In June 2015, a team of 13 students and 2 staff members from the University of Glasgow embarked on an ambitious expedition to examine the geology surrounding the Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano in Tanzania. This volcano was of particular interest to us as it is the only active carbonatite volcano in the world and is situated in the Gregory Rift, named after Glasgow University's former geology chair, John Walter Gregory.

 

In addition to examining the geology of the area, we wanted to establish a collaberation with the Univeristy of Dodoma and consolidate our existing partnership with the University of Dar es Salaam. We visited both universites to report on our expedition and the prospect of future expeditions involving a collaberation between Glasgow and Tanzania look very promising. 

 

We managed to create an eruption history for the Embalulu (Maasai for crater) Sekenge on the rift flank directly above Engare Sero village, where we were staying. We logged the tuff deposits from the vent and examined how the faults offset them with the overlying and underlying lava deposits. The whole team managed to summit Ol Doinyo Lengai and at the top we even managed to witness a small carbonatite eruption! Furthermore,  we spoke to locals and tourists on the social and econominc impacts that the volcano had on the local people.

 

All in all, the expedition was a huge success. We are in the process of writing up reviews and reports and editing media for outreach. Watch this space as we add more photos, videos and atrticles from the expedition. In the meantime please follow our facebook page  and twitter or check out our expedition photo gallery!