Understanding the deep crustal structure of the Okavango basin, NW Botswana: Insights from magnetotellurics, gravity and earthquake seismic data.

Moidaki Moikwathai

University of Missouri-Rolla, Department of Geological Sciences and Engineering

Rolla, MO 65401

[email protected]

Okavango basin, situated within the nascent Okavango Rift Zone in Botswana represents a modern alluvial depositional environment in which sedimentary patterns may be controlled by tectonic structures at depth. The architecture of basins and the basin fill are strongly influenced by the displacement geometry on the bounding normal fault systems. An understanding of the geology of the area, the deep crustal structure, and identifying active faults and determining the depth extent of main faults is important for this study since rift basins are potential targets for mineral/petroleum exploration. This will also provide an understanding on how basement structures interact with shallow basin structures. Understanding of faults geometry is important since faults control the flow pattern water and are conduits for fluid flow. Earthquake data from seismic stations deployed in Okavango rift basin will be used for fault plane solutions and location of epicenters. A pilot study in the Okavango rift basin using Magnetotelluric methods and gravity survey across the rift zone will provide a two dimensional view of the crustal structure beneath the basin and hence zones of partial melts can be identified which can be a target of geothermal energy.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90060©2006 AAPG Foundation Grants-in-Aid