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Geology of KwaZulu-Natal |
| Kimberlite - but no diamonds | Cretaceous | ||
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Following Gondwana breakup, there was a period of unique igneous activity.
This formed numerous volcanoes of kimberlite rock, commonly known to contain
diamonds.
Unfortunately, the kimberlite pipes of KwaZulu-Natal have not yielded any significant diamonds. This is due to the kimberlites having originated from beneath the Natal Metamorphic Province. Carbon crystallises to form diamond under high pressure and low temperature - conditions only found beneath the Kaapvaal Craton, such as in northern Lesotho. |
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The schematic diagram shows the structure of a KZN kimberlite pipe. |
The Big Hole in Kimberly represents a kimberlite volcano that has been mined to recover diamonds. |
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last updated:
26 Sep 2006
© School of Geological Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal
The website was designed and compiled by Dr. G. Whitmore, Ms D. Meth and Dr. R. Uken (modified by T. Reinhardt.)