570 W. H. PENIS^lfG Oli THE GOLDPIELDS OE 



The plij-sical features of the triangular tract of country occupied 

 hy the Lydenburg and De Kaap goldfields, between Swaziland, 

 the Tafelkop, and the junction of the Blyde and Orighstad rivers, may 

 be briefly described. The western side is upon the Drakensberg 

 mountains, the highest part of the range following a nearly N. and 

 S. line, from near the junction of the rivers, by Mauch's Berg and 

 Spitzkop to the Tafelberg, whence the Kaap mountains branch off 

 to the E. towards the Makoujwa mountains, which form the IM.W. 

 boundary of Swaziland. Part of the range N". of the Tafelberg, and 

 between it and the Krokodil Eiver, is named the " Godwaan Plateau." 

 The Drakensberg mountains fall gradually away to the W., but 

 present a very precipitous face (or " krantz," as it is called) to the 

 E. This krantz overlooks the lower country, which is traversed by 

 the Sabie and Krokodil Rivers, with their affluents, the united waters 

 of 'which, with those of the Komati, fall into the Indian Ocean north 

 of Delagoa Bay. 



It is a noteworthy feature that the sources of most of these rivers 

 are a long way to the westward of the highest parts of the mountain- 

 range. The general surface slopes W., but the rivers flow E., pass- 

 ing through deep gorges, called "poorts," in the mountains. The 

 Blyde and Orighstad rivers unite at the back of the range, and pass 

 through the " Blyde Poort." The Eland's Spruit joins the Krokodil 

 Eiver, just behind the Godwaan Plateau and before entering the 

 •' Krokodil Poort." In a similar manner the Komati and Krokodil 

 B-ivers unite (further to the east) just before passing through the 

 " Lower Komati Poort " in the Lebombo Mountains *, 



Mauch's Berg is the highest feature of the range, but Spitzkop is 

 the most prominent, being an isolated peak in the midst of a com- 

 paratively level plain or terrace which borders the low country. 

 There are very few places, except in the valleys, from which 

 Spitzkop cannot be seen, within a radius of fifty or sixty miles. 

 " In the angle formed by the junction of Eland's Spruit with the 

 Krokodil Biver is the Godwaan Plateau, an elevated tract some four 

 or five miles in width " f- 



1. The Geology of the Kaap Valley Sfc. — The following are the 

 main geological features observed by me while travelling : — 



The oldest rocks of the goldfields are those of the Kaap Yalley 

 and those bordering the Krokodil Biver, as far as yet examined, 

 also, doubtless, occupying the almost unknown region " below the 

 berg " in the direction of the Blyde Poort. 



2. Granitic'^ Bocks. — An intrusive plutonic rock, geologically 

 newer than the stratified rocks, but still in an inferior position, 

 occupies the whole of the lower ground of the western part of the 

 Kaap Yalley. It resembles coarse granite, and consists of quartz 

 and felspar, with but little, if indeed any, mica in its composition. 

 Although this granite (for such it may be called) forms generally 



^ See " A Sketch of the High-level Coalfields of South Afvica," read before 

 the Society on 5th March, 1884 (Q. J. G. S. vol. xl. p. 668). See also Loveday's 

 Map of the Lydenburg Goldfield, Pretoria, 1883. 



t ' Guide to the Goldfields of South Africa/ Pretoria, 1883, pp. 44-46. 



