Spatial variability of volcanic features in early-stage rift settings: the case of the Tanzania Divergence, East African rift system

Abstract

Close relationships between deformation and volcanism are well documented in relatively late evolutionary stages of con- tinental rifting, whereas these are poorly constrained in less mature rifting stages. To investigate the control of inherited structures on faulting and volcanism, we present a statistical analysis of volcanic features, faults and pre-rift fabric in the Tanzania Divergence, where volcanic features occur exten- sively in in-rift and off-rift areas. Our results show that in mature rift sectors (Natron), magma uprising is mostly con- trolled by fractures/faults responding to the far-field stress, whereas the distribution of volcanism during initial rifting (Eyasi) is controlled by inherited structures oblique to the regional extension direction. Off-rift sectors show a marked control of pre-rift structures on magma emplacement, which may not respond to the regional stress field. Thus, the use of off-rift magmatic features as stress indicators should take into account the role of pre-existing structures.