Structural expression of extreme rift-flank uplift

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This project combines interpretation of satellite images, detailed structural field mapping, kinematic analysis of faults, numerical modelling of fault patterns and fault growth, and dating of clay-rich fault gouge to answer the following questions: (1) Do fault kinematics change during rifting and if, are changes in fault kinematics important for extreme rift-flank uplift? (2) What is the age of different fault generations? (3) How can extreme uplift of a few rift blocks take place? Faults will be mapped using satellite images and areal photographs and key faults will be identified and structurally mapped in detail. It will be important to see whether or not various generations of faults exist and, if so, whether these different generations have different kinematics. If there are changes in fault kinematics (strike-, oblique vs dip-slip) in time, then the questions arises as to how these changes are related to the uplift of the Rwenzori Mountains. Dating of fault gouges will date possible changes in rift kinematics and age of faulting can be compared with data from low-temperature chronology to test whether or not kinematic changes coincided with uplift pulses. GPS measurements will constrain large-scale plate motions and can be used to define external boundary conditions. Fault patterns that develop in the numerical model as a function of external boundary conditions will be compared with the natural examples in order to obtain a better understanding of the extreme uplift of the Rwenzori Mountains.