Geology of Ethiopia

The geology of Ethiopia includes rocks of the Neoproterozoic East African Orogeny, Jurassic marine sediments and Quaternary rift-related volcanism.

Rocks formed by the East African Orogeny 880 to 550 million years ago make up the oldest geological units in Ethiopia.

[3][B] At parts the unconformity of the Precambrian basement has glacial striations, rôche moutonnées and chatter marks formed likely during the Karoo Ice Age.

[1] A third major plantion surface and uniformity formed in the following a tectonic event in the Early Cretaceous that tilted carbonates in the Tigray and Dire Dawa-Harar areas.

[1] The Ethiopia-Yemen Continental Flood Basalts or Ethiopian traps that cover much of Ethiopia flowed over both irregular surfaces and peneplains preserving laterite soil beneath.

Tigray Escarpment in northern Ethiopia exposing the layers of the Ethiopia-Yemen Continental Flood Basalts .
This escarpment between Tsili and Kola Tembien holds most of Ethiopia's sedimentary rock types