MZIMVUBU RIVER: Topography, geology and soils

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Map of the MZIMVUBU River

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TOPOGRAPHY
The Mzimvubu River and its four main tributaries, the Tsitsa, Tina, Kinira and Mzintlava all have their headwaters in the Drakensberg Mountains . After descending through the escarpment the main stream and these tributaries flow through deep river valleys incised into the coastal belt, before discharging into the Indian Ocean at Port St Johns.  (Ref 1)
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    GEOLOGY                                    
The predominant rock formations in the Mzimvubu River Basin consist of mudstone, sandstone and shale of the Karoo Sequence with some localised intrusions of dolerite dykes and sills. Basaltic lavas of the Drakensberg Formation occur in the upper parts of the basin and small patches of Dwyka tillite occur in the lower part of the basin. These dominant strata have limited water-bearing capacity and mineral potential. Some coal-bearing formations are found near Maclear and further to the north and a few other mineral deposits near Mt Ayliff and about 25 km up the Mzimvubu River from Port St Johns (Republic of Transkei, 1990).  (Ref  1)
    SOILS                                    

The soils of the basin can be categorised into the following three main groups:

•   Moderately deep to deep clay soils on the steep slopes of the Drakensberg   along   the Lesotho border;

•   Moderately deep to deep clayey loams on the steep slopes of the foothills   of the Drakensberg; and

•   Moderately deep to deep sandy loams in undulating to steep terrain further   east as far as the coast.  (Ref 1 )

  References                                      

Ref 1:  Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, South Africa. 2005. Mzimvubu to Keiskamma Water Management Area: Internal Strategic Perspective of the Mzimvubu to Mbashe ISP Area. Prepared by Ninham Shand, Tlou and Matji, FST Consulting and Umvoto Consortium. DWAF Report No.: P WMA 12/000/00/0305

Ref 1:  Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, South Africa. 2005. Mzimvubu to Keiskamma Water Management Area: Internal Strategic Perspective of the Mzimvubu to Mbashe ISP Area. Prepared by Ninham Shand, Tlou and Matji, FST Consulting and Umvoto Consortium. DWAF Report No.: P WMA 12/000/00/0305

Ref 2:  Republic of Transkei : Department of Works and Energy (1990). Mzimvubu Basin Development Study. Binnie & Partners and Ninham Shand Inc. in Joint Venture.

Ref 3:  DWAF (2005). Mzimvubu River Basin .  Water utilization opportunities.  REPORT NO.: P WMA 12/000/00/0505.www.dwaf.gov.za/Documents/Other/WMA/12/MzimvubuWUOApr05.pdf

Ref 4:  DWAF: Directorate National Water Resources Planning (2003). Report No. P WMA 12/000/00/0203. Mzimvubu to Keiskamma Water Management Area. Overview of Water Resources Availability and Utilization. BKS.

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