Vredefort Structure

Hart R. J., Nicolaysen L. O., and Gale N. H. (1981) Radioelement concentrations in the deep profile through Precambrian basement of the Vredefort structure. J. Geophys. Res. 86, 10639-10652. 

The Vredefort structure a cross-section of Archaean crust... 

Tredoux, M., Hart, R. J., Carlson, R. W. Shirey, S. B. 1999. Ultramafic rocks at the center of the Vredefort structure further evidence for the crust on edge model. Geology (Boulder), 27, 923-926. 

The Vredefort dome represents a unique, upturned section through —36 km of crust of the Kaapvaal craton, possibly exposing a paleo-Moho at its base (Hart et al., 1981, 1990 Tredoux et al., 1999 Moser et al., 2001). The origin of this structure is debated, but one likely scenario is that it was produced by crustal rebound following... 

Recent U-Pb studies of lower-crustal xeno-liths, from kimberlites where Re-Os isotope studies have been undertaken on mantle peridotites, and on lower-crustal samples from the Vredefort impact structure, further illuminate the timing of lithosphere stabilization and support the notion of widespread lithospheric mantle stabilization in Neoarchaean time. These studies reveal major episodes of Meso- to Neoarchaean thermal activity in the lower crust (Schmitz Bowring 2000 Moser et al. 2002). Some of the lower-crustal xenoliths from the craton margins... 

---