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Petrology, Geochemistry and Age of Satiman, Lemagurut and Oldeani: Sources of the Volcanic Deposits of the Laetoli Area

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Paleontology and Geology of Laetoli: Human Evolution in Context

Part of the book series: Vertebrate Paleobiology and Paleoanthropology Series ((VERT))

Abstract

We report on the petrochemistry and geochronology of lavas from Satiman, Lemagurut and Oldeani volcanoes, as well as from isolated Ogol flows. Comparisons of their age and mineral compositions are made with those of the Laetolil Beds to confirm the sources for these latter volcaniclastic deposits. A comparison with other volcanic centers in the region and an attempt to constrain the depth at which melting occurs is also made. Lava compositions vary between centers, with Satiman composed of foidite and phonolite. Lemagurut ranges from basalt through benmorite, whereas Oldeani is basalt and trachyandesite, and Ogol is basaltic. The Sr-Nd isotopes of these lavas are characterized by relative unradiogenic Nd (143Nd/144Nd =0.512056 – 0.512610), but with radiogenic Sr (87Sr/86Sr = 0.70371 – 0.70609), suggesting a source explained by mixing between high-μ and enriched mantle reservoirs. These isotope ratios, together with trace elements patterns and ratios (e.g., Tb/Yb), indicate melting in the lithospheric mantle consistent with other studies in the region. 40Ar/39Ar dating indicates an age range for Satiman of 4.63 ± 0.05 to 4.02 ± 0.02 Ma, Lemagurut and Ogol from 2.40 ± 0.01 to 2.22 ± 0.10 Ma and Oldeani from 1.61 ± 0.01 to 1.52 ± 0.02 Ma. The age of Satiman and its silica undersaturated composition make it the likely source of the > 4.3 – 3.5 Ma Laetolil Beds. The age and composition of Naibadad Beds that overlie the Laetoli Beds are consistent with the composition and revised ages of 2.28 ± 0.02 – 2.04 ± 0.01 Ma for Ngorongoro. The Olpiro Beds, which are fine-grained and of phonolitic composition, may correlate best with the more distal Olmoti Crater.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology and the Tanzania Antiquities Department for granting permission to conduct research at Laetoli, Olduvai, and Ngorongoro volcanic highlands. The Laetoli Project and Olduvai Landscape Paleoanthropology Project (OLAPP) provided field support. Terry Harrison and Gail Ashley provided plane tickets to the field, Robert Blumenschine and Fidelis Masao provided field gear, and Craig Feibel and Jerry Delaney provided support during data collection. Funding for this research was partly provided by the L.S.B. Leakey Foundation to Mollel, Sigma Xi, NSF (Harrison: BCS-0309513; Ashley: EAR 9903258; Swisher: BCS-0109027; Feibel: BCS-0218511) and the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Rutgers University. Comments on an earlier version of this manuscript by anonymous reviewers were of great value.

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  1. Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Rutgers University, 610 Taylor Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA

    Godwin F. Mollel, Carl C. Swisher III, Mark D. Feigenson & Michael J. Carr

  2. Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, B-14 Earth Sciences Building, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2E3, Canada

    Godwin F. Mollel

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  1. Center for the Study of Human Origins, Department of Anthropology, New York University, 25 Waverly Place, New York, NY, 10003, USA

    Terry Harrison

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Mollel, G.F., Swisher, C.C., Feigenson, M.D., Carr, M.J. (2011). Petrology, Geochemistry and Age of Satiman, Lemagurut and Oldeani: Sources of the Volcanic Deposits of the Laetoli Area. In: Harrison, T. (eds) Paleontology and Geology of Laetoli: Human Evolution in Context. Vertebrate Paleobiology and Paleoanthropology Series. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9956-3_5

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