Palaeomagnetism and aeromagnetic modelling of the Mesoproterozoic Ntimbankulu pluton, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa: mushroom-shaped diapir?

Age of magnetization of Mesoproterozoic rocks from the Natal sector of the Namaqua-Natal belt, South Africa

“…The shaded swath is the apparent polar wander path for the time from 1000 to 900 Ma (McWilliams and Krö ner, 1981) and the heavy line is the APWP for Gondwana from 550 to 510 Ma (Meert and van der Voo, 1997). Nt Ntimbankula (Maré and Thomas, 1998); Nq Namaqua (Muller et al, 1978); Ok Okiep (Onstott et al, 1986); Gw Graafwater (Bachtadse et al, 1987); PE Port Edward (this study); Eq + Mz Equeefa and Mzumbe (this study). For clarity, the poles near 1100 Ma have not been labeled.…”

“…In the Natal Sector of the Namaqua-Natal belt, Maré and Thomas (1998) sampled the Ntimbankulu pluton, like the Port Edward body also a member of the Oribi Gorge suite. This pluton has not been directly dated but other members of this suite have yielded U-Pb ages between 1030 and 1060 Ma (Eglington et al, 2003).…”

An integrated geophysical study of the Beattie Magnetic Anomaly, South Africa

“…A study by Maré and Thomas (1998) on one of these Oribi plutons led to the proposal that the strong magnetic signal associated with these plutons is due to the plutons themselves, as well as remnants of the supracrustal Mapumulo suite gneisses beneath the pluton. More (Amante and Eakins, 2009) with the major tectonic provinces outlined (thin black lines).…”

“…A range of palaeomagnetic results were collected for these supracrustal rocks though a single virtual palaeomagnetic pole position could not be defined. Microscope studies by Maré and Thomas (1998) show that magnetite is the dominant opaque phase in the Ndonyane gneisses of the Mapumulo group, while within the Oribi Gorge suite ilmenite dominates. Opaque mineral grains in the study range from 10 to 200 μm.…”

“…Magnetic susceptibility data from the CGS Petrophysical Properties Atlas (Maré, 2012) help identify which rock types are associated with magnetic anomalies in this region. Data for the Mzumbe terrane and .…”