Volcaniclastic sedimentation in a closed, marginal rift basin: the case of the Melka Kunture area (upper Awash, Ethiopia)

A closed, marginal rift basin in the Melka Kunture area of Ethiopia's upper Awash region reveals complex interactions between volcanism and tectonics that shaped its sedimentary environment. The study identifies a 1.2 million-year-old pyroclastic density current deposit (Kella ignimbrite) as a key marker, followed by periods of eruptive stasis and tephra reworking, with sedimentation rates declining after 0.6 million years due to reduced volcanic activity. This dynamic sedimentary record preserves critical archaeological and palaeontological data, including lithic tools, animal remains, and hominin fossils, offering insights into the basin's palaeoenvironmental history. Stratigraphic correlation, based on basin evolution interpretation, provides a framework for reconstructing past environmental conditions and interpreting fossil evidence.

Pioli, L., Melis, R. T., & Mussi, M. (2023). Volcaniclastic sedimentation in a closed, marginal rift basin: the case of the Melka Kunture area (upper Awash, Ethiopia). Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 520(1), 377–391. https://doi.org/10.1144/sp520-2022-158