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Geology of KwaZulu-Natal |
| Natal Group sandstone - the first sediments of a new continent | ||
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The first sedimentary sequence deposited on the new basement was the Cambrian to Ordovician Natal Group (490 million years ago).
Structures preserved in these sandstones indicate that the sediments were transported and deposited by rivers that drained highlands to the northeast. Close to their source, in northern KZN, deep valleys were infilled with thick accumulations of boulders and pebbles. |
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Further south the sediment is finer grained and forms resistant sandstone cliffs. These give rise to the table top topography seen in the Valley of a Thousand Hills and Oribi Gorge near Port Shepstone.
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Mgeni River, Valley of the Thousand Hills. |
Natal group sandstone, Kranskloof |
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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.)