A. Hofmann, A. Kröner, L. Iaccheri, J. Wong, H. Geng, H. Xie
Grey gneisses from the Tokwe and Rhodesdale terrains of the Zimbabwe craton have zircon ages of ~3.63, 3.52, and 3.34 Ga, validating the existence of Eo- to Palaeoarchaean crust. In-situ zircon Hf isotope compositions reveal the interplay between episodes of juvenile magma addition, crustal thickening and crustal differentiation. Starting from juvenile mafic crust (with chondritic composition) at ~3.9 Ga, the oldest nucleus of the Zimbabwe craton developed into a stable crustal block by ~3.35 Ga, following a tectonic and mantle evolution that is mirrored by other ancient terrains.
{"title":"3.63 Ga grey gneisses reveal the Eoarchaean history of the Zimbabwe craton","authors":"A. Hofmann, A. Kröner, L. Iaccheri, J. Wong, H. Geng, H. Xie","doi":"10.25131/sajg.125.0005","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.25131/sajg.125.0005","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 Grey gneisses from the Tokwe and Rhodesdale terrains of the Zimbabwe craton have zircon ages of ~3.63, 3.52, and 3.34 Ga, validating the existence of Eo- to Palaeoarchaean crust. In-situ zircon Hf isotope compositions reveal the interplay between episodes of juvenile magma addition, crustal thickening and crustal differentiation. Starting from juvenile mafic crust (with chondritic composition) at ~3.9 Ga, the oldest nucleus of the Zimbabwe craton developed into a stable crustal block by ~3.35 Ga, following a tectonic and mantle evolution that is mirrored by other ancient terrains.","PeriodicalId":49494,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Geology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2022-03-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49540488","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Eight samples of prehnite from southern Africa were analysed for their major and trace element geochemistry to investigate the controls on their compositions. Variations in the major elements are limited (Fe3+-Al exchange, limited enrichment in Mn), and trace elements typically occur at levels <10 ppm, apart from Ga and sometimes Ti. The main control on the low trace element contents appears to be the small size of the crystallographic sites. Nevertheless, variations were observed in several elements, such as B, Ti, Sc, W, Mo, As and the rare earth elements. These variations imply a control by the host rock and its surrounds, as well as the identity of co-existing minerals.
{"title":"Controls on the geochemistry of southern African prehnite","authors":"M. Elburg, B. Cairncross","doi":"10.25131/sajg.125.0007","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.25131/sajg.125.0007","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 Eight samples of prehnite from southern Africa were analysed for their major and trace element geochemistry to investigate the controls on their compositions. Variations in the major elements are limited (Fe3+-Al exchange, limited enrichment in Mn), and trace elements typically occur at levels <10 ppm, apart from Ga and sometimes Ti. The main control on the low trace element contents appears to be the small size of the crystallographic sites. Nevertheless, variations were observed in several elements, such as B, Ti, Sc, W, Mo, As and the rare earth elements. These variations imply a control by the host rock and its surrounds, as well as the identity of co-existing minerals.","PeriodicalId":49494,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Geology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2022-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44925826","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
L. Vonopartis, R. Booysen, P. Nex, J. Kinnaird, L. Robb
The Zaaiplaats tin field is host to two of the historically most significant tin mines in South Africa. The geological maps of Zaaiplaats and Groenfontein have not been updated since the 1980s and 1950s respectively and warrant a renewed investigation. Cassiterite is hosted in the Bobbejaankop and Lease granites, of the Zaaiplaats and Groenfontein tin mines, which are part of the Lebowa Granite Suite of the Bushveld Complex. Tin mineralisation is primarily hosted as low-grade disseminations and within networks of high-grade hydrothermal pipes and lenticular ore-bodies. One difficulty in mapping such formations arises from the limited lithological variability between mineralised and unmineralised granitic facies. In order to map the granitic lithologies and discriminate alteration zones, an integrated approach is applied by combining remote sensing and in situ portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) mapping. The pXRF large ion lithophile (LIL) element distribution mapping, specifically correlating Rb, Sr and Ba with Sn, points to the concentration of late-stage magmatic-hydrothermal fluids, which are associated with endogranitic mineralisation. The use of the Rb/Ba ratio highlights regions of late-stage magmatic-hydrothermal alteration, effectively delineates granitic facies and identifies zones of potential tin mineralisation. Spectral image processing techniques were used as tools to support the mapping of these granites, their variable degrees of magmatic-hydrothermal alteration and regions of endogranitic disseminated mineralisation. We thus exemplify that an expert-based and synergic approach, combining inexpensive in situ pXRF and freely available satellite remote sensing data, supports the mapping and identification of endogranitic mineralisation in early exploration stages. Furthermore, due to its versatility, this approach can easily be applied to other styles of plutonic mineralisation.
{"title":"Combined satellite and portable XRF exploration mapping of the Zaaiplaats tin field, South Africa","authors":"L. Vonopartis, R. Booysen, P. Nex, J. Kinnaird, L. Robb","doi":"10.25131/sajg.125.0006","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.25131/sajg.125.0006","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 The Zaaiplaats tin field is host to two of the historically most significant tin mines in South Africa. The geological maps of Zaaiplaats and Groenfontein have not been updated since the 1980s and 1950s respectively and warrant a renewed investigation. Cassiterite is hosted in the Bobbejaankop and Lease granites, of the Zaaiplaats and Groenfontein tin mines, which are part of the Lebowa Granite Suite of the Bushveld Complex. Tin mineralisation is primarily hosted as low-grade disseminations and within networks of high-grade hydrothermal pipes and lenticular ore-bodies. One difficulty in mapping such formations arises from the limited lithological variability between mineralised and unmineralised granitic facies. In order to map the granitic lithologies and discriminate alteration zones, an integrated approach is applied by combining remote sensing and in situ portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) mapping. The pXRF large ion lithophile (LIL) element distribution mapping, specifically correlating Rb, Sr and Ba with Sn, points to the concentration of late-stage magmatic-hydrothermal fluids, which are associated with endogranitic mineralisation. The use of the Rb/Ba ratio highlights regions of late-stage magmatic-hydrothermal alteration, effectively delineates granitic facies and identifies zones of potential tin mineralisation. Spectral image processing techniques were used as tools to support the mapping of these granites, their variable degrees of magmatic-hydrothermal alteration and regions of endogranitic disseminated mineralisation. We thus exemplify that an expert-based and synergic approach, combining inexpensive in situ pXRF and freely available satellite remote sensing data, supports the mapping and identification of endogranitic mineralisation in early exploration stages. Furthermore, due to its versatility, this approach can easily be applied to other styles of plutonic mineralisation.","PeriodicalId":49494,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Geology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2022-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46923007","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
In the Natal Thrust Front (NTF) of the Tugela Terrane, there is a lack of multi-scale characterisation of structural controls on shear-zone hosted precious and base metal mineralisation. This paper contributes to the current understanding of the structural controls on shear-zone-hosted precious and base metal mineralisation in the NTF with insight derived from the analyses of micro-fractures at and around the known shear-zone-hosted lode gold and base metal mineralisation in the Ngubevu area of the NTF. Based on the notion that the spatial distribution of stresses that control geological structures is fractal (i.e., possessing scale-invariance or self-similarity properties) across a range of geographic scales, this study (a) determines whether the stresses inferred from micro-fractures in the gold mines in Ngubevu are consistent with the stresses associated with regional- to local-scale geological structures in the NTF, and (b) interprets the mineralisation controls implied by these inferred and known stresses. From rose diagrams showing trends of micro-fractures in oriented vein material samples from Ngubevu, the relative micro-scale stress field per sample based on the maximum horizontal stress (SHmax) and the minimum horizontal stress (SHmin) were inferred. These were then compared to the local- to regional-scale stress field orientations derived from existing studies in the NTF. The north-northeast–south-southwest orientations of SHmax of micro-fractures in samples from Ngubevu are consistent with the north-northwest–south-southeast orientations of SHmax of regional- to district-scale thrust faults in the NTF of the Tugela Terrane. Likewise, the west-northwest–east-southeast orientations of micro-fractures in samples from the eastern part of Ngubevu are consistent with the general east–west orientations of local-scale S1 foliation. These orientations are associated with a D1 thrusting event, which was due to north to north-northeast-directed regional thrust tectonics. The clockwise change from the north-northwest–south-southeast orientations of SHmax of regional- to district-scale thrust faults to the north-northeast–south-southwest orientations of SHmax of micro-fractures in vein material attests to an earlier posited notion of clockwise rotation of regional- to district-scale thrust vergence. These suggest that V1 veins in Ngubevu were likely formed late in the D1 event. The orientations of micro-fractures in samples, mostly from the western part of Ngubevu, depict a strike-slip regime, which is consistent with D2 sinistral transpression that affected the earlier-formed east–west-trending structures. This suggests that some V1 veins in Ngubevu, particularly those in its western part, were affected by the D2 sinistral transpression (e.g., by remobilisation of gold in some of the V1 veins). The novel findings in this study are crucial to geological mapping, recognition of mineralisation controls and mineral prospecting in poorly-explored r
{"title":"Micro-fractures in the Ngubevu Gold and Base Metal Mines (Natal Thrust Front, Tugela Terrane, South Africa): Are they consistent with macro-scale deformation, and what do they tell us?","authors":"N. S. Busakwe, E. Carranza, O. Chagi, L. Hoyer","doi":"10.25131/sajg.125.0008","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.25131/sajg.125.0008","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 In the Natal Thrust Front (NTF) of the Tugela Terrane, there is a lack of multi-scale characterisation of structural controls on shear-zone hosted precious and base metal mineralisation. This paper contributes to the current understanding of the structural controls on shear-zone-hosted precious and base metal mineralisation in the NTF with insight derived from the analyses of micro-fractures at and around the known shear-zone-hosted lode gold and base metal mineralisation in the Ngubevu area of the NTF. Based on the notion that the spatial distribution of stresses that control geological structures is fractal (i.e., possessing scale-invariance or self-similarity properties) across a range of geographic scales, this study (a) determines whether the stresses inferred from micro-fractures in the gold mines in Ngubevu are consistent with the stresses associated with regional- to local-scale geological structures in the NTF, and (b) interprets the mineralisation controls implied by these inferred and known stresses. From rose diagrams showing trends of micro-fractures in oriented vein material samples from Ngubevu, the relative micro-scale stress field per sample based on the maximum horizontal stress (SHmax) and the minimum horizontal stress (SHmin) were inferred. These were then compared to the local- to regional-scale stress field orientations derived from existing studies in the NTF.\u0000 The north-northeast–south-southwest orientations of SHmax of micro-fractures in samples from Ngubevu are consistent with the north-northwest–south-southeast orientations of SHmax of regional- to district-scale thrust faults in the NTF of the Tugela Terrane. Likewise, the west-northwest–east-southeast orientations of micro-fractures in samples from the eastern part of Ngubevu are consistent with the general east–west orientations of local-scale S1 foliation. These orientations are associated with a D1 thrusting event, which was due to north to north-northeast-directed regional thrust tectonics. The clockwise change from the north-northwest–south-southeast orientations of SHmax of regional- to district-scale thrust faults to the north-northeast–south-southwest orientations of SHmax of micro-fractures in vein material attests to an earlier posited notion of clockwise rotation of regional- to district-scale thrust vergence. These suggest that V1 veins in Ngubevu were likely formed late in the D1 event. The orientations of micro-fractures in samples, mostly from the western part of Ngubevu, depict a strike-slip regime, which is consistent with D2 sinistral transpression that affected the earlier-formed east–west-trending structures. This suggests that some V1 veins in Ngubevu, particularly those in its western part, were affected by the D2 sinistral transpression (e.g., by remobilisation of gold in some of the V1 veins). The novel findings in this study are crucial to geological mapping, recognition of mineralisation controls and mineral prospecting in poorly-explored r","PeriodicalId":49494,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Geology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2022-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48290679","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
T. Muedi, S. MacLennan, D. Szymanowski, B. Schoene, J. Ramezani, J. Oalmann, B. Linol
Recent U-Pb high-precision geochronological studies have shown rapid emplacement of the intrusive doleritic component of the Karoo Large Igneous Province (KLIP) in Southern Africa. However, these studies focused on a relatively small geographic and altitudinal region of the KLIP. Additionally, the timing of initiation of extrusive volcanism, preserved in the Drakensberg-Lesotho highlands and its relationship to the intrusive suite, has only been imprecisely constrained by Ar-Ar dates. Here, we present new high-resolution U-Pb zircon ages on dolerite sills and dykes from across the central eastern Karoo Basin (South Africa) at elevations between mean sea level and 1 560 m, as well as U-Pb detrital zircon data that can be used to estimate the maximum age of volcaniclastic deposition near the base of the extrusive component of the KLIP. Dolerite samples were taken across two areas: (1) thick dykes exposed along the coast of the Indian Ocean to ~1 600 m flanking the Drakensberg Escarpment in the Eastern Cape; and (2) sills between 20 and 220 m below surface, in a borehole core within the interior of the Karoo Basin, 400 km hinterland from the coastline. Our estimated dolerite emplacement ages span a range of ca. 80 thousand years (Kyr), between 183.122 ± 0.029/-0.061 and 183.042 ± 0.042/-0.072 million years ago (Ma), and fall within the 331 +60/-54 Kyr age range previously established for magmatism related to the KLIP, despite the marked increase in sampling coverage in terms of area and altitude in this study. Therefore, KLIP geochronology is consistent with other LIPS such as the Siberian and Deccan Traps that supports the hypothesis of rapid emplacement timescales (<1 Myr). Additionally, these data are consistent with, but better delineate that the KLIP in southern Africa appears to be ca. 500 Kyr older than the main phase of magmatism in the Ferrar LIP of Antarctica. Detrital zircons from the basal volcanic sequence of the Drakensberg Group exhibit age peaks at ca. 1 and 0.5 Ga, typical of the surrounding Namaqua-Natal and Pan-African basement rocks, as well as younger peaks at ca. 260 and 200 Ma that likely relate to source provenances from south-western Gondwana and reworking of the Karoo Supergroup sedimentary rocks. High-precision U-Pb dates of the youngest zircon grains result in a maximum depositional age for the basal pyroclastics of 185.25 ± 0.25 Ma, allowing for a ca. 2 Myr offset with the intrusive Karoo dolerite suite.
{"title":"Constraining the timescales of mafic magmatism of the Central Karoo Large Igneous Province using high precision U-Pb zircon geochronology","authors":"T. Muedi, S. MacLennan, D. Szymanowski, B. Schoene, J. Ramezani, J. Oalmann, B. Linol","doi":"10.25131/sajg.125.0009","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.25131/sajg.125.0009","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 Recent U-Pb high-precision geochronological studies have shown rapid emplacement of the intrusive doleritic component of the Karoo Large Igneous Province (KLIP) in Southern Africa. However, these studies focused on a relatively small geographic and altitudinal region of the KLIP. Additionally, the timing of initiation of extrusive volcanism, preserved in the Drakensberg-Lesotho highlands and its relationship to the intrusive suite, has only been imprecisely constrained by Ar-Ar dates. Here, we present new high-resolution U-Pb zircon ages on dolerite sills and dykes from across the central eastern Karoo Basin (South Africa) at elevations between mean sea level and 1 560 m, as well as U-Pb detrital zircon data that can be used to estimate the maximum age of volcaniclastic deposition near the base of the extrusive component of the KLIP. Dolerite samples were taken across two areas: (1) thick dykes exposed along the coast of the Indian Ocean to ~1 600 m flanking the Drakensberg Escarpment in the Eastern Cape; and (2) sills between 20 and 220 m below surface, in a borehole core within the interior of the Karoo Basin, 400 km hinterland from the coastline. Our estimated dolerite emplacement ages span a range of ca. 80 thousand years (Kyr), between 183.122 ± 0.029/-0.061 and 183.042 ± 0.042/-0.072 million years ago (Ma), and fall within the 331 +60/-54 Kyr age range previously established for magmatism related to the KLIP, despite the marked increase in sampling coverage in terms of area and altitude in this study. Therefore, KLIP geochronology is consistent with other LIPS such as the Siberian and Deccan Traps that supports the hypothesis of rapid emplacement timescales (<1 Myr). Additionally, these data are consistent with, but better delineate that the KLIP in southern Africa appears to be ca. 500 Kyr older than the main phase of magmatism in the Ferrar LIP of Antarctica. Detrital zircons from the basal volcanic sequence of the Drakensberg Group exhibit age peaks at ca. 1 and 0.5 Ga, typical of the surrounding Namaqua-Natal and Pan-African basement rocks, as well as younger peaks at ca. 260 and 200 Ma that likely relate to source provenances from south-western Gondwana and reworking of the Karoo Supergroup sedimentary rocks. High-precision U-Pb dates of the youngest zircon grains result in a maximum depositional age for the basal pyroclastics of 185.25 ± 0.25 Ma, allowing for a ca. 2 Myr offset with the intrusive Karoo dolerite suite.","PeriodicalId":49494,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Geology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2022-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43339163","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
H. van Niekerk, M. Elburg, T. Andersen, R. Armstrong
The ~1 200 to 1 000 Ma Namaqua-Natal Metamorphic Province (NNMP) is part of a major orogenic belt in the west-central parts of South Africa and most likely formed during the convergence of the Laurentia and Kalahari cratons during the assembly of Rodinia. Controversy exists regarding the mode of formation of the Namaqua sector of the NNMP, with some supporting the idea of accretion of different crustal fragments while others argue that it formed in a continental back-arc setting. Here we address this controversy and provide information regarding the provenance of two metasedimentary successions that are preserved to the east and west of the Trooilapspan shear zone, which represents the Eastern Namaqua Front. 207Pb/206Pb SHRIMP ages for detrital zircon grains sampled from the Keis supergroup, which is preserved in the Kheis Terrane and situated on the Kalahari Craton, support derivation from Archaean to Paleoproterozoic source areas on the Kaapvaal Craton. In contrast, SHRIMP ages from detrital zircon grains of the Korannaland Group, which forms the metamorphosed supracrustal sequence of the Kakamas Domain, show derivation from late-Paleoproterozoic to Mesoproterozoic source areas like the Bushmanland and Richtersveld domains as well as the gneissic basement of the Kakamas Domain. The zircon age distribution data show that the metasedimentary rocks of the Keis supergroup and Korannaland Group did not obtain detrital material from the same source areas during their deposition, and that the Keis supergroup never served as a source for the detrital material in the Korannaland Group. This indicates that these successions had different geological histories prior to the formation of the NNMP, which supports the accretionary model for the development of the Namaqua Sector of the NNMP.
{"title":"Provenance of metasedimentary rocks of the Kheis Terrane and Kakamas Domain: support for accretionary tectonics during the development of the western Namaqua-Natal metamorphic province.","authors":"H. van Niekerk, M. Elburg, T. Andersen, R. Armstrong","doi":"10.25131/sajg.125.0003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.25131/sajg.125.0003","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 The ~1 200 to 1 000 Ma Namaqua-Natal Metamorphic Province (NNMP) is part of a major orogenic belt in the west-central parts of South Africa and most likely formed during the convergence of the Laurentia and Kalahari cratons during the assembly of Rodinia. Controversy exists regarding the mode of formation of the Namaqua sector of the NNMP, with some supporting the idea of accretion of different crustal fragments while others argue that it formed in a continental back-arc setting. Here we address this controversy and provide information regarding the provenance of two metasedimentary successions that are preserved to the east and west of the Trooilapspan shear zone, which represents the Eastern Namaqua Front. 207Pb/206Pb SHRIMP ages for detrital zircon grains sampled from the Keis supergroup, which is preserved in the Kheis Terrane and situated on the Kalahari Craton, support derivation from Archaean to Paleoproterozoic source areas on the Kaapvaal Craton. In contrast, SHRIMP ages from detrital zircon grains of the Korannaland Group, which forms the metamorphosed supracrustal sequence of the Kakamas Domain, show derivation from late-Paleoproterozoic to Mesoproterozoic source areas like the Bushmanland and Richtersveld domains as well as the gneissic basement of the Kakamas Domain. The zircon age distribution data show that the metasedimentary rocks of the Keis supergroup and Korannaland Group did not obtain detrital material from the same source areas during their deposition, and that the Keis supergroup never served as a source for the detrital material in the Korannaland Group. This indicates that these successions had different geological histories prior to the formation of the NNMP, which supports the accretionary model for the development of the Namaqua Sector of the NNMP.","PeriodicalId":49494,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Geology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2022-02-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41931656","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This paper aims to identify chronostratigraphic palaeo-climatic boundaries based on proxy indications from mountain- and coastal wetlands in eastern South Africa and Lesotho. Phase boundaries were identified from timing of climate change inferred by proxies, as well as regime shifts in climate variability. Sometimes magnitude and/or frequency of change was also considered. Summarizing the common palaeo-climatic indications suggest the following chronostratigraphic climate phases: 25 to 18 ka, 18 to 15 ka, 15 to 11.5, 11.5 to 8 ka, 8 to 5.5 ka, 5.5 to 2 ka and 2 to 0 ka. The most robust boundaries were identified at 18 ka, 15 ka and 2 ka, i.e. these boundaries were supported by several proxies/sites. The other boundaries were less clearly detected from available proxies/sites and should be regarded tentative. The timing of a climate shift often coincides at coast and mountain sites. However, the climate conditions within each chronostratigraphic phase sometimes vary between coast and inland sites. The 25 to 18 ka phase was cool and dry with strong and frequent storms, followed by the ca. 18 to 15 ka period when conditions were less severe but still generally cool and dry. At ca. 15 to 11.5 ka several proxies infer warmer climate, with less winter rains. During 11.5 to 8 ka a general increase in wetness is inferred, followed by warming over the 8 to 5.5 ka phase. Between 5.5 and 2 ka a successive change towards wetter is indicated, although timing differ between sites. After 2 ka generally a more variable climate is seen, often with high magnitude shifts between dry and wet. The data resolution, i.e. the number of available wetland records, increases with time from very low during glacial times, to highest resolution during late Holocene. Geographically, sites in the mountain region are overrepresented compared to coastal sites. A comparison with coastal lake records suggests a more variable climate at coastal sites compared to mountain sites during mid- and late Holocene, although different proxy resolution and methodology cannot be ruled out as an explanation. A case study compares multiproxy records from Drakensberg (Sekhokong, Ntsikeni) and the coast (Mfabeni), discussing advantages and problems associated with proxy-comparisons within and between sites.
{"title":"Chronostratigraphic palaeo-climate phasing based on southern African wetlands: From the escarpment to the eastern seaboard","authors":"E. Norström, M. Kylander, S. R. Sitoe, J. Finch","doi":"10.25131/sajg.124.0063","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.25131/sajg.124.0063","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 This paper aims to identify chronostratigraphic palaeo-climatic boundaries based on proxy indications from mountain- and coastal wetlands in eastern South Africa and Lesotho. Phase boundaries were identified from timing of climate change inferred by proxies, as well as regime shifts in climate variability. Sometimes magnitude and/or frequency of change was also considered. Summarizing the common palaeo-climatic indications suggest the following chronostratigraphic climate phases: 25 to 18 ka, 18 to 15 ka, 15 to 11.5, 11.5 to 8 ka, 8 to 5.5 ka, 5.5 to 2 ka and 2 to 0 ka. The most robust boundaries were identified at 18 ka, 15 ka and 2 ka, i.e. these boundaries were supported by several proxies/sites. The other boundaries were less clearly detected from available proxies/sites and should be regarded tentative. The timing of a climate shift often coincides at coast and mountain sites. However, the climate conditions within each chronostratigraphic phase sometimes vary between coast and inland sites. The 25 to 18 ka phase was cool and dry with strong and frequent storms, followed by the ca. 18 to 15 ka period when conditions were less severe but still generally cool and dry. At ca. 15 to 11.5 ka several proxies infer warmer climate, with less winter rains. During 11.5 to 8 ka a general increase in wetness is inferred, followed by warming over the 8 to 5.5 ka phase. Between 5.5 and 2 ka a successive change towards wetter is indicated, although timing differ between sites. After 2 ka generally a more variable climate is seen, often with high magnitude shifts between dry and wet. The data resolution, i.e. the number of available wetland records, increases with time from very low during glacial times, to highest resolution during late Holocene. Geographically, sites in the mountain region are overrepresented compared to coastal sites.\u0000 A comparison with coastal lake records suggests a more variable climate at coastal sites compared to mountain sites during mid- and late Holocene, although different proxy resolution and methodology cannot be ruled out as an explanation. A case study compares multiproxy records from Drakensberg (Sekhokong, Ntsikeni) and the coast (Mfabeni), discussing advantages and problems associated with proxy-comparisons within and between sites.","PeriodicalId":49494,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Geology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2021-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44092812","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Preface","authors":"J. Knight, J. Fitchett","doi":"10.25131/sajg.124.0061","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.25131/sajg.124.0061","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":49494,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Geology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2021-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45719604","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Principles of place, space and time can frame an understanding of the context and interpretation of Quaternary palaeo-records, and this is particularly the case for the varied proxies used for late Quaternary climate and environmental reconstruction in southern Africa. Place refers to the specific topographic setting or context of any one record, which has implications for the operation of physical processes in the landscape that control the accumulation of different records. Space refers to the spatial scale or footprint of any one record or proxy, and this varies from one proxy to another. Time refers to not only the time period covered by individual records, but also the temporal resolution of the record, which depends on accumulation rates and availability and quality of any radiometric dating. These three principles are discussed specifically in the context of the Quaternary of southern Africa and through the papers that form this special issue, but are also relevant globally. Future research directions in Quaternary research in southern Africa are identified, including opportunities for refining regional chronostratigraphies.
{"title":"Place, space and time: resolving Quaternary records","authors":"J. Knight, J. Fitchett","doi":"10.25131/sajg.124.0062","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.25131/sajg.124.0062","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 Principles of place, space and time can frame an understanding of the context and interpretation of Quaternary palaeo-records, and this is particularly the case for the varied proxies used for late Quaternary climate and environmental reconstruction in southern Africa. Place refers to the specific topographic setting or context of any one record, which has implications for the operation of physical processes in the landscape that control the accumulation of different records. Space refers to the spatial scale or footprint of any one record or proxy, and this varies from one proxy to another. Time refers to not only the time period covered by individual records, but also the temporal resolution of the record, which depends on accumulation rates and availability and quality of any radiometric dating. These three principles are discussed specifically in the context of the Quaternary of southern Africa and through the papers that form this special issue, but are also relevant globally. Future research directions in Quaternary research in southern Africa are identified, including opportunities for refining regional chronostratigraphies.","PeriodicalId":49494,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Geology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2021-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46267433","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-11-30DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-317200/v1
F. Stapelberg
Testing was performed on transported soils belonging to recently deposited sandy-silty soil deposits occurring in the Northern Cape Province, South Africa in order to determine the occurrence and order of magnitude of a collapsing sand soil structure. Various empirical geotechnical characteristics including: in situ soil profile structure description, particle grading curve and clay content, soil classification, soil density and void ratio were compared to collapse potential values determined with oedometer testing in order to judge the success with which the empirical characteristics can be utilized to predict the occurrence of a collapsible soil structure.From the results it is clear that a collapsing sand structure exists in the transported soils and the empirical descriptors mostly correctly indicate the occurrence or the particular soil structure when compared to previous studies on collapsing sands. The one descriptor which reflects a relatively poor correction between the descriptor and the soil structure (in situ soil profile structure description) is considered to be a poor indicator of the collapsible soil structure due to erroneous or poor in situ soil structure observations resulting from unfavourable local conditions namely dry, dusty soil conditions and very brief intact standup time of test pit side walls.
{"title":"Case Study in The Northern Cape (Loopeng Area), South Africa, Confirming Occurrence of a Collapsible Soil Structure in Transported Soils","authors":"F. Stapelberg","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-317200/v1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-317200/v1","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 Testing was performed on transported soils belonging to recently deposited sandy-silty soil deposits occurring in the Northern Cape Province, South Africa in order to determine the occurrence and order of magnitude of a collapsing sand soil structure. Various empirical geotechnical characteristics including: in situ soil profile structure description, particle grading curve and clay content, soil classification, soil density and void ratio were compared to collapse potential values determined with oedometer testing in order to judge the success with which the empirical characteristics can be utilized to predict the occurrence of a collapsible soil structure.From the results it is clear that a collapsing sand structure exists in the transported soils and the empirical descriptors mostly correctly indicate the occurrence or the particular soil structure when compared to previous studies on collapsing sands. The one descriptor which reflects a relatively poor correction between the descriptor and the soil structure (in situ soil profile structure description) is considered to be a poor indicator of the collapsible soil structure due to erroneous or poor in situ soil structure observations resulting from unfavourable local conditions namely dry, dusty soil conditions and very brief intact standup time of test pit side walls.","PeriodicalId":49494,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Geology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2021-11-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45957554","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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