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Geology of Mayotte
Zircon 2:
As part of the Comoros island chain in the [[Mozambique Channel]], the geology of Mayotte is virtually the same as the [[geology of the Comoros]], the rest of the island chain which is independent of France. The island resulted from the rifting of Madagascar away from Africa as well as "hotspot" [[mantle plume]] activity and is also impacted by seismicity and deformation associated with the [[East African Rift]]. However, because Mayotte is a part of France its geology is significantly more researched than that of other islands in the chain.
==Stratigraphy & Tectonics==
As with other islands in the Comoros chain, Mayotte's location in the Mozambique Channel is tectonically complex, due to the displacement of the [[Malagasarian microcontinent]] from the margin of the supercontinent [[Gondwana]]. <ref></ref>
===Mesozoic===
From the [[Permian]] until the [[Early Jurassic]], the Comoros region experienced Karoo rifting, on an northeast-southwest trend. During the [[Middle Jurassic]] and [[Early Cretaceous]], an ocean basin, running north-south formed along the Davie Ridge.
===Cenozoic===
The volcanoes in the Comoros date to the recent past of the [[Pliocene]], [[Pleistocene]] and [[Holocene]] period.
The oldest volcano on the chain is 7.7 million years old, on [[Mayotte]]. Volcanoes are older further east. [[Anjouan]] is 3.9 million years old and [[Moheli]] is five million years old. [[Grande Comore]] is the youngest at only 10,000 years old. Some geologists have proposed that the Comoros is an example of one of 11 primary mantle plumes worldwide. <ref></ref>
The East African Rift System became active 22 to 25 million years ago in the [[Miocene]] and its offshore extent is the youngest. The rift system causes seismicity, extensional deformation and created the offshore [[Kerimbas Graben]].
==Natural hazards==
From 2002 to 2006, the French Geological Survey conducted an extensive natural hazards survey throughout the 17 districts of Mayotte and published a hazard zonation map. Some parts of the island face threats from storm surges and landslides and areas with weathered volcanic rock face heightened risk from seismic activity. <ref></ref>
==Hydrogeology==
Groundwater on Mayotte is sourced from several aquifers in the fractured basalt. The island's aquifer is one of the best studied basalt aquifers other than Hawaii and the Canary Islands. The perched aquifers are separated by units of rock that act as aquitards and aquicludes, slowing or nearly stopping the flow of water. <ref></ref>
==Natural resources==
There is very little mining in Mayotte, aside from the production of building material. In some cases, coral is mined to produce lime for concrete.
==References==
[[Category:Geology of Mayotte| ]]
[[Category:Geology by country|Mayotte]]
==Stratigraphy & Tectonics==
As with other islands in the Comoros chain, Mayotte's location in the Mozambique Channel is tectonically complex, due to the displacement of the [[Malagasarian microcontinent]] from the margin of the supercontinent [[Gondwana]]. <ref></ref>
===Mesozoic===
From the [[Permian]] until the [[Early Jurassic]], the Comoros region experienced Karoo rifting, on an northeast-southwest trend. During the [[Middle Jurassic]] and [[Early Cretaceous]], an ocean basin, running north-south formed along the Davie Ridge.
===Cenozoic===
The volcanoes in the Comoros date to the recent past of the [[Pliocene]], [[Pleistocene]] and [[Holocene]] period.
The oldest volcano on the chain is 7.7 million years old, on [[Mayotte]]. Volcanoes are older further east. [[Anjouan]] is 3.9 million years old and [[Moheli]] is five million years old. [[Grande Comore]] is the youngest at only 10,000 years old. Some geologists have proposed that the Comoros is an example of one of 11 primary mantle plumes worldwide. <ref></ref>
The East African Rift System became active 22 to 25 million years ago in the [[Miocene]] and its offshore extent is the youngest. The rift system causes seismicity, extensional deformation and created the offshore [[Kerimbas Graben]].
==Natural hazards==
From 2002 to 2006, the French Geological Survey conducted an extensive natural hazards survey throughout the 17 districts of Mayotte and published a hazard zonation map. Some parts of the island face threats from storm surges and landslides and areas with weathered volcanic rock face heightened risk from seismic activity. <ref></ref>
==Hydrogeology==
Groundwater on Mayotte is sourced from several aquifers in the fractured basalt. The island's aquifer is one of the best studied basalt aquifers other than Hawaii and the Canary Islands. The perched aquifers are separated by units of rock that act as aquitards and aquicludes, slowing or nearly stopping the flow of water. <ref></ref>
==Natural resources==
There is very little mining in Mayotte, aside from the production of building material. In some cases, coral is mined to produce lime for concrete.
==References==
[[Category:Geology of Mayotte| ]]
[[Category:Geology by country|Mayotte]]
June 02, 2018 at 01:32PM
