The 3.5 Ga Barberton Greenstone succession, South Africa: Implications for modelling the evolution of the Archaean crust

Recent structural and sedimentological analyses of the Barberton greenstone succession have revealed the existence of major problems with the classic Barberton greenstone belt model that was developed in the 1960s. In the light of recent results, a revised stratigraphy is discussed. The sequence is shown to have undergone at least four distinct deformation events, of which the first two involved important tectonic repetition and thickening of the original succession. The sequence is interpreted as Archaean oceanic crust overlain by submarine fan deposits and alluvial fan sediments. This sedimentation which terminates the stratigraphic succession occurred contemporaneously with a collison event, which resulted in the obduction of the Barberton succession.