Early Jurassic pillow lavas and palynomorphs in the Karoo of eastern Botswana

Aldiss, Don; Benson, J. M.; Rundle, C. C.

doi:10.1038/310302a0

Cited by 14 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…The Early Jurassic age of the Clarens formation is inferred from combined paleontological and radiometric data by Aldis et al (1984). In the eastern part of the Tuli Basin, the lowermost lavas of the Drakensberg Group overlying the termite nest-bearing eolian strata have a minimum age of ϳ181 Ma and maximum age of ϳ195 to 200 Ma (Aldis et al, 1984).…”

Section: Geological Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advanced Early Jurassic Termite (Insecta: Isoptera) Nests: Evidence From the Clarens Formation in the Tuli Basin, Southern Africa

Bordy

Bumby

Catuneanu

et al. 2004

PALAIOS

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Sandstone pillars in the Lower Jurassic eolian strata of the Clarens Formation are concentrated in clusters, with up to four pillars within 25 m 2 in two localities in the Tuli Basin of northern South Africa and southern Zimbabwe. The pillars are generally vertical, have a preserved height of up to 3.3 m, and are elliptical in plan view. Pillars are grouped into two styles of architecture: those with oriented elliptical shapes and side buttresses, and those less well oriented with a smooth outer wall, internal open spaces, and vertical shafts cutting the pillar. The long axes of the elliptical pillars are generally oriented to the north. Northwards-oriented side buttresses also are associated with some of the pillars. The internal architecture of the pillars is characterized by intense bioturbation with two different burrowing styles. Type 1 burrows are composed of a network of randomly oriented, anastomosing sandstone-filled tubes, 0.3 to 0.8 cm in diameter. Type 2 burrows are rare, north-south oriented, and have a smaller diameter. Other associated features are back-filled tubes, open, vertical shafts, and open spaces between the interior and exterior of the pillars. The pillars are interpreted as fossilized termite nests. Type 1 burrows are interpreted as termite passageways within the nest. Type 2 burrows may be related to invading ants. Back-filled burrows may be a result of either beetle predation on resident termites or backfilling by termites themselves. The strong north-south orientations are comparable with modern-day nest architecture of magnetic termites in northern Australia, where nest-orientation is related to cooling. The orientations and features reported here are interpreted to be modified for the high latitudes proposed for the Lower Jurassic Clarens desert. Complex nest architecture preserved in the Clarens Formation suggests that advanced eusocial behavior and ability to construct large nests had appeared in African termites by the Early Jurassic.

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Section: Geological Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advanced Early Jurassic Termite (Insecta: Isoptera) Nests: Evidence From the Clarens Formation in the Tuli Basin, Southern Africa

Bordy

Bumby

Catuneanu

et al. 2004

PALAIOS

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“…Prior to this study, the age of Karoo-equivalent rocks in the Zimbabwe portion of the Tuli Basin was based on biostratigraphic data, with both tetrapods and fossil plants consistent with the section spanning the Permian-Early Jurassic (Thompson, 1975;Kitching and Raath, 1984). Working nearby in eastern Botswana, Aldiss et al (1984) dated the ''Stormberg Lavas'' (=Tuli basalts) using K-Ar methods and concluded that they were probably older than 181 ± 4 Ma.…”

Section: New 40 Ar/ 39 Ar Age For the Tuli Basaltsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sedimentology and taphonomy of the upper Karoo-equivalent Mpandi Formation in the Tuli Basin of Zimbabwe, with a new 40Ar/39Ar age for the Tuli basalts

Rogers

Munyikwa³

et al. 2004

Journal of African Earth Sciences

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“…On this basis, a Late Permian age has been assigned to the Mofdiahogolo Formation. Capping the entire sedimentary section is a series of subaerial basalts, the Bobonong Lava Formation, with a K/Ar age of 181 f 4 Ma [15]. Limestones intercalated in the lavas are assigned an Early Jurassic age based on palynomorphologic study [15].…”

Section: Geologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Remagnetizations in late Permian and early triassic rocks from southern Africa and their implications for Pangea reconstructions

Ballard

Voo

Hälbich

1986

Earth and Planetary Science Letters

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Early Jurassic pillow lavas and palynomorphs in the Karoo of eastern Botswana

Cited by 14 publications

References 9 publications

Advanced Early Jurassic Termite (Insecta: Isoptera) Nests: Evidence From the Clarens Formation in the Tuli Basin, Southern Africa

Advanced Early Jurassic Termite (Insecta: Isoptera) Nests: Evidence From the Clarens Formation in the Tuli Basin, Southern Africa

Sedimentology and taphonomy of the upper Karoo-equivalent Mpandi Formation in the Tuli Basin of Zimbabwe, with a new 40Ar/39Ar age for the Tuli basalts

Remagnetizations in late Permian and early triassic rocks from southern Africa and their implications for Pangea reconstructions

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