MAMBI VILLAGE.
Our first site to visit was Mambi village, located at 0589083E/9028029N with elevation of 1191m
elevation where we observed volcanic materials. Materials we observed were lapill tuff and, ashes which
are result of violent eruption of the Rungwe mountains. These are pyroclastic material resulted from
violent volcanic eruption, they are very fine and grayish in colour. They have both sedimentary and
igneous characteristic on how they are deposited it is what we call sedimentary characteristic and on how
eruption occurs is what we describe them as igneous characteristic. The material are white colored which
are acidic in composition and their size varies from fine to medium.
Also there is evidence of a fault cutting across running N-S, displacement of pyroclastic layers and presence of
fault gorges which appear as crushed or powdered rock fragments justify the fault presence.
Figure pyroclastic material at MAMBI
KONGOLO QUARY
Then the next stop was Kongolo quarry with coordinates 0587570E, 9029819N and elevation 1147m .
The quarry is under Tanzania Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA).This open pit was started 1975 and
the purpose was for TAZARA railway construction. We observed extrusive igneous rocks called
Phonolite greyish in color which is intermediate in composition with mineralogical composition of
nepheline, anorthites, biotite mica which is high temperature minerals that are very stable. Texture of
Phonolite is ranging from fine to coarse grained. Phonolite its hardness is interesting that gives the
metallic sound. The main activities at the quarry are drilling and blasting in patterns and benches. Also
there a processing plant in which classification of material that is size separation through screening to
obtain different sizes this includes ballast for railway construction, aggregates for construction, chipping
for road construction and dust for blocks.
Figure Kongoro Quarry
UMROMBO RIVER.
This river is located at Shamwengo with coordinates 05748646E, 9034094N and the elevation 1280m. Here
we observed a rock which was dark coloured , with vesicles which are filled with secondary minerals.
Mineralogy of the rock were plagioclase, pyroxene and olivine. The rock type was extrusive igneous rock and
the rock name Olivine-Basalt. Also pillow basalt were observed which are the result of fast cooling of magma
by the river water also pyroclastic material were present.
Figure Olivine basalt at Umrombo river
TAZAMA PIPELINE PUMPING STATION.
At the location 0573352E, 9023883N Elevation 1402m, we observed vesicular basalts which
was black in color, fine-grained, which was characterized rock with large vesicles compared
with olivine-basalt and composed of olivine, pyroxene, amphibole. The vesicles in basalt are
formed when there is drop in pressure as basaltic magma rich in gases such as carbon dioxide
CO2 Sulphur dioxide SO2 and water vapor rich onto the surface and eventually as it starts to
cool the gases within the magma trying to escape leaving the rock with empty larger vesicles
hence the name vesicular basalt.
Figure Vesicular basalt at TAZAMA pipeline pumping station.
MLIMA NYOKA.
We also visited Mlima Nyoka located at 0564630E, 9016837N and altitude of 1781m, where we
observed volcanic material named lapilli tuff and the eruption of pyroclastic material in which the
way how they were deposited signifies three different periods of violent eruption. The outcrop is
very wide approximately 30m and height of 50m forming the mountain, an outcrop is subsidized and
well exposed due to road cut. These rocks are very fine grained with aphanatic texture, light-grayish
in color and mostly composed of quartz, feldspar and calcite. They were formed from a felsic
magma
Figure Ash tuff at Mlima Nyoka
.
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SONGWE BASIN.
At the location 0523612E, 9012089N Elevation 1201m, we observed red beds of
sedimentary rock which was well exposed feature. The sediment were deposited by river
process. There are some sedimentary structures associated are laminations, graded bedding
cross beddings. The red beds are red in color with coarse to fine grains sediments which are
well sorted, composed richly in k-feldspar, quartz sediments clay -sized particles and clay
minerals such as illite, [Link] bedding indicate the energy of the river was
increasing.
Figure Red Beds at Songwe basin
SONGWE RIVER.
At the UTM coordinates 0513692E, 9013072N Elevation 1177m, a folded sedimentary
layers and faulted feature with red beds associated with various sedimentary structures. The
layers are also associated with unconformity which was a result of river process which
deposited material of igneous origin on top of sedimentary layer. Other sedimentary
structures include cross-beddings and mud balls. There is also indication that the layer were
firstly folded and then later on they were faulted since the rock is semi ductile. So there is a
major fault line that indicate the displacement of the layer from their origin and there is a
minor fault which disappear within the layers this indicate there is a normal fault. Mineralogy
of the rock was found containing clay minerals, feldspar and the rock name is sandstone.
Figure Folded and faulted red beds at Songwe river.
The fault is of very of important in oil and gas exploration since they facilitate upward migration of
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hydrocarbons. The sandstone also have high effective porosity which offers storage for water and oil.
SHEARING ZONE AT SENJERE VILLAGE.
Senjere located at the UTM 0518110E,9012224N, Elevation 1450m. At Shearing zone was
observed that the two forces move in opposite direction. The shearing can be caused by
faulting and folding acting upon ductile rocks. The dynamic metamorphisim along the fault
observed is what caused the mylonite which is a result of dynamic recrystalization
metamorphism through directed shear forces deep in the crust. The ductile shear zone is
where the the mylonites develop. The mylonites are foliated metamorphic rocks hence
minerals are arranged and they have very fined grained
Figure Shearing structure at senjere village
MAJIMOTO
Also, at the place observed a non-clastic fine grained sedimentary rock, formed as a result of precipitation
of calcium carbonate on hot water such. The calcium carbonate minerals originates from exchange of
carbondioxide between atmosphere and ground water. The water within the surface is heated with the
magma in the magma chamber and later on the calcium carbonate from the rocks within the crust and
from the atmosphere is precipitated by the hot water forming travertine. The travertine is mainly
composed of calcium carbonate (CaCO3).
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Figure Travetine at majimoto.
The economic of importance of this rock is that it is used to make slabs and also it can be used as building
material in construction as sometimes as ornament
SIMAMBWE.
At the UTM coordinates 0568021E, 9066821N and elevation 2264m, we observed an
outcrop of a extrusive igneous rock white- grey in color, fine grained and aphanitic texture
with felsic composition of minerals mainly calcium plagioclase. Trachyte is usually formed a
result of rapid cooling of lava rich in silica and alkali metals that is from rhyolitic magma.
Crystal arrangement it is the one which makes it to appear shinning when subjected to ultra
violet radiation
Figure Trachyte Outcrop at Simambwe.
The economic importance of trachyte is that it can be used as decorative building stone as how they
were used by the Romans building their empire, this is due to its shinning property.
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KIWIRA COAL MINE.
The SONGWE- KIWIRA COAL MINE is a coal mine project wiyhin ridge of
Songwe-Kiwira which is situated South East of Mbeya within ileje district. The
coal at Kiwira was found in early 1896 by Germans after earlier explorations and
previous mining activities at the area. Later in the 1970’s the Chinese did a detailed
exploration at kiwira and ilivogo hill and expanded the mining sites into 3 sites
Kiwira, Ilima and kabulo. The kiwira coal project is under STAMICO which is
owned by the government of Tanzania. The produced coal mainly is sold for
industrial uses. The project target production is 1.5 million tonnes of coal ;per
annum. The kiwira coal is found in karoo sediments. There is also two major karoo
fossil the upper fossil with 10m-15m thickness and the lower fossil of 20m-25m
thickness. The coal is found in karoo two of conglomerate. Coal is a black
sedimentary rock mainly formed from burial of remains of plants, usually formed
in low-lying areas called basins where in situ remains of plants are buried by the
deposited sediments. The types of coal are distinguished by considering the volatile
content. The kiwira coal falls into subbituminous with ash average 20%-35%,
moisture of 2%-5%, volataile material 21% - 25%, calorific value of 5000 to 5500
Btu/Ib and sulphur composition less than 1% which makes it the coal suitable for
machine uses without causing corrosion on them. This coal was formed in Permian.
Also there is a processing plant in which the coal processing takes place there are
several activities within the plant that include crushing using jaw crusher and size
separation using sieves and even sorting which are carried out by several operators
using hands.
Figure 29 Kiwira Coal Mine.
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THE EXCURSION REPORT
This excursion report aims at reporting trip we went during our time at Chimala. The document
aims at showing the experiene and what I learned during one week period of excurssion.
THE OBJECTIVE OF THE REPORT
1. Identification of Geological features: To observe and document specific geological
formations and structure in trhe field.
2. Sample collection: To gather varios types of rocks and sample for analysis.
3. Understand Geological Process: To study and interpret geologicakl process that have
operated and shapped the landsape over time.
4. Field Skills Development: To enhance practical skills like profile drawing and use of
geological equipment like GPS, Compass and others.