Komatiite Barberton Greenstone Belt South Africa [49 gm - 3.3 Ga]

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 komatiite of Archean age (~ 3.3 Ga) from a premier Greenstone Belt!

Komatiites are highly magnesium-rich volcanic rocks formed from ultramafic magma. They are named after the Komati River in South Africa, where Dr. Alexander du Toit first found and described them 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: 70mm L X 54mm W X 11mm D, Weight: 49 grams. Both sides are lightly coated and easily washed off. It ships with a Certificate of Authenticity, information about Komatiite, tag, tag stand and XRF! The photo cube and plexiglass stand are not included. This material was legally collected.

The abundance of komatiites in the Barberton Greenstone Belt is significant because these rocks are scarce 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 geologically premier area 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 our planet's formation and evolution.

Buy this exceptional specimen of komatiite today and make your geology collection outstanding!

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