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The tectono-metamorphic evolution of the Theespruit Formation in the Tjakastad Schist Belt and surrounding areas of the Barberton Greenstone Belt, South Africa
Thesis (MSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004.
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| Language: | en_ZA |
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Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
2011
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| _version_ | 1867613888888963072 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Diener, Johann F. A. |
| author2 | Stevens, Gary |
| author_browse | Diener, Johann F. A. Stevens, Gary |
| author_facet | Stevens, Gary Diener, Johann F. A. |
| author_sort | Diener, Johann F. A. |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | University of Stellenbosch |
| description | Thesis (MSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/16309 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | en_ZA |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:43:18.087Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2011 |
| publishDateRange | 2011 |
| publishDateSort | 2011 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/16309 The tectono-metamorphic evolution of the Theespruit Formation in the Tjakastad Schist Belt and surrounding areas of the Barberton Greenstone Belt, South Africa Diener, Johann F. A. Stevens, Gary Kisters, Alex University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Science. Dept. of Earth Sciences. Geology, Structural -- South Africa -- Mpumalanga Metamorphism (Geology) -- South Africa -- Mpumalanga Theses -- Geology Dissertations -- Earth sciences Theses -- Earth sciences Dissertations -- Geology Thesis (MSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The southern portions of the Early- to Mid-Archaean Barberton granitoid-greenstone terrain of South Africa consists of a high-grade metamorphic granitoid-gneiss terrain that is juxtaposed against the low-grade metamorphic supracrustal sequence of the Barberton Greenstone Belt. The boundary of the two different crustal domains corresponds to the Theespruit Formation, an amphibolite-facies, highly tectonized mélange of metabasites, felsic volcanics and rare, aluminous clastic sediments that occurs along the granitoidgreenstone margins. Amphibolite-facies lithologies in the Theespruit Formation are characterized by strongly prolate mylonitic fabrics that formed in a constrictional tectonic regime. Away from the granitoid-greenstone margin and towards the central parts of the greenstone belt, these rocks grade to, and are overprinted by, greenschist-facies S-L mylonites that formed during non-coaxial deformation. Both peak and retrograde minerals define, and are aligned parallel to, the fabrics in these rocks, indicating that shearing was initiated under peak metamorphic conditions and continued during retrogression. S-C’ fabric relationships indicate that shearing occurred in an extensional tectonic regime and that, during deformation, the gneiss terrain was uplifted relative to the greenstone belt. Peak metamorphic assemblages of grt-st-bt-chl-pl-qtz and ky-st-btms- pl-qtz in metasediments and grt-ep-hbl-pl-qtz in amphibolite constrain peak metamorphic conditions of 7.4 ± 1.0 kbar and 560 ± 20 ºC that were attained during the main accretionary episode in the Barberton terrain at 3229 ± 25 Ma. Peak assemblages in all rocks are pre-tectonic and were deformed and re-equilibrated during retrogression, resulting in these being minimum estimates of peak metamorphic conditions. Petrographic evidence and retrograde pressure-temperature estimates indicate that retrogression involved near-isothermal decompression of ca. 4 kbar prior to cooling into the greenschist-facies. The style and timing of metamorphism in the Theespruit Formation is similar to that of the granitoid-gneiss terrain, suggesting that the Theespruit Formation shares a geological history with the gneiss terrain and that it is allochtonous to the greenstone belt. The main deformational and fabric-forming event exhibited in the Theespruit Formation occurred during the exhumation of the granitoid-gneiss terrain subsequent to peak metamorphism. Consequently, the juxtaposition of this terrain againstthe greenstone belt was achieved by tectonic underplating and core complex formation at ca. 3.23 Ga. The occurrence of high-grade constrictional mylonites that are overprinted by low-grade non-coaxial mylonites as well as extension in an overall compressional tectonic regime is consistent with exhumation by extensional orogenic collapse. Burial of the high-grade terrain to depths of 25 – 30 km is only possible in a relatively cold and rigid crustal environment, while the extremely low apparent geothermal gradients of ca. 20 ºC/km preserved in this terrain suggest that burial and exhumation occurred rapidly, within a time-span of ca. 15 – 20 Ma. These parameters strongly suggest that metamorphism occurred in response to a lateral plate tectonic process that was operational in the Barberton terrain at 3230 Ma. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die suidelike dele van die Vroeg- tot Middel-Argaïese Barberton graniet-groensteen terrein van Suid-Afrika bestaan uit ‘n hoë-graad metamorfe graniet-gneiss terrein wat die lae-graad metamorfe groenstene van die Barberton Groensteen Gordel begrens. Die grens tussen die twee verskillende kors-domeine hang saam met die Theespruit Formasie, ‘n amfiboliet-fasies, getektoniseerde melange van metabasiete, felsiese vulkaniese gesteentes en skaars, alumineuse klastiese sedimente wat langs die graniet-groensteen kontakte voorkom. Amfiboliet-fasies gesteentes in die Theespruit Formasie word gekenmerk deur sterk prolaat milonitiese maaksels wat in ‘n vernouende tektoniese omgewing gevorm het. Hierdie rotse word weg van die graniet-groensteen kontak en na die sentrale dele van die groensteen gordel oordruk en vervang deur groenskis-fasies S-L miloniete wat tydens nie-koaksiale vervorming gevorm het. Beide piek en retrograad minerale definieer, en is georienteer parallel aan, die maaksel in die rotse, wat daarop dui dat skuifskeur onder piek metamorfe toestande begin het en volgehou het tydens retrogressie. S-C’ maaksels dui daarop dat skuifskeur in ‘n verlengende tektoniese omgewing plaasgevind het en dat die gneiss terrein opgehef is relatief tot die groensteengordel tydens vervorming. Piek metamorfe versamelings van grt-st-bt-chl-plqtz en ky-st-bt-ms-pl-qtz in metasedimente en grt-ep-hbl-pl-qtz in amfiboliet bepaal piek metamorfe toestande van 7.4 ± 1.0 kbar en 560 ± 20 ºC wat bereik is gedurende die hooffase van akkresie in die Barberton terrein teen 3229 ± 25 Ma. Die piek metamorfe versamelings in alle rotse is pre-tektonies en is vervorm en geherekwilibreer tydens retrogressie, wat maak dat die beramings minimum skattings van piek metamorfe toestande is. Petrografiese getuienis asook druk-temperatuur beramings dui daarop dat retrogressie gepaard gegaan het met byna-isotermiese drukverligting van naastenby 4 kbar voor afkoeling tot in die groenskis-fasies. Die styl en tydsberekening van metamorfose in die Theespruit Formasie is vergelykbaar met metamorfose in die granietgneiss terrein, wat daarop dui dat die Theespruit Formasie ‘n geologiese geskiedenis met die gneiss terrein deel en allochtoon is tot die groensteen gordel. Die hooffase van vervorming en maakselvorming in die Theespruit Formasie het plaasgevind gedurende die herontbloting van die graniet-gneiss terrein na piek metamorfose. Gevolglik is dieteenplasing van dié terrein teen die groensteen gordel vermag deur tektoniese onderplasing en kernkompleksvorming teen ongeveer 3.23 Ga. Die verskynsel van hoëgraadse vernoude miloniete wat oordruk word deur lae-graadse nie-koaksiale miloniete asook verlenging in ‘n algeheel saamdrukkende tektoniese omgewing dui daarop dat herontbloting plaasgevind het deur middel van verlengende orogenetiese ineenstorting. Die begrawing van die hoë-graadse terrein tot dieptes van 25 – 30 km is net moontlik in ‘n relatief koel en star kors-omgewing, terwyl die uitermate lae geotermiese gradiente van ongeveer 20 ºC/km wat in die terrein behoue gebly het daarop dui dat begrawing en herontbloting vinnig geskeid het, binne ‘n tydsverloop van ongeveer 15 – 20 Ma. Hierdie beperkings is ‘n sterk aanduiding dat metamorfose plaasgevind het as gevolg van ‘n laterale plaattektoniese proses wat werksaam was in die Barberton terrein teen 3230 Ma. 2011-08-29T08:26:24Z 2011-08-29T08:26:24Z 2004-12 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/16309 en_ZA University of Stellenbosch xvi, 210 leaves : ill. application/pdf Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| spellingShingle | Geology, Structural -- South Africa -- Mpumalanga Metamorphism (Geology) -- South Africa -- Mpumalanga Theses -- Geology Dissertations -- Earth sciences Theses -- Earth sciences Dissertations -- Geology Diener, Johann F. A. The tectono-metamorphic evolution of the Theespruit Formation in the Tjakastad Schist Belt and surrounding areas of the Barberton Greenstone Belt, South Africa |
| title | The tectono-metamorphic evolution of the Theespruit Formation in the Tjakastad Schist Belt and surrounding areas of the Barberton Greenstone Belt, South Africa |
| title_full | The tectono-metamorphic evolution of the Theespruit Formation in the Tjakastad Schist Belt and surrounding areas of the Barberton Greenstone Belt, South Africa |
| title_fullStr | The tectono-metamorphic evolution of the Theespruit Formation in the Tjakastad Schist Belt and surrounding areas of the Barberton Greenstone Belt, South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | The tectono-metamorphic evolution of the Theespruit Formation in the Tjakastad Schist Belt and surrounding areas of the Barberton Greenstone Belt, South Africa |
| title_short | The tectono-metamorphic evolution of the Theespruit Formation in the Tjakastad Schist Belt and surrounding areas of the Barberton Greenstone Belt, South Africa |
| title_sort | tectono metamorphic evolution of the theespruit formation in the tjakastad schist belt and surrounding areas of the barberton greenstone belt south africa |
| topic | Geology, Structural -- South Africa -- Mpumalanga Metamorphism (Geology) -- South Africa -- Mpumalanga Theses -- Geology Dissertations -- Earth sciences Theses -- Earth sciences Dissertations -- Geology |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/16309 |
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