Geological description of Misverstand – a trifecta of geological wonders
Misverstand lies on the outer edge of the rugged Vredefort Mountainland, a 100 km long crescent of ridges and deep valleys that encirle the heart of the Vredefort Dome. The unique landscape has a threefold origin, starting with the violent upheaval that formed the dome 2020 million years ago when a 15 km diameter asteroid slammed into Earth’s crust 25 km to the southeast, releasing an energy equivalent to more than 100 million megatons of TNT and forming a 250-300 km crater. Traces of the shock wave that spread out from the impact can be seen in the distinctive shatter cones in the rock outcrops. Unusual melt rocks, called pseudotachylite, also abound along faults caused by the impact that produced the jumbled nature of the rock outcroppings on Misverstand.