Integrated Geophysical Interpretation of Kerio Valley Basin Stratigraphy, Kenya Rift

Abstract This research work attempts to map out the stratigraphic sequence of the Kerio Valley Basin using magnetic, gravity and seismic data sets. Regional gravity data consisting of isotactic, free-air and Bouguer anomaly grids were obtained from the International Gravity Bureau (BGI). Magnetic data sets were sourced from the Earth Magnetic Anomaly grid (EMAG2). The seismic reflection data was acquired in 1989 using a vibrating source shot into inline geophones. Gravity Isostacy data shows low gravity anomalies that depict a deeper basement. Magnetic tilt and seismic profiles show sediment thickness of 2.5-3.5 Km above the basement. The Kerio Valley Basin towards the western side is underlain by a deeper basement which are overlain by succession of sandstones/shales and volcanoes. At the very top are the mid Miocene phonolites (Uasin Gishu) underlain by mid Miocene sandstones/shales (Tambach Formation). There are high gravity anomalies in the western and southern parts of the basin with the sedimentation being constrained by two normal faults. The Kerio Valley Basin is bounded to the west by the North-South easterly dipping fault system. Gravity data was significantly of help in delineating the basement, scanning the lithosphere and the upper mantle according to the relative densities. The basement rocks as well as the upper cover of volcanoes have distinctively higher densities than the infilled sedimentary sections within the basin. From the seismic profiles, the frequency of the shaley rocks and compact sandstones increases with depths. The western side of the basin is characterized by the absence of reflections and relatively higher frequency content. The termination of reflectors and the westward dip of reflectors represent a fault (Elgeyo fault). The reflectors dip towards the west, marking the basin as an asymmetrical syncline, indicating that the extension was towards the east. The basin floor is characterized by a nearly vertical fault which runs parallel to the Elgeyo fault. The seismic reflectors show marked discontinuities which may be due to lava flows. The deepest reflector shows deep sedimentation in the basin and is in reasonable agreement with basement depths delineated from potential methods (gravity and magnetic). Basement rocks are deeper at the top of the uplift footwall of the Elgeyo Escarpment. The sediments are likely of a thickness of about 800 M which is an interbed of sandstones and shales above the basement.