Microminerals of the Bushveld Complex
by
Maria Atanasova, Bruce Cairncross and Wolfgang Windisch
Council for Geoscience, Pretoria; Department of Geology, University of Johannesburg; 3932 Crots Street, Pretoria
The Bushveld Complex is world famous for its spectacular geology and platinum-chromium deposits. It covers an area of approximately 65 000 km and is therefore the largest layered complex in the world. It is equally well known for its esoteric platinum-group mineralogy. Apart from these commodities the Bushveld Complex is a source of secondary mineralisation. The main objective of this book is to document and publish the occurrence of these secondary minerals that occur as microminerals.
Description
- 437 PAGES
- OVER 1 000 FIGURES
- PHOTOGRAPHS
- SEM IMAGES
- 35 SPECIES FIRST IDENTIFIED FOR SOUTH AFRICA
- DETAILED REFERENCE LIST
- GLOSSARY
For several years, Maria Atanasova and the late Wolf Windisch have been collaborating in identifying some of the more unusual and interesting minerals from several Bushveld localities. Bruce Cairncross is well known for his mineral work and co-authored and edited the book.
Valuable SEM data and SEM images have been generated in this process and stockpiled for future use. The methodology followed has been that of traditional mineralogical research: Positive and quantitative identification of minerals using SEM and XRD; fieldwork to document the settings of the mineralised sites; the utilisation of geological and soil geochemical databases to compile locality maps using GIS software, and literature surveys to establish a database of previous work and gaps in the literature that should be focussed on.
The book is in full colour, illustrating the magnificent beauty of the microscopic world of minerals that the Bushveld Complex has to offer. Another important aspect of this work is that the documentation and publishing of these microminerals give an insight into the diversified mineralogy of the Bushveld Complex other than the well-known platinum and chrome deposits.
For more information contact:
Maria T. Atanasova
+27 72 831 0905
Units in box: 1