Excerpts from "Fauna & Flora Number 41, 1984"
GEOLOGY AND PHYSIOGRAPHY
"In its widest connotation the name Steenkampsberg applies to an elevated plateau-like region, roughly 20km wide and extending some 40km north of Dullstroom, but physiographically even southwards towards Belfast.
The region is situated approximately 2000m above sea level, culminating in Die Berg, the highest point in Mpumalanga at 2331m. Also, the highest point on the South African Railway System is reached near Nederhorst Siding 7km north of Dullstroom, at an elevation of 2097m.
The physiography of the Berg is largely determined by its geological composition and structure. It is composed of hard, resistant quartzite layers alternating with bands of shale, some of which are partly metamorphosed to hornfels and with an intrusion of the whole succession by thick diabase sheets.
The relatively low dip of the the strata to the west has promoted the development of a fairly level landscape which is practically nearly free from erosion in its central parts. Hence the Berg, with an average annual rainfall of some 800mm, constitutes the watershed of streams draining to the east and west. It also lends itself to the formation of perrenial pans and marshes and is an important mountain catchment area.
The soil types encountered on the Berg reflect the aforementioned conditions with variations in the geological substructure. Dark-coloured loams form by weathering of the diabase sheets, whereas disintegration of the quatrzites gives rise to light coloured, sandly soils. Loose sand grains contribute selectively toward the other soil types by being ditributed over a wider area by wind and surface water.
No mineral deposits are known from the Berg, in contrast with neighbouring regions which have rich deposits of coal and ores of chromium, vanadium, platinum and gold."
