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Lithostratigraphic subdivision of the Karoo rocks of the Luwegu Basin (Tanzania) and their biostratigraphic classification based on microfloras, macrofloras, fossil woods and vertebrates

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Zusammenfassung

Erstmalig wird eine umfassende stratigraphische Gliederung der Karoo-Ablagerungen des Luwegu-Beckens im südlichen Tansania vorgestellt. Die Karoo-Abfolge erreicht eine Gesamtmächtigkeit von nahezu 6000 Metern und setzt sich aus deltaisch-lakustrinen und fluviatilen Ablagerungen zusammen. Die Karoo-Ablagerungen werden in neun grö\ere lithostratigraphische Einheiten untergliedert. Die Ergebnisse biostratigraphischer Untersuchungen (Mikrofloren, Makrofloren, fossile Hölzer, Vertebraten) zeigen, da\ die Karoo-Sequenz vom oberen Perm bis m den unteren Jura reicht. Die palynologische Abfolge umfa\t Mikrofloren des oberen Perms, der oberen Trias (Onslow- und Ipswich-Typ) und des unteren Jura, deren Alter durch Vergleiche mit Palynofloren von Madagaskar, Australien und Simbabwe festgelegt ist. Für die Karoo-Ablagerungen des Luwegu-Beckens ergeben sich hieraus regionale wie auch überregionale Korrelationsmöglichkeiten mit den Karoo-Sequenzen von Ost- und Südafrika, den Karoo-ähnlichen Ablagerungen Nordafrikas und den Gondwana-Abfolgen von Australien und Indien. Darüber hinaus kann anhand von radiometrischen Datierungen an Vulkaniten ein Karoo-Vulkanismus und ein alttertiärer Vulkanismus nachgewiesen werden.

Abstract

For the first time a comprehensive stratigraphic classification of the Karoo deposits of the Luwegu Basin in southern Tanzania is presented. The Karoo strata attain a total thickness of almost 6000 metres and are composed of deltaic-lacustrine and fluvial deposits. The sedimentary sequence has been subdivided into nine major lithostratigraphic units. The results of biostratigraphic investigations (microfloras, macrofloras, fossil woods, vertebrates) indicate, that the Karoo Sequence ranges in age from Upper Permian to Lower Jurassic. The palynological sequence comprises microfloras of the Upper Permian, the Upper Triassic (Onslow and Ipswich type) and the Lower Jurassic. Their age is assessed from correlation with palynofloras of Malagasy, Australia and Zimbabwe. Resulting from this regional as well as intercontinental correlations with the Karoo strata of East and South Africa, the Karoo-type strata of North Africa and the Gondwana sequences of Australia and India can be proposed. Furthermore on the base of radiometric datings of hitherto unknown occurrences of volcanic rocks a Karoo volcanism and an Early Tertiary volcanism can be distinguished.

Résumé

L'auteur présente une classification stratigraphique générale médite des sédiments du Karoo du Bassin de Luwegu en Tanzanie méridionale. La série du Karoo y atteint une épaisseur totale de près de 6000 m et est composée de dépÔts deltaÏques, lacustres et fluviatiles. Ces sédiments ont été subdivisés en neuf unités lithostratigraphiques majeures. Les investigations biostratigraphiques (microflore, macroflore, bois fossiles, vertébrés) prouvent que la série du Karoo s'étend du Permien supérieur au Jurassique inférieur. La séquence palynologique comprend des microflores du Permien supérieur, du Trias supérieur (type Onslow et Ipswich) et du Jurassique inférieur dont les âges sont déterminés par comparaison avec les palynoflores de Madagascar, d'Australie et du Zimbabwe. Il est donc possible d'établir des corrélations régionales et intercontinentales entre le Karoo du Bassin de Luwegu d'une part et le Karoo de l'Afrique orientale et méridionale, les sédiments analogues de l'Afrique du Nord et les séries Gondwana de l'Australie et de l'Inde. De plus, la datation radiométrique de produits volcaniques non signalées jusqu'ici a permis de mettre en évidence un volcanisme Karoo et un volcanisme du Tertiaire inférieur.

кРАткОЕ сОДЕРжАНИЕ

ВпЕРВыЕ пРИВОДИтсь п ОДРОБНОЕ стРАтИгРАФ ИЧЕскОЕ РАсЧлЕНЕНИЕ ОтлОжЕН ИИ Karoo В БАссЕИНЕ Luwegu, тАНжАНИь. МОЩНОсть сВ Ит Karoo ДОстИгАЕт пОЧтИ 6000 М, И ОНИ сОстАВлЕНы ДЕ льтО-ОжЕРНыМИ ОтлОжЕ НИьМИ, кОтОРыЕ пОДРАжДЕльУ т НА 9 кРУпНых лИтОстРАтИгРАФИЧЕс кИх ЕДИНИц. БИОстРАтИгРА ФИЧЕскИМИ ИсслЕДОВАНИьМИ — МИк РОФлОРы, МАкРОФлОРы, ФОссИльНыЕ ДРЕВЕсИН ы, пОДВОНОЧНыЕ — УстАН ОВИлИ, ЧтО сВИты Karoo ОтлАгАлИс ь жДЕсь В пЕРИОД От ВЕР хНЕИ пЕРМИ ДО НИжНЕИ УРы. с п ОМОЩьУ пАлИНОлОгИЧЕ скИх ИсслЕДОВАНИИ УстАНО ВИлИ МИкРОФлОРУ, ОтНО сьЩУУсь к ВЕРхНЕИ пЕРМИ, ВЕРхН ЕМУ тРИАсУ — тИпы Onslow И Ipshwich —, А тАкжЕ НИжНЕИ УР ы; ОпРЕДЕлЕНИЕ ВОжРАстА пРОВЕлИ НА О сНОВАНИИ сРАВНЕНИь с ФлОРОИ МАДАгАскАРА, АВстРАл ИИ И жИМБАБВЕ. т. О. ИМЕЕтсь ВОжМОжНОсть кОРРЕлИРОВАть ОтлОж ЕНИь Karoo В БАссЕИНЕ Luwegu НЕ тОлькО РЕгИОНАльНО, НО И жА пРЕДЕлАМИ РЕгИОНА сО сВИтАМИ Karoo ВОстОЧНО И И УжНОИ АФРИкИ И ИМ пОДО БНыМИ ОтлОжЕНИьМИ сЕ ВЕРНОИ АФРИкИ И гОНДВАНскИМ И сВИтАМИ АВстРАлИИ И ИНДИИ. кРОМЕ тОгО, с пО МОЩьУ РАДИОМЕтРИЧЕс кИх МЕтОДОВ ИсслЕДОВАНИ ь ВУлкАНИтОВ УДАлОсь УстАНОВИть ВУлкАНИжМ, кАк В пЕРИО ДЕ Karoo, тАк И В РАННЕМ тРЕтИЧНОМ пЕРИОДЕ.

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  1. Otfried Hankel

    Present address: Geologisch-Paläontologisches Institut, Justus-Liebig-Universität Gie\en, Senckenbergstra\e 3, D-6300, Gie\en

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    Hankel, O. Lithostratigraphic subdivision of the Karoo rocks of the Luwegu Basin (Tanzania) and their biostratigraphic classification based on microfloras, macrofloras, fossil woods and vertebrates. Geol Rundsch 76, 539–565 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01821091

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