“…Overlying the Red Beds are glauconitic sandstones and arenaceous limestones of the Maputo Formation which defines a transition to marine conditions during the Neocomian (Salman and Abdula 1995). Through the remainder of the Cretaceous a variety of rock types occur which represent marine, continental and transitional environments, suggesting tectonic activity caused differential uplift (Förster 1975; Salazar et al 2013). 3 Simplified geological map of southern Mozambique (adapted from data in Hartzer et al 2008)…”
Extensive grassroots exploration along the southern coast of Mozambique has resulted in the discovery of significant titanium heavy mineral (HM) sand mineralisation and subsequent definition of the large Mutamba deposit, within the Jangamo and Inharrime districts of Inhambane Province. As part of the economic assessment a geological model of the deposit was developed and this has contributed to a better understanding of Quaternary coastal evolution within the area of the Inhambane Peninsula. The correlation of geomorphological and geological characteristics of the deposit area, which included analysis and interpretation of satellite and air photo imagery, field observations, drill sample observations (reverse-circulation, hand-auger, sonic and vibracore) of sand texture and laboratory analyses for total HM and slime content, has resulted in identification of a stratigraphic sequence of mixed marine-continental origin deposited in a marginal-marine environment. Understanding the stratigraphy and geographic distribution of sediments that host the Mutamba deposit has been a critical element for the economic assessment of the deposit and will be fundamental for any future mineral sand exploration in the region.
“…Overlying the Red Beds are glauconitic sandstones and arenaceous limestones of the Maputo Formation which defines a transition to marine conditions during the Neocomian (Salman and Abdula 1995). Through the remainder of the Cretaceous a variety of rock types occur which represent marine, continental and transitional environments, suggesting tectonic activity caused differential uplift (Förster 1975; Salazar et al 2013). 3 Simplified geological map of southern Mozambique (adapted from data in Hartzer et al 2008)…”
Extensive grassroots exploration along the southern coast of Mozambique has resulted in the discovery of significant titanium heavy mineral (HM) sand mineralisation and subsequent definition of the large Mutamba deposit, within the Jangamo and Inharrime districts of Inhambane Province. As part of the economic assessment a geological model of the deposit was developed and this has contributed to a better understanding of Quaternary coastal evolution within the area of the Inhambane Peninsula. The correlation of geomorphological and geological characteristics of the deposit area, which included analysis and interpretation of satellite and air photo imagery, field observations, drill sample observations (reverse-circulation, hand-auger, sonic and vibracore) of sand texture and laboratory analyses for total HM and slime content, has resulted in identification of a stratigraphic sequence of mixed marine-continental origin deposited in a marginal-marine environment. Understanding the stratigraphy and geographic distribution of sediments that host the Mutamba deposit has been a critical element for the economic assessment of the deposit and will be fundamental for any future mineral sand exploration in the region.
The principal basins at the Mozambique continental margin are the Mozambique and Rovuma basins, on the passive continental margin with complex tectonic history, following after East African rifting system in the Triassic. Although the first gas fields situated at south-east of Mozambique, at the coastal zone of the Indian Ocean, are appeared yet in 60-teen years of the last century, however only in 2010 with discoveries a number of large gas fields at the north-east of the country, in the deep water of the Indian Ocean, in the Rovuma basin, Mozambique found a new state – big hydrocarbon player in the World. More than 20 gas fields discovered at the last time are located in the deep water regions, on the continental slope of the Indian Ocean at different depths from 468 m till 2610 m. It is noteworthy that the pays of the same age the deeper they are buried under the water column, the greater their volume of hydrocarbon reserves. Similar tendency may help in case of targeted exploration for oil and gas. The prospects of liquid hydrocarbon discoveries are possible in the Madagascar channel behind the Davie upland and in deep water parts at the slopes of the Mozambique continental margin.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
