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Sedimentary rocks of the Mapai formation in the Massingir-Mapai region,

Gaza province, Mozambique

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 Geological Survey of Finland, Special Paper 48
Sedimentary rocks of the Mapai Formation in the Massingir-Mapai region, Gaza Province, Mozambique

GTK Consortium Geological Surveys in Mozambique 2002–2007,

edited by Yrjö Pekkala, Tapio Lehto & Hannu Mäkitie
Geological Survey of Finland, Special Paper 48, 251–262, 2008

SEDIMENTARY ROCKS OF THE MAPAI FORMATION

IN THE MASSINGIR-MAPAI REGION,
GAZA PROVINCE, MOZAMBIQUE
by
Robbert Rutten1, Hannu Mäkitie2, Saku Vuori2 & João M. Marques3

Rutten, R., Mäkitie, H., Vuori, S. & Marques, J. M. 2008. Sedimentary rocks of
the Mapai Formation in the Massingir-Mapai region, Gaza Province, Mozambique.
Geological Survey of Finland, Special Paper 48, 251–262, 10 figures and 2 tables.

The Mapai Formation (~15 000 km2) occurring in the western part of the Gaza Prov-
ince of southern Mozambique, is a newly defined Formation of early-Palaeogene age.
It embraces a part of the previously defined Rio Singuédzi, Rio dos Elefantes and
Cheringoma Formations in the region. The Mapai Formation is divided into 6 mem-
bers that are characterized by calcareous siltstones, calcareous sandstones and calcare-
ous conglomerates, locally calcified and oxidized. The Mapai rocks typically were
deposited from both continental and coastal sedimentation environments, and are lo-
cally good outcropping in the river bed of the Limpopo, dos Elefantes and Singuédzi
Rivers. In the west, the lowermost limestones of the Mapai Formation overlie volcanic
rocks of the Karoo age that are part of the Jurassic Lebombo Monocline. Near the town
of Massingir this formation is overlying a fossil-rich, 20 m high sedimentary section,
the basal part of which indicates a shallow marine environment. The Mapai Formation
is often covered by sandstones, which occur below Quaternary aeolian sands. The
Mapai Formation is suspected to be contemporaneous with the Chringoma Forma-
tion described in southern Mozambique. In terms of depositional facies it seems the
high-stand equivalent of the Upper Cretaceous Grudja Formation only known from
subsurface data in the Mozambique Basin.

Key words (Georef Thesaurus AGI): sedimentary rocks, siltstone, sandstone,

conglomerate, limestone, stratigraphy, Cretaceous, Paleogene, Mapai, Massingir,
Gaza, Mozambique.

1
Independent Consultant Geologist, Geo4U, Beethovenstraat 127, 1077 JA
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2
Geological Survey of Finland, P.O. Box 96, FIN-02151 Espoo, Finland
3
Gondwana Empreendimentos e Consultorias, Limitada,
Caixa Postal 832, Maputo, Mozambique

E-mail: [email protected], 2hannu.makitie@gtk.fi, [email protected]

INTRODUCTION

Phanerozoic sedimentary rocks of the Mozam- Mozambique, they are poorly known due to the lack
bique Basin occupy vast areas in southern Mozam- of more detailed maps than the 1:1 000 000 scale
bique (Fig. 1). In the Province of Gaza, southern geological map of Mozambique (Pinna et al. 1987).

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Geological Survey of Finland, Special Paper 48
Robbert Rutten, Hannu Mäkitie, Saku Vuori & João M. Marques

A few studies from the Gaza region and from the quick field checks. The work resulted in 1:250 000
South African border area nearby (e.g. Flores 1961, scale maps with explanations (GTK Consortium
Botha & De Wit 1996) together with the one million 2006).
scale geological map and the Sul do Save geologi- One of the most important results in southern
cal map (Moura 1964) at the same scale, show that Mozambique was the definition of a new forma-
Cretaceous to Recent sedimentary rocks occupy in tion named the Mapai Formation, which occupies
Gaza Province. This interpretation is in accordance an area of about 15 000 km2 between the towns of
with studies by Borges (1944) and Rennie (1943, Massingir and Mapai in the western part of the Gaza
1944). Province (Fig. 1). The new Mapai Formation in-
In 2002–2006 the Geological Survey of Finland cludes an assemblage of previously defined forma-
(GTK) Consortium carried out geological mapping tions (e.g. Cheringoma, Rio Singuédzi and Rio dos
in Mozambique as a part of the Mineral Resource Elefantes) that are currently defined largely based
Management Capacity Building Project, Repub- on new observations (GTK Consortium 2006). The
lic of Mozambique, Component 2: Geological In- stratigraphic position of the new Mapai Forma-
frastructure Development Programme, Geological tion compared to the aforementioned formations is
Mapping LOT 3, covering the southern part of the shown in Table 1. Characteristics of the Mapai For-
country. The Gaza Province was also mapped by mation are given in this present article.

Fig. 1. Simplified geological map of southern Mozambique and the extension of the Mapai Formation. (modi-
fied after Lächelt 2004 and GTK Consortium 2006). The area comprising the Mapai Formation outcrops is
shown in the map. The position of the E-W trending cross section shown in Figure 3 is marked on the map as
“Fig. 3”.

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 Geological Survey of Finland, Special Paper 48
Sedimentary rocks of the Mapai Formation in the Massingir-Mapai region, Gaza Province, Mozambique

Table 1. Comparison of stratigraphy and formations reported from the Massingir area.

GTK Consortium (2006) Pinna et al. (1987) Botha & De Wit (1997)

Quaternary Sands Quaternary Sands Quaternary Sands

Neogene Mazamba Formation Neogene Mazamba Formation

Eocene Salamanga Formation

Massingir section
Paleogene Mapai Formation Paleogene Cheringoma Formation Malonga Formation/
Massingir section Rio Singuédzi Formation Paleocene Gona-re-Zhou Plataeu
Cretaceous Grudja Formation Cretaceous Rio dos Elefantes Cretaceous Beds
Sena Formation Formation Sena Formation/
Sena Formation Rio Singuédzi Formation

REGIONAL GEOLOGY

The Mozambique Basin

In southern and middle Mozambique, the Phan- Intensive alteration and oxidation of microfossils
erozoic cover can be divided into the Karoo Super- seriously hamper the establishment of a biostrati-
group (Permian-Jurassic) followed by a succession graphic framework. The best detailed stratigraphic
of Cretaceous and younger sedimentary formations, studies date back to the 1960s, but their applicabil-
partly associated with the development of the East ity is of a local nature and cannot be extrapolated on
Africa Rift System. Whereas the Karoo Supergroup a regional scale. This poor stratigraphic definition
is connected to continental rifting, the formations of lithologic entities complicates the correlation of
coeval with the East Africa Rift System reflect a pe- thin, erosional-bounded sedimentary sequences that
riod of continental drifting and dispersal followed due to their low relief and shallow marine or conti-
by renewed rifting. The dispersal of Gondwana and nental origin are assumed to extend over distances
the opening of the Indian Ocean are manifestations of several hundreds of kilometres.
of the first process. The relatively young East Africa The overall stratigraphical-sedimentary column
Rift System was initiated in the Cretaceous and ac- of the Mozambique Basin can be divided into a shal-
celerated during the Paleogene and Neogene. low platform sequence and deep water sediments
This large-scale structural framework gave rise to restricted to a branching network of predominantly
the development of the Mozambique Basin, which NNW-SSE oriented, asymmetric narrow grabens
spans an area of ~185 000 km² onshore and some (e.g. Rutten & Mamad 2006). The first sequence
100 000 km2, offshore down to the 500 m isobath. is represented by the shallow subsurface extending
The basin is floored by Jurassic volcanics and filled over vast areas, but probably not exceeding 150 m
by Early to Middle Cretaceous and younger sedi- in total thickness. It is most often overlain by a thin
mentary rocks and subordinate (sub-)volcanic rocks Quaternary unconsolidated cover like the Manangas
(Lächelt 2004). The maximum thickness of this sed- or windblown sands. As a consequence, the immedi-
imentary cover exceeds 10 000 m in the Zambezi ate subsurface geology is completely unknown over
River delta. an estimated 90% of the land surface. On the other
Study of the surface geology of this basin is hand, there is a kilometre thick, marine dominated
hampered by the scarcity of outcrops due to low sequence that is only observed in the subsurface of
relief depositional surfaces, alteration of sedimen- the deep grabens, in the central part of the Mozam-
tary rocks and the presence of weathering residues bique Basin.
such as laterite, calcrete, caliches and ferricrete.

The Massingir-Mapai region

According to Pinna et al. (1987) and Botha & De goma, Mazamba and Salamanga occurring east of
Wit (1996), the western part of the Massingir area Massingir. The Rio Singuédzi and Rio dos Elefantes
comprises Cretaceous-Paleocene sedimentary units Formations are westward continuations of the Cre-
such as the Malonga, Rio Singuédzi and Rio dos taceous Grudja Formation and are composed of con-
Elefantes that underlie the formations of Cherin- tinental to marine sediments, e.g. red sand stones,

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Geological Survey of Finland, Special Paper 48
Robbert Rutten, Hannu Mäkitie, Saku Vuori & João M. Marques

conglomerates and siltstones with marine fauna-

bearing layers (Salman & Abdulá 1995, Lächelt
2004). For the latter, a Cenomanian age (~95 Ma)
was given based on the presence of Lopha (Alect-
ronya) ungulata (Molluscan) fauna (Flores 1961).
The Cheringoma Formation is distinguished by the
presence of white nummulitic limestones and lime-
stones containing gastropods and echinoderm fauna
(Flores 1966). It laterally passes into the Salamanga
Formation (Middle-Upper Eocene) and is covered
by the Mazamba continental sediments of the Oli-
gocene-Miocene (Lächelt 2004). In the border area
between Mozambique and South Africa, volcanic
rocks of the Jurassic Lebombo Monocline (see Fig. 2. Typical featureless landscape in the Mapai Formation area.
Manninen et al. 2008) are outcropped (Fig. 1). 1 km east the Limpopo River, 10 km SW of the town of Mapai.
The localities around the town of Massingir situ-
ate at the western limit of the reported existence of
coastal to shallow water shelf sediments (Lächelt mentary geological characteristics of several, pre-
2004). From Massingir westwards the sedimentary viously described formations and comes out as a
rocks are characterized by continental and coastal single mappable unit in the field. The Mapai For-
terrigenous clastics. Botha and De Wit (1996, Fig. 2) mation often lies below the Mazamba continental
noted that the sedimentary rocks west and north sandstones, which cover large areas in the region.
from the town of Massingir (e.g. at Mahosi in north- Most often the Mapai Formation underlies a flat
ern bank of the Massingir reservoir) are comparable featureless landscape characterized by a thin up-
with the Cretaceous–Paleocene Malonga Formation permost cover of Quaternary aeolian sands and al-
in South Africa and with the Gona-re-Zhou Plateau luvial floodplain clayey sands (Fig. 2). A west-east
Beds of Zimbabwe. Besides, they are overlain by the trending, ~100 km long profile across the Mapai
Eocene Salamanga-type fossiliferous formations in Formation situated north of the town of Massingir
the Massingir Dam area. Quaternary aeolian sands is shown in Fig. 3.
and alluvial muddy sands cover the surface. Geophysical maps indicate that the eastern margin
Within the Massingir-Mapai region, the GTK of Jurassic Karoo volcanic rocks in the Massingir-
Consortium proposes a new formation, termed Mapai region show intense rifting fractures parallel
Mapai Formation. This captures the dominant sedi- to their contacts, but also in a NE-SW direction.

SEDIMENTARY ROCKS BELOW THE MASSINGIR DAM; MASSINGIR TYPE SECTION

Immediately underlying the Massingir Dam at tion, see “Massingir section” in Fig. 3) was stud-
Massingir town, a 24 metre high outcrop (for posi- ied in detail and shallow-marine, mostly fossil-rich

Fig. 3. Schematic W-E trending ~100 km long cross section across the Mapai Formation and overlying sedimentary formations situated in the
Massingir area. The section passes some kilometres north of the town of Massingir. The division into upper, middle and lower parts of the Mapai
Formation is shown in Table 2.

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 Geological Survey of Finland, Special Paper 48
Sedimentary rocks of the Mapai Formation in the Massingir-Mapai region, Gaza Province, Mozambique

mixed carbonate rocks and coarse clastic rocks were in the outcrop, result in bivalve framestones. Such
observed (Figs 4 and 5). The outcrop records an beds indicate very shallow marine (10–15 m water
overall upward fining sequence from shallow ma- depth) settings in the high-energy wave zone.
rine, bioclastic limestones, marlstones, shell beds, The upper half of Massingir section is dominated
to fine calcareous sandstones. The lower contact of by silty marlstone, some silty mudstone intervals
this sequence is not exposed. The lowest bed is a and very fine sandstones indicative of a more open,
composite of very coarse shell material and coarse shallow marine environment. The uppermost few
pebbles. At regular intervals there appear very fos- metres of the section show cross-bedding at decime-
siliferous beds of Ostrea-type shells, frequently tre scale with well developed metre-large sigmoids
overlain by fine sandy to marly beds. These Exo- that dip to the east. This upper part indicates coastal,
gyra of the Ostrea family indicate lower Cenozoic possibly tidally influenced deposition in a coastal-
age and when colonialising as occurs to some extent lagoonal setting. For more details, see Figs 4 and 5.

Fig. 4. Sedimentary sequence of the type section below the Massingir Dam. Sedimentary symbols largely adhere to those defined by the
International Association of Sedimentologists. Numbered boxes refer to the photos (numbers in scale bars) shown in Figure 5. The profile
starts (0–6 m) at 88 metres a.s.l. (0413397/ 73558620) and continues (6–24 m) (0413615/ 7359268) nearby.

255
Geological Survey of Finland, Special Paper 48
Robbert Rutten, Hannu Mäkitie, Saku Vuori & João M. Marques

Fig. 4. Continues.

MAPAI FORMATION

The near-horizontal Mapai Formation is mainly 6 mappable members, which have been assigned the
exposed along low to steep angle valley slopes of following codes (from top to bottom): Upper Lime-
the Limpopo, Uanétzi, Singuédzi and dos Elefan- stone (TeAul), Upper Sandstone (TeAuc), Middle
tes Rivers, and the reservoir of Massingir Dam. Sandstone (TeAcs), Middle Limestone (TeAml),
In the west, it unconformably overlaps in places Lower Sandstone (TeAlc) and Basal Limestone
the volcanic rocks of the Lebombo (Libombos in (TeAbl) (Table 2).
Portuguese) Monocline. The Formation is covered However, from a sedimentological point of view it
by arkosic sandstones of the Mazamba Formation is difficult to use this subdivision in a genetic sense.
(TeZ) or, in just a few locations, the Inhaminga These deposits consist of coarse-braided alluvial
Purple Sandstones. Field verification has identified clastic rocks, presumably representing mid channel

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 Geological Survey of Finland, Special Paper 48
Sedimentary rocks of the Mapai Formation in the Massingir-Mapai region, Gaza Province, Mozambique

Fig. 5. Selected close-up photos from the Massingir section shown in Fig. 4. The numbers in scale bars refer to stratigrahic positions shown by
boxed numbers in (spacing) Fig. 4. The scale bar is 8 cm.

257
Geological Survey of Finland, Special Paper 48
Robbert Rutten, Hannu Mäkitie, Saku Vuori & João M. Marques

bars (the pebbly and conglomerate intervals) and Table 2. The Mapai Formation and its Members.
interchannel areas dominated by finer sands and
siltstones. Moreover, limestone dominated intervals
may correspond to periods of relative sea level rise
due to subsidence.
The relative thickness of the uppermost Mapai
Members indicates, in a N-S direction, an inferred
stratigraphical order shown in Fig. 6. A brief descrip-
tion of the members is given in next section.

Lithology

Basal Limestone (TeAbl) element concentrations of the sample are 286 ppm
S, 784 ppm Sr and 840 ppm Ba. These concentra-
The sandy to silty limestones are exposed along tions indicate that the rock comprises about 70 %
the Lebombo Monocline, NW of Massingir town dolomitic minerals.
and in the Limpopo River valley near the South Af-
rican border. They represent the lowermost sedimen- Lower Sandstone (TeAlc)
tary unit of the Mapai Formation, deposited on the
Karoo volcanic rocks. These limestones are greyish The member comprises polymict sandstones and
and only weakly bedded, forming low, rounded out- conglomerate layers, which are characterized by a
crops. Based on one chemical analysis made by XRF calcareous matrix (Fig. 7). The boulders are mostly
at GTK, the impure limestone (location; 0345392/ composed of rhyolite and quartzose fragments, but
7458524) has the following main chemical element large clasts of granitoids, mafic volcanics, and BIF-
concentrations; 14.6 wt.% SiO2, 2.5 wt.% Al2O3, type rocks are also found, mainly near the Lebombo
0.97 wt.% Fe2O3t, 0.04 wt.% MnO, 17.8 wt.% MgO volcanics. The sequence is here at least 30 m thick.
25.7 wt.% CaO, and the C-content is 10 wt.%. Trace Low-angle cross-bedding is observed.

Fig. 6. Simplified stratigraphic order of the uppermost Mapai Formation members, Upper Limestone (TeAul), Upper Sandstone (TeAuc) and Mid-
dle Sandstone (TeAcs) and the overlying Mazamba Formation (TeZ) in a 100 km long N-S trending section, approximately from Mapai town in the
north to Massingir town in the south.

A B

Fig. 7. (A) Calcareous sandstone beds of the Lower Sandstone Member in the Rio Singuédzi River, 1 km east of the Lebombo rhyolites. (B) Close-
up photo of the bed boundary in rock of Figure A. Altitude 150 m a.s.l. (0389798/ 7389888). The scale bar is 8 cm.

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 Geological Survey of Finland, Special Paper 48
Sedimentary rocks of the Mapai Formation in the Massingir-Mapai region, Gaza Province, Mozambique

Middle Limestone (TeAml) glomerates are predominantly ferruginous and have

brick-red colours with, in places, bleached white
Compared to the outcrops of Lower Sandstone zones due to carbonate redeposition (Fig. 8). These
Member nearby, which are usually found in river whitish calcrete coated horizons mostly affect the
channels, rocks assigned to the Middle Limestone medium- to coarse-grained sandstones, presumably
Member occur on higher located areas where out- as a result of their higher porosity and permeability.
crops are few. These rocks are impure limestones Well preserved burrows are frequently observed.
and apparently do not form vertically notable units. These subvertical burrows are often oval-shaped, up
to one cm in diameter and 5 to 20 cm long.
Middle Sandstone (TeAcs) Towards the SE along the Limpopo River, simi-
lar scattered outcrops can be found containing ir-
For example, 20 km SW of Mapai town, discon- regularly distributed red and white, coarse-grained
tinuous exposures of white-grey, coarse-grained, calcareous sandstones with minor pebble horizons,
bioturbated sandstone of the Middle Sandstone alternating with bioturbated, red silty fine-grained
Member are found. They expose in the banks of the sandstone. Vague dm-scale bedding can be observed
Limpopo river, often below the Mazamba Forma- in places. Over a wider area, south of the Limpopo
tion (Fig. 8). Here, the total exposed interval meas- River, weathered breccias are irregularly distributed
ures ~50 m in vertical thickness. Starting from the and occur as metre-sized pockets in or around gravel-
bottom in upward steps of 3 m, this interval shows: ly sandstones. The breccias contain dm- to cm-scale,
• White, coarse-grained, well-sorted sandstone unsorted clasts derived from sandstone, calcrete
with a calcareous matrix, massive texture and and ferricrete that are set in a ferruginous siltstone
with vertical, dm-scale burrows; matrix.
Microscopically, the rock is composed of fine ar-
• As above, but more fine-grained, in places with gillaceous matter, fossil fragments and clastic grains.
a reddish colour; The latter are usually angular to sub-rounded quartz
• Gradual upward transition into calcareous silt- grains. Plagioclase is less abundant. Conglomeratic
stone with white and variegated red colours; horizons are composed of quartz or minor plagi-
oclase fragments in a carbonate matrix.
• Passing upwards into pure red siltstone with
In terms of the depositional setting, these coarse-
cm-thick calcrete streaks and laminae;
grained immature deposits were laid down as broad
• Higher up again appears white, coarse-grained sandy braid-plains, draining the westward, up-scarp
sandstone with occasional cm-large pebbles. margin of the Kaapvaal Craton and Lebombo vol-
canics. The coastal plains and playas typically
The same interval also comprises an irregular, consisted of low-relief, braided sandy channels,
coarse bedded (~20 to 100 cm), horizontal to slightly mid-channel pebble-bars and inter-channel (non-
tilted sequence of sandstones, pebbly sandstones and channelized) areas with overbank silt deposition.
intraformational conglomerate horizons, alternating Incipient weathering and soil formation may indi-
with sandy siltstone intervals. Sandstones and con- cate partial exposure during sea level low-stands.

A B

Fig. 8. (A) Typical metre-scale alternation of greyish-green and reddish ferruginous sandstone, pebbly sandstone and sandy siltstone with local
bioturbation. The Middle Sandstone Member of the Mapai Formation near the Limpopo River (0395863/ 7474034), at an altitude 238 m a.s.l. (B)
Close-up photo of fine-grained silty sandstone of the Mapai Formation, the same location. The scale bar is 8 cm.

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Geological Survey of Finland, Special Paper 48
Robbert Rutten, Hannu Mäkitie, Saku Vuori & João M. Marques

Episodically, these braid-plains became inundated compared to those found in the Lower Sandstone
as a result of storm-driven floods or rising sea level, Member. Also here, the matrix is rather rich in car-
temporarily turning the system into a sandy tidal bonates.
flat. Ophiomorpha-type bioturbation indicates shal-
low marine to coastal conditions at the time of for- Upper Limestone (TeAul)
mation. Bioturbation predominates in the medium-
to coarse-grained and often calcareous sandstone On some of the highest hills just north of Mass-
intervals and is far less prominent in silty intervals. ingir town, and particularly on the western slope
However, similar forms have also been attributed to of the Limpopo River valley, there are impure
rhizo-concretions (Botha & De Wit 1996). silty limestones defined as the Upper Limestone
Member. These rocks are greyish in colour, locally
Upper Sandstone (TeAuc) weakly bedded and may form interlayers within
the Upper Sandstone Member (Fig. 9B). They also
This member comprises conglomerates (Fig. comprise peloids and in rare cases, minor fossils are
9A), but size and amount of the cobbles are smaller surrounded by spherical calcitic layers.

COARSE CONGLOMERATES NEAR MASSINGIR TOWN

In Massingir town and its immediate surround- represent the more distal fan-toes and braided fluvial
ings there are conglomerate layers exposed in the deposits that in turn grade into braid plains towards
more elevated parts, often preserved at the top of the Limpopo area. However, the nature and strati-
hills (Fig. 9C). Their very coarse, unsorted nature graphic position of these conglomerates is not clear.
and decametre-scale cross-bedding suggest deposi- Coarse-grained conglomerates, reported from the
tion from an alluvial fan system. The less coarse, South African side of the border, have been inter-
contemporaneous rocks around the Massingir Dam preted as alluvial fan deposits (Malongo Formation;

A B

Fig. 9. Sedimentary rocks in the Massingir region. (A) Conglomer-

atic sandstone of the Upper Sandstone Member of the Mapai Forma-
tion. Note the segregated veins of carbonate-rich material. (0461734/
7363364). (B) Close-up photo of silty limestone of the Upper Lime-
stone Member of the Mapai Formation (0413192/ 7360075). (C)
Coarse-grained brownish conglomerate. The highest hill just south of
the Massingir Dam. Altitude 150 m a.s.l. (0414109/ 7355542). Scale
bars are 10 cm.

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 Geological Survey of Finland, Special Paper 48
Sedimentary rocks of the Mapai Formation in the Massingir-Mapai region, Gaza Province, Mozambique

Fig. 10. Plan view (20 km long in E-W direction) of Massingir reservoir lake area on the left. On the right, a sketch of the upper part of the Mass-
ingir section. Red is the main conglomerate, below it occur Upper Cretaceous/ Paleocene marine clastic rocks, and above it are situated rocks of
the Mapai Formation and Quaternary alluvium.

Botha & De Wit 1996). These very coarse deposits deposition of carbonate with the formation of cal-
are considered as gravel bed channels, stream floods crete coatings, indicates incipient pedogenic proc-
and debris flows, representing proximal alluvial esses that post-date deposition. The observed colour
fans. changes, due to redox reactions (ferro ↔ ferri), may
The formation of duricrust and related features in be partly primary and partly secondary.
the conglomerates, such as the dissolution and re-

DISCUSSION

Major parts of the calcareous silt- and sandstones (TeAbl) may be Cretaceous in age and refer to an
and conglomerates – previously called the Rio de ”own” formation, indicating a transgression over
Singuédzi/Elefantes, Cheringoma and Malonga For- the Karoo volcanics.
mations by Pinna et al. (1987) and Botha and De Wit The lowermost sediments in the Massingir sec-
(1996) – are included in the new Mapai Formation tion may directly correlate with the Cretaceous(-
in the western part of Gaza Province (Fig. 1). This Paleocene) fossiliferous Grudja Formation (Flores
was done because the sediments often have map- 1961). In general, this section marks the transition
pable lithological similarities, although not studied from a mixed carbonate/siliciclastic shallow marine
in detail in many places. The thickness of members sequence into a coarse clastic, dominantly continen-
in the Mapai Formation varies regionally (Fig. 6). tal sequence. Between the fossil-rich rocks and the
Quaternary aeolian sands dominate the platform ar- overlying sequence (Mapai Formation) may exist a
eas between the rivers of Limpopo and Singuédzi hiatus (Fig. 10).
Rivers, while alluvial floodplain clayey sands are The above-discussed greatly depends on the rela-
common on the eastern side of the Limpopo River. tionship between the fossiliferous rock (ends at 110
Field observations by the GTK Consortium in- m a.s.l) in the Massingir section, late Cretaceous
dicated that the fossil-rich section just under the Cenomanian in age (Flores 1961) as compared, for
Massingir Dam underlies the calcareous siltstone- example, to:
conglomerates of the Mapai Formation in the Mass- • Silty limestones (Upper Limestone Member
ingir region (Figs. 2 and 10); because the section of Mapai Formation) one kilometre north at an
is nearly horizontal, the overlying sedimentary altitude 141 m from Massingir Dam;
rocks should continue in a westerly direction along
• A vertical section of calcareous siltstones-con-
the margins of the dos Elefantes River. Thus, the
glomerates (Upper Sanstone Member) which
“boundary” between Cretaceous and Paleogene-
starts at 120 m a.s.l. and ends at 180 m a.s.l.
Neogene sediments is shifted westwards compared
in the Mahosi area, 15 km west of Massingir
to earlier studies by Pinna et al. (1987) and Botha
Dam;
and De Wit (1996). The contact and transition be-
tween the lower parts of the Mapai Formation and • A calcareous sandstone conglomerate (Lower
the fossil-rich sedimentary rocks in the Massingir Sandstone Member) profile, 25 m high, in Sin-
section is not clearly defined, largely due to coarse guédzi River (50 km NW of Massingir town),
unsorted conglomerates that erosively overlie the where it starts at 150 m (see Fig. 6);
latter. Moreover, the Basal Limestone Member

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 Geological Survey of Finland, Special Paper 48
Robbert Rutten, Hannu Mäkitie, Saku Vuori & João M. Marques

• A calcareous, sandstone-conglomerate (Mid- the Massingir area should be studied more detail in
dle Sandstone Member) at 105 a.s.l. at the bot- the future.
tom of the Limpopo River valley (72 km north This study is to a large extent hampered by the
of Massingir town). These sedimentary beds lack of determining properly-dated stratigraphic re-
are locally very gently tilted towards the SE. lationships. Recommendations for further studies
also include:
Observations by the GTK Concortium support the • The elaboration of a microstratigraphical and/
interpretation that sedimentary rocks west of Mass- or chemo-chemical stratigraphical data cam-
ingir mostly overlie the fossil-rich rocks beneath the paign in a selected part of the field;
Massingir Dam (Figs 3 and 10). A comparison of
• Intergration of these data with shallow bore
the stratigraphic profiles reported from sedimentary
hole data;
rocks and formations in the Massingir-Mapai region
was presented in Table 1. The lateral continuity of • Consideration of the local coverage of high
sedimentary facies environments near and north of resolution, shallow seismic data.

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