The Barberton Greenstone Belt in South Africa is well-known for its abundance of komatiite, a rare ultramafic volcanic rock. It is one of Earth's oldest and best-preserved examples of Archean (3.5-3.2 billion years old) Greenstone Belts!

Komatiites are highly magnesium-rich volcanic rocks that formed from ultramafic magma. These rocks are named after the Komati River in South Africa, where they were first described by Dr. Alexander du Toit in 1908.

The Barberton Greenstone Belt contains some of the best-preserved komatiite sequences in the world, with thicknesses ranging from a few meters to over 1000 meters. These sequences are important for understanding the Earth's early history and the evolution of its crust.

One of the most remarkable features of these komatiite sequences is their high proportion of spinifex textures, which are formed when the ultramafic magma cools rapidly. This indicates that the magmatic eruptions in this area were extremely hot, reaching temperatures as high as 1600°C.

Size of Specimen: 50mm L X 39mm W X 12mm D, Weight: 40 grams. Both sides are lightly coated. It ships with a Certificate of Authenticity and information about the Komatiite, tag, and tag stand. Photo cube is not included.

The abundance of komatiites in the Barberton Greenstone Belt is significant because these rocks are extremely rare on Earth today. This is due to changes in the Earth's mantle over time, which has led to a decrease in the production of ultramafic magma. As a result, studying komatiites from the Archean era provides valuable insights into the geologic processes that took place in the Archean Eon.

Overall, the Barberton Greenstone Belt in South Africa is a valuable site for studying komatiites and understanding Earth's early history. With ongoing research and exploration, we can continue to uncover the secrets hidden within these ancient volcanic rocks and gain new insights into the formation and evolution of our planet.

Buy this extremely rare komatiite today and make your geology collection more complete!

This komatiite ships with a Certificate of Authenticity, tag, tag stand and information about the Barberton Greenstone Belt. This material was legally collected.