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Textural analysis and plagioclase grain size distribution of the Rooiberg Group, Bushveld Igneous Complex, South Africa

Dissertation (MSc (Geology))--University of Pretoria, 2024.

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Other Authors: Roberts, R.J. (James)
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: University of Pretoria 2024
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access_status_str Open Access
author2 Roberts, R.J. (James)
author_browse Roberts, R.J. (James)
author_facet Roberts, R.J. (James)
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv © 2023 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.
description Dissertation (MSc (Geology))--University of Pretoria, 2024.
format Thesis
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institution University of Pretoria (South Africa)
language English
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:36:42.450Z
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provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
publishDate 2024
publishDateRange 2024
publishDateSort 2024
publisher University of Pretoria
publisherStr University of Pretoria
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spelling oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/99942 Textural analysis and plagioclase grain size distribution of the Rooiberg Group, Bushveld Igneous Complex, South Africa Roberts, R.J. (James) reptonmelissa@gmail.com Brown, Melissa UCTD Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Rooiberg Group Crystal textures Grain site distribution Plagioclase crystals Ignimbrites Welded ignimbrites Dissertation (MSc (Geology))--University of Pretoria, 2024. The Rooiberg Group, occurring within the Kaapvaal craton at ~2,06 Ga, is a silicic large igneous province (SLIP), is a precursor to, and is synonymous with the Bushveld Igneous Province (BIC), the world’s largest mafic body. The Rooiberg Group’s volcanic successions, namely the Dullstroom, Damwal, Kwaggasnek, and Schrikkloof formations, were previously interpreted as largely consisting of lava flows, ranging from low- and high-Ti basalts to high- Mg rhyolites. Lenhardt et al. (2017) challenged the dominant lava-flow interpretations and proposed the Rooiberg Group is dominantly composed of highly welded, lava-like ignimbrites. In this study, petrographical and textural analysis was undertaken, and plagioclase grain size distributions studied throughout the Rooiberg Group formations to bring to light a clearer understanding of the Rooiberg Group’s eruptional and emplacement styles, as well as the palaeoenvironment and volcanic origins. The Dullstroom and lower Damwal formations consist of lava flow sequences, whereas the upper Damwal, Kwaggasnek and Schrikkloof formations almost exclusively consist of ignimbrites originating from highly explosive pyroclastic eruptions, aligned with the increasingly siliceous composition of these formations. The Damwal, Kwaggasnek and Schrikkloof ignimbrites have various degrees of welding, ranging from nonwelded ignimbrites displaying classic pyroclastic textures, to highly welded, lava-like and rheomorphic ignimbrites, that have often been misinterpreted as lava-flows due to the lava-like textures. The various degrees of welding reflect the welding continuum, where different degrees of welding may be found within a single pyroclastic flow cooling unit. The Rooiberg Group volcanics were emplaced in an alluvial to lacustrine palaeoenvironment, originating from caldera ring-fissure eruptions. Grain size distributions of the different formations possibly reveal that the remaining Rooiberg volcanic exposures are distal deposits, where the youngest formations (Kwaggasnek to Schrikkloof) reflect increasingly distal deposits. The Rooiberg Group occurs over an extensive area, where outcrops occur according to “fragments” or “packages”, including the Nylstroom Package, Rooiberg Fragment, and Bothasberg Package. Geology MSc (Geology) Unrestricted Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences None 2024-12-12T11:31:39Z 2024-12-12T11:31:39Z 2025-04 2024-01 Dissertation * A2025 http://hdl.handle.net/2263/99942 10.25403/UPresearchdata.27892392 en © 2023 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria
spellingShingle UCTD
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Rooiberg Group
Crystal textures
Grain site distribution
Plagioclase crystals
Ignimbrites
Welded ignimbrites
Textural analysis and plagioclase grain size distribution of the Rooiberg Group, Bushveld Igneous Complex, South Africa
title Textural analysis and plagioclase grain size distribution of the Rooiberg Group, Bushveld Igneous Complex, South Africa
title_full Textural analysis and plagioclase grain size distribution of the Rooiberg Group, Bushveld Igneous Complex, South Africa
title_fullStr Textural analysis and plagioclase grain size distribution of the Rooiberg Group, Bushveld Igneous Complex, South Africa
title_full_unstemmed Textural analysis and plagioclase grain size distribution of the Rooiberg Group, Bushveld Igneous Complex, South Africa
title_short Textural analysis and plagioclase grain size distribution of the Rooiberg Group, Bushveld Igneous Complex, South Africa
title_sort textural analysis and plagioclase grain size distribution of the rooiberg group bushveld igneous complex south africa
topic UCTD
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Rooiberg Group
Crystal textures
Grain site distribution
Plagioclase crystals
Ignimbrites
Welded ignimbrites
url http://hdl.handle.net/2263/99942