Long ago, the Clarens Village Conservancy was a land in transformation, its towering rock formations telling stories of ancient times. These formations, part of the Karoo Supergroup, were laid down over 250 million years ago, as sediment slowly settled, layer upon layer. With each stratum, a new chapter in Earth’s history was written. When the continents began their great drift apart, volcanic eruptions scarred the landscape. Lava flows solidified into a vast, protective layer of basalt, preserving the fossils beneath. Today, the rugged dykes crisscrossing the land offer glimpses into that distant past.
The Molteno formation is the oldest sandstone layer in the area, dating back about 200 million years. It was formed in a large inland delta and contains many plant fossils, although this layer is not easily seen in the Clarens Village Conservancy because it is covered by the Elliot formation.
The Elliot formation, which is about 170 million years old, consists of reddish sediments that were laid down in shallow water. The red color comes from the oxidation of iron in the rocks. This layer is known for its rich dinosaur fossil deposits, thanks to increased rainfall and lush vegetation that supported diverse life.
The Clarens formation is characterized by lighter yellow layers created by windblown sediments during a time of decreased rainfall, about 160 million years ago. The dark vertical stripes seen in the rocks are caused by a combination of leaching of decaying vegetation, lichens and bagworms that feed on the lichens..
Finally, the Drakensberg formation consists of a high layer of basalt, an igneous rock formed from molten lava that pushed through the sandstone when the continents began to drift apart.