The Geology of the Belingwe Greenstone Belt, Zimbabwe

The very well preserved Bellingwe Greenstone Belt provides a case study of Archaean crustal evolution, a geological window into the very early evolution of the Earth and contains some of the most interesting Archaean rocks on the Earth. The Archaean includes about one third of the Earth's history and there is vigorous debate about early development of life, the evolution of the continents and the oceans, and the formation of mineral deposits. This volume of nine contributions presents the stratigraphy of the beld, its structure and tectonic setting, the sedimentology of what may be a rift basin, the geochemistry of the freshest Archaean komatiites yet found, and models of the evolution of the region. It is a detailed case study, based on field evidence of what may be the most complete and best preserved greenstone sequences yet found and a key reference work for all interested in the Archaean, whether from an interest in the early Earth or from an economic interest in the Archaean stratigraphic and volcanic controls on mineral deposits. The volume is designed to be of use for undergraduate students interested in the formation and evolution of early crust.