The plio-pleistocene history of sedimentation in lake Baringo basin, Kenya - a drill core perspective
Abstract
Baringo Basin is a sedimentary basin located in the Central Rift Valley in Kenya. A 230m drill
core was recovered from the Tugen Hills site, location at 0°33'16.5"N 35°56'14.9"E at an
elevation of 1158m. This research is aimed at resolving the Plio-Pleistocene history of the
study area. It involved conducting magnetic susceptibility logging on the recovered core to
give a refined stratigraphy of the area and analysing coarse sediments petrographically to
ascertain the provenance. The stratigraphy is made up of alternating layers of silts, sands and
clays with few volcanics and diatomite layers. The coarse sediments are mostly weathered
quartz and feldspars with cementing material being volcanic ash and carbonates. The likely
source of these coarse sediments is volcanic rocks lying on the west of the study area. Tectonic
activity and changing climate enabled sediments to move eastwards to the study area were
paleolakes were also forming and drying up alternately.
Publisher
University of Nairobi