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GEOLOGIC HISTORY Legend

Geology of the Nairobi Region, Kenya

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% %%
HOLOCENE: Sediments Pl-mv
Mt Margaret Pka
U. Kerichwa Tuffs

% % % %
Longonot (0.2 - 400 ka): trachyte stratovolcano and associated deposits. Materials exposed in this map

% % % %
section are comprised of the Longonot Ash Member (3.3 ka) and Lower Trachyte (5.6-3.3 ka). The L. Kerichwa Tuff

%
Pka'
Alluvial fan Pleistocene: Calabrian

% %
trachyte lavas were related to cone building, and the airfall tuffs were produced by summit crater formation

%
% % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % %% %% % % % %% % % %% %% %% % %% %% % % % %% %% % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % %

% %
(Clarke et al. 1990).

%%%%%%%%% %%%
Kedong Lake Sediments Pl-tb Tepesi Basalt
Pna
Narok Agglomerate
36.5 °E 37.0 °E
PLEISTOCENE: For area to North see: Geology of the Kijabe Area, KGS Report 67 Pnt
Nairobi Trachyte
Pl-kl
Lacustrine Sediments
%
Kedong Valley Tuff (20-40 ka): trachytic ignimbrites and associated fall deposits created by caldera
-1.0 °
1800
-1.0 ° Pleistocene: Gelasian

% % %% % % % % % % %% % % % % % % % % %% %% %% %% % % % % % % % % % % % % % %%
?

1800
formation at Longonot. There are at least 5 ignimbrite units, each with a red-brown weathered top. In

2400

0
Pkt Kiambu Trachyte

240
some regions the pyroclastic glass and pumice has been replaced by calcite (Clarke et al. 1990). Volcanics Pl-lv
Limuru Pantellerite
18 P-Kta-s
00 16 Pnp
Nairobi Phonolite
00 Pl-lt Limuru Trachyte

% %% % % % % %
Barajai Trachyte: (0.37-0.41 Ma) five aphyric trachyte flows distinguished from the Plateau Trachytes by Holocene

240
%%%%%%
Baker et. al (1988) based on element ratios; otherwise they are indistinguishable. May be earliest eruptive

0
Pl-kva 160
0
Pl-tt Tigoni Trachyte Miocene
products from Suswa. Mapped areas are tentative and based on written description of extent in Baker et. Lt-a 2000 Pl-ltv Longonot lower trachyte

%%%%%%
al (1988). Kedong %% %%% Pl-ket Pl-kat
Karura Trachyte
Mev Esayeti

2400
!
Longonot ashes

2400
Pl-lta
18
DDDDD

%%%%% %%%
Pl-kva 00
Githunguri
Mt. Margaret: welded and unwelded trachyte tuffs erupted from a small cone that rises 120m above the rift

%
DDDDD

%
Kandizi Phonolite
%
Mknp

%
%%%%%
!

%% % % %
Kabete Trachyte

%
Pl-ket
valley floor (Clarke et al. 1990). DDDDD

%
Pleistocene: Upper
%%%

% % % %%
DDDDD
Mva
Athi Tuffs

%%%%%
Ol Tepesi Basalts (1.4-1.65 Ma): alkaline basalts with sparse plagioclase and olivine phenocrysts (Baker
1600 Pl-ngv
Ngong Hills
! Pl-kvt Kedong Valley Tuff

2200 2200
DDDDD

%%%%
et al. 1977), distinguished by Baker and Mitchell (1976).

%%% 0
Mmt Mbagathi Trachyte
DDDDD

220
%%%% %%% % % % %%%

%%%%%%
Pliocene DDDDD
Pleistocene: Ionian

00
Limuru Trachyte (1.94 - 2.64 Ma): contains characteristically clustered groups of K-feldspar phenocrysts,

20
% % % % % %% % %%% % % % %
180 DDDDD
Mkp
Kapiti Phonolite

2200
0 P-Kta-s
tends to form bouldery outcrops, and grades upwards into pantellerite. These were erupted as a series of P-Kta-s Kinangop Tuff soils DDDDD
conformable flows with reverse polarity, that overtopped the escarpment in this area. A thickness of 400m
S1
Suswa shield trachytes

%%%%
DDDDD

%%%%
is exposed in the eastern rift escarpments (Baker et al. 1988). Limuru P-Kta Kinangop Tuff Metamorphics

%%%%
Barajai Trachyte,

%%%%%%%
! Pl-bt

%%%%
Pka
Tigoni Trachyte: very fine grained trachyte exposed in rivers and where it has been quarried for building Undifferentiated
% % %% %% %% %% %
X

%%%%

% % % % % % % %% %% %% %%
200
0
stone. Originally named the “Karura Quartz Trachyte”, Saggerson (1991) renamed the formation to avoid

%%%%
City Road-major

1800
faults-large
A' !

%%%%
confusion with the Karura Trachyte described below. 180
0
Town Road-minor
A faults-small !

% % % % % % % % % %% % % % %
Karura Trachyte: fine grained grey trachyte between the Tigoni and Kabete trachytes. Similar to the Pl-lt
Nairobi Trachyte but is stratigraphically higher and weathers to a spotted appearance (Saggerson 1991). ! Pl-lt
1800
Ruiru
! rivers ! Village Road-track
Pl-tt
rail

%%
Kabete/Ruiru Dam Trachyte: grey-green porphyritic trachyte that reaches 30m thick in boreholes. The 200m-contour
Ruiru Dam and Kabete trachytes are indistinguishable, though the Ruiru Dam trachyte may be thicker Kiambu

% %% % % %% %% %% %% %% %% % % %% %% %% % % %% % % % %
!
(approx. 60m). Saggerson (1991) suggested these trachytes were equivalent in age. STRUCTURE
The metamorphic rocks have been subjected to several stages of deformation (descriptions in Warden &
Ngong Hills (2.53-2.58 Ma): remnants of an old volcanic cone which had an estimated original diameter of Pkt Horkel 1984), but the recent rift volcanics are relatively undeformed. Many low magnitude tremors have been
11km prior to being cut by the rift boundary faults. Composed of basanite, tephrite, and some nephelinite, recorded, but the January 6, 1928 quake (Ms 6.9) near Lake Bogoria indicates the modern potential for large
Pnt
some lavas are noted by Saggerson (1991) to contain megascopic fragments of gneiss. Oldest associated Pl-kat earthquakes associated with the rift boundary faults (Zielke & Strecker 2009).
lavas are likely Miocene in age (see Kandizi Phonolite). 1800 Mva

PALEONTOLOGY

% % % % % % %% %
PLIOCENE Bones and plant remains were found in the sediments of the Kandizi river valley, as well as the teeth/tusks of
For area to West see: Geology of the Suswa Area, KGS Report 97. Digital version done by A. Guth

Kinangop & Kerichwa Valley Tuffs (3.34-3.70 Ma): trachytic tuffs that are often welded, and overlie the Hippopotamus gorgops. Handaxes have also been reported from the area around the Gicheru diatomite beds.

%%%%

For area to East see: Geology of the North Machakos - Thika Area, KGS Report 59
Pl-lt

%%%%
Nairobi Trachyte. Ages are from the Kinangop Tuff, with which the Kerichwa tuffs have been correlated Chert flakes and tools have also been found in Nairobi National Park (Saggerson 1991).

%% % % % % %
Pl-ket Mva

%%%%
Pl-kl
(Baker et al. 1988). Ages presented by Saggerson (1991) are considered too old due to presence of
% %
%% % % %
feldspars that formed before tuff eruption. Bleaching and clay alteration are common, likely representing ECONOMIC DEPOSITS

%%%%

20
weathering prior to the eruption of the Limuru Trachytes (Saggerson 1991). Kikuyu
Many of the volcanic rocks are quarried as building stones, especially the Kerichwa Valley Tuff which provides
%

00 000
%

0
%
!

%
Pka'

2000

200
%%%
2000
the "Nairobi Stone". Diatomite from the Munyu wa Gicheru lake deposits, 1.65-1.96 Ma (not shown, Trauth et

2
Narok Agglomerate: light brown agglomerate with numerous lithic clasts, including blocks of trachyte and al. 2007) and ferricrete are also excavated in this region.
Mva
phonolite. These occupy the same horizon as the Kerichiwa Valley Tuffs (Matheson 1966).
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% %%%
WATER RESOURCES
%

00
% %

2000
%%%

16
Nairobi Trachyte (3.17-3.45 Ma): greenish-grey trachyte, occasionally with tabular feldspar phenocrysts. A
%
The rivers draining the Kikuyu highlands are perennial, and a good aquifer exists between the Kerichwa Valley
%
200
1800

% %
1800

%%
number of thin flows reach a cumulative thickness of 90m. At a quarry in Nairobi this trachyte is separated

%% % % % % %
Tuffs and the underlying phonolite. However, the fluoride content tends to be high (Saggerson 1991).

0
from the Nairobi Phonolite by a thin tuff (Saggerson 1991). Nairobi
% %% %% % % %% %% %% % %% %% % % % %% % % % % % % %% %% % % %% % % %% %% %% %% % % % % % %% %%% %% %% %% %% % % % % % %% % % % %

! GEOTHERMAL PHENOMENA
Kiambu Trachyte: light grey trachyte with numerous feldspar phenocrysts. In some regions lava is 00 Elevated carbon dioxide soil gas and an active fumarole (89°C), are associated with Mt. Margaret. Silicified
16
vesicular with green chalcedony amygdules. Likely a single flow of limited extent, maximum thickness is 0
pyroclastic material suggests more vigorous geothermal activity in the past (Clarke et al. 1990).
160
%%%

46m, and it is overlain by the Nairobi Trachyte (Saggerson 1991). 1800

% % % % %% %% %% %% %% %% %% %% %% % % % % % % % % % % % % % %

Nairobi Phonolite (5.20 Ma): black to blue phonolite erupted as a number of flows. Upper flow sections are
vesicular, but amygdules are rare. Can be distinguished from the Kapiti phonolites by the lack of large 00
Pnt 18 Pnp
phenocrysts (Saggerson 1991).
1600

% % % % % % % %% % % 1800 Pka'
MIOCENE
Esayeti (5.64-5.85 Ma): volcanic center comprised of phonolite, tephrite and trachyte flows which partially
%
overlie early Ngong eruptives. Maximum elevation is 2085m, but the cone is highly eroded.
% % %

Ngong
% %

!
%

Pka'
%
1600

Kandizi Phonolite: black to dark blue with outcrops exhibiting spheroidal weathering. Flow structures
% %

Langata
%% %%

indicating an origin to the west, and comparable mineralogy, led Saggerson (1991) to suggest Ngong as a !
1600

source for this phonolite.

%
1600

Mknp
%

2000
% % % %

1600
%

Ongata Rongai
2200 %

Mbagathi Trachyte: grey-brown phonolitic trachytes with abundant, flow-oriented, feldspar laths of up to
%

00
% %

Pka'

16
!
% %

1cm. The formation is comprised of 2-3 flows with a minimum total thickness of 60m (Saggerson 1991).
% %
1400

% % % % % % %

Athi Tuffs: trachytic tuffs that are sometimes welded, with materials deposited both subaerially and in X
% %

Pl-ngv
%

Pka'
%

Pka'
%

lacustrine settings. Correlation and mapping of this formation has been noted to have difficulties, and Mknp
% % % %
0

more detailed field studies would be needed to discern the true extent of these tuffs (Saggerson 1991).
240
% % % %
1600

Mva
%

Kiserian
%%%%

% % %

!
%

Kapiti Phonolite (12.9-13.4 Ma): dark green to black groundmass. Large (<76 mm) white feldspar and
2000 %
%%%

%% %% % %% % % %% %% %% %% %% % % %% %% % % % % % %% % % % %

1600
Mmt
nepheline phenocrysts make this phonolite quite distinctive. These phonolites were erupted onto the
% %%%%

eroded, irregular, surface of the underlaying metamorphic rocks (Saggerson 1991). %%% X Mkp Athi River
Colored DEM with hillshade for the mapped region.
Elevation range from 1120 - 2430m (cyan - red). Reference map showing the source maps and their geographic coverage
%

!
%%

X
% %%%
%% % % % % % % %

BASEMENT SYSTEM: 00
20
2000
Exposures are described by Saggerson (1991) as highly weathered, layered schists and gneisses of X
0

various composition. The metamorphic rocks are thought to represent sediments that were altered during
180
%

%%%% Pna
%

the closure of the ancient Mozambique ocean (Nyamai et al. 2003). K-Ar dates on biotite place the cooling 2000
%% %%%

Mev X
and uplifting of these rocks in the Cambrian. Mev
% % % %% %% %% % % % % % %%% %% %

Mva
% %

Mev Mva
%

200
%

1800

1800 Mev
% %

Mkp

²
% %%%

% % %% % % % % % % % %% %

Mkp
120

20
18

Cross Section Legend

00
%%%

%% % %% % % % % %% % % % %% %% %% %% %% % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % %

Mva
00
0

-1.5 ° -1.5 °
%% % % % % % % % %

36.5 °E For area to South see: Geology of the Kajiado Area, KGS Report 70, Digital version done by A. Guth 37.0 °E
%% % % % % %

Pleistocene Neogene 0 5 10 20 30
Kilometers
%
% % %% %%

% % %

Lacustrine Sediments Nairobi Trachyte

% % % % % % %

Suswa U. Kerichwa Tuffs

%%%%
% % %% % % %% % % % % %

Magadi Trachyte L. Kerichwa Tuff

A A'
Geological Map of the
Diagrammatic cross section from A to A'. Vertical exaggeration = 2X
Limuru Trachyte Miocene
Tigoni Trachyte
Southern Kenya Rift
Athi Tuffs
Karura Trachyte Kinangop Tuff
contour interval 200m
Kabete Trachyte DDDD
DDDD Phonolites Location: Nairobi, Kenya
DDDD 36.5 E - 37.0 E, 1.0 S - 1.5 S A. Guth, J. Wood (2013)
Metamorphic
Above: Map showing featured quadrangle location (grey-square) as Coordinate System: Geographic WGS84 Michigan Technological University
well as major rift bounding faults and Lake Turkana. Undiff.

DIGITAL MAP AND CHART SERIES DMCH016

DOI: 10.1130/2014.DMCH016.S2
Published by The Geological Society of America, Inc., 3300 Penrose Place • P.O. Box 9140, Boulder, Colorado 80301-9140
© 2014 The Geological Society of America. All rights reserved.