Mine detail: Western Platinum

Previously called ''

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Location

Lat / long:

-25.67996, 27.53478

Resource(M)

Primary:	PGE
Secondary:	Gold, Copper, Nickel
Ore:	Chromite, Sperrylite
Gangue:	Anorthosite
Orebody form:	TABULAR/BLANKET
Other material:	Chalcopyrite, Pentlandite, Pyrrhotite
Discovery year:	1924

Production

Operation type:	Unknown
Production size:	Medium
Development status:	Producer
First production started:	1971

Geology

Host type:	Mafic Intrusive Rock,Gabbro
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.

References

MRDS	W028273
DEP	10079224
Reference	{Deposit:: MINERAL RESOURCES OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, FIFTH EDITION, HANDBOOK 7 ; 1976}{Deposit:: WORLD MINING; MAY 1970}{Deposit:: PRELIMINARY REPORT ON THE PLATINUM DEPOSITS IN THE SOUTHEASTERN PART OF THE RUSTENBURG DISTRICT, TRANSVAAL; DEPARTMENT OF MINES & INDUSTRIES, GEOLOGICAL SURVEY; WAGNER, P. A.; 1926 .}{Deposit:: COERTZE, 1974, GEOLOGY OF BUSHVELD IGNEOUS COMPLEX: SOUTH AFRICA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MEMOIR 66, P. 126.}{Deposit:: BRYNARD & OTHERS, 1975, PLATINUM MINE NEAR MARIKANA, SOUTH AFRICA: SOC. OF ECON. GEOL. INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM, DENVER, COLO., PROGRAM, P. 4.}{Deposit:: BRYNARD AND OTHERS, 1976, MINERALOGY OF THE WESTERN PLATINUM MINE, SOUTH AFRICA: ECONOMIC GEOL., V. 71, NO. 7, P. 1299.}{Deposit:: STUMPFL AND TARKIAN, 1976, PLATINUM GENESIS: ECONOMIC GEOLOGY, V. 71, NO. 7.}{Deposit:: BUTTERMAN, 1976, PLATINUM-GROUP METALS: U.S. DEPT. INTERIOR INT. MIN. YEARBOOK FOR 1974, V. 1.}{Deposit:: LONRHO LIMITED, 1977, ANNUAL REPORT.}{Deposit:: SOUTH AFRICAN MINING AND ENGINEERING JOURNAL,1973, MAY.}{Deposit:: COAL, GOLD & BASE MINERALS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA, 1974, AUGUST.}{Deposit:: MINING ANNUAL REVIEW, 1974.}{Production:: 1977 PRODUCTION CALCULATED FROM FISCAL YEAR DATA PRESENTED IN LONRHO LIMITED ANNUAL REPORT.}{Production:: 1977 ( FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30 , 1977 ) AND INTERIM REPORT FOR PERIOD ENDING MARCH 31 , 1978.}{Production:: DATA FROM OFFICIAL SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT (I.E. DEPARTMENT OF MINES, MINERALS BUREAU) ARE UNAVAILABLE.}{Production:: 1971/1972 DATA FROM SOUTH AFRICAN MINING & ENGINEERING JOURNAL, JANUARY 1975 .}{Production:: 1973/1976 DATA FROM AMCONSUL JOHANNESBURG INDUSTRIAL OUTLOOK REPORTS.}{Production:: WESTERN PLATINUM-VERBAL DISCUSSIONS;}{Production:: WESTERN PLATINUM PRESS RELEASE;}{Production:: WESTERN PLATINUM ANNUAL REPORT-1984;}{Production:: WESTERN PLATINUM ANNUAL REPORT-1985;}{Production:: WESTERN PLATINUM ANNUAL REPORT-1986;}{Production:: WESTERN PLATINUM COMPANY-VERBAL DISCUSSIONS;}{Production:: CONSULATE ESTIMATES. DATA FROM OFFICIAL SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT (I.E. DEPARTMENT OF MINES, MINERALS BUREAU) AND COMPANY ANNUAL REPORTS ARE UNAVAILABLE.}
Reporter	Mccarter, Lorna D., Sweetwood, Charles W.