1 a New Commercial and Light Industrial Township, Paramount Park Meyerton, Midvaal Local Municipality, Vereeniging Magisterial D
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A new commercial and light industrial township, Paramount Park Meyerton, Midvaal Local Municipality, Vereeniging Magisterial District, Gauteng Province Farm: Portion 22 Langkuil 363 IR. Fourie, H. Dr [email protected] 012 0000040/012 993 3110 Palaeontological Impact Assessment: Phase 1 Field study Commissioned by: J. Paul van Wyk Urban Economists & Planners cc LEAP, P.O. Box 13185, Hatfield, 0028, Pretoria, Gauteng 012 343 2751 2014/12/02 GDARD Ref: 002/13-14E0159 1 B. Executive summary Outline of the development project: LEAP on behalf of Messrs J. Paul van Wyk Urban Economists and Planners cc has appointed Dr H. Fourie, a palaeontologist, to undertake a Paleontological Impact Assessment, Phase 1 Field study of the suitability of the proposed development of Paramount Park in Meyerton on Portion 22 of the farm Langkuil 363 IR, Midvaal Local Municipality, Gauteng Province. It is proposed to include Portion 22 of the farm Langkuil in the official urban development boundary for Midvaal and to establish a township (commercial and limited industrial) on the proposed site. Limited industrial use includes small-scale and light industrial activities. The Project includes one location Alternative (see map): Alternative 1: The farm Langkuil, located in the west/northwestern parts of the town of Meyerton. An 8,7023 hectares of land of the intersection of Sybrand van Niekerk Freeway (R59) and Meyer Street. The property is located near the Valley Settlements Agricultural Holdings, Ophir Agricultural Holdings and Henley-on-klip to the east. The National Heritage Resources Act 25 of 1999 requires that all heritage resources, that is, all places or objects of aesthetic, architectural, historical, scientific, social, spiritual, linguistic or technological value or significance are protected. The Republic of South Africa (RSA) has a remarkably rich fossil record that stretches back in time for some 3.5 billion years and must be protected for its scientific value. Fossil heritage of national and international significance is found within all provinces of the RSA. South Africa’s unique and non-renewable palaeontological heritage is protected in terms of the National Heritage Resources Act. According to this act, palaeontological resources may not be excavated, damaged, destroyed or otherwise impacted by any development without prior assessment and without a permit from the relevant heritage resources authority. The main aim of the assessment process is to document resources in the development area and identify both the negative and positive impacts that the development brings to the receiving environment. The PIA therefore identifies palaeontological resources in the area to be developed and makes recommendations for protection or mitigation of these resources. This report prescribes to the Heritage Impact Assessment of Section 38 of the National Heritage Resources Act 25 of 1999. For this study, resources such as geological maps, scientific literature, institutional fossil collections, satellite images, aerial maps and topographical maps were used. It provides an assessment of the observed or inferred palaeontological heritage within the study area, with recommendations (if any) for further specialist palaeontological input where this is considered necessary. A Palaeontological Impact Assessment is generally warranted where rock units of LOW to VERY HIGH palaeontological sensitivity are concerned, levels of bedrock exposure within the study area are adequate; large scale projects with high potential heritage impact are planned; and where the distribution and nature of fossil remains in the proposed area is unknown. The specialist will inform whether further monitoring and mitigation are necessary. Types and ranges of heritage resources as outlined in Section 3 of the National Heritage Resources Act, 1999 (No 25 of 1999): (i) (i) objects recovered from the soil or waters of South Africa, including archaeological and palaeontological objects and material, meteorites and rare geological specimens. Section 38, 1(b) requires the details of the construction of a bridge or similar structure exceeding 50m in length. It is proposed to comment and recommend on the impact of the development on fossil heritage, and if mitigation or conservation is necessary. Outline of the geology and the palaeontology: The geology was obtained from maps 1:100 000, South Africa (Visser 1984) and East Rand 2628 (Keyser et al.1986). 2 Legend to Map and short explanation (2628 East Rand). Pv – (grey) Sandstone, shaly sandstone, grit, shale, conglomerate and coal, Vryheid Formation, Ecca Group, Karoo Supergroup. Permian. Vmd – (blue) Dolomite, chert. Malmani Subgroup, Chuniespoort Group, Transvaal Supergroup. Vaalian. Vt – (brown =) Ferruginous shale / quartzite (…). Time Ball Hill Formation, Pretoria Group, Transvaal Supergroup. Vaalian. ---f-- - Fault. The farm Langkuil (blue) is located in the top left hand corner of the map. Summary of findings: The Phase 1 Palaeontological Impact Assessment Field study was undertaken during November 2014 and the following is reported: The Transvaal Supergroup fills an east-west elongated basin in the south-central part of the old Transvaal (now North – West, Gauteng and Mpumalanga) as far south as Potchefstroom. It is Vaalian in age, approximately 2600 Ma to 2100 Ma. The area to the north is covered by the Malmani dolomites and chert of the Chuniespoort Group, and the Time Ball Hill shale and quartzite of the Pretoria Group of the Transvaal Supergroup. These formations are Vaalian in age. The Pretoria Group consists predominantly of quartzitic sandstones, mudstones and shale together with a prominent volcanic unit, minor conglomerate, chemical, and volcanic members. It comprises the, Time Ball Hill, Silverton and Magaliesberg Formations as well as several smaller Formations and overlies the Chuniespoort Group. The Time Ball Hill shale formation is known to contain ‘algal microfossils’ diagenetic in origin. Stromatolites as they are known are preserved in the subordinate carbonate rocks in the Pretoria Group (Eriksson 1999, Kent 1980). The Cuniespoort Group comprises the Malmani Subgroup at the base. The Malmani Subgroup is important for its fluorspar, concrete aggregate, iron ore and manganese (Snyman 1996). The Chuniespoort Group is made up of chemical and biochemical sediments such as dolomite, chert, limestone and banded iron formation, carbonaceous shale is also present. Cave formation in the dolomite is a major concern in developing areas, especially in the 1500m thick dolomite of the Malmani Subgroup. The Vryheid Formation present is part of the Karoo Supergroup and is Permian in age. The Karoo Supergroup is renowned for its fossil wealth. The Vryheid Formation (Pe,Pv), Ecca Group is rich in plant fossils such as the Glossopteris flora represented by stumps, leaves, pollen and fructifications. This formation is early to mid-Permian in age and consists of sandstone, shaly sandstone, grit, conglomerate, coal and shale. Coal seams are present in the Vryheid Formation within the sandstone and shale layers. Fossils are mainly present in the grey shale which is interlayered between the coal seams. Borehole logs nearer to the coal fields show the following layers; soil, shale and sandstone, shale and sandstone interbedded, sandstone, coal, conglomerate and often reworked diamictite, and Dwyka Tillite. Rocky outcrops of the Vryheid Formation are absent on portion 22 Langkuil 363 IR. The topsoil, subsoil and overburden may be substantial and most of the land is covered in grassland, bushes, trees, plants, and a dwelling, the plot is vacant. Dolomites, chert, grit and conglomerates are present on the surface. 3 Fossils in South Africa mainly occur in rocks of sedimentary nature and not in rocks from igneous or metamorphic nature. Therefore, if there is the presence of Karoo Supergroup strata the palaeontological sensitivity can generally be LOW to VERY HIGH, and here locally VERY HIGH for the Vryheid Formation. The Chuniespoort Group is rated HIGH and the Pretoria Group is MODERATE, but the Time Ball Hill Formation is HIGH (SAHRIS). Recommendation: The Phase 1 Palaeontological Impact Assessment Field study of the suitability of the proposed development does not recommend a Phase 2 Palaeontological Impact Assessment, Mitigation with protocol which should take place prior to the development, but caution is necessary when digging into the dolomitic layer. Stromatolites may be present recognisable by their domed structures. Upgrading of the existing dirt roads around the property is not covered by this report. The Project includes one location Alternative (see map): Alternative 1: The farm Langkuil, located in the west/northwestern parts of the town of Meyerton. An 8,7023 hectares of land of the intersection of Sybrand van Niekerk Freeway (R59) and Meyer Street. The property is located near the Valley Settlements Agricultural Holdings, Ophir Agricultural Holdings and Henley-on-klip to the east. During the survey it was found that the farm Langkuil may have been overlain by rocks of the Vryheid Formation and is presently underutilised. The Vryheid Formation does not outcrop, but both the Malmani dolomites and the Time Ball Hill quartzites are visible. Shale is not present on the surface. The development of the Park includes several projects that will need foundations, footings, channels and trenches to be dug. Infrastructure include - access roads and buildings. The impact of the development on fossil heritage is HIGH and therefore a field