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Transvaal Supergroup, South Africa

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Encyclopedia of Astrobiology

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Definition

The Transvaal Supergroup is best known for excellent exposures of a mixed siliciclastic-carbonate ramp grading upward into an extensive carbonate platform overlain by banded-iron formation. Deposited on the Kaapvaal Craton between 2,670 and 2,050 Ma, the Transvaal Supergroup is best preserved in the Transvaal and Griqualand West structural basins in South Africa and extends into Botswana as the Kanye basin. The Transvaal Supergroup rests on the ≥2.70 Ga Ventersdorp Supergroup or older rocks with an angular unconformity and is intruded by the 2.05 Ga Bushveld Complex. In the Transvaal subbasin, it comprises two unconformity-bounded sequences:

  1. 1.

    Quartz arenites of the Black Reef Formation overlain by predominantly chemical sedimentary rocks (dolomite and banded-iron formation) of the Chuniespoort Group (including rock sequences of the well-developed Campbellrand-Malmani platform)

  2. 2.

    Sandstones, mudrocks, carbonates, glacial diamictites, and minor basalt-andesite flows of the...

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa

    Axel Hofmann

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  1. Axel Hofmann
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Correspondence to Axel Hofmann .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Labo. d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux (LAB), Observatoire Aquitain des Sciences de l'Univers (OASU), Floirac CX, France

    Muriel Gargaud

  2. Astronomy Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA

    William M. Irvine

  3. Centro de Biología Molecular, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    Ricardo Amils

  4. Geophysical Lab., Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, DC, USA

    Henderson James Cleaves

  5. Dépt. Sc. de la Terre et de l’Atmosphère, Université du Québec, Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada

    Daniele Pinti

  6. Centro de Astrobiología (CAB), Inst. Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial, Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain

    José Cernicharo Quintanilla

  7. Centre National d'Etudes Spatiale (CNES) DPI/E2U, Paris CX, France

    Michel Viso

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Hofmann, A. (2021). Transvaal Supergroup, South Africa. In: Gargaud, M., et al. Encyclopedia of Astrobiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1609-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1609-4

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  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-27833-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-27833-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Physics and AstronomyReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Chemistry, Materials and Physics

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Chapter history

  1. Latest

    Transvaal Supergroup, South Africa
    Published:
    18 December 2020

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1609-4

  2. Original

    Transvaal Supergroup, South Africa
    Published:
    04 May 2015

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1609-3

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