The Ethiopian basement: Stratigraphy and possible manner of evolution

Abstract

In the Ethiopian Precambrian three complexes are recognized. The Lower Complex formed of high grade gneisses represents older (older than 2500 m. y.) cratonic basement. The Middle Complex (clastic metasediments) is presumably the Lower to Middle Proterozoic platform cover. The Upper Complex consists of low-grade rocks in following succession: ophiolitic rocks, andesitic metavolcanics and associated metasediments, clastic and to less extent carbonate sediments. Rifting of older basement at the beginning of Upper Proterozoic created northeasterly trending zones with oceanic crust branching from the Red Sea fold belt and grading southwards (in the Mozambique belt) into the zones of continental rifting. Closing of these rift zones terminated 1000 m. y. ago and was accompanied by subduction of oceanic crust which gave rise to island arc type volcanism. Continental collision resulted in crustal thickening and produced two stages of metamorphism: metamorphism of collision (around 1000 m. y. or earlier) and metamorphism of radioactive heating (younger than 1000 or 800 m. y.). The collision was oblique, so the significant transcurrent motion occurred in the Red Sea and the Mozambique belts. © 1978 Ferdinand Enke Verlag Stuttgart.