Bushveld complex ( African: Bosveldstollingskompleks ) - deposits of platinum and chromite , located in the former province of Transvaal ( South Africa ), in the districts of Rustenburg , Potgitersrust, Waterberch and Leidenburg [1] .
General information
The field was discovered by Dutch geologist Gustaf Molengraf ( African. Gustaaf Molengraaff ) in 1897 [2] . The Bushveld complex occupies the central region of the Transvaal and is divided into eastern, western and small northern parts. All three sections of the system were formed at about the same time - about 2 billion years ago, and are similar in structure.
The geographic center of the deposit is located north of Pretoria with coordinates about 25 ° S; 29 ° E, covering more than 66 thousand square kilometers, that is, an area the size of Ireland .
The complex contains approximately 90% of the world's known reserves of platinum group metals , namely, platinum , palladium , osmium , iridium , rhodium , ruthenium . In addition, the deposit contains significant volumes of iron , tin , chromium , titanium and vanadium . The content of platinoids in the developed ores is usually 7–9 mg / kg (7–9 g / t), rarely more than 15 mg / kg (15 g / t) [3] .
Ores are mined mainly underground . Deposits of the platinum metal group have been developed since 1919. Annual production reaches about 80% of world platinum and 20% of world palladium [3] .
See also
- Platinum Group Metals
- Waterberch
- Rustenburg
- Transvaal
Notes
- ↑ Sokolov G.A. Bushveld complex // Great Soviet Encyclopedia : [in 30 vol.] / Ch. ed. A.M. Prokhorov . - 3rd ed. - M .: Soviet Encyclopedia, 1969-1978.
- ↑ Molengraaff GAF Geology of the Transvaal (1904), Edinburgh & Johannesburg (translation from ~ 1902 original), pp 42-57.
- ↑ 1 2 Du Toit A. Geology of South Africa, trans. from English., - M.: Publishing House of Foreign Literature, 1957. - 490 p.