Description

There are currently major controversies over the evolution of early Archaean granitoid-greenstone terranes that relate to basic understanding of ancient tectonic regimes and the style of mantle convection driving it. A proposed 5-day field workshop centred in Badplaas, southern Barberton Mountain Land, South Africa will be an ideal venue to explore these issues, given this area has some of the most important parts of Earth’s oldest geological record. This will be organized jointly by the 35th IGC and the German Priority Project SP1833 entitled “Building a Habitable Earth“ and funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG)(www.habitableearth.uni-koeln.de). The Barberton Mountain Land has featured prominently in models for the evolution of early Archaean continental crust, mainly because of its excellent exposures and unique rock types. Nevertheless, there are still major controversies on rock relationships and granitoid-greenstone evolution. The workshop will consist of alternating discussion sessions and field visits. Importantly, there will be visits to critical outcrops in the southern Barberton greenstone terrane and northern Swaziland, giving an overview of the oldest rocks in the region (ca. 3.66-3.2 Ga). This will allow leading experts to discuss divergent interpretations of field relationships. There will be no registration fee for workshop participants of the SPP1833 Program who do not participate in the 35th IGC.

Presenter