Lithostratigraphy of the Sinqeni Formation, Pongola Supergroup, South Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 123 (3) ◽  
pp. 399-420
Author(s):  
N. Hicks ◽  
D.J.C. Gold
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Iron Formation ◽  
Banded Iron Formation ◽  
Quartz Arenite ◽  
Uranium Mineralisation ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
Iron Formations

Abstract The Mesoarchaean Sinqeni Formation forms the lowermost unit of the predominantly sedimentary Mozaan Group (Pongola Supergroup) of southern Africa. The formation comprises a dominantly arenaceous succession, which can be subdivided into four members. A laterally discontinuous gold- and uranium-bearing conglomerate package (Denny Dalton Member) is commonly developed at the base of the formation. Overlying the basal conglomerates are two significant quartz arenite packages (Dipka, and Kwaaiman Members) which are separated by a ferruginous shale package (Vlakhoek Member) that locally hosts banded-iron formation. The formation is the most extensively exposed succession of the Mozaan Group, cropping out extensively in the Hartland region, as well as in multiple inliers from Amsterdam in the Mpumalanga to Nkandla in central KwaZulu-Natal, with further exposures in Eswatini. Subeconomic gold and uranium mineralisation occur sporadically within the conglomerates of the Denny Dalton Member, and have previously been mined from multiple occurrences in the White Mfolozi, Mhlatuze and Nkandla Inliers whilst many prospecting trenches are found in the conglomerates of the Hartland and Amsterdam areas. Gold has also briefly been exploited from ferruginous shales and iron formations of the Vlakhoek Member in the Altona area. Litho-correlative equivalents of the formation comprise the Mandeva Formation (White Mfolozi Inlier), Skurwerant Formation (Amsterdam region) and Mkaya Formation (Magudu region).

Participatory catchment management — an opportunity for Southern Africa

1995 ◽  
Vol 32 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 145-151
Author(s):  
D. B. Versfeld
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Land Management ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Participatory Rural Appraisal ◽  
Catchment Management ◽  
Management Process ◽  
Participatory Methods ◽  
Top Down ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
Rural Appraisal

South Africa has hundreds of thousands of hectares of heavily populated and badly degraded landscapes. Past attempts at land management have been either through avoidance or the top-down imposition of “betterment” schemes. Participatory methods offer a new opportunity for communities living within these catchments to share their knowledge and to become involved in planning and implementing the management process. This paper discusses the use of Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) in a catchment rehabilitation programme in rural KwaZulu/Natal, the lessons learnt and the prospects for wider application.

scholarly journals Gymnosporia swazica (Celastraceae), a new species from southern Africa

Phytotaxa ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 192 (4) ◽  
pp. 296
Author(s):  
Marie Jordaan ◽  
Abraham E. Van Wyk
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
New Species ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Restricted Range ◽  
Small Tree ◽  
African Species ◽  
Diagnostic Characters ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
A New Species

Gymnosporia swazica, a new restricted-range southern African species, is described and illustrated here. Known from only a few localities in Swaziland and bordering parts of South Africa (Mpumalanga and northeastern KwaZulu-Natal), G. swazica grows as an understorey shrub or small tree in forest, often among granite boulders. Diagnostic characters for G. swazica include chartaceous leaves, usually shorter than 25 mm, 3-valved capsules usually 6–7 mm long, which are smooth, green turning yellow, and a white aril partially covering the brownish seed. Its closest relative appears to be G. buxifolia (capsules rugose, mottled white-and-brown), one of the most widespread members of the genus in southern Africa, but it can also be confused with G. maranguensis (capsules red, 2-valved) and G. harveyana (capsules pink to red, 3-valved; aril orange, completely covering the seed).

scholarly journals Investigating causes of delays and cost escalation in project execution during turnarounds

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 334-348 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mfanimpela Zacharia Mhlanga ◽  
Elias Munapo ◽  
Nehemiah Mavetera
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Resource Allocation ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Process Management ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
Plant Operations ◽  
On Line ◽  
Causes Of Delays ◽  
Refinery Plant ◽  
The Given

Engen Refinery plant is part of the Engen Petroleum Limited, with operations in Southern Africa. The plant is situated in KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa and it operates 24 hours a day, every day, including weekends. Although Engen operates 24 hours 7 days a week, the plant has to be shut down occasionally for maintenance. These shutdown periods are also used as an opportunity to implement most projects, especially those that could not be implemented during the normal run of the plant. In order to ensure that the plant operations are not interrupted, it is preferable to work on the equipment while the plant is not operational. The shutdown periods are very limited in time, so it is of utmost importance to complete tasks within the given turnaround period in order to get the plant back on line in time to deliver products as scheduled to customers. The main objective of this study is to explore the causes and consequences of delays in project execution and their impact on the success of the project. The study identified poor communication, repetition of tasks, resource allocation, scope change, procurement process management, inadequate planning and poor budget estimates as major contributors to delays and cost escalation during project execution. It is recommended that Engen Refinery put some means together to improve the above-mentioned issues

scholarly journals Hesperoides, a new “hairy” flea beetle genus from southern Africa (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini)

2017 ◽  
pp. 151-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maurizio Biondi
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Flea Beetle ◽  
Extensor Tendon ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
The Republic

Hesperoides afromeridionalis gen. nov. and sp. nov. from the Republic of South Africa (Western and Eastern Cape Provinces and KwaZulu-Natal) is described. Despite some similarities with Hespera Weise, it exhibits major affinities with the genera attributed to the subtribe Aphthonini, especially with Aphthona Chevrolat and Montiaphthona Scherer. Data on distribution are supplied, along with preliminary ecological notes. Photomicrographs of main morphological characters, including male and female genitalia, and metafemoral extensor tendon are provided. Key to the six “hairy” flea beetle genera occurring in sub-Saharan African and their habitus photos are also given.

New species and new collection records of aquatic beetles in the genus Ochthebius Leach from southern Africa (Coleoptera: Hydraenidae)

Zootaxa ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 3093 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
PHILIP D. PERKINS
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
New Species ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Western Cape Province ◽  
African Species ◽  
North West ◽  
Distribution Maps ◽  
Water Beetle ◽  
Kwazulu Natal

The southern African species of the water beetle genus Ochthebius Leach, 1815, are reviewed. Eight new species are described, and new collection records are given for eight previously described species, based on the examination and databasing of 8,919 specimens from 253 localities/events. Male genitalia of the new species are illustrated, and high resolution habitus images of the holotypes of new species are provided. Distribution maps are given for the 18 species of Ochthebius now known from southern Africa, including Namibia, South Africa, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, the extreme southern part of Angola, and the southern part of Mozambique. New species of Ochthebius are: O. anchorus (South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal Province, Oribi Gorge); O. bicomicus (South Africa, Western Cape Province, 22 mi. N. Nelspoort); O. bupunctus (Namibia, Kaokoveld, Kunene River, Swartbooisdrift); O. endroedyi (South Africa, North West Province, Barberspan); O. granulinus (South Africa, Western Cape Province, Elandsdrift); O. involatus (South Africa, Western Cape Province, near Kommetje); O. sitiensis (Namibia, Okau Fountain, 12.5 km inland); and O. zulu (South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal Province, Nqutu).

scholarly journals Photoferrotrophy, deposition of banded iron formations, and methane production in Archean oceans

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (11) ◽  
pp. eaav2869 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katharine J. Thompson ◽  
Paul A. Kenward ◽  
Kohen W. Bauer ◽  
Tyler Warchola ◽  
Tina Gauger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Iron Oxidation ◽  
Coastal Sediments ◽  
Oxygenic Photosynthesis ◽  
Iron Formation ◽  
Banded Iron Formations ◽  
Banded Iron Formation ◽  
Earth’S Climate ◽  
Iron Formations ◽  
Scale Deposition

Banded iron formation (BIF) deposition was the likely result of oxidation of ferrous iron in seawater by either oxygenic photosynthesis or iron-dependent anoxygenic photosynthesis—photoferrotrophy. BIF deposition, however, remains enigmatic because the photosynthetic biomass produced during iron oxidation is conspicuously absent from BIFs. We have addressed this enigma through experiments with photosynthetic bacteria and modeling of biogeochemical cycling in the Archean oceans. Our experiments reveal that, in the presence of silica, photoferrotroph cell surfaces repel iron (oxyhydr)oxides. In silica-rich Precambrian seawater, this repulsion would separate biomass from ferric iron and would lead to large-scale deposition of BIFs lean in organic matter. Excess biomass not deposited with BIF would have deposited in coastal sediments, formed organic-rich shales, and fueled microbial methanogenesis. As a result, the deposition of BIFs by photoferrotrophs would have contributed fluxes of methane to the atmosphere and thus helped to stabilize Earth’s climate under a dim early Sun.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document