Abstract
A Palaeoarchaean greenstone fragment and associated granitoid gneisses from an area south of Ulundi in KwaZulu-Natal is described. The fragment consists of an association of garnetiferous amphibolite and calc-silicate that was intruded at 3388 ± 4 Ma by tonalite and at 3275 ± 4 Ma by trondhjemite. Strong ductile deformation of the greenstones and granitoids under amphibolite facies conditions (7 kbar and 600 to 650°C) took place prior to uplift and emplacement of a granite batholith at ~3.25 Ga ago in which the granitoid gneiss-greenstone domain is now found. Magmatism 3.27 to 3.25 Ga ago was a direct response to regional metamorphism and anataxis, and gave rise to stabilization of the southeastern Kaapvaal Craton at that time, earlier than other parts of the craton. Deposition of quartz-arenites on stable granitic basement took place <3.1 Ga ago. Contrasting ages in magmatic pulses and regional metamorphism reflect a different crustal growth history of the eastern and southeastern part of the Kaapvaal Craton.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 263-276 |
Number of pages | 14 |
Journal | South African Journal of Geology |
Volume | 123 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Sept 2020 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Geology