CHARACTERISING THE NAMAQUALAND MUDBELT OF SOUTHERN AFRICA: CHRONOLOGY, PALYNOLOGY AND PALAEOENVIRONMENTS

ABSTRACT

This paper presents the preliminary findings of recent palynological and chronological analysis of the Orange River mudbelt material. The sediment is considered to have been largely transported from the runoff of the Orange River catchment and is terrigenous in nature. Radiocarbon, pollen, stable carbon isotope and ²¹⁰Pb analysis of this mud (10 marine cores of Holocene age) has revealed aspects of environmental, vegetation and climate change in the South African interior and may provide a better understanding of the runoff history and land use of the past.