A minimum 3,29 Ga age for the Nondweni greenstone complex in the south-eastern Kaapvaal Craton

Greenstone belts are widely distributed within the Archaean Zimbabwe (Rhodesian) and Kaapvaal cratons in southern Africa. At least two ages of greenstone formation have been recognized within the Zimbabwe Craton whereas only a single episode of greenstone development at ca. 3,5 Ga has been firmly established within the Kaapvaal Craton. Recently, however, a tentative age of ∼3,1 Ga was reported for the formation of the Nondweni greenstone succession which is situated near the south-eastern margin of the Kaapvaal Craton. Rb-Sr, Pb-Pb and limited U-Pb zircon isotopic data obtained for the Mvunyana granodiorite, which is intrusive into the eastern flank of the Nondweni greenstone complex, provide an age of ∼3,29 Ga implying that: (1) the Nondweni complex is older than previously reported; and (2) the Mvunyana granodiorite is the oldest granitoid component so far identified in the extensive Archaean granite-greenstone terrane south of Swaziland. 22 refs., 6 figs., 3 tabs