Structures in rocks of the early to middle Precambrian Mahalapye Plutonic Block truncate early east-west trending D1 structures of the Kaapvaal craton and later north-south trending D2-L2 structures of the Limpopo Mobile belt. These structures, designated as D3, occur as a straightening or shear deformation, trending northwest, and were closely followed by the concordant intrusion of the Mokgware Pluton. Recrystallisation of S1 and L2 fabrics to planar fabrics of the D3 deformation (S3) resulted in retrogression of the rocks of granulite facies to amphibolite facies. The Mahalalapye granite and concomittant granitisation, formed possibly as late as 1000 m.y. ago, served to obliterate all but traces of previous structures. The region of the basement complex thus affected by D3 and postD3 plutonism is here defined as the Mahalapye Plutonic Block.
