A geobotanical investigation of the Koedoesfontein Complex, Vredefort Dome, South Africa

A geobotanical investigation of the Koedoesfontein Complex within the Vredefort Dome, South Africa, reveals that the mineralogical gradient formed by peralkaline to ultramafic intrusions significantly influences soil chemistry and woody vegetation composition. The study found that weathering of these lithologies leads to marked variations in soil chemical properties, particularly chromium and nickel content, which correlate with the abundance of sodium-, calcium-, iron-, and magnesium-rich silicate minerals. Notably, significant differences in woody species composition, especially within the Senegalia and Vachellia genera, were observed across soils derived from ultramafic–mafic, intermediate, and felsic rock types. These variations can serve as indicators for different geological substrates within the dome, providing valuable insights into the relationship between geology and vegetation in this unique impact structure.

Boneschans, R. B., Coetzee, M. S., & Siebert, S. J. (2015). A geobotanical investigation of the Koedoesfontein Complex, Vredefort Dome, South Africa. Australian Journal of Botany, 63(4), 324–340. https://doi.org/10.1071/bt14267