Kimberley-Elsburg Series

geology

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 30, 2026

Quick Summary

The Kimberley-Elsburg Series is a division of Precambrian rocks within South Africa's Witwatersrand System. This geological system, formed between approximately 3.8 billion and 540 million years ago, is economically significant for its gold and uranium deposits. The Witwatersrand System is divided into upper and lower sections, with the Kimberley-Elsburg Series being part of the upper division. This series is composed of shales, quartzites, and dolomites, and it contains substantial gold deposits. The Witwatersrand System itself is a vast geological formation, with much of it covered by later deposits, but its subsurface extent is crucial for understanding mineral resources.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

5 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Witwatersrand System
…Main-Bird Series, followed by the Kimberley-Elsburg Series. The Government Reef Series consists of alternating shales and quartzites in addition to pebbly layers that contain gold deposits; it also contains indications of a period of extensive glaciation. The most economically important series is the Main-Bird Series, largely quartzitic conglomerates that are…
Read More
…Main-Bird Series, followed by the Kimberley-Elsburg Series. The Government Reef Series consists of alternating shales and quartzites in addition to pebbly layers that contain gold deposits; it also contains indications of a period of extensive glaciation. The most economically important series is the Main-Bird Series, largely quartzitic conglomerates that are…
Read More