Use of field portable XRF in exploration of PGE-enriched zones in the Pilanesberg PGE deposit, Bushveld Complex, South Africa

2020 ◽  
pp. geochem2020-075
Author(s):  
A.K. Somarin ◽  
Ingo Steinhage
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Bushveld Complex ◽  
Precious Metals ◽  
Ore Deposits ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Portable Xrf ◽  
Laboratory Methods ◽  
Core Samples ◽  
Low Concentrations

The field-portable X-ray fluorescence (FPXRF) spectrometer has evolved significantly in the last decade and became one of the most innovative tools for field geologists. Portability and ease of use of FPXRF systems have opened up new and unique applications for even novice technicians. Application of FPXRF in precious metals exploration and mining appears to be challenging due to their low concentrations (lower than detection limit by FPXRF) in nature and even in most ore deposits. This case study shows the success of FPXRF in identifying anomalous zones of platinum group elements (PGE) and Au (target elements) using pathfinder elements in the Pilanesberg PGE deposit, Bushveld Complex, South Africa. Sixty-three core samples were analyzed using both FPXRF and laboratory methods. In these samples, Pt < 8ppm, Pd <5 ppm, and Au <1 ppm which were not detected by FPXRF; however, Ni and Cu are up to 6540 and 3560 ppm, respectively, which were easily detected by FPXRF. These elements show positive correlation with the precious metals indicating that they can be used as pathfinder. Both direct-shot analyses of core samples and their pulverized specimen assays show correlation with lab assay data suggesting that both methods can be used in the field; however, the accuracy of direct-shot data is lower due to heterogeneity of samples.

Argon diffusion in plagioclase and implications for thermochronometry: A case study from the Bushveld Complex, South Africa

2009 ◽  
Vol 73 (21) ◽  
pp. 6600-6612 ◽  
Author(s):  
William S. Cassata ◽  
Paul R. Renne ◽  
David L. Shuster
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Bushveld Complex

scholarly journals Farm-Workers Perception of Personal Protective Equipment: Case Study in the Lower South Coast, South Africa

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Nwafor ◽  
Ifeoma Nwafor
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Work Experience ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Farm Workers ◽  
Perceived Usefulness ◽  
Worker Safety ◽  
South Coast ◽  
Perceived Ease Of Use ◽  
Lower South

Safety and health issues are growing concerns in the agricultural sector among farm-workers in South Africa. The current health pandemic arising from the corona virus has thrown these issues into the spotlight, and this study explored the perceived usefulness and perceived ease of using personal protective materials among farm-workers in the banana sector. Using a case study of 10 large farms in the lower south coast of South Africa, we utilized descriptive and inferential analysis to identify the demographic composition of farm-workers in the study area, examine their perception of specific personal protective materials, and determine the relationship between demographic characteristics and perception of personal protective materials. Farm-workers in the study area were found to be predominantly single black males aged between 36-55years, with no more than a primary education, with work experience of between 6-10 years and employed as unskilled farm-labourers. Perceived usefulness (83%) and perceived ease of use (79%) for personal protective materials was high. Respondents gender (p=0.012), marital status (p=0.029), level of education (p=0.035) and farm-work experience (p=0.008) were significant, while their age (p=0.057), population group (p=0.160) and work classification (p=0.203) were not found significant in determining perceived usefulness or perceived ease of use. Our study makes valuable contribution to the existing body of knowledge regarding farm-worker safety issues by exploring perception of personal protective materials.

scholarly journals An overview of global layered intrusions, with a special focus on the Bushveld Complex, South Africa

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
W.D. Maier ◽  
◽  
Qun-Ke Xia ◽  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Bushveld Complex ◽  
Ore Deposits ◽  
Reactive Flow ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Potential Importance ◽  
Layered Intrusions ◽  
Merensky Reef ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Water Contents

Layered intrusions host some of the world’s most important ore deposits, yet their global distribution, age, and petrogenesis remain poorly known. Here we provide an update on our current understanding and highlight some key outstanding research questions, notably on the potential importance of reactive flow. We present some preliminary data on water contents of Bushveld orthopyroxenes from which we calculated the water contents of the magma. The analysed Bushveld rocks, including the Merensky Reef, crystallised from relatively water-poor magma, similar to many other continental basalts.

An innovative seismic and statistical approach to understand 3D magmatic structures and ore deposits in the western Bushveld Complex, South Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 126 ◽  
pp. 103784
Author(s):  
Lebogang Sehoole ◽  
Musa S.D. Manzi ◽  
Steven E. Zhang ◽  
Julie E. Bourdeau
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Statistical Approach ◽  
Bushveld Complex ◽  
Ore Deposits

scholarly journals Determination of oestrogen hormones in raw and treated water samples by reverse phase ultra-fast liquid chromatography mass spectrometry – a case study in Johannesburg South, South Africa

Water SA ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 44 (1 January) ◽  
Author(s):  
SB Mnguni ◽  
C Schoeman ◽  
SS Marais ◽  
E Cukrowska ◽  
L Chimuka
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Liquid Chromatography ◽  
Water Samples ◽  
Potable Water ◽  
Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Reverse Phase ◽  
Low Concentrations ◽  
Fast Liquid Chromatography

Hormones in water samples have been classified as ‘emerging pollutants’ and may pose a potential risk for humans. Hormones can be found in both surface and ground water at low concentrations. These compounds enter water streams through wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) and may elicit endocrine disruption to organisms. As a result of the low concentrations, a suitable analytical methodology is essential for their determination. In the past, residues of oestrogens in aqueous and solid environmental samples have commonly been analysed by gas chromatography (GC) equipped with mass spectrometry (MS). However, the necessary derivatisation steps are not only time consuming and laborious but also tedious. The first part of this case study was to develop a method to determine trace concentrations of the estrone (E1), 17α-estradiol (E2α), 17-β-estradiol (E2β) and 17-α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) hormones using reverse phase ultra-fast liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (RP-UFLC). Using the developed method, the second part of the case study was to determine the concentrations of the hormones in raw and treated potable water samples from the Vaal River catchment area in the south of Johannesburg, South Africa. Analytes were extracted by solid phase extraction (SPE C18 sorbent) cartridges and subsequently injected into ultra-fast liquid chromatography with the reverse phase column coupled to mass spectrometry (UFLC-MS) for analyte determinations. The limits of quantification were in the range of 0.24 to 0.32 ng·L-1 for the analytes. Accuracy was 95.6, 93.8, 97.6 and 100.9% for EE2, E2α, E2β and E1, respectively. In raw water samples taken during the rainy wet season, estrone was detected at concentrations of 0.90 and 4.43 ng·L-1. However, treated potable water samples did not contain detectable levels of hormones. This is potentially due to the ability of a water treatment process to remove endocrine disruptors during water purification. 

Social Design for Services Framework

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Melanie SARANTOU ◽  
Satu MIETTINEN
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Research Group ◽  
Design Research ◽  
Service Design ◽  
Social Design ◽  
Practical Action ◽  
The Social ◽  
The World

This paper addresses the fields of social and service design in development contexts, practice-based and constructive design research. A framework for social design for services will be explored through the survey of existing literature, specifically by drawing on eight doctoral theses that were produced by the World Design research group. The work of World Design researcher-designers was guided by a strong ethos of social and service design for development in marginalised communities. The paper also draws on a case study in Namibia and South Africa titled ‘My Dream World’. This case study presents a good example of how the social design for services framework functions in practice during experimentation and research in the field. The social design for services framework transfers the World Design group’s research results into practical action, providing a tool for the facilitation of design and research processes for sustainable development in marginal contexts.

Lithostratigraphy of the Palaeoproterozoic Hekpoort Formation (Pretoria Group, Transvaal Supergroup), South Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 123 (4) ◽  
pp. 655-668
Author(s):  
N. Lenhardt ◽  
W. Altermann ◽  
F. Humbert ◽  
M. de Kock
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Bushveld Complex ◽  
Sedimentary Rocks ◽  
Type Locality ◽  
Large Igneous Province ◽  
Braided River ◽  
River Systems ◽  
The West ◽  
Igneous Province ◽  
Transvaal Supergroup

Abstract The Palaeoproterozoic Hekpoort Formation of the Pretoria Group is a lava-dominated unit that has a basin-wide extent throughout the Transvaal sub-basin of South Africa. Additional correlative units may be present in the Kanye sub-basin of Botswana. The key characteristic of the formation is its general geochemical uniformity. Volcaniclastic and other sedimentary rocks are relatively rare throughout the succession but may be dominant in some locations. Hekpoort Formation outcrops are sporadic throughout the basin and mostly occur in the form of gentle hills and valleys, mainly encircling Archaean domes and the Palaeoproterozoic Bushveld Complex (BC). The unit is exposed in the western Pretoria Group basin, sitting unconformably either on the Timeball Hill Formation or Boshoek Formation, which is lenticular there, and on top of the Boshoek Formation in the east of the basin. The unit is unconformably overlain by the Dwaalheuwel Formation. The type-locality for the Hekpoort Formation is the Hekpoort farm (504 IQ Hekpoort), ca. 60 km to the west-southwest of Pretoria. However, no stratotype has ever been proposed. A lectostratotype, i.e., the Mooikloof area in Pretoria East, that can be enhanced by two reference stratotypes are proposed herein. The Hekpoort Formation was deposited in a cratonic subaerial setting, forming a large igneous province (LIP) in which short-termed localised ponds and small braided river systems existed. It therefore forms one of the major Palaeoproterozoic magmatic events on the Kaapvaal Craton.

The Socio-Economic Challenges of South African Indigenous Musicians: A Case Study of Venda-Based Vho-Ntshengedzeni Mamphodo

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
N G Mugovhani ◽  
Lebogang Lance Nawa
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Empirical Data ◽  
Cultural Policy ◽  
Qualitative Case Study ◽  
Arts Management ◽  
Black South African ◽  
Indigenous Music ◽  
Entire Country

This article discusses and raises awareness about the socio-economic plight of indigenous musicians in South Africa. Through a qualitative case study of the Venda musician, Vho-Talelani Andries Ntshengedzeni Mamphodo, dubbed the “Father of mbila music,” the article highlights the fact that the welfare of Black South African artists, particularly indigenous musicians in South Africa, is generally a precarious affair. Their popularity, at the height of their careers, sometimes masks shocking details of exploitation, neglect, and the poverty they are subjected to, which are exposed only after they have died. Empirical data identifies this as a symptom of, among other things, cultural policy and arts management deficiencies in the promotion of indigenous music. The article aims to find ways to redress this unfortunate situation, which is partially a product of general apathy and scant regard that these artists have perennially been subjected to, even by their own governments, as well as some members of their societies. All these factors mentioned are compounded by ignorance on the part of South African artists. Part of the objective of this study was to establish whether the exposition of the Vhavenda musicians is a typical example of all Black South African indigenous musicians and, if this is the case, whether the suggested ways to redress this unfortunate situation could contribute to or play a role in alleviating the plight of such artists in the entire country.

Breaking the Shackles of Gender Stereotyping to Create New Norms: The Case of Zimbabwean Migrant Women in Mthatha Town

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanction Madambi
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Gender Stereotyping ◽  
Personal Agency ◽  
Migrant Women ◽  
Host Countries ◽  
Qualitative Research Design ◽  
Norms And Values ◽  
Recent Case Study ◽  
Traditional Approaches

The migration of Zimbabweans into South Africa is shaped by several factors and processes. Traditionally, the decision to migrate was mostly based on family considerations (where gender stereotypic roles were a priority), although in some cases the migrants exercised individualism and personal agency. This led to migration trends that were male dominated. Current Zimbabwean migration trends reflect large volumes of women as the socio-economic crisis forces them to leave their country. These migrant women encounter a myriad of challenges in their host countries. This paper explores Zimbabwean women’s migration to the town of Mthatha in South Africa, highlighting their challenges and the strategies they employ to overcome these, as found in a recent case study. Applying a qualitative research design and using questionnaires and interviews to gather data from the 100 purposively sampled women, the study found that many Zimbabwean migrant women in Mthatha encountered numerous challenges. They lacked the required documents to live and work in South Africa, experienced exploitation and marriage constraints, and had broken ties with their families back in Zimbabwe. According to the study, these women managed to navigate these challenges, rising above the stereotypic norms and values that used to label them as non-productive citizens to superheroes who were supporting their families and the country’s economy—thus breaking the shackles of gender stereotyping to create new norms. These findings underline the importance of shifting from the traditional approaches to women migration and pursuing perspectives that present migration as a critical component of the process of social change and development to all migrants.

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