Abstract
Research Article| December 01, 2007 A possible new alluvial diamond field related to the Klipspringer kimberlite swarm, South Africa T.S. McCarthy; T.S. McCarthy School of Geosciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, WITS 2050, e-mail: terence.mccarthy@wits.ac.za Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar J.G. Allan J.G. Allan Allan Hochreiter (Pty) Limited, P.O.Box 411130, Hyde Park 2196, e-mail: james@allanhochreiter.co.za Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information T.S. McCarthy School of Geosciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, WITS 2050, e-mail: terence.mccarthy@wits.ac.za J.G. Allan Allan Hochreiter (Pty) Limited, P.O.Box 411130, Hyde Park 2196, e-mail: james@allanhochreiter.co.za Publisher: Geological Society of South Africa First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1996-8590 Print ISSN: 1012-0750 © 2007 Geological Society of South Africa South African Journal of Geology (2007) 110 (4): 503–510. https://doi.org/10.2113/gssajg.110.4.503 Article history First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation T.S. McCarthy, J.G. Allan; A possible new alluvial diamond field related to the Klipspringer kimberlite swarm, South Africa. South African Journal of Geology 2007;; 110 (4): 503–510. doi: https://doi.org/10.2113/gssajg.110.4.503 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietySouth African Journal of Geology Search Advanced Search Abstract The Marsfontein M-1 kimberlite pipe in the Mokopane (Potgietersrus) area is the highest grade kimberlite ever mined in southern Africa, and forms part of an extensive east-northeast striking pipe and fissure swarm. The kimberlites are of late Jurassic age and were emplaced into basement and formerly overlying Karoo Supergroup rocks. The area hosting the kimberlites was subject to erosion, which has removed the upper portions of the kimberlites and their Karoo host rocks. This phase of erosion commenced in the Pliocene as a result of the onset of subsidence of the Bushveld Basin. Subsidence was accommodated in part by the Zebediela fault, which passes immediately south of the kimberlite swarm. Material eroded from the vicinity of the swarm was deposited south of the fault, burying down-faulted Karoo Supergroup rocks and forming an extensive bahada, which includes up to 30 m of gravel in proximity to the fault. Alluvial deposits consisting of sand and gravel extend as much as 20 km south of the fault. It is estimated that some 9 billion tonnes of gravel occur in the section of the deposit immediately south of the kimberlite swarm with an average grade possibly exceeding 0.2 c/100 tonnes, and it is possible that economically viable diamond accumulations are locally developed within this gravel sheet. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
