Archean seismites of the Ventersdorp Supergroup, South Africa

This contribution documents the discovery of seismites in pyroclastic lithologies of the Kameeldooms Formation of the late Archean (2.8 to 2.65 Ga) Ventersdorp Supergroup, South Africa. A variety of well-preserved sedimentary structures document the seismites, comprising syn-sedimentary faults, convolute bedding, graben-like down-sagging structures, syn-sedimentary breccias and syneresis cracks. Earthquakes associated with syn-sedimentary faulting and intrabasinal volcanic activity that affected the unconsolidated sediments of the Kameeldooms Formation explain the origin of these structures.