The Waterberg ‘Red Beds’
1.8 billion years ago, the Waterberg sediments were deposited over the older rocks of the Bushveld complex.
The important thing about the Waterberg rocks is that they have a reddish colour due to the presence of iron oxides.
This is the first indication that significant amounts of free oxygen were becoming present in our atmosphere.
Rocks of a similar age and colour are found all over the world, and are collectively referred to as ‘Red Beds’.