‘Hidden' Beneath Our Feet: The Wonder of South Africa's Geological Heritage
This is a land where 3-billion-year-old rocks lie just a stone's throw from bustling cities, where gold and platinum-rich layers speak of deep-Earth processes, and where volcanic lavas once linked what are now distant continents. Just as rock art connects us to ancient human expression, the rocks of South Africa connect us to the ancient forces that made our world. Our geological heritage is not just a scientific treasure—it's a natural legacy as rich, powerful, and uniquely African as any monument or tradition.
It's time to look down, and marvel.
Giant (1-2 m) 'pillows' preserved in 2.9 billion year old lava flows show evidence of eruptions under water in lakes or seas.
These domes, called stromatolites, preserve ancient evidence of algal mats—some of the earliest evidence of life on Earth.
To aid us on this quest, the School of Geosciences at the University of the Witwatersrand has launched Earth Quest Solutions (EQS). EQS's most novel offering is arguably the Geotourism experiences we have planned. These events will give us the opportunity to share South Africa's vast untapped geological heritage, stemming from our unique geology, with local and international scientists, students and the general public. Our hope is that these experiences both educate and inspire audiences about the incredible natural resources of our country and the role that geoscience plays in our economy and society. Join us on this inaugural 'Geo-Safari through Earth's Ancient Past'. DM
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Daily Maverick
2 days ago
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‘Hidden' Beneath Our Feet: The Wonder of South Africa's Geological Heritage
When we speak of South African heritage, we often think of ancient rock art, vibrant languages, and deep-rooted cultural traditions, maybe even the fabled braai! But woven into the very ground beneath our feet is another story—older, vaster, and just as awe-inspiring. South Africa is home to some of the planet's most extraordinary geological wonders: rocks that record the origins of life, those that have withstood intense folding and deformation, even surviving cataclysmic events that shaped the Earth itself. This is a land where 3-billion-year-old rocks lie just a stone's throw from bustling cities, where gold and platinum-rich layers speak of deep-Earth processes, and where volcanic lavas once linked what are now distant continents. Just as rock art connects us to ancient human expression, the rocks of South Africa connect us to the ancient forces that made our world. Our geological heritage is not just a scientific treasure—it's a natural legacy as rich, powerful, and uniquely African as any monument or tradition. It's time to look down, and marvel. Giant (1-2 m) 'pillows' preserved in 2.9 billion year old lava flows show evidence of eruptions under water in lakes or seas. These domes, called stromatolites, preserve ancient evidence of algal mats—some of the earliest evidence of life on Earth. To aid us on this quest, the School of Geosciences at the University of the Witwatersrand has launched Earth Quest Solutions (EQS). EQS's most novel offering is arguably the Geotourism experiences we have planned. These events will give us the opportunity to share South Africa's vast untapped geological heritage, stemming from our unique geology, with local and international scientists, students and the general public. Our hope is that these experiences both educate and inspire audiences about the incredible natural resources of our country and the role that geoscience plays in our economy and society. Join us on this inaugural 'Geo-Safari through Earth's Ancient Past'. DM
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