Deconstructing the Transvaal Supergroup, South Africa: implications for Palaeoproterozoic palaeoclimate models

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Current correlations between the Pretoria and Postmasburg Groups of the Transvaal Supergroup are shown to be invalid. The Postmasburg Group is also demonstrated to be broadly conformable with the underlying Ghaap Group and therefore considerably older (~2.4 Ga) than previously supposed. The new stratigraphy documents an extensive (100 Ma) and continuous cold-climate episode with a glacial maximum at the Makganyene Formation diamictite. Iron formations of the underlying Asbesheuwels and Koegas Subgroups and overlying Hotazel Formation have similar origins, related, respectively, to the onset and cessation of the glacial event. This interpretation of the Transvaal Supergroup stratigraphy has significant implications for various Palaeoproterozoic environmental models and for the timing of the development of an oxygenated atmosphere.

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1. http://eprints.ru.ac.za/446/1/Deconstructing_the_Transvaal_Supergroup%2C_South_Africa_-_implications_for_Palaeoproterozoic.pdf
2. Moore, J.M. and Tsikos, H. and Polteau, S. (2001) Deconstructing the Transvaal Supergroup, South Africa: implications for Palaeoproterozoic palaeoclimate models. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 33 (3-4). pp. 437-444. ISSN 0899-5362

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Identifer	oai:union.ndltd.org:Rhodes/oai:eprints.ru.ac.za:446
Date	January 2001
Creators	Moore, J.M., Tsikos, H., Polteau, S.
Source Sets	Rhodes University SA
Detected Language	English
Type	Article, PeerReviewed
Format	application/pdf
Relation	http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0899-5362(01)00084-7, http://eprints.ru.ac.za/446/