GEOLOGY OF TANZANIA

THE COASTAL BASINS

Coastal basins
of Tanzania
includes the
whole Tanzania
coastal belt
from the
Kenyan border
(North) to the
Mozambiquan
border (South).
 EVOLUTION OF COASTAL BASIN
• Prior to the
Permian, East
Africa, India,
Madagascar and
Antarctica were
amalgamated
together as part of
one super
continent
Gondwana
• The Tanzania
coastal basin has
evolved mainly
through a three-
phase tectonic
regime.
 EVOLUTION OF COASTAL BASIN
• Evolution of coastal basin was
first initiated by Karoo rifting
phase during which resulted
into Extensional tectonic
activities led to the formation of
faults (started from late
Carboniferous, Permo-Triassic
to Early Jurassic)
• In Tanzania the faults
represented by the two major
trends NNE-SSW trend (Tanga
fault) and NNW-SSE (Lindi
fault),
• the two faults subdivide the
coastal basin into two sub
basins which are Selous-Ruvu-
Tanga rift sub basin (Tanga
fault is pre dominant) and
Ruvuma-Mandawa Sub basin
(Lindi Karoo Fault is
predominant)
 EVOLUTION OF COASTAL
TANZANIABASIN
This initial rifting
and extensional
phase associated
with the opening
up of the Somali
Basin (and Indian
Ocean) resulting
in deposition of
Karoo-equivalent
continental
sediments and
restricted marine
deposits.
 EVOLUTION OF COASTAL
TANZANIABASIN
 During these early stages of
the fragmentation of the
Gondwana there were only
periodical marine incursion
and differential uplifting,
such process lead to the
formation of restricted
depositions of marine
sediments as evidenced in the
Mandawa basin, where thick
sequence of evaporites and
shales of Triassic to Early
Jurassic
 As separation of the
continental plates increased,
more and more marine
waters transgressed into old
basins.
EVOLUTION OF COASTAL TANZANIABASIN
At this period oolitic limestone were formed to create the
carbonate platform along the shoreline and the area was
periodically under marine water.
 During Bajocian-Bathonian period the area was completely
under marine environment that was shallow enough to form
coral reefs and a stable continental shelf was formed
characterized by deposition of littoral coral reef and
coralliferous limestone with basal transgressive, detrital,,
conglomeratic
 Reactivation of the Tanga fault disturbed the stable continental
shelf such that the sediments were reworked, transported and
deposited as submarine fans at Msolwa (marls).
 EVOLUTION OF COASTAL
TANZANIABASIN
This was followed by
the north-south
strike slip movement
(rift and drifting
apart) as
Madagascar was
migrating
southwards relative
to Africa starting
from Mid-Jurassic;
leading to the
widespread marine
transgression along
the eastern Africa.
 EVOLUTION OF COASTAL
TANZANIABASIN

Madagascar attained its

current position during
Mid-Cretaceous.
 EVOLUTION OF COASTAL
TANZANIABASIN
The last phase that
account for the evolution
of the Western Indian
Ocean margin (Tanzania
Coastal Basin) as a
passive continental
margin from Mid-
Cretaceous to recent

This is accompanied with

a series of transgressive
and regressive phases,
resulting in deposition of
a series of clastic and
carbonate deposits
(Kajato 1982; Mpanda
1997; Kapilima 2003).
EVOLUTION OF COASTAL TANZANIABASIN

• Besides the three tectonic regimes relevant to the opening of

the Indian Ocean, an imprint of the East African Rift System
tectonic events is also evident within the Tanzanian coastal
basin.
• Deposition of sediments during the three phases of basin
development has resulted into a series of basins and
subbasins that host potential Petrolem systems.
 Summary of Geologic Evolution
Triassic: the Mandawa basin evolved following rifting of Gondwana.

The oldest Mbuo Formation sediments penetrated in all exploration wells in

Mandawa represent Triassic sediments deposited before the early marine
incursion
 Summary of Geologic Evolution
• Late Triassic to Early Jurassic: –the southern and central part of the Mandawa
basin subsided at a much higher rate than the adjacent areas
• the eastern part which includes Kiswere, Pande, Kizimbani and the Ruvuma
saddle, remained structurally high. To the east of Kiswere, Pande and
Kizimbani, the Indian Ocean was opening and intermittently the seawater
flooded over the palaeohighs to the central subsided basin
• at that time arid climate led to the deposition of thick evaporites of the
Nondwa Formation in the central basin
 Summary of Geologic Evolution
This led to the
widespread shallow
marine incursion to the
basin and deposition of
the Mtumbei Formation
(limestones, sandstones
and shales/clays) and
later the overlying
Mbaro Formation

during the Middle

Jurassic, the sea level
was rising at a higher
rate than uplift (or
higher rate of basinal
subsidence)
 Summary of Geologic Evolution
In the Late Jurassic to Early
Cretaceous, palaeocostline
stepped to the east

at the same time the basin

was subsiding at a higher rate
and was also receiving a lot of
clastics from palaeohighs
areas

This led to the deposition of

alluvial and fluvial deposits of
the prograding Mitole,
Tendaguru, Kipatimu and
Nalwehe sandstone
formations
 Summary of Geologic Evolution
From Aptian to
Paleogene, coastal
Mandawa was under
mid to outer shelf
marine environment and
was subsiding at
constant rate.

This led to the

deposition of the
Kihuluhulu Formations
and the overlying Kilwa
Group. From Neogene to
present the basin is
filled, minor
sedimentation is taking
place in the valleys and
flood
 SUMMARY OF STRATIGRAPHY
From top to bottom sediments in the Ruvuma- Mandawa basin are
subdivided into five stratigraphical groups ranging in age from Triassic to
Miocene:
 The Upper Triassic to Lower Triassic Pindiro group predominantly
composed of fluvial-deltaic sandstone with marine clays, evaporites and
carbonate reefs, at the base of the group we have basal conglomerate and
sandstone unconformable overlying a basement of Pre-Cambrian
metamorphic rocks (K-Ar cooling age 537Ma).
 The Mandawa group, mainly composed of fluvial- deltaic sandstone with
significant amounts of marine clays, bioclasts and carbonate reefs and
fossils of dinosaurs e.g sauropods ( Tendaguru formation)
 The Mavuji group composed of sandstone, carbonate reefs and marine
clays. There is an indication of some regressive phases with marine neritic
and continental facies: conglomerates, calcic sandstones & mudstones,
red and green shales of Aptian–middle Albian ages (750 m thick).
 The Kilwa group mainly composed of marine clays, accumulated on the
middle or outer shelf to upper continental slope often punctuated by thin
carbonate or silicclastic turbidities.
 The songosongo group predominantly composed of marine clays
overlain by Quaternary sandstone and carbonate reefs. Fine to medium
grained, cross-bedded porous sandstone of Neocomian age crops out
around Chalinze, which may be correlated to gas-bearing sandstone at
Songo Songo based on lithological similarities from borehole data.
 SUMMARY OF STRATIGRAPHY
• Early Jurassic transgressive phase: sea incursions into the hinterland producing
evaporitic sediments in the Mandawa-Ruvuma basin
• Middle Jurassic transgressive phase: shallow marine environment associated
formation of continental shelf. This transgressive phase resulted into the oolitic
limestones of Kidugalo Formation, coralliferous limestone of the Lugoba
Formation, which overlie the gneissic complexes; sandstones and marls of the
Msolwa Formation.
• Late Jurassic transgressive phase: Open and marine environment evidenced by the
presence of ammonites, brachiopods and molluscans.
• Lower to Middle Cretaceous regressive phase: is marked by formation of
continental red sandstones in the Mandawa-Ruvuma basin (Makonde beds),
Neocomian sandstones of Chalinze which are correlated with gas-bearing
Songosongo sandstones (Kipatimu Formation). This regressive phase ended with
formation of thick carbonate platform.
• Upper Cretaceous transgressive phase: this led to deepening of ocean resulting in
clays rich in planktonic foraminifea in Mandawa basin.
• Oligocene regressive phase
Composite lithostratigraphicGroups and a revised
Map
 MINERALIZATION AND ENERGY RESOURCES
 Sedimentary basins have been known to contain significant
quantities of hydrocarbons worldwide especially deep water
passive margins
 Until now gas is the only hydrocarbon resource that is in
production in Tanzania,
 Exploration is still ongoing in an effort of finding the oil
 Tanzania oil and gas exploration started in 1950s with a
number of different companies.
 The first hydrocarbon well was discovered in 1974 by AGIP
in Songo Songo island about 15km from Tanzania mainland
and 200km south Dar Es Salaam
 Songosongo first went into production in July 2004 up to date
and it remains the largest commercial gas producer in
Tanzania and East Africa at large together with Mnazi bay.
 The two fields are found in Kilwa district, Lindi region and
the reservoir is lower Cretaceous.
• The gas is used in various ways such as power generation
and cement production at Wazo hill cement industries
Mnazi bay is the
second discovery
in 1982 was in
Oligocene-
miocene strata
Currently Songo
songo and Mnazi
Bay are the only
active ones.
The songosongo is
directly connect
to pipeline with
a powerplant at
Dar es salaam
and 90% is used
in power
generation.
The other pipeline
connecting Mnazi
bay gas field with
Dar es salaam for
domestic market
 MINERALIZATION AND ENERGY RESOURCES

Along with the

pipeline,
Tanzania is
finalizing plans
to start a
Liquified
Natural Gas
(LNG) factory
in southern
part of
Tanzania town
of Lindi

An estimated
total of 57tcf
has been
discovered in
Tanzanian
coastal basins.
DEEP SEA
Oct 2010-0ct 2014 45.23 Tcf
made a total of 53.23 Tcf
 MINERALIZATION AND ENERGY RESOURCES

• Though no commercial oil

discoveries have been
reported, the fact that oil
seeps have been observed
at Wingayongo in Pwani,
Pemba, and Mnazi bay.
• These indicate presence of
matured source rocks
somewhere and potential
prospects.
• The sedimentary basins
are considered to be
onother uncover potential
reserves of oil in the
future.
• The Rift basins like Lake
Tanganyika, Lake Rukwa,
Wembere and Kilombero
are the other potential.
 MINERALIZATION AND ENERGY RESOURCES

Different minerals are found in

both inland and coastal
sedimentary basins of
Tanzania, these minerals
include:

1. Industrial minerals
• Kaolin
Kaolin which is suitable for
paper and rubber manufacture
is produced from Late Miocene
kaolinitic sandstones in Pugu
hills located some 30km West
of Dar Es Salaam.
 MINERALIZATION AND ENERGY RESOURCES

2. Limestone
- Is used for aggregates and cement. It is found at
Kunduchi, Wazo Hill, Kimbiji, Lindi, Mtwara and on
Islands.
-Limestone deposits has been exploited for use in the
cement industry at Tanga, Wazo Hill and Mbeya.
3. Gypsum
-Is found in Mtwara and Mandawa which is used in
cement industry.
4. Halite (salt)
-substantial deposits of rock salt near Mandawa and salt
produced by solar evaporation in Lake Tanganyka, Lake
Rukwa and from sea water.
 MINERALIZATION AND ENERGY RESOURCES

4. Halite (salt)
Substantial deposits of rock salt near Mandawa and
salt produced by solar evaporation in Lake Tanganyka,
Lake Rukwa and from sea water.
5. Heavy minerals
like Zircon, Garnet, Ilmenite Rutile etc, deposited in
rivers and beaches. However they are not in
significant quantities, therefore no exploitation of
heavy minerals is going on at the moment .
6. Placer Deposits
Placer Diamonds and placer gold future prospects in
the deep seas.