Modern beachrock formation in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
We explored the recent cementation of modern beachrock on the seaward margin of the Durban Bluff, central KwaZulu-Natal. The low latitude and subtropical climatic setting is a unique context compared to the more commonly documented contemporary beachrock formation in the tropics. Geological field ma...
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| Language: | English |
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Academy of Science of South Africa
2012-07-01
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| Series: | South African Journal of Science |
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| Online Access: | https://sajs.co.za/article/view/9814 |
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| author | Hayley Cawthra Ron Uken |
| author_facet | Hayley Cawthra Ron Uken |
| author_sort | Hayley Cawthra |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We explored the recent cementation of modern beachrock on the seaward margin of the Durban Bluff, central KwaZulu-Natal. The low latitude and subtropical climatic setting is a unique context compared to the more commonly documented contemporary beachrock formation in the tropics. Geological field mapping was carried out and here we present results based on sedimentary facies of a clastic shoreline and carbonate diagenesis of interstitial cements using transmitted light microscopy. The beachrock was cemented by micrite and aragonite, and iron oxide infilled voids. The presence of human artefacts within the deposit showed evidence for cementation within the last century. The elevation (at Mean Low Water) and correlation to rates of sea level change for the east coast of South Africa showed that the beachrock is less than 72 years in age. In contrast to older local Pleistocene deposits, beachrocks have cemented along this stretch of coast during successive sea level highstands with similar climatic regimes - the last Interglacial, the Holocene High and the present. Here we report the most southerly documentation of modern beachrock in KwaZulu-Natal, which, to our knowledge, represents the youngest deposit reported in southern Africa. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1425807ea8704f6bbc384b5826852641 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1996-7489 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2012-07-01 |
| publisher | Academy of Science of South Africa |
| record_format | Article |
| series | South African Journal of Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-1425807ea8704f6bbc384b58268526412025-08-20T03:08:52ZengAcademy of Science of South AfricaSouth African Journal of Science1996-74892012-07-011087/85 Pages5 Pages8111Modern beachrock formation in Durban, KwaZulu-NatalHayley Cawthra0Ron Uken1Council for Geoscience, Marine Geoscience Unit, Cape TownSchool of Geological Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, DurbanWe explored the recent cementation of modern beachrock on the seaward margin of the Durban Bluff, central KwaZulu-Natal. The low latitude and subtropical climatic setting is a unique context compared to the more commonly documented contemporary beachrock formation in the tropics. Geological field mapping was carried out and here we present results based on sedimentary facies of a clastic shoreline and carbonate diagenesis of interstitial cements using transmitted light microscopy. The beachrock was cemented by micrite and aragonite, and iron oxide infilled voids. The presence of human artefacts within the deposit showed evidence for cementation within the last century. The elevation (at Mean Low Water) and correlation to rates of sea level change for the east coast of South Africa showed that the beachrock is less than 72 years in age. In contrast to older local Pleistocene deposits, beachrocks have cemented along this stretch of coast during successive sea level highstands with similar climatic regimes - the last Interglacial, the Holocene High and the present. Here we report the most southerly documentation of modern beachrock in KwaZulu-Natal, which, to our knowledge, represents the youngest deposit reported in southern Africa.https://sajs.co.za/article/view/9814modern beachrock formationcarbonate cementationmarine phreatic diagenesisrecent sea level changeclastic shoreline |
| spellingShingle | Hayley Cawthra Ron Uken Modern beachrock formation in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal South African Journal of Science modern beachrock formation carbonate cementation marine phreatic diagenesis recent sea level change clastic shoreline |
| title | Modern beachrock formation in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal |
| title_full | Modern beachrock formation in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal |
| title_fullStr | Modern beachrock formation in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal |
| title_full_unstemmed | Modern beachrock formation in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal |
| title_short | Modern beachrock formation in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal |
| title_sort | modern beachrock formation in durban kwazulu natal |
| topic | modern beachrock formation carbonate cementation marine phreatic diagenesis recent sea level change clastic shoreline |
| url | https://sajs.co.za/article/view/9814 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT hayleycawthra modernbeachrockformationindurbankwazulunatal AT ronuken modernbeachrockformationindurbankwazulunatal |