Bushveld-aged fluid flow, peak metamorphism, and gold mobilization in the Witwatersrand basin, South Africa: Constraints from in situ SHRIMP U-Pb dating of monazite and xenotime

Geology ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 35 (10) ◽  
pp. 931 ◽  
Author(s):  
Birger Rasmussen ◽  
Ian R. Fletcher ◽  
Janet R. Muhling ◽  
Andreas G. Mueller ◽  
Greg C. Hall
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Fluid Flow ◽  
Witwatersrand Basin ◽  
Peak Metamorphism

A geometallurgical characterization study of the Crystalkop Reef at the Great Noligwa Mine, Klerksdorp Goldfield, South Africa

2017 ◽  
Vol 120 (3) ◽  
pp. 303-322
Author(s):  
D. Pienaar ◽  
B.M. Guy ◽  
C. Pienaar ◽  
K.S. Viljoen
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Processing Parameters ◽  
Processing Plant ◽  
Small Contribution ◽  
Gold Cyanide ◽  
Three Samples ◽  
Characterization Study ◽  
Different Sources

Abstract Mineralogical and textural variability of ores from different sources commonly leads to processing inefficiencies, particularly when a processing plant is designed to treat ore from a single source (i.e. ore of a relatively uniform composition). The bulk of the Witwatersrand ore in the Klerksdorp goldfield, processed at the AngloGold Ashanti Great Noligwa treatment plant, is derived from the Vaal Reef (>90%), with a comparatively small contribution obtained from the Crystalkop Reef (or C-Reef). Despite the uneven contribution, it is of critical importance to ensure that the processing parameters are optimized for the treatment of both the Vaal and C-Reefs. This paper serves to document the results of a geometallurgical study of the C-Reef at the Great Noligwa gold mine in the Klerksdorp goldfield of South Africa, with the primary aim of assessing the suitability of the processing parameters that are in use at the Great Noligwa plant. The paper also draws comparisons between the C-Reef and the Vaal Reef A-facies (Vaal Reef) and attempts to explain minor differences in the recovery of gold and uranium from these two sources. Three samples of the C-Reef were collected in-situ from the underground operations at Great Noligwa mine for mineralogical analyses and metallurgical tests. Laboratory-scale leach tests for gold (cyanide) and uranium (sulphuric acid) were carried out using dissolution conditions similar to that in use at the Great Noligwa plant, followed by further diagnostic leaching in the case of gold. The gold in the ore was found to be readily leachable with recoveries ranging from 95% to 97% (as opposed to 89% to 93% for the Vaal Reef). Additional recoveries were achieved in the presence of excess cyanide (96% to 98%). The recovery of uranium varied between 72% and 76% (as opposed to 30% to 64% for the Vaal Reef), which is substantially higher than predicted, given the amount of brannerite in the ore, which is generally regarded as refractory. Thus, the higher uranium recoveries from the C-Reef imply that a proportion of the uranium was recovered by the partial dissolution of brannerite. As the Vaal Reef contain high amounts of chlorite (3% to 8%), which is an important acid consumer, it is considered likely that this could have reduced the effectiveness of the H2SO4 leach in the case of the ore of the Vaal Reef. Since the gold and uranium recoveries from the C-Reef were higher than the recoveries from the Vaal Reef, the results demonstrate that the processing parameters used for treatment of the Vaal Reef are equally suited to the treatment of the C-Reef. Moreover, small processing modifications, such as increased milling and leach retention times, may well increase the recovery of gold (particularly when e.g. coarse gold, or unexposed gold, is present).

Tectono‐metamorphic setting and paragenetic sequence of Au‐U mineralisation in the Archaean Witwatersrand Basin, South Africa

1997 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 353-371 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. J. Robb ◽  
E. G. Charlesworth ◽  
G. R. Drennan ◽  
R. L. Gibson ◽  
E. L. Tongu
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Witwatersrand Basin ◽  
Paragenetic Sequence

scholarly journals Bottom temperature and in situ development of chokka squid eggs (Loligo vulgaris reynaudii) on mid-shelf spawning grounds, South Africa

2009 ◽  
Vol 66 (9) ◽  
pp. 1967-1971 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anè Oosthuizen ◽  
Mike J. Roberts
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Bottom Temperature ◽  
Egg Development ◽  
Spawning Grounds ◽  
Loligo Vulgaris ◽  
Laboratory Results ◽  
Temperature Environment ◽  
Development Data ◽  
Shelf Temperature

Abstract Oosthuizen, A., and Roberts, M. J. 2009. Bottom temperature and in situ development of chokka squid eggs (Loligo vulgaris reynaudii) on mid-shelf spawning grounds, South Africa. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 66: 1967–1971. The aim of the study was to test the development success of squid eggs on the mid-shelf (60–150 m deep) spawning grounds in relation to previous laboratory results, and to describe the mid-shelf temperature environment and how it could affect egg development. A series of in situ egg incubation experiments was conducted on the mid-shelf (∼119 m deep) spawning grounds using cages, temperature sensors, and acoustic releases for retrieval. Newly spawned eggs were collected by scuba, and continuous temperature data were collected at two points between the known inshore spawning grounds and the mid-shelf areas. Temperature variations followed a seasonal warming and cooling cycle, with superimposed peaks and troughs. Egg development data indicated that warm temperature peaks (10–13°C) are sufficient for normal development of eggs on the mid-shelf. Egg development time on the mid-shelf was 2–3 times longer (50–60 vs. 20–30 d) than inshore. The scarcity of abnormalities (0.45%) disputes previous laboratory results that suggested that ∼50% of eggs would suffer abnormalities in the colder mid-shelf temperature environment.

Nitrogen geochemistry as a tracer of fluid flow in a hydrothermal vent complex in the Karoo Basin, South Africa

2008 ◽  
Vol 72 (20) ◽  
pp. 4929-4947 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henrik Svensen ◽  
Gray Bebout ◽  
Andreas Kronz ◽  
Long Li ◽  
Sverre Planke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Fluid Flow ◽  
Hydrothermal Vent ◽  
Karoo Basin

scholarly journals Palaeoclimates: the first two billion years

2006 ◽  
Vol 361 (1470) ◽  
pp. 917-929 ◽  
Author(s):  
James F Kasting ◽  
Shuhei Ono
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Oxygen Isotopes ◽  
Natural Explanation ◽  
Witwatersrand Basin ◽  
Late Archaean ◽  
Bacterial Sulphate Reduction ◽  
Climatic Constraints ◽  
The Mean ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Earth’S Climate

Earth's climate during the Archaean remains highly uncertain, as the relevant geologic evidence is sparse and occasionally contradictory. Oxygen isotopes in cherts suggest that between 3.5 and 3.2 Gyr ago (Ga) the Archaean climate was hot (55–85 °C); however, the fact that these cherts have experienced only a modest amount of weathering suggests that the climate was temperate, as today. The presence of diamictites in the Pongola Supergroup and the Witwatersrand Basin of South Africa suggests that by 2.9 Ga the climate was glacial. The Late Archaean was relatively warm; then glaciation (possibly of global extent) reappeared in the Early Palaeoproterozoic, around 2.3–2.4 Ga. Fitting these climatic constraints with a model requires high concentrations of atmospheric CO 2 or CH 4 , or both. Solar luminosity was 20–25% lower than today, so elevated greenhouse gas concentrations were needed just to keep the mean surface temperature above freezing. A rise in O 2 at approximately 2.4 Ga, and a concomitant decrease in CH 4 , provides a natural explanation for the Palaeoproterozoic glaciations. The Mid-Archaean glaciations may have been caused by a drawdown in H 2 and CH 4 caused by the origin of bacterial sulphate reduction. More work is needed to test this latter hypothesis.

Recent Trends of Drought Using Remotely Sensed and In-Situ Indices: Towards an Integrated Drought Monitoring System for South Africa

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahlatse Kganvago ◽  
Mxolisi B. Mukhawana ◽  
Morwapula Mashalane ◽  
Aphelele Mgabisa ◽  
Simon Moloele
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Monitoring System ◽  
Remotely Sensed ◽  
Drought Monitoring ◽  
Recent Trends
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