Sand,hearths, lithics and a bit of bioturbation: Site formation processes at Umhlatuzana rockshelter,South Africa

Umhlatuzana rockshelter is known for its continuous record of Middle and Later Stone Age lithic assemblages. This study presents multiproxy geoarchaeological data (micromorphology, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy) to reconstruct the depositional and post-depositional history of the site. Although the Stone Age deposits macroscopically appear homogeneous, micromorphological analysis reveals the existence of primary, unaltered depositional microlayering throughout the sequence. Sediments related to combustion activities on-site are observed in both the Holocene and Pleistocene deposits. Post-depositional geochemical alterations result in the formation of several phosphatic minerals that significantly affect the site's preservation conditions. One of those is vashegyite, a rare magnesium phosphate mineral related to acidic and moist sedimentary environments. Bioturbation features are prominent at the microscale, but sediment mixing does not seem to affect the vertical distribution of the artifacts. The observation of horizontal microlayering in both the Pleistocene and Holocene illuminates the dominant mechanism of sedimentation throughout the site's 70,000-year occupational history. It moreover shows that the lithics can be analysed as coherent assemblages.     

Human skeletal remains from the southern Cape Province and their bearing on the stone age prehistory of South Africa

Substantial numbers of human skeletons have been recovered from caves and shelters of the southern Cape Province, South Africa, and these constitute a valuable source of information about evolutionary change and population movement during Upper Pleistocene and Holocene times. A few fragments from Klasies River Mouth and Die Kelders are firmly associated with Middle Stone Age cultural assemblages, but most of the material is probably linked with the Later Stone Age Albany and Wilton industries. Unfortunately the largest collections of relatively well-preserved remains have come from earlier excavations (Matjes River Shelter, Oakhurst), and the stratigraphic provenance of these burials is frequently in doubt. Other skeletal samples are small, and paleodemographic approaches are diffcult to apply. However, Bushman- or Hottentot-like individuals can certainly be identified, and this is important to the questions of Bushman antiquity or origins. Other problems concerning early Cape populations can also be examined, and this work on the human skeletons should complement ongoing cave sediment and other geological studies, faunal and plant analyses, and archaeological investigations of associated cultural remains.     

Geoarchaeological and chronostratigraphical investigations of open‐air sites in the Geelbek Dunes,South Africa

The Geelbek Dunes located north of Cape Town, South Africa, are an active, northward migrating dune field. Interdunal deflation hollows temporarily expose former land surfaces that are associated with archaeological sites. These open‐air sites shed light on large‐scale patterns of Middle and Later Stone Age settlement and augment the information gained from well‐stratified, but spatially limited caves, rock shelters, and coastal shell middens. Based on paleopedological and sedimentological parameters, three former land surfaces were identified and associated with different assemblages. A chronostratigraphy of the various land surfaces was established by applying optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating. The youngest former land surface is represented by a dune generation (AD2) which stabilized at a maximum of 5 ka. An older dune generation (AD1) shows a more heterogeneous age pattern where deposition started at ca. 27 ka with a maximum estimated age of stabilization at ca. 10 ka. Both of these dune generations overlie a weathered calcrete complex of Middle to Late Pleistocene age. While the third dune generation (AD0) was observed between underlying calcrete layers, samples taken from this unit could not be dated. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

A pediment survey at middle pinnacle,near broken hill,New South Wales

Extensive and well‐developed pediments and pediplains in western New South Wales have hitherto received less than due attention in the literature. This paper records the details of instrumental survey and of excavation at The Pinnacles, near Broken Hill. It presents observation and analysis of slope, rock‐type, structure, and surficial cover, and discusses the significance of a peripediment which contains multiple soil profiles.     

Acid mine drainage at a coal mine in the eastern Transvaal, South Africa

 Several mines in the Witbank coalfield in South Africa are affected by acid mine drainage. This has led to a deterioration in the water quality in many surface streams. The Loubert Mine is one such mine. Hence, an initial investigation was carried out to determine the source of acid mine drainage pollution and the associated hydrogeological conditions. The investigation showed that most of the acid mine drainage is emanating from old opencast workings which have been backfilled. Most of the water from the backfilled area drains into control reservoirs. Unfortunately their capacity is limited, which means that water overspills and seeps from them. This water finds its way into a nearby stream, the water of which accordingly has an unacceptably low pH value and high sulphate content. The proposals advanced to control the problem basically involve inhibiting the amount of water infiltrating the backfilled opencast area on the one hand and reducing the amount of water entering the control reservoirs on the other. Received: 5 March 1997 · Accepted: 17 June 1997     

Proterozoic–Early Paleozoic evolution in western South America—a discussion

The hypothesis of exotic terranes in Perú, Bolivia, Argentina and Chile generated discussions on the mode of transfer and extent of accretional events that may have occurred in the southern Andes during the Late Proterozoic–Early Paleozoic. Initially, a tectogenesis based on autochthonous mobile fold belts was discussed. Following ideas emphasised the fragmentation of the supercontinent Rodinia, Laurentia moving along the West Gondwana border and colliding with the Gondwana western margin. The most important effect of this Laurentia/Gondwana relationship was attributed to the Argentine Precordillera (or Cuyania) terrane splitting off from Laurentia and docking to Gondwana in the Early Paleozoic. In this study, the most cited arguments for this Laurentia/Precordillera relationship are discussed, emphasising paleontological considerations. It is shown that these arguments do not exclude a close original vicinity of the Precordillera terrane to Gondwana.The Precordillera terrane is suggested to be part of a hypothetical platform, which developed between South America, Africa and Antarctica (SAFRAN platform), and which was displaced to its actual position by transcurrent faults. The collisional events in the Sierras Pampeanas ensued from strike–slip movements and were responsible for the S and I type transpressional magmatism along the Pampean and Famatinian terranes. The final result of this continent-parallel movement of terrane slices is similar to that of a terrane split off from Laurentia, but the first-named way of formation easier explains the general continuity of plate convergence at the western border of Gondwana than the Laurentia/Precordillera connection does.     

Radiocarbon dating from 40 to 60 ka BP at Border Cave,South Africa

We present 21 radiocarbon dates on 19 charcoal samples from the sedimentary sequence preserved in Border Cave, South Africa. The background radiocarbon activity for charcoal from the cave was determined to be 0.050±0.018 percent modern carbon, from the analysis of a radiocarbon-dead sample from unit 5WA. Radiocarbon ages for individual samples ranged from 25.2 to >58.2 ka BP.The error-weighted mean ages for successively older strata are 38.5+0.85/−0.95 ka BP for unit 1WA, 50.2+1.1/−1.0 ka BP for units 2BS.LR.A and 2BS.LR.B, 56.5+2.7/−2.0 ka BP for unit 2BS.LR.C and 59.2+3.4/−2.4 ka BP for unit 2WA. This radiocarbon chronology is consistent with independent chronologies derived from electron spin resonance and amino acid racemization dating. The results therefore provide further evidence that radiocarbon dating of charcoal by the ABOX-SC technique can yield reliable radiocarbon ages beyond 40 ka BP. They also imply that Border Cave 5, a modern human mandible, predates >58.2 ka BP and that the Middle Stone Age (Mode 3)—Later Stone Age (Mode 5) transition of Border Cave was largely effected between ∼56.5 and ∼41.6 ka ago.     

Some problems associated with past mining at a mine in the Witbank coalfield, South Africa

 Mining in the Witbank Coalfield commenced at the turn of the century. Initially there was little environmental degradation associated with mining activities; however, in the late 1930s and early 1940s a pillar-robbing programme commenced. At one particular mine this has had marked effects on the environment. Primary effects include subsidence, the appearance of tension cracks at the surface and crownhole development. Secondary effects include spontaneous combustion of the coal worked, as air has been provided with ready access to the mine, accelerated subsidence due to the strength of many pillars being reduced by burning, and a marked deterioration in groundwater quality in the area. Spoil heaps also form blemishes on the landscape. These contain significant amounts of coal and have undergone spontaneous combustion. The deterioration in the water quality has led to the decimation of vegetation in some areas and the eradication of aquatic flora and fauna in a nearby stream. Received: 5 March 1997 · Accepted: 1 July 1997     

Site investigation on heavy metals contaminated ground in Estarreja — Portugal

Owing to its five decades in the chemical industry, Estarreja is one of the most important industrial areas in Portugal. Intensive industrial activity along with both direct discharge of the effluents into natural water streams and uncontrolled waste disposal on the ground has, throughout the years, had strong impact on health and welfare. Recently an association between industry and local authorities was created — ERASE. The main goal for this association is to find, in co-operation with the Portuguese Environmental Ministry, a cost-effective solution to deal with the soil/sediments contamination and solid waste problem.

The ERASE association planned to build a landfill for both solid waste and contaminated soil/sediments disposal. In order to determine more accurately the volume of material to be disposed of in the landfill, a site investigation was carried out during September/November 1998. The site investigation consisted mainly of systematic soil sampling at shallow depths, both within the industrial area and along the natural water streams.

The site investigation results revealed high concentrations of toxic pollutants, mainly heavy metals (namely As, Hg, Pb and Zn), in the soil of the industrial area. Much higher concentrations were found in the sediments of the water streams, several kilometres away from the industrial complex (the pollution source area).

In most cases, concentration increases with depth, reaching groundwater. Therefore the site investigation programme carried out could not determine the full extent of the contamination. Consequently, further studies were strongly recommended, which should include a wider and deeper investigation area and groundwater sampling.     

阿尔金南缘中段清水泉斜长花岗岩同位素年龄及成因研究

阿尔金南缘清水泉地区与基性-超基性岩伴生的花岗岩为斜长花岗岩。岩石地球化学显示该花岗岩高硅、富铝和钠,低镁和钾;轻稀土富集,具有Eu的正异常(δEu为1.01~2.01)。岩石富Rb、Ba,特别高Sr(779×10-6~864×10-6),低Y(1.17×10-6~1.51×10-6)及Yb(0.15×10-6~0.20×10-6),强烈亏损Nb、Ta等。斜长花岗岩锆石振荡环带清晰,Th/U和Nb/Ta比值分别为0.38~0.52,2.92~5.04;具有明显的Ce正异常和Eu负异常,为典型的岩浆锆石,利用LA-ICP-MS微区原位定年获得该花岗岩206Pb/238U-207Pb/235U谐和年龄为465Ma,206Pb/238U加权平均年龄为451±4Ma。锆石饱和温度计和锆石Ti温度计演算结果显示锆石的结晶温度分别为783~811℃和693~821℃。推测花岗岩源区压力范围为1.8~2.0GPa,形成深度在60km以上。综合分析清水泉花岗岩主、微量元素地球化学特征,并结合区域地质,认为该花岗岩属"I"型花岗岩,由地幔基性岩浆上侵分异形成,产于伸展环境。     

Stratiform gold mineralization in palaeosol and ironstone of early Proterozoic age,Transvaal Sequence,South Africa

An early Proterozoic palaeosol, developed on basalt and the basal part of an overlying transgressive marine sedimentary sequence, contains pyrite which is auriferous in places. The mineralization is stratiform and continuous over a distance of several hundred kilometres. Although this mineralization can be explained by a number of genetical models the author concluded that the mineralization took place during pedogenesis and/or diagenesis. Gold is considered to have been leached from the basalt and from the B horizon of the palaeosol by sulphide-rich groundwater and was then precipitated by the effect of the lowering of the HS^– activity. The latter is thought to have been caused by atmospheric oxidation and by reaction with Fe-rich leachate from the A horizon, and pyritization of pre-existing iron oxide minerals may also have contributed. It is concluded that a pedogenic gold protore may explain the origin of at least some of the gold of the Witwatersrand type of deposit.     

阿尔金环形山花岗片麻岩同位素年龄及成因研究

阿尔金中段环形山二长花岗片麻岩LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年龄为928±9Ma。岩石Si O2含量为72.26%~74.34%,全碱(Na2O+K2O)为7.22%~8.32%,Al2O3含量为12.40%~13.51%,含量较高;Mg O为0.43%~1.07%,Fe OT为2.09%~2.43%,Ca O为1.02%~2.03%,Ti O2为0.19%~0.32%,含量较低。岩石Fe OT/Mg O比值为2.28~4.87和Al2O3/Ti O2比值为40.4~69.0(均小于100)、Ca O/Na2O比值为0.46~1.06(大于0.30)、K2O/Na2O比值为2.10~3.43(大于1),富集大离子亲石元素Rb、Th、K及La等,亏损Ba、Ta、Nb、Sr、P、Ti,Th/U比值为5.17~14.7、Zr/Hf比值为30.3~34.3,ΣREE总量平均为193×10-6,(La/Yb)N为3.89~5.00(小于10),δEu0.5,这些均显示S型花岗岩地球化学特征。低Sr/Ba比值(0.12~0.2)和低的Mg#值(平均值36.2),具有负Eu异常,显示其源岩区与泥质岩、基性岩的关系不大;0.4C/FM值(0.46~64)0.8和1.8A/FM值(2.09~3.22)4的地球化学特征,表明源岩为杂砂岩。锆石饱和温度计和锆石Ti温度计演算结果显示锆石的结晶温度分别为781~801℃(平均789℃)和752~985℃(平均803℃)。估算二长花岗片麻岩源区的压力为0.8~1.6GPa。岩石地球化学特征及其同位素研究表明,新元古代早期的青白口纪阿尔金地区处于同碰撞汇聚作用构造地质背景之下,导致地壳杂砂岩部分熔融形成岩浆,之后上侵结晶形成环形山岩体。     

New U–Pb SHRIMP zircon age for the Schurwedraai alkali granite: Implications for pre-impact development of the Vredefort Dome and extent of Bushveld magmatism, South Africa

The Schurwedraai alkali granite is one of a number of prominent ultramafic-mafic and felsic intrusions in the Neoarchaean to Palaeoproterozoic sub-vertical supracrustal collar rocks of the Vredefort Dome, South Africa. The alkali granite intruded the Neoarchaean Witwatersrand Supergroup and has a peralkaline to peraluminous composition. A new zircon SHRIMP crystallization age of 2052 ± 14 Ma for the Schurwedraai alkali granite places it statistically before the Vredefort impact event at 2023 ± 4 Ma and within the accepted emplacement interval of 2050–2060 Ma of the Bushveld magmatic event. The presence of the alkali granite and associated small ultramafic-mafic intrusions in the Vredefort collar rocks extends the southern extremity of Bushveld-related intrusions to some 120 km south of Johannesburg and about 150 km south of the current outcrop area of the Bushveld Complex. The combined effect of these ultramafic-mafic and felsic bodies may have contributed to a pronouncedly steep pre-impact geothermal gradient in the Vredefort area, and to the amphibolite-grade metamorphism observed in the supracrustal collar rocks of the Vredefort Dome.