Earth'S Oldest Reported Glaciation: Physical and Chemical Evidence From the Archean Mozaan Group (∼2.9 Ga) of South Africa

Young, Grant M.; Brunn, Victor von; Gold, Digby J. C.; Minter, W. E. L.

doi:10.1086/516039

Cited by 189Paleontology and Stratigraphy of FossilsGeological and Geochemical AnalysisGeochemistry and Elemental Analysis

Earth'S Oldest Reported Glaciation: Physical and Chemical Evidence From the Archean Mozaan Group (∼2.9 Ga) of South Africa

Young, Grant M., Brunn, Victor von, Gold, Digby J. C., Minter, W. E. L.·1998·The Journal of Geology

DOI 10.1086/516039

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Abstract

The Pongola Supergroup is a thick succession of Archean (∼2.9 Ga) supracrustal rocks in the eastern part of the Kaapvaal craton of southern Africa. Its upper part, the Mozaan Group (∼5000 m‐thick) includes diamictites with a highly varied suite of clasts, some of which are striated and faceted. Clasts in associated stratified siltstones are interpreted as ice‐rafted debris. A glacial origin is also supported by geochemical investigation of diamictite matrix materials and associated mudstones. Plots of SiO2:Al2O3 and TiO2:Al2O3 suggest that these rocks underwent little chemical weathering, an interpretation confirmed by calculation of a Chemical Index of Alteration with low values, typical of other glacial deposits. The analyzed rocks are rich in Fe (average Fe2O3(T) is ∼24% wt %), like rocks of many other glaciomarine successions. The diamictites and associated mudstones of the Mozaan Group have low Th/Sc ratios, suggesting preferential incorporation of mafic materials into the diamictite matrix material. Previous studies suggest that this part of the Kaapvaal craton underwent early cratonization, involving tectonic and plutonic events that may have contributed to the drawdown of atmospheric CO2 and eventually provided a suitable substrate for development of continental glaciers.

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Glacial rocks are reported from 3.5, 2.9, and 2.7 Ga ago.
“Glacial rocks are reported from 3.5, 2.9, and 2.7 Ga ago.”
From The Archean atmosphere (2020) · cites this paper as [54]
In the ~2.9-Ga-old Pongola in South Africa, which was 43° to 48° paleolatitude, diamictites contain striated clasts, while associated silty laminates have dropstones with splash-up of substrata.
“Later, in the ~2.9-Ga-old Pongola in South Africa, which was 43° to 48° paleolatitude (224), diamictites contain striated clasts, while associated silty laminates have dropstones with splash-up of substrata (54).”
From The Archean atmosphere (2020) · cites this paper as [54]

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7.2 Huronian-Age Glaciation
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The Pongola Supergroup is an Archaean supracrustal
(2015)

Authors: Young, G. M., Brunn, V. V., Gold, D. J. C., & Minter, W. E. L.
Affiliations: University of KwaZulu-Natal (ZA)
Western University (CA)
ORCID: Young, Grant M.
Venue: The Journal of Geology
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
Published: 1998-09
Volume: 106
Issue: 5
Pages: 523-538
ISSN: 0022-1376 (ISSN-L)
1537-5269
DOI: 10.1086/516039
OpenAlex: W1992746976
Cited by: 189
References: 0
Citations by year: 2026: 3 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 15 · 2012: 13
FWCI: 0.00
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: The Journal of Geology (publishedVersion)
Topics: Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils
Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Geophysics › Geological and Geochemical Analysis
Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Geochemistry and Petrology › Geochemistry and Elemental Analysis
Keywords: Pongola Supergroup, Kaapvaal Craton, diamictite, ice-rafted debris, glacial deposits, chemical index of alteration, chemical weathering, atmospheric CO2 drawdown, ice sheets

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Earth'S Oldest Reported Glaciation: Physical and Chemical Evidence From the Archean Mozaan Group (∼2.9 Ga) of South Africa

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