South Africa - Inkaba.org
South Africa - Inkaba.org
South Africa - Inkaba.org
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Rich Ultramafic Pegmatite replacement bodies, Bafokeng<br />
Investigation of the Merensky Reef and the associated Iron<br />
Rasimone Platinum Mine, Rustenburg, <strong>South</strong> <strong>Africa</strong><br />
Olaotse Shadi 1 , D. Reid 2<br />
1. Department of Geological Sciences, University of Cape Town, <strong>South</strong> <strong>Africa</strong>. shdola001@uct.ac.za<br />
2. Department of Geological Sciences, University of Cape Town, <strong>South</strong> <strong>Africa</strong>. David.reid@uct.ac.za<br />
ABSTRACT<br />
Iron Rich Ultramafic Pegmatite replacement bodies (IRUP) are abundantly distributed throughout the Rustenburg<br />
layered mafic sequence of the Bushveld Complex and have been encountered at Bafokeng Rasimone Platinum<br />
Mine (BRPM) during underground operations. In the NW sector of BRPM North Shaft, extensive IRUP<br />
replacement of the Merensky Reef and underlying footwall norites cause physical displacement and redistribution<br />
of the PGE.<br />
The current study focuses on the replacement phenomena observed in the Merensky Reef sequence adjacent to a<br />
large IRUP pipe with the aim to track the mineralogical and geochemical changes associated with the<br />
transformation. In addition the study also address structural implications linked to the replacement bodies observed<br />
at the mine.<br />
A sample traverse was conducted from unreplaced reef, through a zone of mixing into the centre of the IRUP pipe.<br />
Field characteristics shows that IRUPs preferentially replaces leucocratic lithologies and they occur in close<br />
proximity to areas marked by extensive faulting and folding. Systematic chemical analysis conducted along the<br />
transition shows that the IRUP is more evolved with a higher Fe content whilst depleted in Mg relative to the<br />
norites.<br />
KEYWORDS: IRUP; Merensky reef; mineralogical; geochemical; textural; characterization<br />
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