FOSSILISED FISH
South African Discovery
A concentrated deposit of fossilised fish, thought to be millions of years old, has been discovered in the mountains near Lake Mentz, in the Sundays River Valley in the Cape Province.
The discovery has caused a stir in geological circles Samples of the fish —the biggest is about six inches long —may be sent overseas for identification and study. The fossils were discovered about four months ago by Mr Geoff Walsh; a Sundays River Valley Irrigation Board official, who lives at Lake Mentz.
The deposit was found 800 feet above the Sundays river. Mr John Blignaut, a geologist from Jansenville, said the fossils appeared to be the oldest fish or animal remains yet to be found in South Africa.
The fossils appear to be freshwater fish. They have unique structural features, including an elongated tail which may make identification difficult. The fish appear to have been part of a large school stranded in mud when their pool or river dried suddenly, probably as a result of some natural catastrophe.
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Bibliographic details
Press, Volume CII, Issue 30188, 20 July 1963, Page 8
Word Count
174FOSSILISED FISH Press, Volume CII, Issue 30188, 20 July 1963, Page 8
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