Ensialic origin for the Ngezi Group, Belingwe greenstone belt, Zimbabwe Available to Purchase

Volcanic rocks of the Ngezi Group in the Belingwe greenstone belt have been interpreted as continental basalts extruded onto, or oceanic crust obducted onto, a succession of stable-shelf sedimentary rocks that nonconformably overlie continental basement. The volcanic succession locally contains quartzose sandstones, and the stratigraphy is unlike ocean crust. Primary volcanic and sedimentary structures indicate a shallow-subaqueous to subaerial origin. All structural features are compatible with later refolding of an autochthonous successon; there is no structural manifestation of obduction. These criteria refute an oceanic setting for the volcanic rocks; rather, they are consistent with an ensialic origin for the Ngezi Group.