Description
Hans Merensky, D. Mckerrell & M. Weber.
Commodities
PrimaryPGE
SecondaryGold, Copper, Nickel
Commodity typeM
Deposit
Model4: Merensky Reef PGE
Deposit sizeM
Orebody formTABULAR/BLANKET
Ore controlThe Various Components Of The Bushveld Igneous Complex Have Been Emplaced In Successive Eruptions As Sheet-Like Masses Into The Pretoria Series Volcanics (Transvaal System), And In Some Cases Into One Another, Dipping Inward Toward The Center Giving A Cone-Like Structure To The Complex As A Whole.
Materials
Ore mineralsChromite, Sperrylite
GangueAnorthosite
Other materialsChalcopyrite, Pentlandite, Pyrrhotite
Geology
Host rockMafic Intrusive Rock,Gabbro
Associated rockMafic Intrusive Rock · Merensky Reef, Bushveld Igneous Complex
StructureInward-Dipping Cone-Like Structure; Folding And Faulting (Including Low-Angle Thrusting) Exists, But Are Of Minor Importance; Erosion, Peneplanation And Build-Up Of Younger Sediments Are Basic Criteria Regionally., The Merensky Reef Is Extraordinarily Uniform As To Composition And Thickness. Faults And Folds, Locally, Are Almost Non-Existent. An Oxidized Zone Extends Down-Dip For An Average Of 200 Meters, Followed By Unaltered Sulfide Zones. The Hanging Wall Is Spotted Porite Underlain By Pseudo-Porphyritic Pyroxenitic Diallage-Norite, Feldspathic Pyroxenite, A Chrome-Rich Layer, And A Footwall Of Anorthositic Norite.
Tectonic settingPlatform
AlterationSurface And Near-Surface Alteration Of Feldspathic Material Only.
Economic & production
Development statusProducer
First production1971
Discovery year1924
Identification
Deposit ID10079224
MRDS IDW028273
RegionAF
Data scoreA
Coordinates-25.67996, 27.53478
References
MINERAL RESOURCES OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, FIFTH EDITION, HANDBOOK 7 ; 1976WORLD MINING; MAY 1970PRELIMINARY REPORT ON THE PLATINUM DEPOSITS IN THE SOUTHEASTERN PART OF THE RUSTENBURG DISTRICT, TRANSVAAL; DEPARTMENT OF MINES & INDUSTRIES, GEOLOGICAL SURVEY; WAGNER, P. A.; 1926 .COERTZE, 1974, GEOLOGY OF BUSHVELD IGNEOUS COMPLEX: SOUTH AFRICA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MEMOIR 66, P. 126.BRYNARD & OTHERS, 1975, PLATINUM MINE NEAR MARIKANA, SOUTH AFRICA: SOC. OF ECON. GEOL. INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM, DENVER, COLO., PROGRAM, P. 4.BRYNARD AND OTHERS, 1976, MINERALOGY OF THE WESTERN PLATINUM MINE, SOUTH AFRICA: ECONOMIC GEOL., V. 71, NO. 7, P. 1299.STUMPFL AND TARKIAN, 1976, PLATINUM GENESIS: ECONOMIC GEOLOGY, V. 71, NO. 7.BUTTERMAN, 1976, PLATINUM-GROUP METALS: U.S. DEPT. INTERIOR INT. MIN. YEARBOOK FOR 1974, V. 1.LONRHO LIMITED, 1977, ANNUAL REPORT.SOUTH AFRICAN MINING AND ENGINEERING JOURNAL,1973, MAY.COAL, GOLD & BASE MINERALS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA, 1974, AUGUST.MINING ANNUAL REVIEW, 1974.1977 PRODUCTION CALCULATED FROM FISCAL YEAR DATA PRESENTED IN LONRHO LIMITED ANNUAL REPORT.1977 ( FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30 , 1977 ) AND INTERIM REPORT FOR PERIOD ENDING MARCH 31 , 1978.DATA FROM OFFICIAL SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT (I.E. DEPARTMENT OF MINES, MINERALS BUREAU) ARE UNAVAILABLE.1971/1972 DATA FROM SOUTH AFRICAN MINING & ENGINEERING JOURNAL, JANUARY 1975 .1973/1976 DATA FROM AMCONSUL JOHANNESBURG INDUSTRIAL OUTLOOK REPORTS.WESTERN PLATINUM-VERBAL DISCUSSIONS;WESTERN PLATINUM PRESS RELEASE;WESTERN PLATINUM ANNUAL REPORT-1984;WESTERN PLATINUM ANNUAL REPORT-1985;WESTERN PLATINUM ANNUAL REPORT-1986;WESTERN PLATINUM COMPANY-VERBAL DISCUSSIONS;CONSULATE ESTIMATES. DATA FROM OFFICIAL SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT (I.E. DEPARTMENT OF MINES, MINERALS BUREAU) AND COMPANY ANNUAL REPORTS ARE UNAVAILABLE.