Geology of selected sites along the northern margin of the Barberton Greenstone Belt
Date
2022
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Abstract
An increasing number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites are recognised for their geological significance. One such site forms part of the Barberton Greenstone Belt (BGB), which has been widely acknowledged as an outstanding site for Archean geology research. Though members of the geoscience community are familiar with the outstanding universal value of the Barberton Greenstone Belt, the people who live on it often do not. With the World Heritage Status (2018) comes an obligation to unpack the geological heritage of the Barberton region to local people and visitors, and to promote further research so the true value of the geological importance of the region may be better understood. For this reason, this project set out to interpret and contribute to concepts formulated from studies of BGB rocks to produce a thesis usable for generating various science communication media and topics for further research. Themes discussed in this thesis include granite-greenstone relationships, alteration of ultramafic rocks and the associated economic products, as well as deformation of various lithologies. Ease of access guided the selection of eight mostly roadside outcrops along the R38 secondary road linking Barberton to the southern gate of the Kruger National Park. These sites link up to form a geological trail along the northern margin of the Barberton Greenstone Belt, allowing visitors to easily interact with outcrops on their way to other popular attractions.
By driving along the R38 with science communication media produced from this project, locals and visitors will learn how geology shaped their world. They will gain insight on how mineable concentrations of verdite, talc and magnesite occur in certain ultramafic bodies. They will also learn of different ways in which rocksrespond to stress as a common perception of rocks among laypersons is that they are solid, stable and unchanging.
Description
A dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2022
Keywords
Geology, Barberton Greenstone Belt (BGB), UNESCO World Heritage Sites