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A study into the main structural features of the Namaqua region and their relation to the intrusion of the Keimoes Suite

>Magister Scientiae - MSc / The thesis provides a study into the main structural features of the Namaqua Region
and their relation to the intrusion of the Keimoes Suite. This was achieved by producing
a digitized map of the Namaqua Region structural framework using a LandSAT image
and MOVE software for remote sensing. The structural framework showed an array of
shear zones and fault systems which trend in a NW-SE direction. The validation of the
sense of movement, location and orientation of the shear zones was done by field
mapping. The general orientation of all shear zones was NW-SE. The sense of
movement along the Neusspruit, Boven Rugzeer and Trooilapspan shear zones was
found to be dextral strike slip movement and the Cnydas shear zone had a sinistral
strike slip movement. The location of the shear zones were determined by analyzing the
deviation in general foliation trend which was visualized using Rose Diagrams. The field
data and the remote sensing were found to agree with the transpressive environment of
the Namaqua Region. The oblique collision of the Namaqua-Natal crustal block with the Kaapvaal Craton during the orogenic event at ~1.2 Ga created a compressionalgeotectonic setting which allowed for the intrusion of the early to late syn-tectonic Keimoes Suite granites. The lateral escape of the Namaqua-Natal crustal block took place along the western margin of the Kaapvaal Craton. This was brought on by prolonged compression which resulted in the formation of a releasing bend in the Namaqua Region. This releasing bend produced the negative flower structure with dextral shear zones which facilitated the intrusion of the post-tectonic Keimoes Suite granites.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:uwc/oai:etd.uwc.ac.za:11394/3877
Date January 2013
CreatorsSithole, Nompumelelo
ContributorsVan Bever Donker, Jan, Bailie, Russell
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
RightsUniversity of Western Cape

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