Date of Award

5-7-2016

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Geosciences

First Advisor

W. Crawford Elliott

Second Advisor

Daniel M. Deocampo

Third Advisor

Robert B. Simmons

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to understand mineral diagenesis authigenic mineral and the effect of climate on mineral of Pleistocene-Holocene sediment deposits in the Southern Kenya Rift. Lake Magadi unique geologic settings are characterized by extreme alkalinity and high silica activities. The mineralogical analysis was achieved by X-Ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) applications. The bulk mineralogy (quartz, halite, calcite) is the same on all localities due to similar volcaniclastics compositions throughout the Kenya Rift Valley. The clay mineralogy significantly differ among the groups of sample localities. The differences reflect different tectonic settings and ambient climate regime. In humid climate at higher elevation detrital clay minerals are abundant (feldspars, phillipsite). At lower elevation like Lake Magadi, the clay fractions dominated by authigenic minerals (zeolites and silicate minerals found with zeolites). These results show the potential of clay minerals as terrestrial climate proxies.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.57709/8003223

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