Carboniferous-Permian glaciation in the main Karoo Basin, South Africa: Stratigraphy, depositional controls, and glacial dynamics

Abstract

Pennsylvanian and Permian glacigenic deposits of the Dwyka Group occur within Karoo basins throughout southern Africa. The largest, the main Karoo Basin, evolved into a foreland basin during Dwyka accumulation. Tectonism along the convergent margin of Gondwana resulted in the formation of a foreland basin bounded by southern (Cape fold belt) and northern (Cargonian Highlands) uplands. Glaciers carved deep paleovalleys into the northern highlands that were later filled by glacigenic and post-glacial strata. Within this basin, a platform facies association composed of four deglaciation sequences occurs. These sequences, which are hundreds of meters thick, consist of thick, massive, basal diamictite...