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Rustenburg Platinum

Producer in South Africa with commodities PGE, Platinum, Palladium, Ruthenium, Gold, Rhodium, Osmium, Iridium, Nickel, Copper, Chromium
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Sections on this page
  1. Identification information
  2. Geographic coordinates
  3. Site location context
  4. Geographic areas
  5. Commodities
  6. Materials information
  7. Alteration
  8. Mineral occurrence model information
  9. Host and associated rocks
  10. Nearby scientific data
  11. Geologic structures
  12. Ore body information
  13. Controls for ore emplacement
  14. Economic information about the deposit and operations
  15. Mining district
  16. Land status
  17. Ownership information
  18. Production statistics
  19. Links to other databases
  20. Bibliographic references
  21. General comments
  22. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10079223
MRDS ID W028272
Record type Site
Current site name Rustenburg Platinum
Alternate or previous names Waterval, Rustenburg Platinum Mines Ltd.

Geographic coordinates

Geographic coordinates: 27.33478, -25.66331 (WGS84)
Elevation 1204
Relative position 10 KILOMETERS EAST OF THE TOWN OF RUSTENBURG

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

South Africa(country)

Africa(continent)

Land(continent)

Geographic areas

Country
South Africa

Comments on the location information

  • ALL LOCATION REFERENCES GIVEN ABOVE PERTAIN TO RUSTENBURG PLATINUM'S RUSTENBURG SECTION. ADDITIONALLY, OPERATIONS ARE CONDUCTED AT THE FIRM'S UNION SECTION (48 KILOMETERS SOUTHWEST OF THABAZIMBI; RUSTENBURG DISTRICT; COORDS: 24 DEGREES 57 MINUTES SOUTH - 27 DEGREES 09 MINUTES EAST), AMANDELBULT SECTION (24 KILOMETERS SOUTHWEST OF THABAZIMBI DISTRICT; COORDS: 24 DEGREES 47 MINUTES SOUTH - 27 DEGREES 17 MINUTES EAST) AND ATOK MINES ( 85 KILOMETERS SOUTHEAST OF POTGIETERSRUS; LYDENBURG DISTRICT; COORDS: 24 DEGREES 19 MINUTES SOUTH - 29 DEGREES 50 MINUTES EAST ).

Commodities

Commodity Importance
PGE Critical Primary
Platinum Critical Primary
Palladium Critical Primary
Ruthenium Critical Secondary
Gold Secondary
Rhodium Critical Secondary
Osmium Secondary
Iridium Critical Secondary
Nickel Critical Secondary
Copper Secondary
Chromium Critical Tertiary

Comments on the commodity information

  • PLATINUM GROUP METALS RECOVERED INCLUDE PLATINUM, PALLADIUM, RHODIUM, RUTHENIUM, IRIDIUM AND OSMIUM. CHROMITE REEF IS NOT BEING MINED.

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Chalcopyrite Ore
Chromite Ore
Cubanite Ore
Electrum Ore
Gold Ore
Millerite Ore
Pentlandite Ore
Platinum Ore
Pyrite Ore
Sperrylite Ore
Cassiterite Gangue
Graphite Gangue
Ilmenite Gangue
Rutile Gangue

Alteration

  • (Local) Surface And Near-Surface Alteration Of Feldspathic Material Only. Oxidation To 120 Ft Vertically.

Analytical data

Result MAJOR ORE MINERAL PERCENTAGES: PYRRHOTITE 46.06%, PENTLANDITE 32.99%, CHALCOPYRITE 19.06%, PYRITE 2.74%. RELATIVE ABUNDANCE, MINERAL ASSOCIATIONS OF THE COMBINED PLATINUM GROUP METALS IN SILICATE ORE (VOLUME PERCENT): 12.06% IN PYRRHOTITE, 9.5% IN CHALCOPYRITE, 69.0% IN PENTLANDITE, 9.09% ENCLOSED IN GANGUE. COMBINED PLATINUM GROUP METALS IN CHROMITE ORE (VOLUME PERCENT): 8.54% IN PYRRHOTITE, 21.4% IN CHALCOPYRITE, 58.26% IN PENTLANDITE, 11.76% ENCLOSED IN GANGUE. IN TYPICAL ORE COMPOSITION OF PLATINOIDS IS: PT = 60%, PD = 27%, RU = 5%, RH = 2.7%, IR = 0.7%, OS = 0.6%, AU = 4%. THE HIGHEST PLATINOID VALUES ARE CONCENTRATED IN A PEGMATITE GENERALLY OCCURING AT THE BASE OF THE PYROXENITE.

Mineral occurrence model information

Model code 4
USGS model code 2b
Deposit model name Merensky Reef PGE

Host and associated rocks

  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Plutonic Rock > Mafic Intrusive Rock
    Rock unit name Merensky Reef, Bushveld Igneous Complex
    Rock description Merensky Reef, Bushveld Igneous Complex
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Neoproterozoic
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Neoproterozoic
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Pliocene
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Neoproterozoic
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Plutonic Rock > Mafic Intrusive Rock > Gabbro
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Plutonic Rock > Mafic Intrusive Rock > Gabbro > Norite
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Plutonic Rock > Mafic Intrusive Rock > Anorthosite
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Plutonic Rock > Ultramafic Intrusive Rock > Peridotite
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Plutonic Rock > Ultramafic Intrusive Rock > Peridotite > Harzburgite

Nearby scientific data

(1) 27.33478, -25.66331
ListMap

Economic information

Geologic structures

Type of structure Regional
Structure description Inward-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.
Type of structure Local
Structure description 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.

Ore body information

  • General form TABULAR/BLANKET
    Strike E-W
    Dip 9 DEG. N.
    Thickness 0.3M
    Length 51000M
    Depth to top 520M
    Depth to bottom 1900M

Controls for ore emplacement

  • The 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.

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Development status Producer
Commodity type Metallic
Deposit size Large
Significant No
Discovery year 1924
Discoverer Hans Merensky And A. F. Lombard
Year of first production 1931

Mining district

District name Rustenburg Platinum Field (Merensky Reef, Bushveld Igneous Complex)

Land status

Ownership category Private

Ownership information

  • Type Operator
    Owner Rustenburg Platinum Holdings Ltd.
  • Type Owner
    Owner Johannesburg Consolidated Investment Co., Ltd.

Production statistics

  • Year 1977
    Material ORE
    Accuracy Estimate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.216 Toz Platinum Group Metals/Ton (Approx.)
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Ore Platinum PGE 0g/mt
  • Year 1979
    Period 1969 - 1979
    Material ORE PGM
    Accuracy Estimate
    Description Cp_Grade: ^0.216 Toz Platinum Group
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Ore Platinum PGE 0g/mt

Comments on the production information

  • PRODUCTION TOTALS INCLUDE OUTPUT FROM RUSTENBURG PLATINUM HOLDINGS' UNION AND AMANDELBULT SECTIONS. ATOK MINES PRODUCTION IS NOT INCLUDED. ATOK MINES (ATOK PLATINUM MINES, PTY, LTD.)(SEE LOCATION COMMENTS) BECAME A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF RUSTENBURG PLATINUM HOLDINGS OCTOBER 19, 1977. ESTIMATED ATOK PRODUCTION, 1970 - 1979: 226,795 TROY OUNCES PLATINUM GROUP METALS AND 1,010,031 METRIC TONS OF ORE. ATOK STATISTICS THROUGH 1979 ARE NOT REPORTED SEPARATELY. ; OF THE APPROXIMATE VALUE GIVEN FOR THE PLATINUM GROUP METALS, PLATINUM AVERAGES 60.0 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL, PALLADIUM 27.0 PERCENT, RUTHENIUM 2.7 PERCENT, IRIDIUM 0.7 PERCENT, OSMIUM 0.6 PERCENT, AND GOLD 4.0 PERCENT. PRODUCTION TOTALS INCLUDE OUTPUT FROM RUSTENBURG PLATINUM HOLDINGS' UNION AND AMANDELBULT SECTION. ATOK MINES PRODUCTION IS NOT INCLUDED. ATOK MINES (ATOK PLATINUM MINES, PTY, LTD.)(SEE RECORD NO. W028272, LOCATION COMMENTS) BECAME A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF RUSTENBURG PLATINUM HOLDINGS OCTOBER 19, 1977.
  • ESTIMATED ATOK PRODUCTION, 1979: 30,167 TROY OUNCES PLATINUM GROUP METALS AND 121,641 METRIC TONS OF ORE. ATOK STATISTICS THROUGH 1979 ARE NOT REPORTED SEPARATELY. ; OF THE APPROXIMATE VALUE GIVEN FOR THE PLATINUM GROUP METALS, PLATINUM AVERAGES 60.0 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL, PALLADIUM 27.0 PERCENT, RUTHENIUM 2.7 PERCENT, IRIDIUM 0.7 PERCENT, OSMIUM 0.6 PERCENT, AND GOLD 4.0 PERCENT. PRODUCTION TOTALS INCLUDE OUTPUT FROM RUSTENBURG PLATINUM HOLDINGS' UNION AND AMANDELBULT SECTION. ATOK MINES PRODUCTION IS NOT INCLUDED. ATOK MINES (ATOK PLATINUM MINES, PTY, LTD.)(SEE RECORD NO. W028272, LOCATION COMMENTS) BECAME A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF RUSTENBURG PLATINUM HOLDINGS OCTOBER 19, 1977. ESTIMATED ATOK PRODUCTION, 1978: 28,577 TROY OUNCES PLATINUM GROUP METALS AND 115,230 METRIC TONS OF ORE. ATOK STATISTICS THROUGH 1978 ARE NOT REPORTED SEPARATELY.

Comments on the workings information

  • SEE DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSIT COMMENTS. CURRENTLY THE RUSTENBURG SECTION MINING METHOD TO MODIFICATION OF LONGWALL SYSTEM ADJUSTED TO EXISTING FLAT DIP AND HARD ROCK CONDITIONS. EARLIER METHODS WERE MODIFIED ROOM AND PILLAR AND "SCATTER" MINING WITH UNDERGROUND BACKFILLING OF WASTE. THESE METHODS CONTINUE AT UNION, AND AMANDELBULT SECTIONS AND AT THE ATOK MINE.

Comments on development

  • MILL.CAP: 1.9 MIL. TOZ PGM/YR. ; ECON.YEAR: 1973 ; ECON.COM: ERRATIC PLATINUM MARKET CONDITIONS DURING PAST 10 YEARS HAVE PROVED TO BE DETERRENTS TO BALANCED EXPANSION PROGRAMS. ANNUAL PRODUCTION COMMONLY RUNS AT 80 - 90 PERCENT OF INSTALLED CAPACITY.

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Deposit

    MINERAL RESOURCES OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, FIFTH EDITION, HANDBOOK 7 ; 1976

  • Deposit

    RUSTENBURG PLATINUM MINES LIMITED; BROCHURE; CIRCA 1964

  • Deposit

    SOUTH AFRICAN MINING & ENGINEERING JOURNAL; JULY 1975

  • Deposit

    MERTIE, 1969, ECONOMIC GEOLOGY OF THE PLATINUM METALS: U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 630, P. 39-41.

  • Deposit

    BRABERS, COMPILER, 1971, LIST OF WORKING MINES IN REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA: SOUTH AFRICA DEPT. OF MINES, 25 P.

  • Deposit

    STUMPFL AND TARKIAN, 1976, PLATINUM GENESIS: ECONOMIC GEOLOGY, V. 71, NO. 7.

  • Deposit

    KINGSTON, 1966, MERENSKY REEF AT RUSTENBURG MINE: MINERALOGY MAGAZINE, V. 35.

  • Deposit

    PLATINUM METALS SERVICE, 1957, PLATINUM MINING IN THE TRANSVAAL: JOHNSON, MATTHEY AND CO., V. 1, NO. 1.

  • Deposit

    BUTTERMAN, W.C., 1975, PLATINUM-GROUP METALS: U.S. DEPT. OF INTERIOR, BUREAU OF MINES MINES, MINERAL YEARBOOK, 1973.

  • Deposit

    COVDINS, 1969, THE MERENSKY REEF BUSHVELD COMPLEX: ECONOMIC GEOLOGY MONOGRAPH, NO. 4.

  • Deposit

    WAGNER, 1929, PLATINUM DEPOSITS AND MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA: EDINBURGH, OLIVER AND BOYD.

  • Deposit

    MINING MAGAZINE, 1977, RUSTENBURG CUTS OUTPUT: V. 137, NO. 6.

  • Deposit

    RUSTENBURG PLATINUM MINES LIMITED, 1975, ANNUAL REPORTS.

  • Deposit

    RUSTENBURG PLATINUM MINES LIMITED, 1974, ANNUAL REPORTS.

  • Deposit

    RUSTENBURG PLATINUM MINES LIMITED, 1973, ANNUAL REPORTS.

  • Deposit

    RUSTENBURG PLATINUM MINES LIMITED, 1972, ANNUAL REPORTS.

  • Deposit

    RUSTENBURG PLATINUM MINES LIMITED, 1971, ANNUAL REPORTS.

  • Deposit

    RUSTENBURG PLATINUM MINES LIMITED, 1970, ANNUAL REPORTS.

  • Deposit

    RUSTENBURG PLATINUM HOLDINGS LIMITED, 1977, ANNUAL REPORTS.

  • Deposit

    RUSTENBURG PLATINUM HOLDINGS LIMITED, 1976, ANNUAL REPORTS.

  • Deposit

    BEATH,C.B.,COUSINS, C.A., AND WESTWOOD, R.J., 1961, THE EXPLOITATION OF THE PLATINIFEROUS ORES OF THE BUSHVELD IGNEOUS COMPLEX WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO RUSTENBURG PLATINUM MINES.

  • Production

    MINERAL RESOURCES OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, FIFTH EDITION, HANDBOOK 7 , 1976;

  • Production

    WORLD MINING, SEPTEMBER 1973; AND VARIOUS PRESS RELEASES.

  • Production

    RUSTENBURG PLATINUM HOLDINGS DOES NOT PUBLISH PRODUCTION STATISTICS OR ORE VALUES ANNUALLY.

  • Production

    DATA FROM OFFICIAL SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT SOURCES (I. E. DEPARTMENT OF MINES, MINERALS BUREAU) ARE EQUALLY UNAVAILABLE.

  • Production

    MINERAL RESOURCES OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, FIFTH EDITION, HANDBOOK 7, 1976;

  • Production

    WORLD MINING, SEPTEMBER 1973; AND CURRENT PRESS RELEASES.

  • Production

    DATA FROM OFFICIAL SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT SOURCES (I.E. DEPARTMENT OF MINES, MINERALS BUREAU) ARE EQUALLY UNAVAILABLE.

  • Production

    MINERAL RESOURCES OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, FIFTH EDITION, HANBOOK 7, 1976;

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit MAX. THICKNESS REFERS TO CURRENTLY RECOVERABLE PLATINUM GROUP METAL HORIZON (THICKNESS OF MERENSKY REEF, WITHIN WHICH HORIZON OCCURS: 1.2 METERS). DEPTH TO TOP IS CURRENT MINING DEPTH IN RUSTENBURG SECTION (DEPTH TO TOP IN UNION SECTION: 1.088.0 METERS; DEPTHS IN AMANDELBULT SECTION AND AT ATOK MINES ARE LESS THAN 500 METERS). DEPTH TO BOTTOM IS MAX. DEPTH TO WHICH DRILL HOLES HAVE INDICATED CONTINUITY OF ORE VALUES. DATA AT GREATER DEPTHS NOT AVAILABLE. MAX. LENGTH REFERS ONLY TO STRIKE LENGTH CURRENTLY OWNED OR UNDER LEASE TO RUSTENBURG PLATINUM HOLDINGS LIMITED.
Deposit THIS RECORD INCLUDES DATA FROM DUPLICATE RECORD M046256 WHICH HAS BEEN DELETED FROM MRDS.
Deposit INFORMATION MERGED FROM RECORD NUMBER W028917 ; W028918

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 01-DEC-1978 Sweetwood, Charles W. Department of State
Updater 01-MAY-1980 Sweetwood, Charles W. Department of State
Updater 01-MAY-1980 Sweetwood, Charles W. Department of State

Beyond USGS

Supplemental information added by qvyshift.com. Not part of the original USGS MRDS record.

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