Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 May 2009
Attention is drawn to the widespread occurrence of perthosite bodies in the Basement Complex of southern Nyasaland, and a description of these rocks is given.
It is suggested that these rocks represent a late stage in the differentiation of basaltic or andesitic magma which produced basic intrusives and volcanics and ultrabasic complexes in the late Pre-Cambrian. These were subsequently metamorphosed at a high grade. The nepheline-syenite gneisses of Port Herald and Tambani are believed to be related to the same series.
The remarkable similarities between the late Pre-Cambrian igneous history and that of the Karroo to Chilwa Series period is commented upon, and the occurrence of similar “ring structuress” in both series is described.