The UG2 Reef, the composition of which is relatively consistent throughout the BIC, is rich in chromite. However, the UG2 Reef lacks the Merensky's gold, copper and nickel by-products, though its reserves may be almost twice those of the Merensky Reef. Overall, the Merensky Reef is observed to be a lower layer composed of anorthosite or norite with a thin layer of chromitite over top.[3] In addition, there is commonly a layer overlying both composed of feldspathic pyroxenite.[3]Chromitite layers occur commonly in large mafic layered intrusions. A current theory suggests chromitites form as a result of introduction and mixing of chemically primitive magma with a more evolved magma, which results in supersaturation of chromite in the mixture and the formation of a nearly monomineralic layer on the magma chamber floor.[2] The leading theory regarding the formation of the Merensky reef is that of crystals originating from a main magma source accumulated and cooled as the magma rose resulting in crystallization.[4] Yet the nature of crystallization is complex.
LayersEdit
The Merensky Reef is composed of five different layers.[5] The first layer is mottled anorthosite which is pyroxene oikocrysts and is described as dark colored bands.[5] The mottled anorthosite is composed of traces of quartz, titanite and apatite minerals.[5] The second layer is Merensky chromitites which are highly irregular grains of basal chromitite. The third layer is similar to the second layer with Merensky chromitites, however the basal chromitite is compact and smaller in size.[5] The fourth layer is Merensky pegmatite and is composed of coarse-grained silicate with an approximate thickness of 2.6 cm thick. In the fourth layer, chromite is sparse and sulfides are present.[5] The fifth layer is Merensky melanorite and is a fine-grained chalcopyrite, quartz and feldspar rich matrix.[5]
Whole-rock chemistryEdit
Sulfidic chromitite from Merensky Reef (sample size: 45 mm)
The Merensky Reef has a high concentration of chromitites. However, the chromitites differ from one another in their levels of iridium, ruthenium, rhodium and platinum present.[5] There is reported trace element enrichment shown by arsenic, cadmium, tin and tellurium.[5] The Merensky Reef is similar to the Platreef because of the presence of primitive mantle, layered intrusions and levels of nickel and copper.[5] The Merensky-type reef has been separated into two categories, the orthomagmatic and the hydromagmatic.[6] The orthomagmatic group is composed of platinum group element mineralization.[6] The hydromagmatic group is composed of platinum group element mineralization to volatile-rich fluids separating from a solid cumulate pile.[6]
CrystallizationEdit
There are several theories that suggest how the crystallization on the Merensky Reef occurred. The first accepted hypothesis of the Merensky Reef suggests the chromite crystallization originated from hybrid melts and significant lateral mixing of new and resident magma.[6] In detail, the first hypothesis suggests the high of PGE concentrations were a result from the sulfide and silicate melt.[6] The sulfide melt plays an important role in this hypothesis because the sulfide melt is dense and the settling of the melt through the magma column to the floor of the chamber allowed such mixing to occur.[6] One theory suggests the chromite crystallization originated from hybrid melts and lateral mixing.[7] Another theory that suggests the crystallization originated from chromite and sulfide droplets.[8] However, there is also another theory that the crystallization originated from emplaced magma merging with roof-rock melts.[9] In the theory of roof-rock melts, there was contamination between the new magma and silica-rich resident melt.[9] The contamination resulted in chromite and PGM crystallization because the chromite grains attracted the PGM crystals.[9] After crystallization, the crystals were carried in the collapsing margins and formed the layers of chromitite and PGE.[9]
HistoryEdit
The Bushveld Complex chromitites were first reported by Hall and Humphrey in 1908.[7] The initial recovery of platinum in South Africa took place on several of the large East Rand gold mines and the first separate platinum mine was a short lived venture near Naboomspruit that worked very patchy quartz reefs. The discovery of the Bushveld Igneous Complex deposits was made in 1924 by a Lydenburg district farmer, A F Lombaard.[2][10] It was recorded to be approximately 80 kilometers in length.[2][10] This was an alluvial deposit but its importance was recognized by Hans Merensky whose prospecting work discovered the primary source in the Bushveld Igneous Complex and traced it for several hundred kilometres by 1930.[4] Extensive mining of the Reef didn't take place until an upsurge in the demand for platinum group metals used in exhaust pollution control in the 1950s, made exploitation economically feasible. Extraction of metals from the UG2 chromitite could only take place in the 1970s with major advances in metallurgy.[4] The first mine concentrated on the extraction of chrome-rich UG2 platinum on the reef and was named the Lonmin mine.[11]
ReferencesEdit
^Barnes, Sarah-Jane (January 2002). "Platinum-group Elements and Microstructures of Normal Merensky Reef from Impala Platinum Mines, Bushveld Complex". Journal of Petrology. 43 (1): 103–128. doi:10.1093/petrology/43.1.103.
^ abcd[Geology for South African Students. CNA Ltd South Africa]
^ abCawthorn, R.Grant; Boerst, Kevin (March 2006). "Origin of the Pegmatitic Pyroxenite in the Merensky Unit, Bushveld Complex, South Africa". Journal of Petrology. 47 (8): 1509–1530. CiteSeerX10.1.1.560.4971. doi:10.1093/petrology/egl017 – via Oxford Academic.
^ abcMathez, E,A. (1995). MagmaUc metasomaUsm and formation of the Merensky reef, Bushveld Complex. Contrib Mineral Petrol 119, 277-286.
^ abcdefghiHutchinson, Dave; Foster, Jeffery (January 2015). "Concentration of particulate platinum-group minerals during magma emplacement; a case study from the Merensky Reef, Bushveld Complex". Journal of Petrology. 56: 113–159. doi:10.1093/petrology/egu073.
^ abcdefLatypov, Rais; Chistyakova, Sofya; Page, Alan; Hornsey, Richard (July 2015). "Field Evidence for the In Situ Crystallization of the Merensky Reef". Journal of Petrology. 56 (12): 2341–2372. doi:10.1093/petrology/egv023.
^ abScoon, Roger (August 1994). "Platinum-group element mineralization in the critical zone of the western Bushveld Complex: I. Sulfide poor-chromitites". Economic Geology. 89 (5): 1094–1121. doi:10.2113/gsecongeo.89.5.1094.
^Naldrett, Anthony (January 2011). "Genesis of the PGE-Enriched Merensky Reef and Chromitite Seams of the Bushveld Complex". Magmatic Ni-Cu and PGE Deposits: Geology, Geochemistry, and Genesis.
^ abPlatinum Group Metal Mines In South Africa 2007, S A Dept of Minerals and energy 2009-03-19 at the Wayback Machine
^Jones, R. Michael (March 2005). "History of Platinum Mining in the Bushveld Complex". wikinvest. Archived from the original on April 2, 2018. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
Fuel cell platinum ( retrieved 2018-01-31 at the Wayback Machine)
merensky, reef, layer, igneous, rock, bushveld, igneous, complex, north, west, limpopo, gauteng, mpumalanga, provinces, south, africa, which, together, with, underlying, layer, upper, group, reef, contains, most, world, known, reserves, platinum, group, metals. The Merensky Reef is a layer of igneous rock in the Bushveld Igneous Complex BIC in the North West Limpopo Gauteng and Mpumalanga provinces of South Africa which together with an underlying layer the Upper Group 2 Reef UG2 contains most of the world s known reserves of platinum group metals PGMs or platinum group elements PGEs platinum palladium rhodium ruthenium iridium and osmium The Reef is 46 cm thick and bounded by thin chromite seams or stringers 1 The composition consists predominantly of cumulate rocks including leuconorite anorthosite chromitite and melanorite 2 Mines of the Merensky Reef Contents 1 Composition 2 Layers 3 Whole rock chemistry 4 Crystallization 5 History 6 ReferencesComposition EditThe UG2 Reef the composition of which is relatively consistent throughout the BIC is rich in chromite However the UG2 Reef lacks the Merensky s gold copper and nickel by products though its reserves may be almost twice those of the Merensky Reef Overall the Merensky Reef is observed to be a lower layer composed of anorthosite or norite with a thin layer of chromitite over top 3 In addition there is commonly a layer overlying both composed of feldspathic pyroxenite 3 Chromitite layers occur commonly in large mafic layered intrusions A current theory suggests chromitites form as a result of introduction and mixing of chemically primitive magma with a more evolved magma which results in supersaturation of chromite in the mixture and the formation of a nearly monomineralic layer on the magma chamber floor 2 The leading theory regarding the formation of the Merensky reef is that of crystals originating from a main magma source accumulated and cooled as the magma rose resulting in crystallization 4 Yet the nature of crystallization is complex Layers EditThe Merensky Reef is composed of five different layers 5 The first layer is mottled anorthosite which is pyroxene oikocrysts and is described as dark colored bands 5 The mottled anorthosite is composed of traces of quartz titanite and apatite minerals 5 The second layer is Merensky chromitites which are highly irregular grains of basal chromitite The third layer is similar to the second layer with Merensky chromitites however the basal chromitite is compact and smaller in size 5 The fourth layer is Merensky pegmatite and is composed of coarse grained silicate with an approximate thickness of 2 6 cm thick In the fourth layer chromite is sparse and sulfides are present 5 The fifth layer is Merensky melanorite and is a fine grained chalcopyrite quartz and feldspar rich matrix 5 Whole rock chemistry Edit nbsp Sulfidic chromitite from Merensky Reef sample size 45 mm The Merensky Reef has a high concentration of chromitites However the chromitites differ from one another in their levels of iridium ruthenium rhodium and platinum present 5 There is reported trace element enrichment shown by arsenic cadmium tin and tellurium 5 The Merensky Reef is similar to the Platreef because of the presence of primitive mantle layered intrusions and levels of nickel and copper 5 The Merensky type reef has been separated into two categories the orthomagmatic and the hydromagmatic 6 The orthomagmatic group is composed of platinum group element mineralization 6 The hydromagmatic group is composed of platinum group element mineralization to volatile rich fluids separating from a solid cumulate pile 6 Crystallization EditThere are several theories that suggest how the crystallization on the Merensky Reef occurred The first accepted hypothesis of the Merensky Reef suggests the chromite crystallization originated from hybrid melts and significant lateral mixing of new and resident magma 6 In detail the first hypothesis suggests the high of PGE concentrations were a result from the sulfide and silicate melt 6 The sulfide melt plays an important role in this hypothesis because the sulfide melt is dense and the settling of the melt through the magma column to the floor of the chamber allowed such mixing to occur 6 One theory suggests the chromite crystallization originated from hybrid melts and lateral mixing 7 Another theory that suggests the crystallization originated from chromite and sulfide droplets 8 However there is also another theory that the crystallization originated from emplaced magma merging with roof rock melts 9 In the theory of roof rock melts there was contamination between the new magma and silica rich resident melt 9 The contamination resulted in chromite and PGM crystallization because the chromite grains attracted the PGM crystals 9 After crystallization the crystals were carried in the collapsing margins and formed the layers of chromitite and PGE 9 History EditThe Bushveld Complex chromitites were first reported by Hall and Humphrey in 1908 7 The initial recovery of platinum in South Africa took place on several of the large East Rand gold mines and the first separate platinum mine was a short lived venture near Naboomspruit that worked very patchy quartz reefs The discovery of the Bushveld Igneous Complex deposits was made in 1924 by a Lydenburg district farmer A F Lombaard 2 10 It was recorded to be approximately 80 kilometers in length 2 10 This was an alluvial deposit but its importance was recognized by Hans Merensky whose prospecting work discovered the primary source in the Bushveld Igneous Complex and traced it for several hundred kilometres by 1930 4 Extensive mining of the Reef didn t take place until an upsurge in the demand for platinum group metals used in exhaust pollution control in the 1950s made exploitation economically feasible Extraction of metals from the UG2 chromitite could only take place in the 1970s with major advances in metallurgy 4 The first mine concentrated on the extraction of chrome rich UG2 platinum on the reef and was named the Lonmin mine 11 References Edit Barnes Sarah Jane January 2002 Platinum group Elements and Microstructures of Normal Merensky Reef from Impala Platinum Mines Bushveld Complex Journal of Petrology 43 1 103 128 doi 10 1093 petrology 43 1 103 a b c d Geology for South African Students CNA Ltd South Africa a b Cawthorn R Grant Boerst Kevin March 2006 Origin of the Pegmatitic Pyroxenite in the Merensky Unit Bushveld Complex South Africa Journal of Petrology 47 8 1509 1530 CiteSeerX 10 1 1 560 4971 doi 10 1093 petrology egl017 via Oxford Academic a b c Mathez E A 1995 MagmaUc metasomaUsm and formation of the Merensky reef Bushveld Complex Contrib Mineral Petrol 119 277 286 a b c d e f g h i Hutchinson Dave Foster Jeffery January 2015 Concentration of particulate platinum group minerals during magma emplacement a case study from the Merensky Reef Bushveld Complex Journal of Petrology 56 113 159 doi 10 1093 petrology egu073 a b c d e f Latypov Rais Chistyakova Sofya Page Alan Hornsey Richard July 2015 Field Evidence for the In Situ Crystallization of the Merensky Reef Journal of Petrology 56 12 2341 2372 doi 10 1093 petrology egv023 a b Scoon Roger August 1994 Platinum group element mineralization in the critical zone of the western Bushveld Complex I Sulfide poor chromitites Economic Geology 89 5 1094 1121 doi 10 2113 gsecongeo 89 5 1094 Naldrett Anthony January 2011 Genesis of the PGE Enriched Merensky Reef and Chromitite Seams of the Bushveld Complex Magmatic Ni Cu and PGE Deposits Geology Geochemistry and Genesis a b c d Kinnaird J A July 2012 Chromitite formation a key to understanding processes of platinum enrichment Applied Earth Science 111 23 35 doi 10 1179 aes 2002 111 1 23 S2CID 129225819 a b Platinum Group Metal Mines In South Africa 2007 S A Dept of Minerals and energy Archived 2009 03 19 at the Wayback Machine Jones R Michael March 2005 History of Platinum Mining in the Bushveld Complex wikinvest Archived from the original on April 2 2018 Retrieved April 2 2018 Journal of Petrology Fuel cell platinum archived version retrieved 2018 01 31 at the Wayback Machine Platinum Group Metals nbsp Earth sciences portal Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Merensky Reef amp oldid 1151025574, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
