READING THE ROCKS OF THE WESTERN CAPE (2 of 2) Dr Roger Smith

UCT Summer School 2016 READING THE ROCKS OF THE WESTERN CAPE (Lecture 2 of 2) Dr Roger Smith, research geologist and palaeontologist, Iziko South African Museum LECTURE TITLES 1. Reading the older Proterozoic to Palaeozoic aged rocks 2. Reading the younger Mesozoic to Cainozoic aged rocks This two-lecture course will focus on selected outcrops that will enable students to ‘read the rocks’ to find out how old they are, how they were formed and what they can tell about ancient landscapes and life forms of the Cape region from around 550 million years ago right up to sub-recent times. The best outcrops for this type of study are those where clean bare rock is exposed: along the coast, in mountain gorges and in quarry faces. Table Mountain has magnificent three-dimensional rock exposures that provide information about ancient submarine fans, lagoonal storm deposits, beach bars, river channels and even glacial debris. This course will demonstrate how the geological strata and structures control the shape of the present-day landscape, the courses of rivers and roads and the location of settlements. All the sites that will be discussed are easily accessible. Course page: http://www.summerschool.uct.ac.za/rea... DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed in the lecture are those of the lecturer and do not necessarily reflect those of the Summer School organisers. These recordings are unedited.