Granitic Bornhardts And Associated Landform Features In Zimbabwe

Abstract

Steep-sided convex domes or bomhardts are characteristic of about one third of the granitic ‘ landscapes in central and eastern Zimbabwe. These features are associated with batholith intrusions which make up a large portion, of a massive and ancient crafon that extends some 600 kilometres in a north-east to south-west direction across the country (see Figure 1). The bombardt terrain forms a distinctive although discontinuous arc on the southern margin of this craton and the adjacent mobile belts of gneissic rocks. Morphologically, the granitic domes vary from completely stripped through to debris- covered hills, and from almost perfectly symmetrical ‘whaleback1 residuals through to irregular,-sugar-loaf features.