The excursion showcases a number of South Africa’s geological superlatives and geoheritage sites as viewed from the summit of the Magaliesberg range. The excursion commences with a traverse across the ancient Basement granite terrain and overlying Transvaal Supergroup rocks. The shales and quartzite’s of the latter give rise to the distinctive Bankeveld (Questa) topography which characterises the Hartebeespoort Dam region.

After ascending the summit of the Magaliesberg by Cable car, the iconic geological features to be seen from the top are described. These include the Witwatersrand plateau to the south, forming the northern edge of the world’s greatest goldfield. The lower lying mainly black turf covered terrain of the western limb of the world famous Bushveld Complex lies to the north. Layered rock sequences of this complex host the world’s greatest platinum, chromium and vanadium reserves and some of the mining and processing infrastructure can be seen. The Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site with its wealth of spectacular hominid fossils in dolomite cave deposits lies to the SW. Other features in the broader region include the Vredefort and Tswaing meteorite craters, and the Pilanesberg alkaline volcano, now a game park and in which the popular Sun City resort has been established. The Premier Diamond Mine, from which the world’s largest diamond, the Cullinan, was recovered, lies to the east. Lunch is at leisure at the Cableway restaurant followed by a visit to the Walter Sisulu Botanical Garden which features a geological (rock) garden with representative specimens of many of South Africa’s important rock formations.

Field Trip Leader: Morris Viljoen                                     
Start/End: Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg          
Departs: 09:00AM
Date: 1 day, Friday 26th August 2016                             
Price: R 1 200 per person

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