Overview
    Identifiers
    Inventory Number
    3320BA4
    Site Name
    Holostratotype: Whitehill Formation near Whitehill Station
    Site Category
    References
    Reference Types
    Book
    Citation
    SOUTH AFRICAN COMMITTEE FOR STRATIGRAPHY (1980). Stratigraphy of South Africa. Part 1: Lithostratigraphy of the Republic of South Africa, South West Africa/Namibia, and the Republics of Bophuthatswana, Transkei and Venda. Compiler: L.E. Kent. Handbook, Geological Survey of South Africa, No. 8, 690p.
    Date Retrieved
    Reference Types
    Other Publication
    Citation
    COLE, D.I. and BASSON. W.A. (1991). Whitehill Formation. Catalogue of South African Lithostratigraphic Units (M.R. Johnson, ed.). South African Committee for Stratigraphy, Volume 3, pp. 3-51 - 3-52.
    Reference Types
    Other Publication
    Citation
    Geological Survey (1991). Geological map of Sheet 3320 Ladismith (scale 1:250 000). Publication, Geological Survey of South Africa.
    Record Administration
    Author
    doug.cole
    Last modified
    Thursday, May 2, 2024 - 18:19
      Location
      Location
      Mapping
      -33.222855, 20.677408
      Western Cape
      • Central Karoo
      • Laingsburg
      Grading
      Grading
      Grade IIIb
      Grading Date
      GradingComment

      Geological section near base of south-facing ridge, 4 km ENE of Whitehill railway siding. This covers the moderately-dipping (20 degrees) Whitehill Formation and forms the holostratotype. The site corresponds with the base of the formation where white-weathering, black, carbonaceous shale conformably overlies dark grey or greenish grey shale of the Prince Albert Formation. A holostratotype is an essential component of a defined stratigraphic unit and this locality should be classified as a local heritage site. Grading by: DOUG COLE

      Significance criteria
      Sphere of Significance
      Local
      Level
      Medium
      Significance Categories
      Sphere of Significance
      Local
      Level
      Medium
      Statement of Significance

      The base of the Whitehill Formation holostratotype is well-exposed at the base of a ridge. The formation strikes west-northwest on the southern limb of a major east-plunging syncline. The holostratotype is named after the Whitehill railway siding, 4 km to the west-southwest.

      Grading
      Grade IIIb
      Grading Date
      GradingComment

      Geological section near base of south-facing ridge, 4 km ENE of Whitehill railway siding. This covers the moderately-dipping (45 - 85 degrees) Abrahamskraal Formation and forms the holostratotype. The site corresponds with the base of the formation where mudstone and subordinate sandstone conformably overlie the sandstone-dominated Waterford Formation. A holostratotype is an essential component of a defined stratigraphic unit and this locality should be classified as a local heritage site. Grading by: DOUG COLE

      Media
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