Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Crustal structures in central southern Africa

Abstract

WE announce preliminary results from the geophysical reconnaissance of Botswana carried out during 1972 and 1973. Tertiary to Recent sands and sediments in the Kalahari Basin totally obscure the solid geology over 70% of the country, but these new results give exciting first indications of the disposition of geological features in the concealed ‘basement’ when related to the better known geology of the surrounding territories. The new data also suggest the extent of the concealed sedimentary and volcanic strata of Karroo age, and their possible relationship to the recent, if slight, tectonic instability in the heart of the continental plate. This work forms part of Botswana's contribution to the International Geodynamics Project1.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Report No. 3, Inter-Union Commission on Geodynamics, 160 Botswana, (1972).

  2. Reeves, C. V., and Carruthers, R. M., Bull. Geodes. (in the press).

  3. Litherland, M., Nature phys. Sci., 242, 125 (1973).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. Darracott, B. W., Trans. Geol. Soc. S. Afr., 77 (2) (in the press).

  5. Darracott, B. W., Trans. Geol. Soc. S. Afr., 78 (1) (in the press).

  6. Key, R. M., and Hutton, S. M., The Western Extremity of the Limpopo Mobile Belt (Botswana Geol. Survey, 1974).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Crockett, R. N., and Mason, R., Econ. Geol., 63 (5), 532–40, (1968).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Green, D., The Karroo System in Bechuanaland (Bull. No. 2, Botswana Geol. Survey, 1966).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Reeves, C. V., Nature, 237, 95 (1972).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  10. Greenwood, P. G., and Carruthers, R. M., Rept No. 15, Inst. Geol. Sci., Geophys. Division (1973).

  11. Darracott, B. W., Nature, 240, 403 (1972).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  12. Smit, P. J., Hales, A. L., and Gough, D. I., Geol. Survey Handbook 3 (Government Printer, Pretoria, 1962).

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

REEVES, C., HUTCHINS, D. Crustal structures in central southern Africa. Nature 254, 408–410 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1038/254408a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/254408a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing