Rockscape | Geology

What follows is a description of the early mining history of the Mesoproterozoic-age Steenkampskraal monazite ore body located in southern Namaqualand, about 340 km north of Cape Town in South Africa. Steenkampskraal is a massive-lode ore body, possibly originating by igneous processes from an immiscible phosphate-sulphide-oxide magmatic liquid. The monazite ore occurs in a thin lenticular-shaped body surrounded by Mesoproterozoic granitic gneiss country rocks. The ore body is about 400 m in strike-length, extending about 450 m down-dip, with an average thickness of about 0.5 m. Continue Reading »

Out of the far western icefield of Western Dronning Maud Land (WDML) rise the Annandagstoppane nunataks. The name originates from the Norweigian word for the day after Christmas (i.e., Boxing Day) when these nunataks were first discovered. Continue Reading »