East African Rift

Commentary

While the EARB's prospectivity makes it highly attractive, regional and local politics are a headwind to attractive investors.

Updated

January 25, 2024

Location

Description

The EARB is a geologically complex region in east Africa. The rifts are commonly described as forming an “Eastern Branch” and a “Western Branch.” The East African Rift System ("EARS") developed in the late Oligocene in the Afar region of Ethiopia shortly after an Eocene–Oligocene flood basalt event in the Lake Turkana and South Lokichar Basin area in the Eastern Branch of EARS where extensional faults developed within the Precambrian craton. During the middle to late Miocene, rifts developed between Ethiopia and Mozambique in the Western Branch of the EARS within the Precambrian craton. As much as 5,000 meters of Oligocene-to-Holocene sedimentary rocks are present in the rift basins of the province.

Summary

While there have been numerous sizeable discoveries and developments recently, the EARB remains relatively under explored.