Stellenbosch, 12-14 September 2007

Objectives

• Presentation of research advances in areas related to IGCP 478
• Presentation of syntheses of the first 12 chapters of the book "Neoproterozoic-Cambrian tectonics, global change and evolution: a focus on southwestern Gondwana"
• Discussion of the following topics related to SW Gondwana in the Neoproterozoic-Cambrian, in order to contribute towards a broad synthesis: (a) Palaeogeographic evolution and tectonic events; (b) Evolutionary radiation and extinction events; (c) Palaeoclimatic events; (d) Biogeochemical events; (e) Mineralizations.
• Presentation of results of postgraduate projects presently in course and within the framework of IGCP 478

Dates

• 10th to 14th September: 7th International Symposium on "Applied Isotope Geochemistry" (AIG 7)
• 12th to 14th September: 3rd Symposium "Neoproterozoic-Early Palaeozoic Events in SW-Gondwana"
• 15th to 19th September: Post-symposium fieldtrip - Saldania Belt (southern South Africa)
• Deadline for submission of abstracts and fieldtrip registration: 15th August 2005

Guide for submission of contributions (Download guide for authors .doc)

Venue and Organizers
Venue: Department of Geology, Geography and Environmental Sciences, Chamber of Mines Building, Stellenbosch, 7600; South Africa.
Organizing Institutions: University of Stellenbosch
Organizing Committee: Abraham Rozendaal ar@sun.ac.za and Gerard J.B. Germs gagerms@global.co.za .

Accommodation
Accommodation prices in Stellenbosch vary from affordable R250 per person per night to five star quality at R1000 per night.

Airport transfer

For possible transfer from Cape Town International airport to Stellenbosch the following company can be used:

SPRINGBOK ATLAS (airport transfer services)
Contact person: Brett Fuller
Contact details:
Tel. (+27) 021 460 4722
Mobile. (+27) 082 318 4627
e-mail <brett.fuller@springbokatlas.com>
private arrangements must be made.

Post-Symposium field workshop - Saldania Belt
The Saldania Belt is a Neoproterozoic to Cambrian (ca. 600 to 520 million years) marine sedimentary succession deformed during the final amalgamation of Gondwana. Neoproterozoic sedimentary successions such as the Malmesbury, Cango Caves and Gamtoos groups consist of alternated carbonate and siliciclastic deposits. Drastic climate oscillations and secular variations of C and Sr isotopic composition of carbonates are recorded. An assemblage of microfossils comparable to those occurring in coeval deposits in South America and Namibia has been recently described. Cambrian siliciclastic deposits are represented by the Kansa Group.
The field trip will cover the stratigraphy, tectonic evolution and magmatic events of the Saldania Belt.

15th September: Cape Granite Suite, Tygerberg and Swartland Terranes. Overnight: Paternoster.
16th September: Boland Terrane and outliers. Overnight: Robertson.
17th September: Neoproterozoic Cango Caves Group at Huisrivier Pass. Overnight: Oudtshoorn.
18th September: Cango Caves Group and Early Palaeozoic Kansa Group. Overnight: Oudtshoorn.
19th September: George Pluton. Return to Stellenbosch (arrival approx. 18:00 hs) and/or D.F.Malan airport in Cape Town.

Participant number: minimum: 10; maximum 20.
Organizers: Prof. Abraham Rozendaal ar@sun.ac.za and Prof. Gerard J.B. Germs gagerms@global.co.za .

Funding
A registration fee of R 750 (1 US$=R 7.5) will be charged to delegates participating in the meeting, including abstracts volume and registration.

Post-symposium field trip costs (hotel, transportation, meals, soft drinks included):
R 4.000.-

Limited funding possibilities are available through IGCP 478. Please contact: gaucher@chasque.net

AIG 7 Symposium

Participants of IGCP 478 have the possibility of registering for AIG 7 at a reduced fee of R 2.600.-This entitles to attend all presentations, everyday lunches, conference ice-breaker and either of the Sunday tours. Pre-conference and mid-week field trips and conference dinner are not included in the reduced fee. A limited amount of funding is available. Please contact Dr. Jodie Miller, jmiller@sun.ac.za

In order to get the reduced fee, participants must register online before June 15.

Conference website: http://academic.sun.ac.za/geology/aig7.htm

Anyone wishing to attend only the first two days of AIG 7 should contact Dr. Jodie Miller regarding registration fees.