Notice of some Cretaceous Rocks near Natal, South Africa

Abstract

Abstract T he discovery of these fossiliferous rocks, near the Umtafuna (on some maps spelt “Umtavooma”) River, on the coast of South Africa, was made by Mr. H. F. Fynn, in 1824. About three miles to the southward of the river commence certain excavations in the cliffs, formed by the action of the sea, and called by the natives “Izinhluzabalungu.” These caves extend for about 800 yards. In 1851 Capt. Garden visited the spot with Mr. Fynn, and, with the aid of his servant (the late Private Thomas Souton), and the natives, collected a suite of fossils from the walls of the caves and from the adjoining cliffs. The cliffs vary considerably in height, and their tops are covered with vegetation; the Strelitzia alba grows abundantly in the hollows. The lowest rock visible is a hard shelly rock with pebbles; above it is a brownish-red sandstone, traversed in every direction with white veins, which are the broken edges of colossal bivalve shells ( Inoceramus ). These shells are thin, and too easily broken to be extracted from the rock; the corrugated surface of a portion of one was exposed to the extent of 2 feet in length by 1 foot in breadth, and the author estimated others to be nearly 3 feet in length. This shell is common to all the strata in the cliff. Alternate layers of the above-mentioned two rocks occur to the height of about 18 feet ; above which are hard bluish-black, brown, and greenish argillaceous and sandy beds. Shells were found in all these clay-beds, and Ammonites at different heights and in certain of the strata. Many fossils are exposed on the cliffs, and washed out on to the shore by the action of the sea. Fossil trees are seen at low water on a reef of fiat rocks near these caverns ; and about three miles to the southward Capt. Garden found at the extreme point of the left bank of the Umpahlanyani* stream a piece of fossil wood, imbedded in a rock similar to that at the caves. About half a mile beyond the caves runs the Umzambanit River, across which the cretaceous rocks are continued, appearing on its right bank ; after which they are lost sight of, except at a few places: the author, however, believes this ibrmation to extend as far as the Umtata River, having been informed by the late Mr. W. H. D. Fynn that fossil Turtle remains were to be procured from the rocks at the mouth of that river.