Table Mountain Group (South Africa)

Table Mountain Sandstone (TMS), formally known by its geological name the Peninsula Formation Sandstone, is a group of rock formations within the Cape Supergroup sequence. While the term "Table Mountain Sandstone" remains widely used, it is no longer formally recognized; the correct geological name is "Peninsula Formation Sandstone," which is part of the Table Mountain Group. The name originates from Table Mountain, the famous landmark in Cape Town, South Africa. For consistency with common usage, the term "Table Mountain Sandstone" will continue to be used throughout this article. Composed primarily of quartzitic sandstone, Table Mountain Sandstone was deposited between 510 million years ago (Cambrian Period) and 400 million years ago (Silurian Period). It is the hardest and most erosion-resistant layer of the Cape Supergroup, making it responsible for the highest peaks and steepest cliffs of the Cape Fold Belt. Despite being the oldest and lowermost layer of the Cape Supergroup, its resistance to erosion has allowed it to persist as the dominant rock formation in many prominent landscapes across the Western Cape. The folding of the Cape Supergroup into the parallel mountain ranges of the Western Cape began approximately 330 million years ago, shaping the landscape from Clanwilliam (about 200 km north of Cape Town) to Port Elizabeth (about 650 km east of Cape Town). Beyond these points, the Cape Supergroup sediments are not folded into mountain ranges but instead form steep cliffs and gorges, where surrounding sediments have been eroded away, as seen in locations like Oribi Gorge in KwaZulu-Natal.