Ancient Geology of the Ghaap Plateau
The Ghaap Plateau
The plateau is made up largely of calcrete, a mix of sand, gravel, clay and other materials cemented together by calcium carbonate. The calcrete is covered with sparse soil and sits on bedrock of dolomite or calcium manganese carbonate, containing numerous caves, sinkholes and underground waterways.
The Kuruman Hills
These low, rounded hills consist of blue asbestos (crosidolite), ironstone, slate and shale. The hills are also known as the Asbestos Hills", and for several decades became the centre of the Kuruman asbestos mining economy.
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Th long series of hills runs from Danielskuil in the south to Kuruman in the north - a distance of about 100km.
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There are four main peaks in the Kuruman Hills. Mount Gakarosa (1855m above sea level) is the furthest south, visible from the R31 road between Danielskuil and Kuruman, about 40 km north of Danielskuil. It is visible about 3 km west of the R31.
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Tierkop (1 722 m above sea level) is also on the R31, but closer to Kuruman (about 10 km south of the town). it is about 10 km west of the R31 highway.
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Mount Gamohana can be seen from the N14, about 10 km west of Kuruman; and also on the R31 road to Hotazel. "Ga-mohana means "Place of the crowbar" in seTswana. It is about 1614 m above sea level.
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Mount Vera is visible from the R31 road between Kuruman and Hotazel - about 40 km north-west of Kuruman. The mountain is on the northern side of the road.