Handbook of strata-bound and strataiform ore deposits. Part 7. Au, U, Fe, Mn, Hg, Sb, W and P deposits / Практическое руководство по стратиформным месторождениям твердых полезных ископаемых. Часть 7. Месторождения золота, урана, железа, марганца, ртути

The Republic of South Africa is a metal producer of the first rank. Gold is the most important of the metals and up to the end of 1971, U.S.$ 32 billion had been realized from its sale. This figure was equivalent to 80% of the total value of all metals sold. The gold province is located on the Kaapvaal craton which is composed of Precambrian sedimentary-volcanic and granite-greenstone assemblages ranging in age from 1,750 to 3,500 million years. This craton forms the southern part of the Southern African Shield. No significant gold mineralization has yet been found beyond the boundaries of this shield. On the Kaapvaal craton, five Proterozoic sedimentary-volcanic basins lie on an Archean basement.  <...>