Mineral chemistry of Merensky Reef chromitite layers in the Marikana District

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dc.contributor.authorWansbury, Nicole Tracy
dc.date.accessioned2017-01-19T05:48:54Z
dc.date.available2017-01-19T05:48:54Z
dc.date.issued2016
dc.descriptionA Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Science. 2016.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractAn important feature of the Merensky Cyclic Unit in the Bushveld Complex is the association of platinum group metals with narrow chromitite layers. The appearance and removal of chromitite layers in this unit has been used to define facies types. This study explores the hypothesis that individual chromitite layers within the Merensky Cyclic Unit at Marikana have distinguishing major element concentrations or ratios which could assist in tracing the continuity of the chromitite layers between facies types which is characterized by single or multiple layers. The examination of field relationships of the chromitite layers at the transition between facies types will be useful to improve understanding of lithological continuity. This study has two approaches; the first being the examination of underground exposures and petrographic analysis, and secondly by chemical analysis of chromite grains within the chromitite layers. No chromite mineral compositional trends or similarities were observed for grains in chromitite layers hosted by the same silicate mineral. The mineral chemistry evidence suggests that post cumulus processes are considered to have changed the primary chromite compositions and that reequilibration has occurred due to reaction with trapped intercumulus liquid. Little to no reaction with the host silicates of plagioclase and pyroxene is envisaged. The slow cooling of the Bushveld Complex has allowed intercumulus liquid a greater opportunity to equilibrate with the early minerals, destroying the early magmatic history by reaction and recrystallization. The cumulate deposition model envisaged to have formed the Merensky Cyclic unit at Marikana is by the emplacement of several pulses of superheated magma, supported by the occurrence of several chromitite layers within the sequence.en_ZA
dc.description.librarianLG2017en_ZA
dc.format.extentOnline resource (177 leaves)
dc.identifier.citationWansbury, Nicole Tracy (2016) Mineral chemistry of Merensky Reef chromitite layers in the Marikana District, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, <http://wiredspace.wits.ac.za/handle/10539/21674>
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10539/21674
dc.language.isoenen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshGeology--South Africa--Rustenburg
dc.subject.lcshMineralogical chemistry
dc.subject.lcshMarikana (Rustenburg, South Africa)
dc.titleMineral chemistry of Merensky Reef chromitite layers in the Marikana Districten_ZA
dc.typeThesisen_ZA
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