Map showing extent of the Sundays River Formation in the Algoa Basin
The Sundays River Formation is a geological
formation found in the
Eastern and
Western Cape provinces in
South Africa. It is the second youngest of the four formations found within the
Uitenhage Group of the
Algoa Basin, its type locality, and the only location where outcrops have been located. The Sundays River has been measured at a maximum thickness of 2,000 metres (6,600 ft).[1]
Geology
The Sundays River Formation overlies the
Kirkwood Formation which it grades laterally into in certain areas, meaning that they correlate in age in some localities.[2][3] The
sedimentary rock of the Sundays River comprises mainly fine to medium grained grey
sandstones which often contain shell fragments,
siltstones, and
mudstones. The sandstone layers are frequently cemented with
calcite layers. These were deposited in a shallow
marine environment which likely included
estuarine and
lagoonal settings.[4][5]
^McMillan, I.K.; Brink, G.I.; Broad, D.S.; Maier, J.J. (1997-01-01). "Chapter 13 Late Mesozoic Sedimentary Basins Off the South Coast of South Africa". Sedimentary Basins of the World. 3: 319–376.
doi:
10.1016/S1874-5997(97)80016-0.
ISBN9780444825711.
ISSN1874-5997.
^Muir, R.A.; Bordy, E.M.; Reddering, J.S.V.; Viljoen, J.H.A. (2017-06-01). "Lithostratigraphy of the Kirkwood Formation (Uitenhage Group), including the Bethelsdorp, Colchester and Swartkops Members, South Africa". South African Journal of Geology. 120 (2): 281–293.
Bibcode:
2017SAJG..120..281M.
doi:
10.25131/gssajg.120.2.281.
ISSN1012-0750.
^McMillan, I.K.; Brink, G.I.; Broad, D.S.; Maier, J.J. (1997-01-01). "Chapter 13 Late Mesozoic Sedimentary Basins Off the South Coast of South Africa". Sedimentary Basins of the World. 3: 319–376.
doi:
10.1016/S1874-5997(97)80016-0.
ISBN9780444825711.
ISSN1874-5997.
^McMillan, I.K.; Brink, G.I.; Broad, D.S.; Maier, J.J. (1997-01-01). "Chapter 13 Late Mesozoic Sedimentary Basins Off the South Coast of South Africa". Sedimentary Basins of the World. 3: 319–376.
doi:
10.1016/S1874-5997(97)80016-0.
ISBN9780444825711.
ISSN1874-5997.