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Transvaal Supergroup, South Africa

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. It comprises four unconformity-bounded sequences: (1) a lower sequence of stratigraphically unresolved siliciclastic and volcanic rocks of restricted lateral extent; (2) quartz arenites of the Black Reef Formation (Vryburg Formation in the Griqualand West basin); (3) predominantly chemical sedimentary rocks (dolomite and banded-iron formation) of the Chuniespoort (or Ghaap) Group (including rock sequences of the well-developed Campbellrand-Malmaniplatform); and (4) sandstones, mudrocks, and minor basalt-andesite flows of the Pretoria (or Postmasburg) Group. The...

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park, 524, 2006, 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. Centro de Biología Molecular, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    Ricardo Amils

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

    Muriel Gargaud

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

    José Cernicharo Quintanilla

  4. Geophysical Lab., Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, District of Columbia, USA

    Henderson James Cleaves

  5. Astronomy Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA

    William M. Irvine

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

    Daniele Pinti

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

    Michel Viso

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© 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Hofmann, A. (2014). Transvaal Supergroup, South Africa. In: Amils, R., et al. Encyclopedia of Astrobiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1609-3

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

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • 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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  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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