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Necking of the active Turkana Rift Zone and the priming of eastern Africa for continental breakup

Author

Listed:
  • Christian M. Rowan

    (Columbia University, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
    Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University)

  • Folarin Kolawole

    (Columbia University, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
    Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University)

  • Anne Bécel

    (Columbia University, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
    Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University)

  • Paul Betka

    (Geology Department of Western Washington University)

  • John Rowan

    (University of Cambridge, Department of Archaeology)

Abstract

Continental rifting initiates the transition to breakup when the crust is necked and deformation localizes at the rift axis. However, the slow crustal-stretching rates and >20-km deep mantle beneath many active rifts worldwide suggest that present-day breakup may not be imminent. High-resolution seismic data from the Turkana Rift Zone of the East African Rift System (EARS) reveal the rift’s subsurface structure. Here, we show that Turkana’s crystalline crust has thinned to ~13 km along the rift axis, revealing an active rift undergoing crustal necking. Onset of necking is constrained to ~4 Ma and facilitated the accumulation of Turkana’s world-famous fossil record of human evolution. Identification of necking in the EARS indicates that eastern Africa is primed for continental breakup.

Suggested Citation

  • Christian M. Rowan & Folarin Kolawole & Anne Bécel & Paul Betka & John Rowan, 2026. "Necking of the active Turkana Rift Zone and the priming of eastern Africa for continental breakup," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 17(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:17:y:2026:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-026-71663-x
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-71663-x
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sascha Brune & Simon E. Williams & Nathaniel P. Butterworth & R. Dietmar Müller, 2016. "Abrupt plate accelerations shape rifted continental margins," Nature, Nature, vol. 536(7615), pages 201-204, August.
    2. John B. Naliboff & Susanne J. H. Buiter & Gwenn Péron-Pinvidic & Per Terje Osmundsen & Joya Tetreault, 2017. "Complex fault interaction controls continental rifting," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-9, December.
    3. Luc L. Lavier & Gianreto Manatschal, 2006. "A mechanism to thin the continental lithosphere at magma-poor margins," Nature, Nature, vol. 440(7082), pages 324-328, March.
    4. Giacomo Corti & Raffaello Cioni & Zara Franceschini & Federico Sani & Stéphane Scaillet & Paola Molin & Ilaria Isola & Francesco Mazzarini & Sascha Brune & Derek Keir & Asfaw Erbello & Ameha Muluneh &, 2019. "Aborted propagation of the Ethiopian rift caused by linkage with the Kenyan rift," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-11, December.
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