Abstract
The Afar depression results from the separation of the Arabian and Nubian plates, with generation of new oceanic crust. Volcano-tectonic spreading axes form part of broad uplifted structures. The Gulf of Aden and Red Sea rifts constitute one and the same tectonic megastructure; but the distinct characteristics of the East African rift system suggest that it does not pertain to the megastructure.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Relevant articles
Open Access articles citing this article.
-
Geoheritage and Resilience of Dallol and the Northern Danakil Depression in Ethiopia
Geoheritage Open Access 26 September 2020
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Rent or buy this article
Prices vary by article type
from$1.95
to$39.95
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
McKenzie, D. P., Davies, D., and Molnar, P., Nature, 226, 243 (1970).
Allan, T. D., Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc., A, 267, 153 (1970).
Laughton, A. S., Whitmarsh, R. B., and Jones, M. T., Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc., A, 267, 227 (1970).
Freund, R., Nature, 228, 453 (1970).
Mohr, P. A., J. Geophys. Res., 75, 7340 (1970); Nature, 228, 547 (1970).
Tazieff, H., Bull. Soc. Géol. France, 10, 468 (1968).
Gibson, I. L., and Tazieff, H., Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc., A, 267, 331 (1970).
Tazieff, H., CR Acad. Sci., 268, 2030 (1969).
Barberi, F., and Varet, J., Bull. Volc., 34, 848 (1970).
Barberi, F., Borsi, S., Ferrara, G., Marinelli, G., and Varet, J., Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc., A, 267, 293 (1970).
Treuil, M., Varet, J., Billhot, M., and Barberi, F., Contr. Mineral. and Petrol., 30, 84 (1971).
Tazieff, H., CR Acad. Sci., 272, 1055 (1971).
Bonatti, E., and Tazieff, H., Science, 168, 1087 (1970).
Tazieff, H., Geol. Rundschau (in the press).
Stieltjes, L., BRGM Paris (1970).
Laughton, A. S., and Tramontini, C., Tectonophysics, 8, 359 (1969).
Roberts, D. G., and Whitmarsh, R. B., Earth Planetary Sci. Lett., 5, 253 (1969).
Peter, G., and DeWald, O. E., Geol. Soc. Amer. Bull., 80, 2313 (1969).
Azzaroli, A., and Fois, V., Proceedings Twenty-second Intern. Geol. Cong., 4, 293 (1964).
Girdler, R. W., Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc., A, 267, 359 (1970).
Burek, P. J., Trans. Amer. Geophys. Union, 51, 271 (1970).
Mohr, P. A., Nature, 218, 938 (1968); Baker, B. M., Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc., A, 267, 383 (1970).
Gouin, P., Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc., A, 267, 339 (1970).
Gass, I. G., Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc., A, 276, 369 (1970).
Geological Map of Danakil Depression, 1/500,000, CNRS–CNR, 1 (1971).
Mohr, P. A., Bull. Geophys. Observ. Addis Ababa, 12, 1 (1969).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
TAZIEFF, H., VARET, J., BARBERI, F. et al. Tectonic Significance of the Afar (or Danakil) Depression. Nature 235, 144–147 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1038/235144a0
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/235144a0
This article is cited by
-
Geoheritage and Resilience of Dallol and the Northern Danakil Depression in Ethiopia
Geoheritage (2020)
-
Large magnitude silicic volcanism in north Afar: the Nabro Volcanic Range and Ma?alalta volcano
Bulletin of Volcanology (2005)
-
A comparison of thermo- and skotodormancy in seeds of Lactuca serriola in terms of induction, alleviation, respiration, ethylene and protein synthesis
Plant Growth Regulation (1992)
-
Tectonics of an incipient oceanic rift
Marine Geophysical Researches (1988)
-
Geology and stratigraphy of Neogene deposits, Middle Awash Valley, Ethiopia
Nature (1982)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.