Asal Rift, Tadjourah Region, Djiboutii

Regional Level Types
Asal Rift	Zone (Tectonic)
Tadjourah Region	Region
Djibouti	Country

The Asal Rift opened during the Pleistocene within a tectonized basaltic and rhyolitic stratoid series of Mio–Pliocene age, and these series are found commonly along the margins of the Afar Depression. Massive hyaloclastites generally marked the beginning of the rifting and the first rise of magma through the cracks thus formed. Opened after the Pliocene, the hyaloclastites are superimposed unconformably on a series of predominantly alkaline basalts. The rift produced lavas of tholeiitic affinity, poor in potassium, comparable to those of neighboring oceanic ridges. These lavas range from magnesian basalts to ferro-basalts with MgO 3.00–8.00 and K2O 0.10–0.90. The geographical distribution of the different petrographic terms is not random; the most evolved lavas are grouped in the axial valley. The age of the volcanic rocks located in the Asal–Ghoubbet area is less than 0.7 Ma.

The 15km long subaerial exposure of the Asal Rift connects Lake Asal with Ghoubber Bay, which is the continuation of the Gulf of Aden-Tadjoura ridge.

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References