RP-Department of Physics

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Gravity Survey of Lake Magadi Area
(Faculty of Science Kenyatta University, 2005) Githiri, l. G.; Waithaka, J. W.; Okumu, J; Stangl, R. L.
A gravity survey was conducted in the area surrounding Lake Magadi to investigate presence of any geological bodies related to high heat [low in the area. Gravity stations were established by filling up the unsurveyed sectors in a previous Leicester gravity study, Gravity data collected in the area was subjected to necessary corrections and a Bouguer anomaly map drawn. The Bouguer gravity values were found to range from -1800 to -1680 gu with the maximum peak occurring at the NNE part of the project area. Forward modeling along selected profiles p-q, mn, c-d and h-g was done. Depths to the top of bodies pq, mn, cd and hg were found to be 0.2- 0.7, 0.15, 0.5, and 0.04 km, while depths to the bottom' were modeled as 4.0, 6.0, 4.0 and 3.6 km, respectively. The bodies have density contrasts ranging from 280-340 kg/m3 and were modeled all dike like structures elongated in N-S and NNW-SSE directions. This direction is nearly the characteristic trend of tectonic structures in the rift valley. A model where the dikes originate from a shallow magma chamber is proposed.