Ferruginated and Leached Lapilli Tuff and Tuff in the Verbrande Berg Formation, Ecca Group, Huab Basin, Namibia

Research at Burnt Mountain, Namibia, reveals that the distinctive 'burnt' appearance of the Verbrande Berg Formation is due to ferruginated volcaniclastic rocks. The study identifies these rocks as leached and ferruginated lapilli tuff and tuff, deposited during prolonged volcanic activity in a swamp environment. Ferrugination occurred through interaction with acidic bog water and oxidation products from early diagenetic sulphides. Fault-related fracturing facilitated the development of Liesegang structures before dolerite intrusions linked to Etendeka volcanism. This finding corresponds with similar volcaniclastic occurrences in other Karoo Basin regions, providing new insights into the geological history of the Huab Basin.

DE WAAL, S. A. (2012). FERRUGINATED AND LEACHED LAPILLI TUFF AND TUFF IN THE VERBRANDE BERG FORMATION, ECCA GROUP, HUAB BASIN, NAMIBIA. South African Journal of Geology, 115(3), 345–368. https://doi.org/10.2113/gssajg.115.3.345