One billion years of crustal reworking will be explored in a traverse from the Murchison belt to the Limpopo Central Zone. Starting with the ca 2.95 Ga old Murchison belt, several localities in the Northern Kaapvaal craton (the Pietersburg block) will be visited, with the focus on the diversity of granitoids found in this area. These granitoids range from the classical tonalite–trondhjemite–granodiorite (TTG) to the more exotic magnesium–potassium (Mg–K) and iron–potassium (Fe–K), late-Archaean granites. Upon entering the Southern Marginal Zone, late-Archaean granulite facies migmatites and lower crustal processes, such as melting and melt distribution, which occurred here at ca. 2.7 Ga, will be examined and discussed. The Central Zone of the Limpopo belt will be visited, where the focus is on polymetamorphic, granulite facies rocks (2.5 and 2.0 Ga). The trip ends under the baobab trees of the world-famous Sand River locality.

Departure is on 22 August from Phalaborwa, located at the gate of the Kruger National Park. Participants will therefore have the
opportunity for sightseeing in the Kruger Park before joining the trip.

Field Trip Leader: Jean-Francois Moyen, Université Jean-Monnet