Overview
Identifiers
Inventory Number
3320BA5
Site Name
Holostratotype: Whitehill Formation near Whitehill Station
Site Category
Geological
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
Post date
Tuesday, October 29, 2013 - 14:24
Last modified
Thursday, May 2, 2024 - 18:19
Location
Location
Mapping
-33.222206, 20.677513
Western Cape
  • Central Karoo
  • Laingsburg
Grading
Autoid
Grading - 225409
Submitted by
Submitted by doug.cole on 29/10/2013 - 14:31.
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, which is 53 metres thick. The site corresponds with the top of the formation where white-weathering, black, carbonaceous shale is conformably overlain by dark grey, siliceous shale containing very thin, yellow-weathering tuff beds and thin chert beds of the Collingham 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
Significance Categories
Understanding Natural or Cultural Heritage
Sphere of Significance
Local
Level
Medium
Significance Categories
Research, Teaching or Benchmark Site
Sphere of Significance
Local
Level
Medium
Statement of Significance

The top of the Whitehill Formation holostratotype is well-exposed in the lower slopes 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.

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