The granulite-facies rocks of the Limpopo Belt, southern Africa

Abstract

The granulite-facies Limpopo Belt (LB) is subdividied into three zones: central, southern marginal and northern marginal. Each zone has its own distinctive geological signature, and is separated from the other zones, and from the surrounding cratons, by prominent east-north-east trending terrane boundaries. The lithologies of the three zones were subjected to granulite facies metamorphism in response to the collision of the Kaapvaal and Zimbabwe Cratons during the Limpopo orogeny at approximately 2700 Ma. The metamorphic and tectonic evolution of each zone is discussed. The most important conclusion is that the Limpopo Belt offers us the chance to examine the deep roots of a mountain chain which was caused by continental collision in the late Archaean. -from Authors