A NEW STROMATOLITE OCCURRENCE IN THE NSUZE GROUP, PONGOLA SUPERGROUP OF NORTHERN KWAZULU-NATAL, SOUTH AFRICA

Research Article| June 01, 2011 A NEW STROMATOLITE OCCURRENCE IN THE NSUZE GROUP, PONGOLA SUPERGROUP OF NORTHERN KWAZULU-NATAL, SOUTH AFRICA N. HICKS; N. HICKS Council for Geoscience. PO Box 900, Pietermaritzburg, 3200, South Africa., e-mail: nhicks@geoscience.org.za Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar J.N. DUNLEVEY; J.N. DUNLEVEY Department of Geology and Physics, University of Limpopo, Private Bag X1106, Sovenga 0727, South Africa., e-mail: John.Dunlevey@ul.ac.za Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar K.W. LIU K.W. LIU Department of Geology, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice 5700, South Africa., e-mail: KLiu@ufh.ac.za Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar South African Journal of Geology (2011) 114 (2): 195–200. https://doi.org/10.2113/gssajg.114.2.195 Article history first online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Twitter LinkedIn Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation N. HICKS, J.N. DUNLEVEY, K.W. LIU; A NEW STROMATOLITE OCCURRENCE IN THE NSUZE GROUP, PONGOLA SUPERGROUP OF NORTHERN KWAZULU-NATAL, SOUTH AFRICA. South African Journal of Geology 2011;; 114 (2): 195–200. doi: https://doi.org/10.2113/gssajg.114.2.195 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search nav search search input Search input auto suggest search filter All ContentBy SocietySouth African Journal of Geology Search Advanced Search Abstract A new site containing stromatolite-bearing silicified carbonates horizons is described in the Nsuze Group within the Nkandla Basin of the Pongola Supergroup. The stromatolite-bearing carbonate units are interbedded with calcareous arenite and represent stratiform biostromes exhibiting both smooth and wrinkled laminations. Microbially-accentuated current ripples are regularly preserved upon stratiform stromatolitic substrates. The recognition of these stromatolite-bearing units in a previously undifferentiated Nsuze Group succession not only increases the area in which these accretionary, organo-sedimentary structures have been identified, but more importantly can provide the basis for regional lithostratigraphic correlation between the relatively well-defined stratigraphy of the main Pongola Basin and the more deformed and much less well-defined sequences in the structurally complex Nkandla Basin. The improved understanding of the regional stratigraphy generated by the recognition of this stromatolite-bearing marker horizon will provide a fundamental factor in deciphering the relationships of Pongola Supergroup inliers and the tectonic development of the region during the Mesoarchaean. You do not currently have access to this article.