[en] The BASE (Barberton Archean Surface Environments) scientific drilling project focused on recovering unweathered continuous core through strata of the Paleoarchean Moodies Group (ca. 3.2 Ga), central Barberton Greenstone Belt (BGB), South Africa. They comprise some of the oldest well-preserved sedimentary strata on Earth, deposited within only a few million years in alluvial, fluvial, coastal-deltaic, tidal, and prodeltaic settings and represent a veryhigh-resolution record of Paleoarchean surface conditions and processes. Moodies Group strata consist of polymict conglomerates, widespread quartzose, lithic and arkosic sandstones, siltstones, shales, and rare BIFs and jaspilites, interbedded with tuffs and several thin lavas. This report describes operations from preparations to the sampling workshop and complements the related scientific report. Eight inclined boreholes between 280 and 495 m length, drilled during November 2021 through July 2022, obtained a total of 2903 m of curated core of variable quality through steeply to subvertically dipping, in part overturned stratigraphic sections. All drilling objectives were reached. Boreholes encountered a variety of conglomerates, diverse and abundant, mostly tuffaceous sandstones, rhythmically laminated shale-siltstone and banded-iron formations, and several horizons of early-diagenetic sulfate concretions. Oxidative weathering reached far deeper than expected; fracturing was more intense, and BIFs and jaspilites were thicker than anticipated. Two km-long mine adits and a water tunnel, traversing four thick stratigraphic sections within the upper Moodies Group in the central BGB, were also sampled. All boreholes were logged by geophysical instruments. Core was processed (oriented, slabbed, photographed, described, and archived) in a large, publicly accessible hall in downtown Barberton. An exhibition provided background explanations for visitors and related the drilling objectives to the recently established Barberton-Makhonjwa Mountains World Heritage Site. A substantial education, outreach and publicity program addressed the information needs of the local population and of local and regional stakeholders. Referencing articles
Disciplines :
Earth sciences & physical geography
Author, co-author :
Heubeck, C; Department of Geosciences, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Jena, Germany
Beukes, N; Department of Geology, University of Johannesburg, South Africa
De Kock, M; Department of Geology, University of Johannesburg, South Africa
Homann, M; Department of Earth Sciences, University College London, London, UK
Javaux, Emmanuelle ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Astrobiology ; ULiege > Early Life Traces and Evolution-Astrobiology
Kakegawa, T; Tohoku University, Japan
Lalonde, S; CNRS, Brest, France
Mason, P; Department of Earth Sciences, Utrecht University, Princetonlaan, Utrecht, The Nether-lands
Tice, M; Texas A&M University, USA
Mashele, P; Department of Geology, University of Johannesburg, South Africa ; University of the Witwa-tersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
Paprika, D; Department of Geology, University of Johannesburg, MSA Group, Victoria Park, Nelspruit, Hoedspruit, Limpopo, South Africa, South Africa
