The Shoshong-Makhware area, which covers approximately 1200 square miles west of the Mahalapye-Palapye rail track in Latitude 23°s, and longitude 26.5°w, contains several tholeiitic intrusions. These are probably differentiates of subterraneous magma body, which was roughly contemporary with the Bushveld Igneous Complex in the Union. The present author first visited the area in July 1957 and subsequently spent four months remapping and collecting the necessary material for a more detailed laboratory study. Mapping was done with the aid of aerial photographs, and where those were not available, resort was made to triangulation survey methods, using a prismatic compass. Inclinations of joints, faults and bedding planed were determined with the aid of a Brunton Compass. The laboratory work was carried out in both Department of Geology in the University of St Andrews, and also at the University of Cape Town. Particular attention was paid to the petrology, mineralogy and chemistry of the intrusive. A description of the techniques applied is given.

This thesis is submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, for the Degree of Master of Science. January 1995. / The Signal Hill Au-As-Sb deposits lie in the uppermost formations of the Archaean Tati Schist belt, located in northwest Botswana. The surface exposures of the potentially economic deposits are confined to three main zones: “A” Zone, “B” Zone and the “F” Zone. The “A” Zone and the “B” Zone are found with the sedimentary assemblage of the Last Hope Formation, while the “F” Zone lies within the underlying volcanic Penhalonga Formation. : [Abbreviated Abstract. Open document to view full version] / GR 2016

The investigation of the geological history (i.e., stratigraphy and sedimentology) and the dynamics of coal depositional environments, in particular, the forces responsible for changes in the accommodation space (e.g., subsidence vs. sedimentation rates) in the Permian coal-bearing Karoo strata in the Central Kalahari Karoo Basin (Botswana) revealed new details about the depositional processes and environments. Detailed review of the temporal and spatial stratigraphic variation of the coal-bearing Ecca Group successions via the analysis of facies changes based on core descriptions, gamma logs, field observations and palaeo-current measurements, lead to the identification of two main informal stratigraphic units, namely the Basal and Upper Units. The Basal Unit is characterised by an upward-coarsening succession, and it is interpreted as a product of a progradational deltaic setting (i.e., regressive deltaic cycle). This is followed by five sequences of fining-upward successions of sandstones and siltstones in the Upper Unit, interpreted as deposits of distributary channels (the basal arenaceous member) capped by finer argillaceous sequences of the deltaic floodplains (the upper coal-bearing member). The Upper Unit thus is interpreted as a delta plain facies association which was formed during transgressive phases when conditions for coal-quality peat accumulation (e.g., high water table) were present and the available accommodation space was partly controlled by tectonic uplift (repeated?) at basin margins. Limited palaeo-current analysis indicates deposition by channels flowing from the east, south-east and north-east. The lack of good quality exposures hampers the reconstruction of the plan form of the channel patterns. However, the little available evidence indicates a high-energy fluvio-deltaic system with irregular discharge and a high proportion of bedload sediments. Coal-seam thickness in the upper coal-bearing member reflect the complex control of the geological processes associated with and following peat formation, such as differential compaction of the underlying lithology, and the erosive or protective nature of the immediately overlying lithology.