Charles Kasanzu

• Ph.D
• Professor (Associate) at University of Dar es Salaam

This study investigates various hinterlands’ contribution of sediments into the sub-basin known as Ruvu that comprises Mindu, Kibungo, Mvuha and Mindu catchments of Morogoro, Eastern Tanzania. An integrated geochemical and isotopic data were used to constrain this. Strategic sampling of basement and silty-sized sediments was conducted and the data...

Lake Natron Basin (LNB) forms part of the eastern branch of the East African Rift System (EARS) in Tanzania. The basin is endowed with thermal springs flowing towards the lake from the western, northwestern, southwestern and eastern parts. The western, northwestern and south-western thermal springs emanate from fractures in the basaltic rocks while...

Springs on the eastern and western shores of Lake Natron Basin (LNB), located within the eastern branch of the East Africa Rift System (EARS) in Northern Tanzania had a discharge temperature that ranged between 34.0 °C and 51.2 °C, while the pH varied from 8.0 to 10.7. The electrical conductivity (EC) ranged between 5,007 µS/cm and 49,200 µS/cm. Co...

Volatiles, such as carbon and noble gases, are continuously degassed from Earth's mantle and crust to Earth's surface in continental rifting systems. Here, we present He-Ne-Ar abundances and isotopes as well as major gas chemistry (CO2, He, Ar and CH4) data for (n = 13) naturally-degassing seeps in the Rungwe Volcanic Province (RVP) of the East Afr...

Volatile elements are concentrated at Earth's surface, forming a rich atmosphere and oceans which enabled the eventual emergence of life. However, volatiles are also abundant in solid Earth reservoirs, such as the crust and mantle, and these reservoirs play a key role in moderating volatile movement throughout the planet. Continental cratons repres...

We report detrital zircon U–Pb ages, radiogenic Sm–Nd isotopic compositions, major and trace element compositions of the intra-plate extensional rhomb-shaped Neoproterozoic Malagarasi Supergroup of north-western Tanzania in order to elucidate the paleo-tectonic setting, source rocks chemistry and paleo-oxygenation in the basin. Assuming that proven...

A quantitative micropaleontological analysis was performed on outcrop and core samples across a shallow borehole drilled in the southern coastal basin of Tanzania with the aim of characterizing foraminifera and palynomorphs assemblage changes aiming at reconstructing paleoenvironmental settings across the Eocene-Oligocene transition (EOT). The data...

Shales and siltstone samples from the Ikorongo Group of north-eastern Tanzania yield TDM ages of between 2049 Ma and 2597 Ma and ɛNd(0) ranging from ca. ~28.3 to ~17.3. These ages are interpreted as representing the mean mantle extraction ages of the protolith of the Ikorongo rocks. The data are consistent with most of the detritus being derived fr...

We present major and trace and Nd-isotopic data of the ∼1.67 Ga Buanji Group of south-western Tanzania in order to constrain the nature of their protolith and the intensity of chemical weathering in the source terranes and make inferences on the nature of climatic conditions during the late Paleoproterozoic in the region.. Major and trace element c...

Borehole and surface samples from the Archean Tanzania Craton were analysed for apatite fission track (AFT) and (U-Th)/He data with the aim of deciphering cooling histories of the basement rocks. Fission track dates from borehole and outcrop samples are Carboniferous–Permian (345 ± 33.3 Ma to 271 ± 31.7 Ma) whereas (U-Th)/He dates are Carboniferous...

The most iconic stratigraphic sequences of West Gondwana are those of the Cape-Karoo Basin of southern Africa. But time-equivalent, extensive, and thick basin sequences are also preserved in the less well-known Congo Basin of central Africa, and the Paraná and Parnaíba Basins of south-east and north-central South America. Here, we review sedimentol...

The most iconic stratigraphic sequences of West Gondwana are those of the Cape-Karoo Basin of southern Africa. But time-equivalent, extensive, and thick basin sequences are also preserved in the less well-known Congo Basin of central Africa, and the Paraná and Parnaíba Basins of south-east and north-central South America. Here, we review sedimentol...

Apatite fission track (AFT) and (U-Th)/He (AHe) thermochronometry data are reported and used to unravel the exhumation history of crystalline basement rocks from the elevated (>1000 m a.s.l.), but low relief Tanzanian Craton. Coeval episodes of sedimentation documented within adjacent Paleozoic to Mesozoic basins of southern Tanzania and the Congo...

Major and trace elements and Sr isotopic compositions were analysed for samples from the Pliocene-Pleistocene to Recent Olduvai and Laetoli basins of northern Tanzania with the aim of constraining their provenance and paleo-climatic conditions. The Olduvai samples are characterized by La/Cr ratios of 0.69–3.73, Th/Sc = 1.12–24.6 and 87/Sr/86Sr = 0....

Apatite (U-Th)/he thermochronometry is one of the most widely used methods of quantifying thermal histories of rocks within the vicinity of the surface. Theoretical and practical development carried out during the last decade, among which was the release of affordable LASERs, have led to standard practiceof analyzing single grain rather than multig...

On the northern side of the Ikorongo basin, the Neoproterozoic Ikorongo Group, comprising arenites, arkosic arenites, shales and siltstones, unconformably overlies the Archaean Nyanzian Supergroup of the Tanzania craton. In the study area, the Ikorongo Group is subdivided into three stratigraphic formations namely the Kinenge, Sumuji and Masati For...

The Atlas of gold deposits in Tanzania reviews the geology of significant gold deposits in Tanzania taking into account the new information collected from the exploration and mining companies and research work done in the gold producing regions. The emphasis is placed on the nature and composition of the ore and the geological setting of each of th...

The Neoproterozoic Ikorongo Group, which lies unconformably on the late Archaean Nyanzian Supergroup of the Tanzania Craton, is comprised of conglomerates, quartzites, shales, siltstones, red sandstones with rare flagstones and gritstones and is regionally subdivided into four litho-stratigraphic units namely the Makobo, Kinenge, Sumuji and Masati...