Geology
There are many attractive and interesting parts to the Karoo National Park which will attract visitors, but the one thing that is the most conspicuous is the geology. The rock formations, mountains and general landscape is beautiful enough to leave one speechless.
The Park is situated on the rocks of the Beaufort Group. The Karoo Supergroup of Permian age consists of the Dwyka Formation, Ecca Group and Beaufort Group. The Beaufort Group overlies the Ecca group and consists of alternating mudstone (red in places) and sandstone.
The dolerite rock in the form of sills and dykes are more resistant to erosion than the associated sedimentary rocks such as mudstone, siltstone and shale.
Middle and upper plateaus are made up of intrusions of dolerite which form concentric invasions clearly visible.
The steep midslopes mainly consist of mudstone and siltstone with sandstone closer to the upper midslopes.
A dolerite sill is clearly visible from the Klipspringer Pass as it winds its way up to the Rooiwalle lookout point, giving it its sharp upper edges.
The geology of the Karoo is fascination and no better portrayed than in the Karoo National Park.