Meidob Volcanic Field

The alkaline Meidob volcanic field is a volcanic field at the northeast end of the Darfur volcanic province in western Sudan, adjacent to the Kutum volcanic field. It covers an area of 5,000 km² with nearly 700 late Cenozoic vents. The volcanic field was constructed over an uplifted Precambrian igneous and metamorphic basement and is elongated in an east-west direction. Basaltic scoria cones and associated lava flows dominate, but trachytic-phonolitic lava domes, tuff rings, and maars are among the youngest volcanic products. The lava from the scoria cones produced a broad lava plateau. The central part of the field consists of younger phonolitic lava flows, trachytic pumice-fall deposits, ignimbrites, and maars. The youngest dated eruptions about 5,000 years ago produced a tuff ring and a lava flow.

The Midob people, a Nubian ethnic group, inhabit the region.

See also

• List of volcanoes in Sudan

Further reading

• Franz et al. (1997). The alkaline Meidob volcanic field (Late Cenozoic, northwest Sudan). Journal of African Earth Sciences. 25:2 263-291.