Balfour Formation

Balfour Formation
Stratigraphic range: Lopingian - Induan 256.3–251.2 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Outcrops of the Balfour Formation are found in the hillsides surrounding Nieu-Bethesda, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Type	Geological formation
Unit of	Adelaide Subgroup, Beaufort Group
Sub-units	Oudeberg Member, Daggaboersnek Member, Ripplemead Member, Elandsberg Member, Palingkloof Member
Underlies	Katberg Formation
Overlies	Middleton Formation
Thickness	up to 2,150 m (7,050 ft)
Lithology
Primary	Mudstone, siltstone
Other	Sandstone
Location
Coordinates	32°18′S 24°30′E / 32.3°S 24.5°E / -32.3; 24.5
Approximate paleocoordinates	62°42′S 29°18′W / 62.7°S 29.3°W / -62.7; -29.3
Region	Northern Cape, Eastern Cape and Free State
Country	South Africa

The Balfour Formation is a geological formation that is found in the Beaufort Group, a major geological group that forms part of the greater Karoo Supergroup in South Africa. The Balfour Formation is the uppermost formation of the Adelaide Subgroup which contains all the Late Permian - Early Triassic aged biozones of the Beaufort Group. Outcrops and exposures of the Balfour Formation are found from east of 24 degrees in the highest mountainous escarpments between Beaufort West and Fraserburg, but most notably in the Winterberg and Sneeuberg mountain ranges near Cradock, the Baviaanskloof river valley, Graaff-Reniet and Nieu Bethesda in the Eastern Cape, and in the southern Free State province.^[1][2]