Home Multi-Country Search About Admin Login

Search by
Select Region(s) to search
Hold Ctrl (Windows/Linux) or Command (Mac) to select multiple
Middle Karoo Formation

Middle Karoo Fm


Period: 
Permian

Age Interval: 
Early Permian (Sakmarian-Kungurian)


Province: 
Zimbabwe-Mozambique

Type Locality and Naming

Metangula Basin (Mozambique). Noted as a lithostratigraphic division within the Karoo-aged Metangula Basin, which straddles the border between Mozambique and Tanzania. In the provided stratigraphic columns, it is utilized as a broad formational or sequence descriptor (alongside the "Lower Karoo") for the deeper, older sediments in this specific graben. Lower formation in Ecca Gr in Metangula Basin (Mozambique)

Synonym:


Lithology and Thickness

Based on the regional stratigraphic cross-sections, the "Middle Karoo" of the Metangula Basin is a terrestrial sequence containing notable coal seams (indicated by solid black bands in the stratigraphic column) interbedded with mudstones and arenaceous (sandy) clastics.


Lithology Pattern: 
Siltstone


Relationships and Distribution

Lower contact

Conformably overlies the basal Lower Karoo Fm within the Metangula Basin

Upper contact

Conformably overlain by the Monte Lilonga Fm.

Regional extent

Geographically restricted to the Metangula Basin in northern Mozambique. Likely correlates with the Ecca Gr equivalents of the eastern African rift basins, given its stratigraphic position and lithological content.


GeoJSON

null

Fossils


Age 

Early Permian (Sakmarian-Kungurian)

Age Span: 

    Beginning stage: 
Sakmarian

    Fraction up in beginning stage: 
0.5

    Beginning date (Ma): 
292.02

    Ending stage: 
Kungurian

    Fraction up in the ending stage: 
1.0

    Ending date (Ma):  
274.37

Depositional setting

Intracratonic rift basin environments.


Depositional pattern:  


Additional Information


Compiler:  

From the O. Catuneanu et al. The Karoo basins of south-central Africa, Journal of African Earth Sciences 43 (2005) 211–253