Abstract
M.Sc. (Geology)
This study represents the first detailed field, geochemical and geochronological study of Archaean rock units that crop out along the Ncotshane River in the southern part of Swaziland. These rock units were mapped as Mahamba Gneiss in the geological map of Swaziland (Wilson, 1982). However, field examination indicated that the area consists of a heterogeneous assemblage of serpentinite, amphibolite, gabbroic gneiss, quartzite, meta-ironstone, augen gneiss, granitic gneiss and diorite, all of which are intimately associated with weakly foliated granite and dolerite. Serpentinite is regarded to represent the metamorphosed equivalent of komatiite found in the Dwalile Supracrustal Suite, a correlate of the Onverwacht Group, on the basis of similar geochemical characteristics. The silicified part of the serpentinite may compare with silicified komatiite that are widely observed in the Onverwacht Group. It is equally possible however that the ultramafic rocks originated as intrusions that are widespread in the SE Kaapvaal craton and which include both Palaeoarchaean and Mesoarchaean layered complexes. No contacts with neighbouring rocks were observed, thus not allowing unequivocal differentiation between the different possibilities. Amphibolites represent metamorphosed equivalents of the Mozaan Group basalts based on their association with Mozaan quartzite. Gabbroic gneiss, which occurs in association with amphibolite, likely represents an intrusive equivalent of amphibolite.....