Revised stratigraphy of the Beaufort Group in the southern Karoo Basin
Date
1981
Authors
Turner, B. R.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Bernard Price Institute for Palaeontological Research
Abstract
The Beaufort Group in the southern Karoo Basin between Graaff-Reinet and Sutherland
has been divided into three formations based primarily on the changing ratio of sandstone to
mudstone. The former Abrahamskraal Formation is elevated to subgroup status and divided
into two new formations, the Lootskloof Formation and the Verlatenkloof Formation, whilst
the Teekloof Formation is retained but more precisely defined. The Verlatenkloof Formation
includes two members, the Jakhals Valley Member and the Paalhuis Member. The Teekloof
Formation includes the Oukloof Member in addition to the previously defined and described
Oudeberg Sandstone Member. Stratotypes are erected for the new formations and members
in accordance with the recommendations of the South African Committee for Stratigraphy.
Subdivision of the formations and their relationship to the established biostratigraphy and
facies patterns provides a means of fixing and correlating the most important uranium mineralised
units in the succession with greater accuracy. These comprise the Paalhuis Member,
the Oukloof Member and the Jakhals Valley Member, although the most important mineralised
unit is the Paalhuis Member which contains up to 90 per cent of all known uranium
occurrences in the Beaufort West area.
Description
Main article
Keywords
Stratigraphy; Beaufort; Karoo
Citation
None