Scientists say first signatures of a potential new tectonic plate boundary are bubbling up in Zambia's Kafue Rift.

Scientists exploring Zambia's Kafue Rift have discovered helium isotopes in hot springs, suggesting a direct connection to the Earth's mantle. This finding indicates that the rift may be an active tectonic boundary, potentially linked to the larger Southwest African Rift System.
The researchers, led by Professor Michael Daly from the University of Oxford, sampled geothermal springs and found a helium-3 to helium-4 ratio indicative of mantle origins, which was observed to be seven times higher than in control wells.
"The hot springs along the Kafue rift of Zambia have helium isotope signatures which indicate that the springs have a direct connection with the Earth's mantle, which lies between 40 and 160km below Earth's surface," said Professor Daly.
The Kafue Rift forms part of a 2,500-kilometer-long rift system stretching from Namibia to Tanzania. The scientists suggest that if similar findings are confirmed along this extensional zone, it would provide further evidence for an emerging plate boundary capable of continental separation.
Daly cautioned, however, that this study is based on helium analyses from only one area of the Southwest African Rift System: "This is a large geological area, and not every rift forms a plate boundary."
This potential tectonic activity may signal the start of the break-up of sub-Saharan Africa, a significant geological event for the region.

Scientists have identified possible early signs of a new tectonic plate boundary in Zambia's Kafue Rift, with helium isotope analysis from geothermal springs indicating a connection to the Earth's mantle. This could signal the beginning of a continental break-up in the region, stretching 2,500 kilometers across Africa.