Geology of the Sabie River Basalt Formation in the Southern Kruger National Park

Abstract

The Sabie River Basalt Formation (SRBF) in the central Lebombo is a virtually continuous sequence of basaltic lavas some 2 500 m thick that was erupted 200 - 179 Ma ago. Flows are dominantly pahoehoe in character and vary from 2 m to 20 m in thickness. Dolerite dykes cross-cutting the basalt sequence probably represent feeders to this considerable volcanic event. Volcanological features observed within the SRBF are described. Two chemically distinct basaltic magma types are recognised, the simultaneous eruption of which presents an intriguing geochemical problem as to their origins.

Keywords

• Jurassic, igneous, basalt, doleritic, lava, dyke, geochemistry, volcanology, volcano-stratigraphy, Karoo, Lebombo.