Geological Map Of Natal – 1910 – First Edition

Cartographer: Mines Department Of Natal
Publisher: Mines Department Of The Union Of South Africa
Price: £75 (post-free in the UK)
Publication Date: 1910
Edition: 1st edition
Format: Colour printed
Condition: In very good condition
Sheet Size: 50.5cm x 37.5cm

Condition:

Size: 50.5cm x 37.5cm. Scale: 1:1267200. Small stamp to the upper margin. Small amount of loss to the margin of the top left hand corner. Creasing and minor marks and wear. In very good condition overall.

Location: DOBRLTUBE 002819

The Geology Of Kwazulu-Natal: A Historical Overview

1. Geological Context and Tectonic Framework

KwaZulu-Natal is geologically situated on the southeastern margin of the Kaapvaal Craton, one of Earth’s oldest and most stable continental blocks, dating back to the Archaean eon (>3 billion years). The province exhibits a complex tectonothermal history, predominantly shaped by:

• The Pongola Orogeny (~2.9 Ga)
• The Namaqua-Natal Belt metamorphism (~1.1 Ga)
• The Pan-African Orogeny (~600 Ma)
• The deposition of the Karoo Supergroup (Late Carboniferous to Jurassic)
• Mesozoic rifting associated with Gondwana breakup

The geological framework includes Archaean cratonic crust, Proterozoic mobile belts, Palaeozoic-Mesozoic sedimentary basins, and Mesozoic volcanics and coastal Cenozoic deposits.

2. Major Geological Provinces
3. Kaapvaal Craton (Northwestern KwaZulu-Natal)

• Composed mainly of Archaean granite-gneiss terrains and greenstone belts.
• Hosts the Pongola Supergroup – the oldest supracrustal sequence in South Africa and one of the oldest globally.

Pongola Supergroup:

• Age: ~2.95 Ga
• Lithology: Volcanic rocks (rhyolites, basalts), quartzites, and shale.
• Tectonic Setting: Formed in an early continental rift environment.

1. Natal Metamorphic Province (NMP)

• A major component of the Namaqua-Natal Metamorphic Belt.
• Comprises high-grade amphibolite to granulite facies gneisses and schists.
• Intruded by syn- to post-tectonic granites.
• Age: 1.1–0.6 Ga (Namaqua-Natal and Pan-African orogenies)
• Tectonic Implications: Represents the suturing zone between the Kaapvaal Craton and the Moçambique Belt (part of the East African Orogen).

1. Mesozoic Karoo Supergroup

• Covers much of western and central KwaZulu-Natal.
• Deposited in the Karoo Basin, formed during the assembly and later rifting of Gondwana.

Key Stratigraphy:

1. Coastal Cenozoic Deposits

• Unconsolidated Quaternary sands, marine terraces, and fluvial/alluvial deposits dominate the coastal plain.
• Active dune systems and estuarine environments reflect Holocene sea-level changes.

3. Structural Features

• Major shear zones, such as the Tugela Shear Zone, mark terrane boundaries in the Natal Metamorphic Province.
• The Drakensberg Escarpment marks the western edge of the Karoo basalt plateau, dissected by rivers and erosion.

4. Economic Geology

KwaZulu-Natal has modest but varied mineral resources:

• Coal: High-quality bituminous coal in the Ecca Group, mined near Vryheid and Newcastle.
• Dimension stone: Granites and gneisses from the NMP.
• Heavy mineral sands: Coastal zones north of Richards Bay, exploited for ilmenite, rutile, and zircon.
• Industrial minerals: Clays, silica sands, and limestone in various Cenozoic formations.

5. Geomorphological and Environmental Aspects

• The Drakensberg Mountains, composed largely of resistant basalts, form the highest elevation zone.
• Deep river valleys, such as those of the Tugela and Umzimkulu Rivers, incise through Karoo strata and older basement.
• The coastal plain is low-lying, prone to sea-level sensitivity, and characterised by wetlands and estuaries.

6. Scientific Significance and Research

Research into KwaZulu-Natal’s geology contributes to several domains:

• Precambrian tectonics: The NMP provides clues to Neoproterozoic orogenesis and craton-marginal dynamics.
• Gondwana breakup studies: The Karoo volcanic sequences are globally important for understanding flood basalt events and environmental crises.
• Palaeontology: The Beaufort Group has yielded important Permian-Triassic vertebrate fossils.

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