The Glasgow University Tanzania expedition: the volcanology, tectonics and carbonatites of the East African Rift (lecture)

Dr David Brown, Dr Daniel Koehn and students, University of Glasgow

The Glasgow University Tanzania Expedition comprised a team of Earth Science students and staff, together with students and staff from Dodoma University in Tanzania. In June 2015, this group visited the East African Rift System (EARS) in northern Tanzania to investigate its spectacular geology. The purpose of the expedition was to teach both Glasgow and Dodoma students and local Masai people about the unique volcanology and tectonics of the area, and to promote future interaction between the two universities. We focused on the geology of Embalulu Sekenge, a tuff ring that interacts with lavas and faults of the EARS, and visited the highly unusual carbonatite volcano, Ol Doinyo Lengai, where we witnessed an eruption. We will outline the inception and planning of the expedition, report on our spectacular geological findings, and summarise the challenges and life-changing experiences we encountered.