Continental Drilling Program (ICDP) Bushveld Drilling Project (BVDP): New insights into the formation of the deepest part of the Bushveld Complex

The International Continental Drilling Program (ICDP) Bushveld Drilling Project (BVDP) is designed to establish a stratigraphic geological reference section for the Bushveld Complex, the world’s largest layered mafic intrusion. By combining ∼6 km of donated core and drilling a further ∼2 km of new core through the ∼9 km thick Rustenburg Layered Suite, the project will provide an unparalleled stratigraphic profile for academic and industrial research. Located in the Clapham trough of the Eastern Limb, the borehole is located at Impala Platinum’s Marula mine. Drilling commenced in April 2024 and is currently at ∼1400 m depth. We have collected a comprehensive new suite of geophysical logging data including density, magnetic susceptibility, electrical conductivity, seismic velocity and three-component magnetic field measurements, which will enhance our understanding of the region’s subsurface structures and layering. This is the first set of geophysical logs available for academic study of the Lower Critical and Lower Zones of the Bushveld Complex. Additionally, legacy reflection seismic, borehole geophysical and airborne magnetic data are being incorporated in the project. The core will be archived at the Council for Geoscience National Borehole Core Repository, with ongoing updates available at: https://www.icdp-online.org/projects/by-continent/africa/bvdp-south-africa/bvdp-daily-news/