NATURAL & HISTORICAL SITES

18 : Conglomerate Geology

There are fine exposures of Waterberg sedimentary rocks in this area, especially along the Telekishi Trail. Although sandstone, a rock formed by the deposition of fine river-borne sand, constitutes the main rock type throughout the Waterberg, these lower levels also contain several impressive layers of conglomerate. This is a coarse rock, made up of rounded cobbles or pebbles of varying composition that have been cemented together. It is formed by rivers flowing at high speed (for example down a mountain slope or during a flash flood), when there is enough energy in the water to transport and tumble large fragments of rock, and deposit them in bends, or along the sides of the river. A formal local community project here involves the collection, sorting and bagging of these pebbles that have been eroded from the conglomerate, and sale to nurseries and landscape gardeners in Gauteng.