Geology of National Parks of Central/Southern Kenya and Northern Tanzania

This book describes the interrelationship between the spectacular geology of an area of East Africa that includes a branch of the rift valley, as well as giant freestanding ice-capped mountains and extraordinarily toxic, alkaline lakes, and some of the greatest concentrations of wildlife on Earth. It suggests that geological processes that have shaped the iconic landforms, including active volcanoes, may also be responsible for the unusually diverse speciation which characterises the region. Moreover, it is not a coincidence that important palaeoanthropological discoveries have been unearthed in the region. National parks and conservation areas have tremendous potential for geotourism and the book assists both tour guides and visitors in this regard. In addition, the book may provide a better understanding to management of the importance of geology for sustaining wildlife.

Roger Scoon was born in Bristol, England, and grew up in a rural village in north Somerset.  After obtaining bachelors (1976) and masters (1976) degrees in the Department of Mineral Exploitation at University College, Cardiff, he worked for three years as a mine geologist in Zambia.  A doctorate at Rhodes University, Grahamstown (1985) initiated a life-time passion for the platinum and chromite deposits of the Bushveld Complex, South Africa.  Apart from a short stint as a field geologist in Namibia, Roger spent the bulk of his career as an exploration geologist in the Bushveld Complex, including as a principal and director of Platexco Incorporated, a Toronto-listed junior explorer.  The successful Winnaarshoek project (Marula mine), where Roger was responsible for surface mapping, refurbishing and sampling old mine workings, running an extensive drilling program, and the bankable feasibility was purchased by Impala Platinum in 2001. Roger has published a number of scientific articles in local and international journals, mostly on the Bushveld Complex.  Visits to the national parks of East Africa over many years, including trekking on the giant volcanic cones led to an interest in the East Africa Rift System.  Short descriptions of geosites from localities around the world, including East Africa, published in the quarterly journal, The Geobulletin, since 2010 have led to a new interest as The Geotraveller.  Roger has led many geological field trips, most recent of which were to the Eastern Limb of the Bushveld Complex and National Parks of northern Tanzania for the 35th International Geological Congress (2016).  Roger is a Senior Researcher at Rhodes University and has acted as an external examiner for the Masters programme in Exploration Geology since 1988.  He is a Fellow of the Geological Society of South Africa (FGSSA), the Society of Economic Geologist (FSEG), and the GeologicalSociety of London (FGS). Other passions include skippering the family yacht, Makoma in the Eastern Mediterranean, as well as football, bridge, and wildlife photography.  Roger is a South African citizen and lives with his wife Amelia in the largely unspoilt Garden Route of the Western Cape.

 

Part I: Overview.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Geological Framework.- 3. The East African Rift System (EARS).- Part II: Regional Geology.- 4. Basement Complexes and Regional Plateaus.- 5. The Gregory Rift.- 6. Late Pleistocene Ice Ages and the Holocene Epoch.- Part III: Selected National Parks, Reserves, and Conservation Areas.- 7. Serengeti National Park.- 8. Mount Elgon National Park(s).- 9. Aberdare and Mount Kenya National Parks.- 10 Ngorongoro Conservation Area.- 11. Oldupai Gorge and Laetoli.- 12. Kilimanjaro National Park.- 13. Arusha National Park (Mount Meru).- 14. Amboseli, Chyulu Hills, and Tsavo West National Parks.- 15. Lakes Baringo, Bogoria, Nakuru, Manyara, and Eyasi.- 16. Lake Naivasha and Mount Longonot and Hell's Gate National Parks.- 17. Lake Natron and Oldoinyo Lengai.