Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous sedimentation in the Mandawa Basin, coastal Tanzania

This paper concerns the sedimentary successions deposited in Mandawa Basin after separation of East and West Gondwana during subsequent southwards drift Madagascar Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous times. The aim this study was provide more specific details on sedimentation report mineralogical petrographical characteristics less well documented successions, namely Kipatimu, Mitole Nalwehe formations, central northern parts Basin. depositional environments are reviewed, based sedimentological, results presented here, supplemented by previously published work. setting mainly reflects a shallow, tidally influenced, mixed carbonate-silisiclastic coastal ramp. succession displays cyclical best described as series transgressive-regressive sequences with limestones overlain siliciclastics. During transgressions microbial activity high rates low, resulting micro-oncoid deposition late Kimmeridgian – early Tithonian (Mitole Limestone Member), oncoids stromatolites (Nalwehe Member). regressive phases siliciclastic marginal marine sediments were over limestones. sandstones unfossiliferous display evidence being tide-dominated, environment.