Alkaline Rocks and Carbonatites of the World

Setup during HiTech AlkCarb: an online database of alkaline rock and carbonatite occurrences

Al Haruj Al Aswad

stripes

Occurrence number: 
097-00-005
Country: 
Libya
Location: 
Longitude: 17.45, Latitude: 27
Carbonatite: 
No

By far the most voluminous volcanic province in Libya, Al Haruj covers over 45,000 km2. The province is essentially basaltic with all rocks analysed so far (Almond, 1974; Busrewil and Wadsworth, 1980b) being nepheline normative. The average of 12 analyses given by Almond (1974) contains 12.4% normative nepheline, indicating that basanites are well represented and that modal nepheline is likely to be present. A detailed palaeomagnetic study was made by Ade-Hall (1974).

Age: 
K-Ar whole rock determinations on seven samples ranged from 6.0±0.2 to 0.41±0.2 Ma, but the rocks are probably in the age range 0.4-2.2 Ma (Ade-Hall, 1974).
References: 

ADE-HALL, J.M., REYNOLDS, P.H., DAGLEY, P., MUSSETT, A.E., HUBBARD, T.P. and KLITZSCH, E. 1974. Geophysical studies of North African Cenozoic volcanic areas: I. Haruj Assuad, Libya. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, 11: 998-1006.ALMOND, D.C. 1974. The composition of basaltic lavas from Bayuda, Sudan and their place in the Cainozoic volcanic history of north-east Africa. Bulletin Volcanologique, 38: 345-60.BUSREWIL, M.T. and WADSWORTH, W.J. 1980b. Preliminary chemical data on the volcanic rocks of Al Haruj area, central Libya. In M.J. Salem and M.T. Busrewil (eds) The geology of Libya, 3: 1077-80. Academic Press, London.

Location: 
Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith