Overview
Identifiers
Inventory Number
3320BB3
Site Name
Geosite: Witbergs River section top
Site Category
Geological
Palaeontological
References
Reference Types
Journal
Citation
VISSER, J.N.J. et al. (1997). Sediment transport of the Late Palaeozoic glacial Dwyka Group in the southwestern Karoo Basin. South African Journal of Geology, vol. 100, pp 223-236.
Reference Types
Other Publication
Citation
COLE, D.I. and SMITH, R.M.H. (2008). Fluvial architecture of the Late Permian Beaufort Group deposits, S.W. Karoo Basin: Point bars, crevasse splays, palaeosols, vertebrate fossils and uranium. Guidebook, Field Excursion FT02, AAPG Conference, Cape Town (26-29 October 2008), 110p.
Date Retrieved
Reference Types
Other Publication
Citation
Cole, D.I. and Wickens, H. de V. (1998). Lower Karoo Supergroup: glacial, basinal and terrestrial environments in the southwestern part of the main Karoo basin. Guidebook 10th Gondwana Conference, University of Cape Town, South Africa, No. Pr 1, 77p.
Reference Types
Other Publication
Citation
Geological Survey (1991). Geological map of Sheet 3320 Ladismith (scale 1:250 000). Publication, Geological Survey of South Africa.
Reference Types
Other Publication
Citation
VISSER, J.N.J. (1992). The Dwyka Group in the western half of the Karoo Basin, South Africa. Guidebook, Excursion 1, 24th Geocongress of the Geological Society of South Africa, Bloemfontein, South Africa, 38p.
Date Retrieved
Reference Types
Other Publication
Citation
VISSER, J.N.J. (2003). Lithostratigraphy of the Elandsvlei Formation (Dwyka Group). Lithostratigraphic Series No. 39, 11p, SACS Publication
Record Administration
Author
doug.cole
Post date
Tuesday, October 29, 2013 - 16:28
Last modified
Thursday, May 2, 2024 - 18:19
Location
Location
Mapping
-33.23781, 20.865556
Western Cape
  • Central Karoo
  • Laingsburg
Grading
Autoid
Grading - 225398
Submitted by
Submitted by doug.cole on 29/10/2013 - 16:42.
Grading
Grade IIIa
Grading Date
GradingComment

Geosite covering the geological section along the Witbergs River between 4.5 and 6.5 km south of Laingsburg with this site marking the top of the section. The section exposes the complete succession of the glacial Dwyka Group disconformable on Witteberg Group and there are clear exposures of the Whitehill and Collingham Formations near the top of the section. The Dwyka Group is made up entirely of the Elandsvlei Formation and the Witbergs River section forms the holostratotype of this formation. This section 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
National
Level
Medium
Statement of Significance

The geological section is 3.4 km long and the strata are steeply-dipping (~ 80 degrees north) and lie on the northern limb of a major anticline. The gradational contact between mudstone containing dropstones of the Dwyka Group and shale with dispersed dropstones in the lowermost metre is seen in the upper part of the section. Isolated exposures of the Prince Albert Formation are present and most of the Whitehill and Collingham Formations are present in a cliff exposure at the top of the section. Eurypterid trackways are present at one locality in the Collingham Formation.

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