Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Karoo Province

  • Chapter
Continental Flood Basalts

Part of the book series: Petrology and Structural Geology ((PESG,volume 3))

Abstract

The term Karoo, as applied to igneous rocks, is usually taken to refer to a widespread series of volcanic and intrusive rocks found in southern Africa south of latitude 14°S and dominantly of Lower Jurassic age. Almost everywhere the volcanic members rest on sedimentary rocks of the Karoo Supergroup, an intercratonic basinal sequence of Late Carboniferous to Triassic age (e.g. see Tankard et al., 1982). This review will cover those igneous rocks conventionally referred to as Karoo but will also consider some aspects of a second great pulse of igneous activity which took place in the Lower Cretaceous, particularly in Namibia where substantial recent research has been concentrated on the Etendeka Plateau area. Here a series of lavas can be correlated with those of the Paraná province of Brazil (Erlank, 1984). Other Lower Cretaceous igneous rocks are found overlying the Karoo in the Zambesi valley (the Lupata series, Flores, 1964) and as the plutonic Chilwa Series of southern Malawi (Woolley and Garson, 1970). These, however, will not be described in the present work.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Allso H.L. and J.C. Roddick 1984 . Rb-Sr and 40Ar-39Ar age determinations on phlogopite micas from the preLebombo Group Dokolwayo kimberlite pipe. Spec. Publ. Geol. Soc. S. Afr. 13, 267–271.

    Google Scholar 

  • Allsop, H.L., W.I. Manton, J.W. Bristow and A.J. Erlank (1984a). Rb-Sr geochronology of Karoo felsic volcanics. Spec. Publ. Geol. Soc. S. Afr. 13, 273–280.

    Google Scholar 

  • Allsop, H.L., J.W. Bristow, C.T. Logan, H.V. Eales and A.J. Erlank (1984b). Karoo-related intrusive complexes. Spec. Publ. Geol. Soc. S. Afr. 13, 273–280.

    Google Scholar 

  • Armstrong, R.A., J.W. Brisstow and K.G. Cox (1984). The Rooi Rand dyke swarm, southern Lebombo. Spec. Publ. Geol. Soc. S. Afr. 13, 77–86.

    Google Scholar 

  • Basaltic Vulcanism Study Project (1981). Basaltic vulcanism on the terrestrial planets. Pergamon Press, New York. 1286 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bellieni, G., P. Comin-Chiaramonti, L.S. Marques, A.J. Melfi, A.J.R. Nardy, E.M. Piccirillo and A. Roisenberg (1984). High- and low-TiO2 flood basalts from the Paraná plateau (Brazil): petrology and geochemical aspects bearing on their mantle origin. Neues Jahr. Miner. Abh. 150, 273–306.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bellieni, G., P. Comin-Chiaramonti, L.S. Marques, A.J. Melfi, A.J.R. Nardy, C. Papatrechas, E.M. Piccirillo, A. Roisenberg and D. Stolfa (in press). Petrogenetic aspects of acid and basaltic lavas from the Paraná plateau (Brazil): geological, mineralogical and petrochemical relationships. J. Petrology.

    Google Scholar 

  • Betton, P.J. (1979). Isotopic evidence for crustal contamination in the Karroo rhyolites of Swaziland. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 45, 263–274.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Betton, P.J. and K.G. Cox (1979). Production of rhyolites at continental margins: an example from the Lebombo monocline (abstr.). 18th Congress, Geol. Soc. S. Afr. Abstracts Volume, Part 1, 29–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Betton, P.J., R.A. Armstrong and W.I. Manton (1984). Variations in the lead isotopic composition of Karoo magmas. Spec. Publ. Geol. Soc. S. Afr. 13, 331–339.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bonnatti, E., C.G.A. Harrison, D.E. Fisher, J. Honnorez, J.-G. Schilling, J.J. Stipp and M. Zentilli (1977). Easter volcanic chain (Southwest Pacific): a mantle hot line. J. Geophys. Res. 82, 2457–2477.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bott, M.H.P. (1982). The mechanism of continental splitting. Tectonophysics 81, 301–309.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bowen, N.L. (1928). The evolution of the igneous rocks. Princeton University Press. 322 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bristow, J.W. (1984a). Nephelinites of the north Lebombo and south-east Zimbabwe. Spec. Publ. Geol. Soc. S. Afr. 13, 87–104.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bristow, J.W. (1984b) Picritic rocks of the north Lebombo and south-east Zimbabwe. Spec. Publ. Geol. Soc. S. Afr. 13. 105–123.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bristow, J.W. and K.G. Cox (1984). Volcanic rocks of the Lebombo-Nuanetsi-Sabi zone: classification and nomenclature. Spec. Publ. Geol. Soc. S. Afr. 13, 69–75.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bristow, J.W., H.L. Allsop, A.J. Erlank, J.S. Marsh and R.A. Armstrong (1984). Sr-isotope characterisation of Karoo volcanic rocks. Spec. Publ. Geol. Soc. S. Afr. 13, 295–325.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burke, K. and J.F. Dewey (1973). Plume generated triple junctions. Key indicators in applying plate tectonics to old rocks. J. Geol. 81, 403–443.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cleverly, R.W. (1977). The structural and magmatic evolution of the Lebombo monocline, southern Africa, with particular reference to Swaziland. D. Phil. dissertation, Univ. of Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cleverly, R.W. (1979). The volcanic geology of the Lebombo monocline of Swaziland. Trans. Geol. Soc. S. Afr. 82, 343–348.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cleverly, R.W. and J.W. Bristow (1979). Revised volcanic stratigraphy of the Lebombo monocline. Trans. Geol. Soc . S. Afr. 82. 227–230.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cleverly, R.W., P. J. Betton and J.W. Bristow (1984). Geochemistry and petrog enesis of the Lebombo rhyolites. Spec. Publ. Geol. Soc. S. Afr. 13, 171–194.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cox, K.G. (1970). Tectonics and vulcanism of the Karroo period and their bearing on the postulated fragmentation of Gondwanaland. In African magmatism and tectonics (eds. T.N. Clifford and I.G. Gass), pp. 211–235. Oliver and Boyd. Edinburgh.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cox, K.G. (1972). The Karroo volcanic cycle. J. Geol. Soc. Lond. 128, 311–336.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cox, K.G. (1978a). Komatites and other high-magnesia lavas: some problems. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. A288, 599–609

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cox, K.G. (1978b). Flood basalts, subduction and the break-up of Gondwanaland. Nature 274, 4749.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cox, K.G. (1980). A model for flood basalt vulcanism. J. Petrology 21, 629–650.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cox, K.G. (1983). The Karoo province of southern Africa: origin of trace element enrichment patterns. In Continental basalts and mantle xenoliths (eds. C.J. Hawkeswork and M.J. Norry), Shiva Geology Series, pp. 139–157.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cox, K.G. and G. Hornung (1966). The petrology of the Karroo basalts of Basutoland. Amer. Miner. 51, 1414–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cox, K.G. and B.G. Jamieson (1974). The olivine-rich lavas of Nuanetsi: a study of polybaric magmatic evolution. J. Petrologv 15, 269–301.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cox, K.G. and P. Clifford (1982). Correlation coefficient patterns and their interpretation in three basaltic suites. Contrib Mineral. Petrol.79 268–278.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cox, K.G. and J.W. Bristow (1984). The Sabie River Basalt Formation of the Lebombo monocline and south-east Zimbabwe. Spec. Publ. Geol. Soc. S. Afr. 13, 125–147.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cox, K.G. and C.J. Hawkesworth (1985). Geochemical stratigraphy of the Deccan Traps at Mahabaleshwar, Western Ghats. India, with implications for open system magmatic processes. J. Petrology 26, 355–377.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cox, K.G., R. Macdonald and G. Hornung (1967). Geochemical and petrographic provinces in the Karoo basalts of southern Africa. Amer. Miner. 52, 1451–1474.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cox, K.G., A.R. Duncan, J.W. Bristow, S.R. Taylor and A.J. Erlank (1984). Petrogenesis of the basic rocks of the Lebombo. Snec. Publ. Geol. Soc. S. Afr. 13, 149–169.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cox, K.G., R.L. Johnson, L.J. Monkman, C.J. Stillman, J.R. Vail and D.N. Wood (1965). The geology of the Nuanetsi ieneous province. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. A257, 71–218.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Darracott, B W. (1974). On the crustal structure of southeastern Africa and the adjacent Indian Ocean. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 24. 282–290.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DePaolo, D.J. (1981). Trace element and isotopic e ffec ts of combined w allrock ass imilation and frac tion al crystallisation. Earth P lanet. Sci. Lett. 53, 189–202.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duncan, A.R., A.J. Erlank and J.S. Marsh (1984). Regional geochemistry of the Karoo igneous province. Spec. Puhl Geol. Soc. S. Afr. 13. 355–388.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eales, H.V., J.S. Marsh and K.G. Cox (1984). The Karoo igneous province: an introduction. Spec. Publ. Geol. Soc. S Afr 1A, 1–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Erlank, A.J. (ed.) (1984). Petrogenesis of t he vo lcanic rocks of the Karoo province. Spec. Publ. No. 13. G eological Society of South Africa, 395 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Erlank, A.J., H.L. Allsopp, A.R. Duncan and J.W. Bristow (1980). Mantle heterogeneity beneath southern Africa: evidence from the volcanic record. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. A297, 295–307.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Erlank, A.J., J.S. Marsh, A.R. Duncan, R. McG. Miller, C.J. Hawkesworth, P.J. Betton and D.C. Rex (1984). Geochemistry and petrogenesis of the Etendeka volcanic rocks from SWA/Namibia. Spec. Publ. Geol. Soc. S. Afr. 13, 195–245.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fitch, F.J. and J.A. Miller (1984). Dating Karoo igneous rocks by the conventional K-Ar and 40Ar/39Ar age spectrum methods. Spec. Publ. Geol. Soc. S. Afr. 13, 247–266.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flores, G. (1964). On the age of the Lupata rocks, Lower Zambezi river, Mozambique. Trans. Geol. Soc. S. Afr. 67, 111–118.

    Google Scholar 

  • Foland, K.A. and Henderson, C.M.B. (1971). Application of age and strontium isotopic data to the petrogenesis of the Marangudzi ring complex, Rhodesia. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 29, 291–301.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gough, D.I., A. Brock, O.L. Jones and N.D. Opdyke (1964). The paleomagnetissm of the ring complexes at Marangudzi and the Mateke Hills. J. Geophys. Res. 69, 2499–2507.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hawkesworth, CJ., A.J. Erlank, J.S. Marsh, M.A. Menzies and P. van Calsteren (1983). Evolution of the continental lithosphere: evidence from volcanics and xenoliths in southern Africa. In Continental basalts and mantle xenoliths (eds. C.J. Hawkesworth and M.J. Norry), Shiva Geology Series. pp. 111–138.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hawkesworth, CJ., J.S. Marsh, A.R. Duncan, A.J. Erlank and M.J. Norry (1984). The role of continental lithosphere in the generation of the Karoo volcanic rocks: evidence from combined Nd and Sr-isotope studies. Spec. Publ. Geol. Soc. S. Afr. 13, 341–354.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Henthorn, D.I. (1981). The magnetostratigraphy of the Lebombo Group along the Olifants River, Kruger National Park. Ann. Geol. Surv. S. Afr. 15, 1–10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huppert, H.E. and R.S.J. Sparks (1985). Cooling and contamination of mafic and ultramafic magmas during ascent through continental crust. Earth Planet. Sci. Leu. 74, 371–386.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jaritz, W., J. Kreutzer, J. Muller and W. Harre (1977). Die Vulkanitserien in Küstengebiet von Nordmocambique. Geol. Jb. B26, 147–165.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kyle, P.R. (1980). Development of heterogeneities in the subcontinental mantle: evidence from the Ferrar Group, Antarctica. Contrib. Mineral. Petrol. 73, 89–104.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lock, B.E. (1980). Rat-plate subduction and the Cape Fold Belt of South Africa. Geology 8, 35–39.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Macdonald, R., R. Crossley and K.S. Waterhouse (1983). Karoo basalts of southern Malawi and their regional petrogenetic significance. Miner. Mag. 47, 281–289.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Manton, W.I. (1968). The origin of associated basic and acid rocks in the Lebombo-Nuanetsi igneous province, southern Africa, as implied by strontium isotopes. J. Petrologv 9. 23–29

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mantovani, M.S.M., L.S. Marques, M.A. Sousa, L. Atalla, L. Civetta and F. Innocenti (1985). Trace element and strontium isotope constraints on the origin and evolution of Paraná continental flood basalts of Santa Catarina State (southern Brazil). J. Petrology 26, 187–209.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marsh, J.S. and H.V. Eales (1984). The chemistry and petrogenesis of igneous rocks of the Karoo central area, southern Africa. Spec. Publ. Geol. Soc. S. Afr. 13, 27–67.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin, A.K. and C.H.J. Hartnady (1986). Plate tectonic development of the southwest Indian Ocean: a revised reconstruction of East Antarctica and Africa. J. Geophys. Res. 9. 4766–4786.

    Google Scholar 

  • McKenzie, D. (1978). Some remarks on the development of sedimentary basins. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 40 25–12

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McKenzie, D. (1984). A possible mechanism for epeirogenic uplift. Nature 307, 616–618.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Menzies, M.A. and V.R. Murthy (1980). Enriched mantle: Nd and Sr issotopes in diopsides from kimberlite nodules. Nature 283, 634–636.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nicolaysen, L.O., A.J. Burger and R.L. Johnson (1962). The age of the Shawa carbonatite complex. Trans. Geol. Soc. S. Afr. 65, 293–294.

    Google Scholar 

  • Norton, I.O. and J.G. Sclater (1979). A model for the evolution of the Indian Ocean and the breakup of Gondwanaland. J. Geophys. Res. 84, 6803–6830.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pearce, J.A. (1983). Role of the sub-continental lithosphere in magma genesis at active continental margins. In Continental basalts and mantle xenoliths (eds. C.J. Hawkesworth and M.J. Norry), Shiva Geology Series, pp. 230–249.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pearce, J.A., N.B.W. Harris and A.G. Tindle (1984). Trace element discrimination diagrams for the tectonic interpretation of granitic rocks. J. Petrology 25, 956–983.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rabinowitz, P.D., M.F. Coffin and D. Falvey (1983). The separation of Madagascar and Africa. Science 220, 67–69.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reeves, C.V. (1978). A failed Gondwana spreading axis in southern Africa. Nature 273, 222–223.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Richardson, S.H., J.J. Gurney, A.J. Erlank and J.W. Harris (1984). Origin of diamonds in old enriched mantle. Nature 310, 198–202.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ridgway, J. and N.J. Money (1978). Karoo basalts from western Zambia and geochemical provinces in central and southern Africa. Geol. Surv. Zambia, occ. Pap. 75.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ségoufin, J. (1978). Anomalies magneiques Mésozoiques dans le bassin Mozambique. C.R. Acad. Sci. Paris série D287. 109–112.

    Google Scholar 

  • Siders, M.A. and D.H. Elliott (1985). Major and trace element geochemistry of the Kirkpatrick Basalt, Mesa Range, Antarctica. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 72, 54–64.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Siedner, G. and J.G. Mitchell (1976). Episodic Mesozoic vulcanism in Namibia and Brazil: a K-Ar isochron study bearing on the opening of the South Atlantic. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 30, 292–302.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tankard, A.J., M.P.A. Jackson, K.A. Eriksson, D.K. Hobday, D.R. Hunter and W.E.L. Minter (1982). Crustal evolutionof southern Africa. Springer-Verlag, New York. 523 pp.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Thirlwall, M.F. and N.W. Jones (1983). Isotope geochemistry and contamination mechanics of Tertiary lavas from Skye, northwest Scotland. In Continental basalts and mantle xenoliths (eds. C.J. Hawkesworth and M.J. Norry), Shiva Geology Series, pp. 186–208.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Zijl, J.S.V., K.W.T. Graham and A.L. Hales (1962). The paleomagnetism of the Stormberg Lavas of South Africa, I and II. J. Geophys. J. R. Astr. Soc. 7, 23–29 and 169–182.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Woolley, A.R. and M.S. Garson (1970). Petrochemical and tectonic relationship of the Malawi carbonatite-alkaline province and the Lupata-Lebombo volcanics. In African magmatism and tectonics (eds. T.N. Clifford and I.G. Gass), pp. 237–262. Oliver and Bovd, Edinburgh.

    Google Scholar 

  • Woolley, A.R., J.C. Bevan and C.J. Elliott (1979). The Karoo dolerites of southern Malawi and their regional geochemical implications. Miner. Mag. 43, 487–495.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth Sciences, Oxford University, Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PR, UK

    K. G. Cox

Authors
  1. K. G. Cox
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, California, USA

    J. D. Macdougall

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1988 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Cox, K.G. (1988). The Karoo Province. In: Macdougall, J.D. (eds) Continental Flood Basalts. Petrology and Structural Geology, vol 3. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-7805-9_7

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-7805-9_7

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-90-481-8458-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-015-7805-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation