Distribution of platinum-group elements in pristine and near-surface oxidized Platreef ore and the variation along strike, northern Bushveld Complex, South Africa

2018 ◽  
Vol 54 (6) ◽  
pp. 885-912 ◽  
Author(s):  
Malte Junge ◽  
Thomas Oberthür ◽  
Dennis Kraemer ◽  
Frank Melcher ◽  
Ruben Piña ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Bushveld Complex ◽  
Platinum Group Elements ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Platinum Group

Supergene mobilization and redistribution of platinum-group elements in the Merensky Reef, eastern Bushveld Complex, South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 59 (6) ◽  
pp. 1381-1396
Author(s):  
Maximilian Korges ◽  
Malte Junge ◽  
Gregor Borg ◽  
Thomas Oberthür
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Platinum Group Element ◽  
Bushveld Complex ◽  
Platinum Group Elements ◽  
Element Distribution ◽  
Group Element ◽  
Recovery Rates ◽  
Merensky Reef ◽  
Platinum Group Minerals ◽  
Platinum Group

ABSTRACT Near-surface supergene ores of the Merensky Reef in the Bushveld Complex, South Africa, contain economic grades of platinum-group elements, however, these are currently uneconomic due to low recovery rates. This is the first study that investigates the variation in platinum-group elements in pristine and supergene samples of the Merensky Reef from five drill cores from the eastern Bushveld. The samples from the Richmond and Twickenham farms show different degrees of weathering. The whole-rock platinum-group element distribution was studied by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry and the platinum-group minerals were investigated by reflected-light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and electron microprobe analysis. In pristine (“fresh”) Merensky Reef samples, platinum-group elements occur mainly as discrete platinum-group minerals, such as platinum-group element-sulfides (cooperite–braggite) and laurite as well as subordinate platinum-group element-bismuthotellurides and platinum-group element-arsenides, and also in solid solution in sulfides (especially Pd in pentlandite). During weathering, Pd and S were removed, resulting in a platinum-group mineral mineralogy in the supergene Merensky Reef that mainly consists of relict platinum-group minerals, Pt-Fe alloys, and Pt-oxides/hydroxides. Additional proportions of platinum-group elements are hosted by Fe-hydroxides and secondary hydrosilicates (e.g., serpentine group minerals and chlorite). In supergene ores, only low recovery rates (ca. 40%) are achieved due to the polymodal and complex platinum-group element distribution. To achieve higher recovery rates for the platinum-group elements, hydrometallurgical or pyrometallurgical processing of the bulk ore would be required, which is not economically viable with existing technology.

scholarly journals Mineralogical siting of platinum-group elements in pentlandite from the Bushveld Complex, South Africa

2014 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Malte Junge ◽  
Richard Wirth ◽  
Thomas Oberthür ◽  
Frank Melcher ◽  
Anja Schreiber
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Bushveld Complex ◽  
Platinum Group Elements ◽  
Platinum Group

Geochemical exploration for platinum-group elements in the Bushveld Complex, South Africa

1997 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 349-361 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. J. Wilhelm ◽  
H. Zhang ◽  
F. L. Chen ◽  
J. H. Elsenbroek ◽  
M. Lombard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Bushveld Complex ◽  
Platinum Group Elements ◽  
Geochemical Exploration ◽  
Platinum Group

Platinum-group elements in the Boulder Bed, western Bushveld Complex, South Africa

2003 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 370-380 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wolfgang D. Maier ◽  
Sarah-Jane Barnes
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Bushveld Complex ◽  
Platinum Group Elements ◽  
Platinum Group

Platinum-group elements and minerals in the lower and middle group chromitites of the western Bushveld Complex, South Africa

2016 ◽  
Vol 51 (7) ◽  
pp. 841-852 ◽  
Author(s):  
Malte Junge ◽  
Thomas Oberthür ◽  
Inga Osbahr ◽  
Paul Gutter
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Bushveld Complex ◽  
Platinum Group Elements ◽  
Middle Group ◽  
Platinum Group
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