Geologists Of Tanzania

Around Oldoinyo Lengai There is Life! December 21, 2010

Tulipokuwa njiani kuelekea Oldoinyo Lengai nilikuwa najiuliza kama huko mbele tunapoenda watu wanaishi, but immediately after arriving there jibu lilikuwa wazi tu. Wapo watu wengi around ule mlima, kama sikosea kuna vijiji kama vitano hivi na kilicho karibu kabisa na mlima na chenye watu wengi ni kijiji cha Engaresero. Kina takribani watu zaidi ya 500. Jamii kubwa hapa ni wamasai watoto mpaka wazee. Kuna makabila mengine kama wairaq, wachaga nk. Kama kawaida ya sisi watanzania kila mahali ni nyumbani na wote ni ndugu, watu wa hapa ni wakarimu sana na wanamsaada mkubwa kwa wageni especially linapokuja suala la kupanda mlima au kuzunguka maeneo yaliyo karibu na mlima. Ukifika pale one day as a tourist or a geologist ulizia hawa watu wawili Bura na Tall (huyo hapo kushoto aliyekaa chini, mmasai). Hawa ni wataalamu mfano huyu tall anaweza kupanda mlima na kurudi chini na akakupita tana kabla wewe hujapanda/hujafika nusu ya mlima. Kuna Mzee anaitwa Bura (huyo hapo kati yetu kushoto anatusaidia kucollect sample), yeye anauzoefu wa takribani miaka 25 katika eneo hilo na mara ngingi watalii wakija yeye ndio huwa anaongoza msafara wa kupanda mlima. Kupanda mlima huwa ni usiku na hii ni kwa sababu maalumu, mchana hutaweza kupanda coz kuna jua kali na mlima pia due to its chemistry unareflect sana so unaumia sana macho ndipo wakaona ni vyema kupanda mlima usiku. Safari ya kupanda sio raha unatakiwa uwe shupavu na jasiri sababu wanyama kama chui ni wakawaida mlimani na unaweza ukawa umelala kwenye hema mlimani ukasikia chui anazunguka hema lako. But kama nilivyokwambia watu wa hapa ni wataalamu na wazoefu wa hawa wanyama. kabla ya kuanza wanakupa some hints kwamba tukikutana na mnyama flani unatakiwa ufanye hivi na vile na mnyama ataondoka bila kukuzuru. Masharti yao au njia zao zinasaidia coz kule mlimani hutaweza kukimbia hata 2steps coz unaweza angukia kwenye shimo na usionekane milele. Well that is it about climbinig.
Nilisema kuna maisha Oldonyo lengai ingawa kwa kupaona unaweza kusema huwezi kukaa hata 2 days, kuna vibanda na nyumba za biashara Nyama ndio chakula kikuu utakikuta pale tena mbuzi na kama nilivyokwambia mbuzi au nyama za huku kwa ujumla ni tofauti na za mijini ni nzuri sana nayo hii inachangiwa na geoological processes katika eneo hili. Bia (geological water) na soda zipo kwa sana tu na mfano wa bar zao ni hiyo hapo kulia na kama sitakosea hiyo hapo kwenye picha wakati ule ilikuwa inaitwa “Obama Grocery”. Hapo wale wa serengeti (sere/chui) mtapata tu ingawa bia inayonyweka sana na watu wa hapo ni safari , nazani hii ni sehemu nyingi za vijijini wanakunywa safari coz hata chimala mbeya nimeona hiyo pia. Usiulize ya baridi hutapata coz hata wewe wa mjini sasa hivi unaanza kukosa vya baridi, yah si huna umeme (mgawo) na mwakani wanaupandisha huo wa mgao kwa 18% so utakuwa kama watu wa Oldoinyo tu. Tena nafuu wale coz wana utaalamu wa kuzifanya ziwe baridi, huwa wanaweka kwenye maji yaliyo tulia ili zipoe kidogo. Well kama nilivyokwambia ukiwa kule ni mwendo wa nyama na kama utahitaji dawa za kienyeji zipo tu, wajamaa hawa pia ni wataalamu kwenye medications, ukisema naumwa tumbo dkk 2 umeletewa dawa na anakwambia arafiki kula hii ingawa ni ya kunywa kama maji yeye anakwambia kula ila unaelewa tu na kweli utapona. Kuna dawa za aina nyingi wenyewe wanasema. Mfano mswaki, ndulele, etc. Hawa watu wa hapa ni wema sana na wema wao hata wanyama wa porini wanaujua, ni jambo la kawaida sana kukuta mmasai anachunga ng’ombe porini na hao ng’ombe unakuta wamechanganyikana na wanyama wa porini kama nyumbu swala nk. Cheki picha hapo kwa makini ingawa sio nzuri utaona nyumbu ktk kundi la ngombe na hii ni kwa sababu wamasai hawali wanyama wa pori ingawa chakula chao kikuu ni nyama na maziwa. Sipati picha kama hii ingetokea kule uchagani coz nilishapigiwa story kwamba kuna mchaga alijikata kidole bila kujua akiwa anagombania nyama ya nyati hahaha! strange ila in kweli na alipata nyama ingawa sijui kama alipata kidole chake. OK naomba niishie hapa kwa leo coz jukumu kuu nililonalo (shule) ndilo linanicontrol. Vielen Dank!

around oldoinyo le ngai life goes on! December 9, 2010

Eneo hili kulipo na huu mlima ndiko East Africa Rift Valley imepita na wakati tunazungumzia story hii basi pia tujue chanzo cha haya yote i.e volcanism etc ni ni hili bonde la ufa. Hivyo mbali na mlima Oldoinyo wenyewe pia around it kuna several small cones and creters (tazama pics), mfano mzuri wa jinsi eneo hili linavyoonekana ni kama ulishawahi kuona zile picha zilizopigwa toka mwezini au kwenye sayari ya Mars (tafuta hiyo). Kwa mtanzania yeyote ukifika hapa lazima utaona eneo hili ni geni kwako. Utaona round structures nyingi ambazo kwenye broad spectrum zimo ndani ya bonde moja kubwa pia bila kusahau kuna lake Natron. Kwa ujumla mtu ambaye hobby yake ni advanture then hapa atakuwa amefika kwenyewe na siwezi kukataa pia to be a geologist it lead to the development of intrest of being a tourist! Niko mbioni kukusanya dollas ili ninunue camera yangu kubwaaaa only for these amazing and interesting geological structures/features. Kama nilivyo kwambia hapa pia kuna lake natron, mbali na jina lake lenyewe lilivyobatizwa ziwa hili linapendeza sana machoni, kwa pande zote za bonde la ufa unaliona vizuri na kwa rangi tofauti na maziwa mengine, mara nyingi huwa linaonekana kwa rangi nyeupe kwenda kijivu na mchana linang’aa sana huku likiwa batches za rangi nyekundu. Rangi hii nyekundu inatokana na miguu mekundu ya ndege maarufu waitwao Flamingo ni wengi sana na wa kupendeza, wana rangi nyeupe na miguu ya rangi nyekundu (tazama pics). hivyo hawa ndege ni wengi kiasi kwamba wanalipa ziwa hili zangi (just imagine).Na ukitembea kwa miguu kwenye fukwe zake kuna mabillions ya mayai ya hawa ngede so inatuambia nini hapa, hii ni kwamba kama hakutatokea disturbance yoyote then hawa ndege wapo na watakuwapo. Ila nasikitika sababu najua kuna mchakato unaendelea wa kuvuna hii chumvi/ magadi yaliyo kwenye hili ziwa bcoz hiyo ni mojawapo ya disturbance niliyoiongelea. Hizi rangi nyingine kama nilivyokwambia hapo juu zinatokana na chemistry ya maji yenyewe na ndio pia chimbuko la jina la ziwa hili. Kumbuka tuna majina mengi ya vitu ambavyo wakoloni walituachia na kwa kutumia kiswahili chetu tukabadilisha kidogo au tulishidwa kuyatamka kama wao walivyotamka. Mfano kiborloni kule moshi imetokana na wazungu kuita lile eneo “kibo alone” na ndivyo hivihivi hili ziwa jina lake lilipatikana. Chemistry ya haya maji yana high concentration ya chemical compound inayoitwa TRONA so may be wazungu waliamua kuita The Trona lake na sisi tukashindwa kutamka tukaita The NATRON lake. Anyway na kwasababu sisi ndio tuliokuwa wengi ikazoeleka na wengi wape na jina likawa, yaani lake natron.
Bado ninayo mengi ya kusema na sijamaliza bado!
Nimestop hapa nawahi class wajerumani wanasema “taglich unterricht”
Tutaendelea baadae!

Oldoinyo le Ngai/Mlima wa Mungu/Mountain of God December 7, 2010

Oldoinyo le Ngai, hiki ni kimasai na kama kwenye title inavyojieleza maana yake ni mlima wa Mungu. Wamasai waliamua kuupa jina hilo kutokana na maajabu waliyoyaona “wao” pale mlimani. Kwamba mlima mlima unatoa moto!!! (tazama picha kulia) this is stange to them na sio wao tu hata raia wengine kiujumla except Geologists. Mlima huu una urefu wa mita 2900 na ni mlima pekee duniani (ulimwenguni) ambao uko active na unaotoa natrocarbonatites. Upekee wake ndio unaostimulate Geotourism hapa Tanzania, sina uhakika ni watalii wangapi kwa mwaka wanatembelea pale ila wakazi wa pale kijiji cha Engaresero (kijiji kilicho karibu na mlima) wanasema ikifika season ya watalii huwa panafurika. So, mlima huu pia unatoa ajira nyingi lakini sio rasmi kwa wanakijiji na wadau wa utalii Tanzania.

Huu mlima mbali na Ujiolojia wetu hata watu wa kawaida unawavutia sana (tazama pics kulia). Picha hizi zinaonyesha jinsi mlima unavyoonekana kwa juu very beautful.
Pia kuna special structures ambazo mara nyingi hutokana na activities za mlima wenyewe mfano kama jinsi unavyodeposit magma etc na ukichanganya its unique geochemistry then unapata hizo special structures (see pics).
Description:Bizarre structures of natro-carbonite stalactites, sulfur and algae deposits form beneath the partly collapsed roof of an old cone.


Special feature nyingine ni pohoehoe nazani Geos mnakumbuka lecture za walimu wetu, walituambia jina hili asili yake inatokana na sauti anayoitoa mtu mara akanyagapo jivu hili la volcano “hoehoehoe au hohohohoioioi! then wakaiita pahohoe!
Description:Fresh pahoehoe surface starting to weather and turn white.

Nina mengi ya kukwambia kuhusu mlima huu ambao hata wewe sio mgeni kwako kutokana na either umesoma habari zake darasani au umeusikia toka kwenye vyombo vya habari.
Nikipata muda nitapost vyote hivi.
PIA KAMA UNA CHOCHOTE UNATAKA KUPOST KINACHOHUSU GEOLOGY AU RELATED ISSUE AU WEWE MWENYEWE plz TUWASILIANE NA ADRESS YANGU HAPO CHINI.
E-mail:mshiutz@gmail.com

Tatizo la umeme TZ na vyanzo vyake December 5, 2010

Sasa hivi nchi yetu iko ktk wimbi kubwa la matatizo, na hili la umeme limekuwa SUGU. Wenzetu wakenya wanatumia geothermal energy kuzalisha umeme na ni kwa kiasi kikubwa. Kuna watanzania wenzetu wameshatembelea mitambo hii ya kenya labda ni “utalii”? sina uhakika! Sisi tuna hotsprings nyingi sana mfano hii ya songwe wanasema unaweza chemsha yai kwa dakika tano ukala, hii inamaanisha maji yana joto la zaidi ya centgrade 80 C, swali linakuja Je? sisi watanzania tuefikiria hili? kwamba tunaweza pata umeme hapa. Si kwamba umeme wa songwe lazima uende TZ nzima NO, ungweza kulisha Mbeya au kama utakuwa umeme mkubwa uende na mikoa ya jirani na huo wa Mtera ukagawanywa mikoa mingine kusingekuwa na mgao leo.Tuna hotspring nyingi sana, raia huwa wanaziita maji moto. Kuna kule musoma, kuna Oldoinyo lengai (hapa ziko kibao), na kwingineko. Vp tuna mpango gani ua ndo tunavyotakiwa tuishi? Joto kali hata feni huwezi kuwasha kisa maji yamepungua Mtera!
TAFAKARI!

PHOSPHATE YA MBALIZI December 5, 2010

Kuzunguka haya maeneo watu wengi wamejiajiri, wanatengeneza chokaa (lime), hii ni kwa sababu raw material (limestones)zinapatikana kwa wingi eneo hili, kumbuka eneo hili pia ndipo kilipo kiwanda cha mbeya cement. Tulitembelea hata songwe scarp, mlima huu nao una band moja kubwa sana ya carbonatite na imeextent some kilometers ( zaidi ya ishirini).Ni resource tosha kwa maendeleo ya eneo hili.
Wajasiriamali hawa walisema mfuko mmoja wa chokaa wanauza kama 3000/= (25 kg). Chokaa inatumika as building material lakini vile vile wataalamu wa kilimo wanasema ni nzuri katika kupunguza acid kwenye udongo hivyo inaweza kutumika kama mbolea husika mbadala kama itafanyiwa uchunguzi. Wakulima around this area wanatumia minjingu phosphate, the problem ni kwamba hawajui phosphete nyingi wanayo hapo kwao, mtu anaweza chimba nyuma ya nyumba na kuipata. Nazani, wanakosa elimu sahihi na wanaingia garama kubwa kuifuata phosphate ya minjingu Arusha.

December 5, 2010

Ukiwa juu ya mlima wa Pandahill nanzani geologists mnaufahamu “Pandahill carbonatite”, chini kuna gereza la songwe kama mnavyoona nyumba hapo chini. Huu mlima una deposit kubwa sana ya phosphate na niobium.

December 5, 2010

Hali ya baridi imenizidi nguvu, ukilinganisha na dar hii ni kiama.
ila nakomaa tuu!

ATLAS OF GOLD IN TANZANIA September 30, 2010

PROSPECTIVE AREAS FOR GOLD

Hello, this book is now available at Geology department,UDSM.
The price is 40,000/=.
Kitabu kiko office ya Head GY na utamkuta dada Phoibe pale.

Oldoinyo le Ngai September 30, 2010

zawadi kutoka porini

Around aldoinyo le Ngai life goes on, I bought this goat from this place just bcoz I heard from the locals their meat is sweet relative to those from other places. The reason is, water around here have a lot of salt from lake natron and indirectly you sense the meat very sweet, I have proved it.

September 30, 2010

kizigo game reserve

It was tight at this place, the car stacked for two days, we had no food no water.
The reserve have a lot of dangerous animals like elephants etc.

Geo porini, this is real September 24, 2010

Geo in the bush

This is the best home when you are doing mapping in the field.
This is Geo Shimba Kwelwa in Mbeya Region. Nice experience “IN TENT”.

is this man made? give us the story of these structures. September 23, 2010

IT IS A SANDSTONE OUTCROP, describe

new comers to the world of rock doctors, 2010 September 23, 2010

new comers to the world of rock doctors, 2010

FREE Microsoft Security Essential February 14, 2010

Blood Diamonds February 12, 2010

What Are “Blood Diamonds?”

The movie, Blood Diamond, traces the path of a large pink diamond found in Sierra Leone in the 1990’s by a fisherman working as a slave in a rebel-controlled diamond mine. That diamond changed and ended many lives and the story of that stone carries a strong social message. The story is interesting fiction but it is based upon facts. The story can help you appreciate how a mineral resource can fuel the oppression and slaughter of thousands of people. This is not a first time phenomenon. It happened before in Africa with ivory and gold.

 

Makampuni ya utafutaji na uchimbaji wa dhahabu Tz February 12, 2010

Nilikuwa napitia mitandao na nikakutana na hili, kumbe hata majina ya hizi kampuni huko nje mfano canada hayajulikani. Wanachojua ni prospects tu, hata wafanyakazi sijaona ila labda nimeangalia vibaya jaribu wewe hapahttp://www.currierose.com. Pia ukitaka kujua wanavyogawana share huko cheki hii link Shares za makampuni migodini, na hii piaFinancial_Statements for exploration cmpny

Oldonyo Lengai volcanic hazards February 4, 2010

A Tragic Accident in Oldonyo Lengai, 2007

Volcanic Hazards

In late August 2007 a young Pambao, a young Maasai warrior  from the community of Ngare Sero incurred severe burns on both legs from toe to thigh; his right hand was also severely burned. This happened when he fell into an active lava flow in the summit crater of Oldoinyo Lengai. Due to its unique chemical composition, these lavas are relatively ‘cool’ (around 500 degrees Celsius), or Pambao would not be alive today. Following the accident, he was evacuated from the crater, carried in an improvised stretcher down a steep, rugged almost six thousand foot slope, and then taken by road to the Mount Meru hospital in Arusha. He remained in hospital for some time, with financial support from Volcano Expeditions International, the tour company that had hired him as porter for the climb which went so disastrously wrong. (more…)