Mine detail: Rustenburg Platinum

Previously called 'WatervalRustenburg Platinum Mines Ltd.'

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Location

Lat / long:

-25.66331, 27.33478

Resource(M)

Primary:	PGE, Platinum, Palladium
Secondary:	Iridium, Nickel, Copper, Ruthenium, Gold, Rhodium, Osmium
Tertiary:	Chromium
Ore:	Chalcopyrite, Chromite, Cubanite, Electrum, Gold, Millerite, Pentlandite, Platinum, Pyrite, Sperrylite
Gangue:	Cassiterite, Graphite, Ilmenite, Rutile
Orebody form:	TABULAR/BLANKET
Discovery year:	1924

Production

Operation type:	Unknown
Production size:	Large
Development status:	Producer
First production started:	1931

Geology

Host type:	Gabbro,Norite,Anorthosite,Peridotite,Harzburgite
Associated rock:	Merensky Reef, Bushveld Igneous Complex
Associated type:	Mafic Intrusive Rock
Structure:	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., 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:	Platform
Alteration processes:	Surface And Near-Surface Alteration Of Feldspathic Material Only. Oxidation To 120 Ft Vertically.

References

MRDS	W028272
DEP	10079223
Reference	{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;}
Reporter	Sweetwood, Charles W.