Basin development during the deposition of the Elliot Formation (Late Triassic - Early Jurassic), Karoo Supergroup, South Africa

Abstract

Research Article| September 01, 2004 Basin development during the deposition of the Elliot Formation (Late Triassic - Early Jurassic), Karoo Supergroup, South Africa Emese M. Bordy; Emese M. Bordy University of the Witwatersrand, School of Geosciences, Johannesburg, Private Bag 3, Wits 2050, South Africa. e-mail: emese_bordy@yahoo.com; HancoxP@geosciences.wits.ac.za; rubidgeb@geosciences.wits.ac.za Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar P. John Hancox; P. John Hancox University of the Witwatersrand, School of Geosciences, Johannesburg, Private Bag 3, Wits 2050, South Africa. e-mail: emese_bordy@yahoo.com; HancoxP@geosciences.wits.ac.za; rubidgeb@geosciences.wits.ac.za Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Bruce S. Rubidge Bruce S. Rubidge University of the Witwatersrand, School of Geosciences, Johannesburg, Private Bag 3, Wits 2050, South Africa. e-mail: emese_bordy@yahoo.com; HancoxP@geosciences.wits.ac.za; rubidgeb@geosciences.wits.ac.za Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Emese M. Bordy University of the Witwatersrand, School of Geosciences, Johannesburg, Private Bag 3, Wits 2050, South Africa. e-mail: emese_bordy@yahoo.com; HancoxP@geosciences.wits.ac.za; rubidgeb@geosciences.wits.ac.za P. John Hancox University of the Witwatersrand, School of Geosciences, Johannesburg, Private Bag 3, Wits 2050, South Africa. e-mail: emese_bordy@yahoo.com; HancoxP@geosciences.wits.ac.za; rubidgeb@geosciences.wits.ac.za Bruce S. Rubidge University of the Witwatersrand, School of Geosciences, Johannesburg, Private Bag 3, Wits 2050, South Africa. e-mail: emese_bordy@yahoo.com; HancoxP@geosciences.wits.ac.za; rubidgeb@geosciences.wits.ac.za Publisher: Geological Society of South Africa First Online: 07 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1996-8590 Print ISSN: 1012-0750 © 2004 Geological Society of South Africa South African Journal of Geology (2004) 107 (3): 397–412. https://doi.org/10.2113/107.3.397 Article history First Online: 07 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 Emese M. Bordy, P. John Hancox, Bruce S. Rubidge; Basin development during the deposition of the Elliot Formation (Late Triassic - Early Jurassic), Karoo Supergroup, South Africa. South African Journal of Geology 2004;; 107 (3): 397–412. doi: https://doi.org/10.2113/107.3.397 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 integrated results of a facies analysis and provenance study of the Late Triassic to Early Jurassic Elliot Formation (Karoo Supergroup) provide some new insights into the development of the main Karoo foreland system of South Africa. Based on changes in the fluvial style, palaeocurrent pattern, provenance, isopach trends and fossil content, a regional lithostratigraphic subdivision of the Elliot Formation is proposed. In addition, the boundary between the Lower and Upper Elliot formations appears to be a second order sequence boundary. This unconformity was probably generated by the last stage of orogenic loading of the Cape Fold Belt, which interrupted the overall, first order orogenic unloading of the system, suggesting that tectonically controlled flexural subsidence existed in the main Karoo Basin until at least the end of Triassic. The magnitude of this pre-Upper Elliot tectonic event is signified by the presence of outsized quartzite pebbles and boulders, believed to have originated in the Cape Fold Belt. A number of tectonic structures, e.g. pene-contemporaneous normal faults and large-scale convolute bedding, coupled to sandstones with basement uplift/craton interior provenance, and easterly palaeocurrent direction for the Upper Elliot Formation suggest that the first stages of inversion from a compressional to extensional tectonic regime began only in the Early Jurassic. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.