Beaufort Group
| Beaufort Group | |
|---|---|
| Stratigraphic range: Guadalupian-Early Triassic ~ | |
| Type | Geologic group |
| Underlies | Stormberg Group |
| Overlies | Ecca Group |
| Thickness | up to 22,965.88 feet (7,000 m) |
| Lithology | |
| Primary | Mudstone, claystone, siltstone |
| Other | Sandstone, shale, Tuff |
| Location | |
| Region | Northern Cape, Western, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Free State. |
| Country | South Africa |
| Extent | 145 000 km squared |
A simplified geological map of the outcrops of Karoo Supergroup rocks in Southern Africa. The Beaufort Group is represented by the yellow key on the map. | |
The Beaufort Group is the third of the main subdivisions of the Karoo Supergroup in South Africa. It is composed of a lower Adelaide Subgroup and an upper Tarkastad Subgroup. It follows conformably after the Ecca Group and unconformably underlies the Stormberg Group. Based on stratigraphic position, lithostratigraphic and biostratigraphic correlations, palynological analyses, and other means of geological dating, the Beaufort Group rocks are considered to range between Middle Permian (Wordian) to Early Triassic (Anisian) in age.