Geology - Kloof Conservancy BioGuide
Krantzkloof’s breath-taking scenery is the result of deep incisions of the Molweni and Nkutu Rivers – tributaries of the Umgeni – into the Kloof Plateau. The plateau comprises erosion resistant Natal Group Sandstone , which forms the reserve’s orange-red, iron oxide stained cliffs.
The dolerite intrusions have mostly weathered and eroded to leave behind a number of stunning “cracks” often a few meters wide and up to 50m deep within the reserve the most notable of which are the Nkonka and Wyebank “Cracks”.
To understand and appreciate the geology of the reserve visitors need to observe the cliff-faces as they descend into the gorge and then observe the massive granite boulders on the river bed. Walking to the end of the Uve trail and the Forest trail will enable visitors to observe the cracks left by the erosion of the softer dolerite intrusions.
The sediments which form the Natal Group Sandstone were transported by the river systems which flowed from an active mountain belt to the north, about 490 million years ago. At this time the earth lacked plant cover and the oceans were dominated by faunas such as tribolites (extinct arthropods) and clam-like creatures as well as the ancestors of today’s sea urchins, starfish and corals.
The Geology of Krantzkloof - John Waters (unpublished)
indawo Krantzkloof Nature Reserve
Imifanekiso edonsa umoya eKrantzkloof Ingumphumela wokujula kwemisiko yakwiMolweni kanye neNkutu Rivers – Iyothelela uMngeni – kuyaku Kloof plateau. Umgengqe uhlanganisa ukuguguleka komhlabathi ukuze kuvikeleke Chweba leNhlangano yeNatal (Natal Group Sandstone), okwenza isimo sokongeka kwesiwa ekunindekeni kwibala ebovu nokuwolintshi nasekuthombeni.
Kukho lokongeka singabona izinhlobo ezintathu zamatshe-ingaphansi legcaki, chweba laseNatal kanye nasekusekeleni amatshe.
Ingaphansi legcaki ligqame kakhulu kwimibhede yomfula iMolweni lapho izimbokodo zamagcaki ezinkulu ezithambile zinikezela imifanekiso yemifula ekhangayo.
Ichweba leNatal ligqame kakhulu kubuso bamawa amile thwi kwakheke ingonxe.
Ukusekeleka kwamatshe ashukwe izulu kakhulu kanye nokuhebhukile kushiya ngemuva isibalo “sokuqhekeka” okuhle kaningana kumamitha ambalwa ngobubanzi kanti kuyaku 50m ukujula kokongeka okudume kakhulu okuyiNkonka kanye “nemiqhekeko” yase Wyebank.
Ukuqonda nokubonga ijiyoloji yezivakashi bezokongiwa abadinga ukugubha ubuso bamawa njengoba bezokwehlela emhosheni bese begubha izimbokodo zamagcaki azimuhluza emibhedeni yemifula. Ukuhamba uye ekugcineni kwe, Uve Trail nakwiForest trail kuzonika izivakashi amandla okulonda iminkenke eshiywe ukuguguleka kwamatshe axhantelene athambile.
Inzika eyakha iNatal GroupSandstone yathuthwa uhlelo lwemifula egeleza kusuka ebhandeni lezintaba ezibukhuphekhuphe kuya enyakatho, iminyaka engu 490 wezigidi edlule. Kulesikhathi umhlaba untula ukuvikeleka kwezitshalo kanti ulwandle lwenganyelwe zilwane njengolwembu kanye nezimbaza njengesidalwa ngokunjalo nokhokho besithohlongwana solwandle lwanamuhla, inhlanzi nekholali.