The Balfour Formation has a pronounced lithological variation that is characterized by alternating sandstone- and mudstone-dominated members. The sandstone-dominated Oudeberg and Barberskrans Members are composed of l...The Balfour Formation has a pronounced lithological variation that is characterized by alternating sandstone- and mudstone-dominated members. The sandstone-dominated Oudeberg and Barberskrans Members are composed of lithofacies that range from intraformationai conglomerates to fine-grained sediments, whereas the mudstone-dominated members (Daggaboersnek, Elandsberg, and Palingkloof) are dominated by the facies Fm and FI. Petrography, geochemistry, and a paleocurrent analysis indicated that the source rock of the Balfour Formation was to south east and the rocks had a transitional/dissected magmatic arc signature. The sandstones-rich members were deposited by seasonal and ephemeral high-energy, low-sinuous streams, and the fine-grained-rich members were formed by ephemeral meandering streams. The paleoclimates have been equated to present temperate climates; they were semiarid becoming arid towards the top of the Balfour Formation. This has been determined by reconstructing the paleolatitude of the Karoo Basin, geochemistry, paleontology, sedimentary structures, and other rock properties, like color.展开更多
The subsidence history of the Soutpansberg Basin was reconstructed by a tectonic subsidence analysis coupled with backstripping calculations based on data of newly interpreted sequence boundaries. Furthermore, burial ...The subsidence history of the Soutpansberg Basin was reconstructed by a tectonic subsidence analysis coupled with backstripping calculations based on data of newly interpreted sequence boundaries. Furthermore, burial and time plots were constructed in order to understand the burial and thermal history of the basin. Input data were based on facies, lithostratigraphic models and tectonic interpretations. The studied succession is up to 1000 m and is underlain by the Achaean Limpopo Mobile Belt. The subsidence within the basin supports the primary graben system which must have been centred within the present basins, and later became a region of faulting. The subsidence and burial history curves suggests two phases of rapid subsidence during the Early-Late Permian (300–230 Ma) and Middle Triassic (215–230 Ma). The areas of greater extension subsided more rapidly during these intervals. Two slow subsidence phases are observed during the Late Triassic (215–198 Ma) and Early Jurassic (198–100 Ma). These intervals represent the post-rift thermal subsidence and are interpreted as slow flexural subsidence. Based on these observations on the subsidence curves, it is possible to infer that the first stage of positive inflexion (300 Ma) is therefore recognised as the first stage of the Soutpansberg Basin formation.展开更多
The Balfour Formation was subdivided into five members based on lithological variation that is characterized by alternating sandstone-and mudstone -dominated members.The sandstone dominated Oudeberg and Barberskrans m...The Balfour Formation was subdivided into five members based on lithological variation that is characterized by alternating sandstone-and mudstone -dominated members.The sandstone dominated Oudeberg and Barberskrans members are composed of lithofacies that range from intraformational conglomerates to fine-grained sediments,whereas the mudstone dominated members(Daggaboersnek, Elandsberg and Palingkloof) are dominated by the fine-grained facies(Fm and F1).Petrography,geochemistry and palaeocurrent analysis indicated that the source rock of the Balfour Formation was to展开更多
基金supported by the Govan Mbeki Research Centre(GMRC) at the University of Fort Hare and by the Council for Geoscience
文摘The Balfour Formation has a pronounced lithological variation that is characterized by alternating sandstone- and mudstone-dominated members. The sandstone-dominated Oudeberg and Barberskrans Members are composed of lithofacies that range from intraformationai conglomerates to fine-grained sediments, whereas the mudstone-dominated members (Daggaboersnek, Elandsberg, and Palingkloof) are dominated by the facies Fm and FI. Petrography, geochemistry, and a paleocurrent analysis indicated that the source rock of the Balfour Formation was to south east and the rocks had a transitional/dissected magmatic arc signature. The sandstones-rich members were deposited by seasonal and ephemeral high-energy, low-sinuous streams, and the fine-grained-rich members were formed by ephemeral meandering streams. The paleoclimates have been equated to present temperate climates; they were semiarid becoming arid towards the top of the Balfour Formation. This has been determined by reconstructing the paleolatitude of the Karoo Basin, geochemistry, paleontology, sedimentary structures, and other rock properties, like color.
基金financially supported by the Coaltech Research Association and the University of Fort Hare
文摘The subsidence history of the Soutpansberg Basin was reconstructed by a tectonic subsidence analysis coupled with backstripping calculations based on data of newly interpreted sequence boundaries. Furthermore, burial and time plots were constructed in order to understand the burial and thermal history of the basin. Input data were based on facies, lithostratigraphic models and tectonic interpretations. The studied succession is up to 1000 m and is underlain by the Achaean Limpopo Mobile Belt. The subsidence within the basin supports the primary graben system which must have been centred within the present basins, and later became a region of faulting. The subsidence and burial history curves suggests two phases of rapid subsidence during the Early-Late Permian (300–230 Ma) and Middle Triassic (215–230 Ma). The areas of greater extension subsided more rapidly during these intervals. Two slow subsidence phases are observed during the Late Triassic (215–198 Ma) and Early Jurassic (198–100 Ma). These intervals represent the post-rift thermal subsidence and are interpreted as slow flexural subsidence. Based on these observations on the subsidence curves, it is possible to infer that the first stage of positive inflexion (300 Ma) is therefore recognised as the first stage of the Soutpansberg Basin formation.
文摘The Balfour Formation was subdivided into five members based on lithological variation that is characterized by alternating sandstone-and mudstone -dominated members.The sandstone dominated Oudeberg and Barberskrans members are composed of lithofacies that range from intraformational conglomerates to fine-grained sediments,whereas the mudstone dominated members(Daggaboersnek, Elandsberg and Palingkloof) are dominated by the fine-grained facies(Fm and F1).Petrography,geochemistry and palaeocurrent analysis indicated that the source rock of the Balfour Formation was to