Mantle clues point to Africa’s next plate boundary forming in Zambia
Geochemists found mantle-derived helium in hot springs along Zambia’s Kafue Rift, providing direct evidence that the rift is connected to deep mantle rocks and may be the early stage of a new African plate boundary. The finding, which compares the region to the East African Rift, is based on gas samples from springs inside and outside the rift, with broader fieldwork planned across southern Africa. Early-stage rifts can host geothermal energy and helium/hydrogen resources, making the discovery especially significant for energy prospects.
