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The Catanda extrusive carbonatites (Kwanza Sul, Angola): an example of explosive carbonatitic volcanism

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Abstract

Carbonatite lavas and pyroclastic rocks are exposed in the volcanic graben of Catanda and represent the only known example of extrusive carbonatites in Angola. A new detailed geological map of the area is presented in this study as well as six different stratigraphic sections. Pyroclastic rocks, apparently unwelded, are dominant in the area and represented in all the stratigraphic columns. They form shallowly to moderately inclined layers, mostly devoid of internal structures, that range in thickness from several centimetres to metres. They are dominantly lapilli tuffs and minor tuffs occasionally comprising pelletal lapilli. Based on their different features and field relationships, at least five different pyroclastic lithofacies have been distinguished in the area. Carbonatitic lavas outcrop in the external parts of the Catanda graben, forming coherent layers interbedded with pyroclastic rocks. Calcite is the most common mineral in the lavas, but other accessory minerals such as fluorapatite, titaniferous magnetite, phlogopite, pyrochlore, baddeleyite, monticellite, perovskite, cuspidine and periclase have also been identified. At least four different types of lavas have been distinguished based on their mineral associations and textural features. This study reveals an overall abundance of pyroclastic material in comparison to lava flows in the Catanda area, suggesting that eruptive processes were dominated by explosive activity similar to what has been described in other carbonatite and kimberlite localities. The Catanda carbonatitic volcanism was associated with monogenetic volcanic edifices with tuff ring or maar morphologies, and at least seven possible eruptive centres have been identified in the area.

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Notes

  1. Pelletal lapilli are defined as spherical to elliptical lapilli commonly with a crystal fragment or a lithic clast in the centre, mantled by fine-grained micro-phenocrystal material that sometimes defines smooth concentric layers (Mitchell 1997).

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Acknowledgments

This research has been supported by project CGL2009-13758 of the Spanish Government and projects SGR-589 and SGR-444 of the Generalitat de Catalunya. Fieldwork in Catanda was also supported by the Hugh E. McKinstry fund, granted by the Society of Economic Geologists. Logistical assistance in the field was provided by the Departamento de Geologia da Universidade Agostinho Neto from Luanda, Angola. We acknowledge the collaboration and the hospitality of Felipe Correia and José Fortuna from Catanda village. We thank F. Stoppa, an anonymous reviewer and associate editor P.-S. Ross for their constructive comments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departament de Cristal·lografia, Mineralogia i Dipòsits Minerals, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

    Marc Campeny & Joan C. Melgarejo

  2. Departamento de Física, Instituto de Oceanografía y Cambio Global, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain

    José Mangas

  3. Departamento de Geologia, Universidade Agostinho Neto, Luanda, Angola

    Aurora Bambi & José Manuel

  4. Departament d’Enginyeria Minera i Recursos Naturals, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Manresa, Catalonia, Spain

    Pura Alfonso

  5. Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton Waterfront Campus, Southampton, UK

    Thomas Gernon

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  1. Marc Campeny
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  2. José Mangas
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  3. Joan C. Melgarejo
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  7. José Manuel
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Correspondence to Marc Campeny.

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Editorial responsibility: P-S Ross

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Campeny, M., Mangas, J., Melgarejo, J.C. et al. The Catanda extrusive carbonatites (Kwanza Sul, Angola): an example of explosive carbonatitic volcanism. Bull Volcanol 76, 818 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00445-014-0818-6

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