The Uis pegmatites: morphology, mineralisation and distribution, with an emphasis on the V1 and V2 intrusions
Date
2019-02
Authors
Marais, Timothy
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Abstract
The Damara Orogen represents a typical Wilson Cycle initiating with extension through and
culmination in a collisional environment. The geological units comprise a significant Pan‐African age
succession of metasedimentary and metavolcanic lithologies with various associated granitic and
granodioritic magmatic bodies. The pegmatites of the Damara belt, the trending branch of the
Damara Orogen, represent the final phase of orogeny and magmatism, with mineralised pegmatites
(Sn, Ta, Nb, Li, Be and W) exclusively forming in a post‐tectonic environment.
The Cape Cross‐Uis pegmatite belt lies within the Northern Zone of the Damara Belt and runs
northeast form Cape Cross to Uis. This belt is known to contain granitic pegmatites commonly
enriched in Sn, Ta, Nb, Li and Be and contains 3 distinct pegmatite swarms, the Strathmore, Karlowa
and Uis swarm. Each of the pegmatite swarms predominantly contain a pegmatite type with the Uis
swarm primarily comprising Sn‐Ta‐Nb type pegmatites.
The Uis swarm covers and area of approximately 650km2, AfriTin Mining owns a Mining License within
this area which includes the historic Uis Tin Mine. An excess of 180 pegmatites were delineated
proximal to the historic Uis mine, of these proximal pegmatites nine have been documented in detail.
Additionally, ten of the existing excavations within the mine area have been mapped and described in
detail.
Description
A research report submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science.
February 2019
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Citation
Marais, Timothy. (2019). The Uis pegmatites :morphology, mineralisation and distribution, with an emphasis on the V1 and V2 intrusions. University of the Witwatersrand, https://hdl.handle.net/10539/29646