The Onverwacht Group or Onverwacht Series is a series of greenstone belts and volcanic rock formations from the Archean Eon in the Kaapvaal Craton in South Africa and Eswatini.

Onverwacht Group
Stratigraphic range: Paleoarchean
>3300 Ma
TypeGeological group
Sub-unitsSubunits
UnderliesFig Tree Formation
Thickness16,370 m (53,710 ft)
Lithology
PrimaryGreenstone belt
OtherVolcanic rock
Location
Coordinates25°48′S 31°00′E / 25.8°S 31.0°E / -25.8; 31.0
RegionBarberton Greenstone Belt, Mpumalanga
Country South Africa
 Eswatini
ExtentKaapvaal Craton

Location of the Barberton Greenstone Belt

A well known part of the Onverwacht Series is visible in the Komati valley, located in the east of the Transvaal region.

Subdivision

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The Onverwacht Group can be divided into two subgroups with six formations:

The fossils found in the Onverwacht Series are among the oldest found on Earth.[1]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Engel et al., 1968

Bibliography

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  • Engel, A.E.; Nagy, B.; Nagy, L.A.; Engel, C.G.; Kremp, G.O.; Drew, C.M. (1968). "Alga-Like Forms in Onverwacht Series, South Africa: Oldest Recognized Lifelike Forms on Earth". Science. 161 (3845): 1005–1008. doi:10.1126/science.161.3845.1005. PMID 17812798. S2CID 30694721. Retrieved 12 July 2008.
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