Geological Map and Stratigraphy of the Southern Main Ethiopian Rift

A new geological map details the northern sector of the Southern Main Ethiopian Rift, covering its evolution from approximately 45 million years ago to the present. Štěpán Dvořák created this resource, which includes a cross-section and documents multiple phases of rift evolution. The dataset was last updated in April 2026.

Use Cases

• Analyze the spatial distribution of lithological units like flood basalts, trachybasalts, and rhyolite-trachyte flows to model volcanic history.
• Study the temporal sequence of pre-rift, early-rift, and late-rift phases using the documented stratigraphic record.
• Correlate fault structures and volcanic features such as lava domes, cinder cones, and calderas with phases of extension.
• Interpret the cross-section to understand subsurface geometry and the relationship between faulting and magmatism.

Strengths

• Covers a long temporal range of approximately 45 million years of geological history.
• Includes a detailed geological map and an interpretive cross-section.

Limitations

• Dataset is relatively small at 56.0 MB, primarily containing document files rather than structured data tables.
• No structured columnar data or sample records are provided, limiting computational analysis.
• The specific geographic bounds and map scale are not detailed in the provided metadata.

Provenance

Source

Štěpán Dvořák via figshare.

Collection Method

Geological field mapping and stratigraphic analysis.

Time Range

ca. 45 Ma to the present (Holocene).

Freshness

Last updated in April 2026.

Geography

Northern sector of the Southern Main Ethiopian Rift, East African Rift System.