Geoscience Methods Lead to Paleo-anthropological Discoveries in Afar Rift, Ethiopia

Details Geoscience Methods Lead to Paleo-anthropological Discoveries in Afar Rift, Ethiopia Geoscience Methods Lead to Paleo-anthropological Discoveries in Afar Rift, Ethiopia

Jul 2004

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2004eostr..85..273w&link_type=abstract

EOS Transactions, AGU, Volume 85, Issue 29, p. 273-276

Physics

1

Geochemistry: Geochronology, Tectonophysics: Continental Tectonics-Extensional (0905), Volcanology: Ash Deposits

Scientific paper

With few exceptions, most of the hominid evolutionary record in Africa is closely associated with the East African Rift System. The exceptions are the South African and Chadian hominids collected from the southern and west-central parts of the continent, respectively. The Middle Awash region stands alone as the most prolific paleoanthropological area ever discovered (Figure 1). Its paleontological record has yielded over 13,000 vertebrate fossils, including several hominid taxa, ranging in age from 5.8 Ma to the present. The uniqueness of the Middle Awash hominid sites lies in their occurrence within long, > 6 Ma volcanic and sedimentary stratigraphic records. The Middle Awash region has yielded the longest hominid record yet available. The region is characterized by distinct geologic features related to a volcanic and tectonic transition zone between the continental Main Ethiopian and the proto-oceanic Afar Rifts. The rift floor is wider-200 km-than other parts of the East African Rift (Figure 1). Moreover, its Quaternary axial rift zone is wide and asymetrically located close to the western margin. The fossil assemblages and the lithostratigraphic records suggest that volcanic and tectonic activities within the broad rift floor and the adjacent rift margins were intense and episodic during the late Neogene rift evolution.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Geoscience Methods Lead to Paleo-anthropological Discoveries in Afar Rift, Ethiopia does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Geoscience Methods Lead to Paleo-anthropological Discoveries in Afar Rift, Ethiopia, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Geoscience Methods Lead to Paleo-anthropological Discoveries in Afar Rift, Ethiopia will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1009461