Story perspectives

Turkana Rift Crust Thins to 13 km, Preserves 1,200 Fossils

4/26/2026

Summary

Story summary

Scientists found the Turkana Rift’s crust thinned to about 13 km, indicating necking.
Seismic imaging shows crust thickness of ~13 km at the rift’s center versus over 35 km away.
The African and Somali plates separate at roughly 4.7 mm per year, with the Rift having opened about 45 million years ago.
Researchers attribute fine sediments from post-volcanic subsidence to the preservation of more than 1,200 hominin fossils, about one third of Africa’s total.

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Story summary

Scientists found the Turkana Rift’s crust thinned to about 13 km, indicating necking.
Seismic imaging shows crust thickness of ~13 km at the rift’s center versus over 35 km away.
The African and Somali plates separate at roughly 4.7 mm per year, with the Rift having opened about 45 million years ago.
Researchers attribute fine sediments from post-volcanic subsidence to the preservation of more than 1,200 hominin fossils, about one third of Africa’s total.