Die ontstaan van grotte en holtes in die kranse van die Clarenssandsteenformasie in die Golden Gategebied. (The origin of the caves and hollows in cliffs of the Clarens sandstone formation in the Golden Gate area.)

Auteur :
LE ROUX, J. S.

Description :
The origin of the caves and hollows could be ascribed to the following mechanisms: exudation, undermining of the sandstone by faster weathering of the sandstone below, faster weathering of shale or clay-bearing sandstone layers in the sandstone and the solution of lime concretions in the sandstone. Exudation is probably the most important factor. An analysis of a sample of salt collected in a cave showed that the active exudation agents are sodium carbonate and sodium sulphate. With the exception of the CO-ion which comes from the atmosphere, the salts are most probably formed during weathering of the basaltic lava covering the obstruction and crystallizing at or near the face of the cliffs where the water evaporates. The loosened sandgrains are removed by gravity alone, running water or wind. (W. A. Nieman).


Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
South African geographer/Suid-Afrikaanse geograaf Stellenbosch, 1978, vol. 6, n°. 1, p. 23-29, Références bibliographiques : 2 réf.

Date :
1978