A reference section for part of the Jeppestown and Government Subgroups, Witwatersrand Supergroup, Klerksdorp Goldfield, South Africa

A detailed lithostratigraphic profile for part of the West Rand Group in the Rietkuil Syncline west of Klerksdorp is described. This sequence was documented from the core of borehole BAB 1 drilled in the early 1950s. The succession described is approximately 1500 m thick and spans the stratigraphic interval from the top of the Rietkuil Formation (Jeppestown Subgroup) to the central parts of the Promise Formation (Government Subgroup). This succession is relatively undisturbed by post-depositional tectonic and igneous actvity and therefore provides an uninterrupted stratigraphic section for this portion of the Witwatersrand Supergroup stratigraphy. The entire core sequence is composed of coarse- to very coarse-grained arenites and quartzwackes together with interbedded conglomerates, pebbly arenites, shale, and two diamictite units. Several lithostratigraphic name changes are proposed to those introduced by SACS (1980) for the Klerksdorp area. -Authors