Heritage Cases

The Kroonstad quarry bivalve fossil site has been known since at least the 1970s (Rossouw 1970) but never scientifically studied and its stratigraphic context (Lower Beaufort Group or upper Ecca Group) remains ambiguous. Certainly the bivalve taxa present do not resemble those known from Lower Beaufort Group fluvial sediments elsewhere, and at the Kroonstad site they are uniquely in situ associated with trace fossils generated by the bivalves themselves. A recent proposal for upgrading the nearby N1 trunk road involves the opening of a new high-quality dolerite quarry just to the west of the bivalve fossil site. The current application is in support of a joint research and mitigation site visit by Almond and Penn-Clarke. This is in order to sample the loose fossil material on site as well as to more closely define the fossils' sedimentary context, taphonomy and distribution so that an appropriate buffer zone between the new quarry and the fossil site can be proposed for consideration by SAHRA. Key aims of the proposed site visit include: • Sample loose blocks of fossil material at surface, particularly from the more vulnerable SW side of the old quarry; • Confirm and, if possible, improve detailed mapping of surface occurrences of fossil material; • Identify the SW margin of the fossil-bearing sandstone capping the dolerite in the area of the old quarry; • Delineate a realistic buffer zone to ensure the in situ fossils and their sedimentary context are adequately protected once mining commences; • Make a preliminary search in the broader study region for comparable fossil sites to assess the uniqueness of the Q42.5 quarry fossil site; • Collect field data on sediments and in situ fossils as part of an academic study to (1) identify and describe the trace fossil and shelly fossil material; (2) analyse the assemblage in palaeobiological and taphonomic terms; (3) investigate the stratigraphic context (currently ambiguous – Ecca Group or Beaufort Group?) and sedimentology of the host sandstones; • Report back to SAHRA with new data and recommendations for any future mitigation or protection measures. Please note that only loose surface material and not in situ fossil specimens will be sampled. The BPI has expressed a willingness to curate the fossil material in their collections.