| Abstract: | Three variants of Atlantic-type continental margin border Southern Africa. On the west is a rifted margin with a rift phase no more than 50 m.y. in length (180–130 m.y. ago). Sedimentary basin formation was by upbuilding of a sediment terrace during the rift phase and the 30 m.y. following, with outbuilding of the terrace dominant during the Cainozoic. Little downwarping of the oceanic crust occurred but the continent—ocean transition zone appears to be wide.To the south of South Africa is an extensive sheared margin. Basin formation began here in mid-Triassic times with intermontane deposition. Local increase in lower crustal density appears to have accompanied subsidence. Truncation of the basins occurred 130–2100 m.y. ago and in places detrital influx was trapped behind a marginal fracture ridge. No continental rise sedimentary apron and characteristic deep structure were formed in these places. A ‘welding’ of the continental edge appears to have taken place.East of 30° E a complex continental margin with a protracted rift phase exists. From Triassic to Cretaceous times sedimentary basin formation was controlled by an E-W tensional stress regime resulting in N-S horsts and grabens. This was accompanied by vol-canicity and crustal thinning. Other stress systems may have prevailed during continental break-up in the Cretaceous while today the region is seismically active and the tensional stress assumed to be E-W. Following break-up sedimentary basins in Natal Valley and Mozambique Channel encroached southwards. |
