학술논문

Platinum-group Element Mineralization in the Merensky Reef of the Limpopo Mine,Eastern Limb of the Bushveld Complex, South Africa
Document Type
Journal Article
Source
International Journal of the Society of Materials Engineering for Resources. 2022, 25(2):183
Subject
Bushveld Complex
Merensky Reef
Platinum group elements
South Africa
Language
English
ISSN
1347-9725
1884-6629
Abstract
In the present study, we discuss the platinum-group element (PGE) mineralization process in the Merensky Reef of the Limpopo mine, Eastern Limb of the Bushveld Complex, South Africa. The lithologies of an investigated drill core are norite and anorthosite with minor pyroxenite and chromitite. The Merensky Reef is hosted in pyroxenite with two chromitite layers and contains hydrothermal chlorite veinlets. Most of the platinum group minerals (PGMs) are found in interstitial sulfides and in euhedral orthopyroxene such as cooperite ([Pt,Pd,Ni]S), Pd-Au-Ag alloy and moncheite (Pt[Te,Bi]2). Some PGMs such as kotulskite (Pd[TeBi]) and michenerite (PdBiTe) and hessite (Ag2Te) are found in sulfide veinlets with alteration minerals. These results indicate that there are two stages of mineralization: magmatic PGE mineralization and later hydrothermal PGE mineralization.