to the shape than to the amount of melt. Rayleigh wave velocities were almost always reduced in the presence of melt, while Pn/wide-angle P-wave refraction and Love wave velocities showed low velocity anomalies for vertically aligned melt, but little anomaly for horizontally aligned melt. These data can therefore be used to determine the alignment of melt. Shear wave splitting/receiver functions showed strong anisotropy and can be used to constrain the strike of vertically aligned partial melt. We showed that melt in the mantle beneath Ethiopia is probably stored in low aspect ratio disc-like inclusions, suggesting that the melt is not in textural equilibrium. We estimated that 2–7% of the vertically aligned melt is stored beneath the Main Ethiopian Rift, >6% of the horizontally and vertically aligned melt is stored beneath the Red Sea Rift and 1–6% of the horizontally aligned melt is stored beneath the Danakil microplate. This supports the idea of strong shear-derived segregation of melt in the narrow Main Ethiopian Rift compared with that observed beneath Afar.

Abstract The sequence of dyke intrusions between 2005 and 2010 in the Manda Hararo rift segment, Ethiopia, provided an opportunity to test conceptual models of continental rifting. Based on trends up to dyke 13 in the sequence, it was anticipated that, should magma supply continue, dykes would shorten in length and eruptions would increase in size and decrease in distance from the segment centre as extensional stress was progressively released. In this paper we revisit these predictions by presenting a comprehensive overview of the May 2010 dyke and fissure eruption, the 14th and last in the sequence, from InSAR, seismicity, satellite thermal data, ultraviolet SO 2 retrievals and multiple LiDAR surveys. We find the dyke is longer than other eruptive dykes in the sequence, propagating in two directions from the segment centre, but otherwise fairly typical in terms of opening, propagation speed and geodetic and seismic moment. However, though the eruption is located closer to the segment centre, it is much smaller than previous events. We interpret this as indicating that either the Manda Hararo rifting event was magma limited, or that extensional stress varies north and south of the segment centre.

Abstract The Red Sea arm of the triple junction in northeastern Ethiopia provides an opportunity to investigate rift-forming processes at divergent boundaries. In an attempt to study the subsurface, especially the distribution and role of melt in the rifting process, we carried out a high-precision gravity survey with a mean-square error of 0.011 mgal, assisted by differential global positioning system measurements. The profile is 162 km long and strikes ENE–WSW across the southern part of the Red Sea rift at a latitude of approximately 11.75° N. Modelling of the Bouguer anomaly, constrained by a priori information, showed detailed in-rift variations in the crustal structure and the distribution of melt beneath the rift axis. Our interpretation suggested that the process of continental break-up is governed by crustal stretching and rifting accompanied by the emplacement of melt into the lower crust above a lower density upper mantle. In addition, we interpreted the thickness of the crust beneath this part of the rift axis to be 25 km. The subsurface distribution of density beneath the profile shows that the south-central part of the Red Sea rift has modified thinned crust, intruded by high-density material, which resembles the crust formed during seafloor spreading.

Abstract Erta ‘Ale volcano lies at the centre of the Erta ‘Ale rift segment in northern Afar, Ethiopia and hosts one of the few persistent lava lakes found on Earth in its summit caldera. Previous studies have reported anecdotal evidence of a correlation between lake activity and magmatic and tectonic events in the broader region. We investigated this hypothesis for the period 2000–15 by comparing a catalogue of regional events with changes in lake activity reconstructed from Earth Observation data. The lava lake underwent dramatic changes during the study period, exhibiting an overall rise in height with concomitant changes in geometry consistent with a change in heat energy balance. Numerous paroxysms occurred in the lake and in the north pit; a significant dyke intrusion with subsequent re-intrusions indicated a role for dykes in maintaining the lake. However, despite some coincidences between the paroxysms and regional events, we did not find any statistically significant relationship between the two on a timescale of days to weeks. Nevertheless, changes in lake activity have preceded the broad increase in regional activity since 2005 and we cannot rule out a relationship on a decadal scale.

Abstract Palaeomagnetic investigations were carried out on tilted Jessoma sandstones in the Aïsha block. The average natural remanent magnetization intensity was 0.026A m −1 with good behaviour on demagnetization both by thermal and alternating fields. The normalized magnetization intensity decay curves indicated that fine-grained, Ti-poor titanomagnetites were the carriers of magnetization. A well-defined single-component magnetization with a poorly defined secondary component was found. The latter was removed at temperatures below 300°C or at 10 mT. After these steps, a straight-line segment directed towards the origin was identified, which was interpreted as the characteristic remanent magnetization. Site mean direction coordinates of Dec g =227.8°, Inc g =–33.9° ( n =7, α 95 =2.8°, K =478) ( in situ ) and Dec s =225.6°, Inc s =0.4° ( n =7, α 95 =2.8°, K =478) (tilt-corrected) were obtained. Corresponding mean virtual geomagnetic pole coordinates of Lon g =117.5° E, Lat g =43.3° N ( A 95 =3.2°, n =7) ( in situ ) and Lon s =143.5° E, Lat s =43.3° N ( A 95 =2.8°, n =7) (tilt-corrected) were obtained. The corrected in situ mean pole position was compared with the African apparent polar wander path curve and a deposition age for the sandstone of 60±5 Ma was determined, which is consistent with previous reports. A vertical axis rotation ( R ±Δ R ) of the Aïsha block of 29.1±4.06° was obtained, which is equivalent to an inferred 30° counterclockwise rotation of the Danakil block, in agreement with a ‘saloon-door’ mechanism for the opening of the Afar Depression.

Abstract Geological mapping in the Ogaden region of SE Ethiopia, integrated with aeromagnetic data, has revealed a large dyke swarm extending SSE more than 600 km from the southern Afar margin across the Somali Plate to the Ethiopia–Somalia border. 40 Ar/ 39 Ar age dating shows that emplacement occurred at 24–27 Ma, contemporaneous with early rifting and dyking in the Red Sea. Slab-pull forces generated at the Zagros subduction zone strained the lithosphere in the Afro-Arabian plate, and dyking began to extend south from the Red Sea at c. 27 Ma, extending across Afar, fed by a plume-related magma source, rather than the rift-related source prevailing along the Red Sea. Immediately south of the Afar margin, the dyke system was emplaced along the Precambrian Marda Fault Zone, and the continuation across the Ogaden may have been controlled by lithospheric weakness associated with a splay of the Marda Fault. We suggest that the Ogaden Dyke Swarm is a zone of crustal dilation continuing the Red Sea trend across the Horn of Africa and constituting the original third ‘arm’ of the Afar triple junction. Geochemical and geochronological analyses indicate that basaltic outpourings from the Ogaden Dyke Swarm flowed at least as far east as the Ethiopia–Somalia border and emanated from the same magma source as the Ethiopian flood basalts, which had erupted earlier at c. 30 Ma. Dykes are emergent only occasionally and are marked at the surface by linear sand-filled troughs varying from 2 to 20 m deep caused by tensional collapse above the dyke tip. Magnetic anomalies associated with the dykes vary in width up to 1 km and likely identify dyke zones. Supplementary material: Geological map of the Marda Fault Zone and surroundings; argon dating analytical protocol and isotopic data corrected from baseline; petrographic description of representative samples of the Ogaden Dyke Swarm and analytical protocol used for geochemistry are available at http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/SUP18829 .

Abstract Mid-ocean ridges display tectonic segmentation defined by discontinuities of the axial zone, and geophysical and geochemical observations suggest segmentation of the underlying magmatic plumbing system. Here, observations of tectonic and magmatic segmentation at ridges spreading from fast to ultraslow rates are reviewed in light of influential concepts of ridge segmentation, including the notion of hierarchical segmentation, spreading cells and centralized v. multiple supply of mantle melts. The observations support the concept of quasi-regularly spaced principal magmatic segments, which are 30–50 km long on average at fast- to slow-spreading ridges and fed by melt accumulations in the shallow asthenosphere. Changes in ridge properties approaching or crossing transform faults are often comparable with those observed at smaller offsets, and even very small discontinuities can be major boundaries in ridge properties. Thus, hierarchical segmentation models that suggest large-scale transform fault-bounded segmentation arises from deeper level processes in the asthenosphere than the finer-scale segmentation are not generally supported. The boundaries between some but not all principal magmatic segments defined by ridge axis geophysical properties coincide with geochemical boundaries reflecting changes in source composition or melting processes. Where geochemical boundaries occur, they can coincide with discontinuities of a wide range of scales.

Abstract Few divergent plate boundaries are subaerial. Active rifts in Iceland provide valuable surface information on divergent spreading processes, rifting and faulting. The 200 km long and 50 km wide Northern Volcanic Rift Zone (NVZ) is composed of 7 volcanic systems, each consisting of a central volcano with a transecting fissure swarm. Fractures and postglacial eruptive fissures in the NVZ were analysed using aerial photographs and satellite images to study their characteristics and behaviour. While non-eruptive fractures characterize the distal ( c. 40–100 km) parts of the fissure swarms, eruptive fissures are most common at distances less than c. 20–30 km from the central volcano. Fractures within the fissure swarms are generally subparallel, with a N–NNE strike. Irregular orientations are associated with calderas within the central volcanoes Askja and Krafla, and at the junction of the NVZ and the Tjörnes Fracture Zone, where high fracture densities also occur. WNW-orientated fractures at the southern end of the Krafla Fissure Swarm, and the northern end of the Kverkfjöll Fissure Swarm, exhibit surface expressions of a transform zone. The fissure swarms within the rift zone are mostly seismically and geodetically inactive, becoming highly active during rifting events that occur at time intervals of tens to a few hundred years.

Abstract Multichannel seismic and potential field data shed light on the final rifting stage in the southern South Atlantic. This was associated with major episodes of magmatism during the Early Cretaceous continental break-up. An asymmetrical simple shear-dominated variable strain rifting model is proposed with the margin asymmetry visible in shelf width, amplitude of magnetic anomalies, orientation of break-up-related sedimentary basins and basement slope angle. Along-margin rotation in spreading- and later rifting-direction from north–south to west–east are of great importance for the asymmetries. Such rotational opening may also explain why the southernmost segments of the South Atlantic are magma starved, with a sharp transition to a volcanic-rifted margin type northwards. Interpretation of pre-M5 ( c. 130 Ma) magnetic seafloor spreading lineations constrains the timing of excess break-up-related volcanism and transition to ‘normal’ seafloor spreading. Termination of magnetic anomalies within seaward-dipping reflector sequences points towards a deposition of the volcanics from south to north prior to and during the early rift and opening stages. Identification of previously unknown pre-M5 magnetic lineations offshore Argentina completes the lineation pattern in the southern South Atlantic. The oldest magnetic anomaly related to oceanic spreading is M9 ( c. 135 Ma). Older anomalies, previously identified as M11 ( c. 137 Ma) offshore Cape Town, are related to structural or magnetization variations within seaward-dipping reflector sequences.

Abstract Temporary broadband seismic networks deployed from 2007 to 2011 around the Afar triple junction of the East African Rift System provide insights into seismicity patterns of the actively deforming crust around the 1.86 km 3 impounded lake system behind the Tendaho dam. The observed seismicity correlates well with the active magmatic centres around central Afar. The area around the dam site is characterized by a network of intersecting NNE- and NW-trending faults. Seismicity clusters observed in the specified time interval indicate that both fault sets are active and are potential sources of seismogenic hazards. The dam neighbourhood is naturally active and it is a challenge to associate the observed seismic activity to either a change in magmato-tectonic conditions or attribute it to the influence of reservoir load. It is evident that the dam region experiences high levels of seismic and volcano-tectonic unrest, regardless of the origin of the activity. The spatial overlap of narrow zones of crustal seismicity and upper mantle low velocity zones observed in S-wave tomography models suggests that melt production zones guide the distribution of strain during continental rupture. Given its volcanically and seismically active setting, the Tendaho dam site and the surrounding region require continuous monitoring for the safety of downstream populations and development infrastructures in the Afar National Regional State of Ethiopia.

Abstract Collaborative research projects have a significant role in filling the knowledge gaps that are obstacles to the rigorous assessment of volcanic hazards in some locations. Research is essential to generate the evidence on which raising awareness of volcanic hazards, monitoring and early warning systems, risk reduction activities and efforts to increase resilience can be built. We report the current state of volcanic hazards research and practice in Ethiopia and on the collaborative process used in the Afar Rift Consortium project to promote awareness of volcanic hazards. Effective dissemination of findings to stakeholders and the integration of results into existing practice need leadership by in-country researchers, effective long-term collaboration with other researchers (e.g. international groups) and operational scientists, in addition to integration with existing programmes related to disaster risk reduction initiatives.