Natal Metamorphic Province
ukungqubuzana neKaapvaal Craton
Cishe eminyakeni eyinkulungwane yezigidi eyedlule, ukuminza nokungqubuzana ngasohlangothini lweningizimu ye-Kaapvaal Craton kwakhipha amatshe e-Natal Metamorphic Province.
Amatshe asha ashintsha isimo aze aba izinqenqema zezintaba ezinkulungwane zamakilomitha ubude. Emva kokuba ukungqubuzana kocwephe ne-Kaapvaal Craton sekudlulile, isikhathi eside sokuguquleka saveza obala izimpande ezijulile zama-granite kanye nama-gneiss.
Amanye ala matshe agoqeka futhi asengabonakala ezindaweni ezifana nasezigodini zoThukela, i-Valley of a Thousand Hills nangaseningizimu nosebe laKZN. Ama-granite ayambiwa ezinkwalini kwenziwe amatshe amathuna, okwakha imigwaqo nokunye ezindaweni eziningi.
Also part of this metamorphic process was the formation of the Marble Delta, a limestone formation covering an area of about 40 square km’s inland of Port Shepstone. Marble Delta is the major source of limestone mined in KwaZulu-Natal.
Marble (metamorphic)
metamorphosed limestone
Limestone formed due to the precipitation of calcium carbonate in a shallow sea. Later it was metamorphosed by high temperature to form marble, which is light-coloured and very coarse-grained. The marble is mined form cement production and agricultural lime.