Volcanic rocks of the Witwatersrand triad, South Africa I: description, classification and geochemical stratigraphy
- Bowen, Teral B, Marsh, Julian S, Bowen, Michael P, Eales, Hugh V
- Authors: Bowen, Teral B , Marsh, Julian S , Bowen, Michael P , Eales, Hugh V
- Date: 2003
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/138682 , vital:37663 , https://doi.org/10.1016/0301-9268(86)90038-0
- Description: The Witwatersrand triad contains thick volcanic sequences confined largely to the Dominion Group at the base and the Ventersdorp Supergroup at the top. These volcanic sequences are of late-Archaean to early-Proterozoic age and are amongst the oldest supracrustal volcanic sequences erupted onto the Archaean Kaapvaal craton. The volcanic rocks have suffered low-grade greenschist facies metamorphism but primary textures and, in some samples, primary mineralogies are well preserved.
- Full Text: false
- Authors: Bowen, Teral B , Marsh, Julian S , Bowen, Michael P , Eales, Hugh V
- Date: 2003
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/138682 , vital:37663 , https://doi.org/10.1016/0301-9268(86)90038-0
- Description: The Witwatersrand triad contains thick volcanic sequences confined largely to the Dominion Group at the base and the Ventersdorp Supergroup at the top. These volcanic sequences are of late-Archaean to early-Proterozoic age and are amongst the oldest supracrustal volcanic sequences erupted onto the Archaean Kaapvaal craton. The volcanic rocks have suffered low-grade greenschist facies metamorphism but primary textures and, in some samples, primary mineralogies are well preserved.
- Full Text: false
Some geochemical constraints upon models for the crystallization of the upper critical zone-main zone interval, northwestern Bushveld complex
- Eales, Hugh V, Marsh, Julian S, Mitchell, Andrew A, de Klerk, William J, Kruger, Floris J, Field, Matthew
- Authors: Eales, Hugh V , Marsh, Julian S , Mitchell, Andrew A , de Klerk, William J , Kruger, Floris J , Field, Matthew
- Date: 1986
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/136044 , vital:37331 , https://doi.org/10.1180/minmag.1986.050.358.03
- Description: Ratios between elements Mg, Fe, Co, Cr, Ni, V, and Sc are consistently different in mafic rocks of the upper critical zone, and those above the Bastard unit. Within the 300 m section above the Merensky Reef, 87Sr/86Sr ratios increase from c.0.7063 to c.0.7087, irrespective of rock type. Decoupling of Mg/(Mg + Fe2+) ratios and the Ca contents of plagioclase, and wide variations in the proportions of anorthosite within the Bastard, Merensky, and Merensky Footwall units, are inconsistent with anorthosite formation by simple fractional crystallization of magma batches of limited volume.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Eales, Hugh V , Marsh, Julian S , Mitchell, Andrew A , de Klerk, William J , Kruger, Floris J , Field, Matthew
- Date: 1986
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/136044 , vital:37331 , https://doi.org/10.1180/minmag.1986.050.358.03
- Description: Ratios between elements Mg, Fe, Co, Cr, Ni, V, and Sc are consistently different in mafic rocks of the upper critical zone, and those above the Bastard unit. Within the 300 m section above the Merensky Reef, 87Sr/86Sr ratios increase from c.0.7063 to c.0.7087, irrespective of rock type. Decoupling of Mg/(Mg + Fe2+) ratios and the Ca contents of plagioclase, and wide variations in the proportions of anorthosite within the Bastard, Merensky, and Merensky Footwall units, are inconsistent with anorthosite formation by simple fractional crystallization of magma batches of limited volume.
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The chemistry and petrogenesis of igneous rocks of the Karoo central area, southern Africa
- Eales, Hugh V, Marsh, Julian S
- Authors: Eales, Hugh V , Marsh, Julian S
- Date: 1984
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/133934 , vital:37042 , https://pascal-francis.inist.fr/vibad/index.php?action=getRecordDetailamp;idt=6519911
- Description: Outcrops of the Jurassic Karoo basalts and dolerites in central South Africa are remnants of an intracratonic continental igneous suite whose volume probably once exceeded 1.5 x 106 km³. Basic rocks with 6-8% MgO, 50-55% Si02 and Mg-number = 53-67 are overwhelmingly dominant in the Central area suite. Application of discriminant analysis to a data set of major and trace element analyses of the basic rocks confirms field and petrographic evidence that a number of compositionally distinct basalt magma types exist in the Central area.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Eales, Hugh V , Marsh, Julian S
- Date: 1984
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/133934 , vital:37042 , https://pascal-francis.inist.fr/vibad/index.php?action=getRecordDetailamp;idt=6519911
- Description: Outcrops of the Jurassic Karoo basalts and dolerites in central South Africa are remnants of an intracratonic continental igneous suite whose volume probably once exceeded 1.5 x 106 km³. Basic rocks with 6-8% MgO, 50-55% Si02 and Mg-number = 53-67 are overwhelmingly dominant in the Central area suite. Application of discriminant analysis to a data set of major and trace element analyses of the basic rocks confirms field and petrographic evidence that a number of compositionally distinct basalt magma types exist in the Central area.
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The Karoo igneous province: an introduction
- Eales, Hugh V, Marsh, Julian S, Cox, K G
- Authors: Eales, Hugh V , Marsh, Julian S , Cox, K G
- Date: 1984
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/133945 , vital:37043 , http://pascal-francis.inist.fr/vibad/index.php?action=getRecordDetailamp;idt=6519910
- Description: The Karoo rocks are amongst the earliest manifestations of igneous activity accompanying the break-up of Gondwanaland during the early Mesozoic. Remnants of the once extensive lava sequence and the associated dolerite sills are found throughout southern Africa south of latitude 150S, the present outcrop being ca. 140,000 km². The main peak of volcanic activity is dated at about 190 m.y. and is probably coincident with the earliest stages of the opening of the Indian Ocean by the separation of Antarctica from southern Africa.
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- Authors: Eales, Hugh V , Marsh, Julian S , Cox, K G
- Date: 1984
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/133945 , vital:37043 , http://pascal-francis.inist.fr/vibad/index.php?action=getRecordDetailamp;idt=6519910
- Description: The Karoo rocks are amongst the earliest manifestations of igneous activity accompanying the break-up of Gondwanaland during the early Mesozoic. Remnants of the once extensive lava sequence and the associated dolerite sills are found throughout southern Africa south of latitude 150S, the present outcrop being ca. 140,000 km². The main peak of volcanic activity is dated at about 190 m.y. and is probably coincident with the earliest stages of the opening of the Indian Ocean by the separation of Antarctica from southern Africa.
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Al/Cr ratios of coexisting pyroxenes and spinellids in some ultramafic rocks
- Eales, Hugh V, Marsh, Julian S
- Authors: Eales, Hugh V , Marsh, Julian S
- Date: 1983
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/133534 , vital:36987 , https://doi.org/10.1016/0009-2541(83)90045-1
- Description: Al/Cr atomic ratios of coexisting spinellids and ortho- and clinopyroxenes show a pattern of sympathetic variation that persists through ultramafic rocks of layered mafic complexes of upper-crustal type, Alpine complexes, and the nodules found in kimberlites and alkaline basalts. Simple expressions are empirically derived to link (Al/Cr) orthopyroxene and (Al/Cr)spinel ratios in putatively equilibrated rocks. Equivalence of spinel compositions in shallow layered complexes and kimberlite nodules of deep-seated origin negates direct crystallochemical control of Al/Cr ratios of spinels by pressure.
- Full Text: false
- Authors: Eales, Hugh V , Marsh, Julian S
- Date: 1983
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/133534 , vital:36987 , https://doi.org/10.1016/0009-2541(83)90045-1
- Description: Al/Cr atomic ratios of coexisting spinellids and ortho- and clinopyroxenes show a pattern of sympathetic variation that persists through ultramafic rocks of layered mafic complexes of upper-crustal type, Alpine complexes, and the nodules found in kimberlites and alkaline basalts. Simple expressions are empirically derived to link (Al/Cr) orthopyroxene and (Al/Cr)spinel ratios in putatively equilibrated rocks. Equivalence of spinel compositions in shallow layered complexes and kimberlite nodules of deep-seated origin negates direct crystallochemical control of Al/Cr ratios of spinels by pressure.
- Full Text: false
Karoo basalts, South Africa: Petrogenesis and the nature of their mantle rocks
- Marsh, Julian S, Eales, Hugh V
- Authors: Marsh, Julian S , Eales, Hugh V
- Date: 1982
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/70141 , vital:29625
- Description: Outcrops of the Jurassic Karoo basalts and dolerites in central South Africa are remnants of a intracratonic continental igneous suite whose volume probably once exceeded 10 6km3.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Marsh, Julian S , Eales, Hugh V
- Date: 1982
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/70141 , vital:29625
- Description: Outcrops of the Jurassic Karoo basalts and dolerites in central South Africa are remnants of a intracratonic continental igneous suite whose volume probably once exceeded 10 6km3.
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High-Mg tholeiitic rocks and their significance in the Karroo Central Province
- Eales, Hugh V, Marsh, Julian S
- Authors: Eales, Hugh V , Marsh, Julian S
- Date: 1979
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/${Handle} , vital:36916 , https://hdl.handle.net/10520/AJA00382353_5039
- Description: Averages for the composition of dolerites from the Southern and Eastern Cape, and the correlative basaltic lavas of the Stormberg, are presented for major elements and 8 of the more significant trace elements. The remarkable correspondence between these averages is indicative of the uniformity in composition of the magma emplaced over a very large area.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Eales, Hugh V , Marsh, Julian S
- Date: 1979
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/${Handle} , vital:36916 , https://hdl.handle.net/10520/AJA00382353_5039
- Description: Averages for the composition of dolerites from the Southern and Eastern Cape, and the correlative basaltic lavas of the Stormberg, are presented for major elements and 8 of the more significant trace elements. The remarkable correspondence between these averages is indicative of the uniformity in composition of the magma emplaced over a very large area.
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Gold fineness in hydrothermal ores : an investigation into the distribution of gold and silver in Southern Rhodesian gold ores
- Authors: Eales, Hugh V
- Date: 1961
- Subjects: Hydrothermal deposits -- Zimbabwe , Gold ores -- Zimbabwe , Silver ores -- Zimbabwe , Silver mines and mining -- Zimbabwe
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:5077 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1014887
- Description: This investigation is concerned with primary variations in the silver content of gold which occurs in hydrothermal deposits, particularly those of hypothermal character which are found in Basement rocks in Southern Rhodesia. The nature of the gold produced by a number of different mines has been studied by reference to production data, and microscope techniques as well as gold and silver assays have been used to determine and to explain the variations in gold fineness. The literature does not contain a great deal of information which is relevant to this topic, but an attempt has been made here to summarize the more important contributions by different writers. From this it emerges that the interpretations given by different investigators are in conflict and that paradoxes may arise when efforts are made to explain observed variations in fineness in terms of certain generalizations which have become entrenched in the literaure. In particular, it is shown that falling temperature alone cannot account for the occurrence of silver-rich gold in certain deposits. The Gwanda district of Southern Rhodesia has been selected as a typical gold belt, and the variation in fineness in 150 producers is described. The deposits are hypothermal in character, and the average fineness of the gold is high but variable, but in a small proportion the fineness is low. It is shown that the nature of the host rock and the distance of a deposit from the granite contact appear to have no influence on the fineness of the gold and that there is no zonal arrangement of fineness values. There is a suggestion that diversity of mineral species in any particular area may be accompanied by rather wide fluctuations in the gold fineness. The variations of fineness in eight typical Southern Rhodesian deposits are studied in detail, by analysis of production data, by assaying specimens of the ore and by the examination of polished specimens of gold-bearing ore. Briefer reference is made to two other deposits in the territory, and to deposits in other countries which appear to bear out the conclusions reached in this section. It emerges that there are two factors which can commonly be correlated with variations in fineness. The first of these is the grade of the ore: high-grade ore generally contains purer gold than low-grade ore. Secondly, the textural evidence indicates that gold which separates relatively early in the paragenesis contains more silver than that which is deposited in the final stages of metallization. A general survey which draws on the literature as well as on the writer's examinations of deposits in the territory indicates that, in general, gold which is associated with late-stage minerals such as tellurides, antimony, bismuth and bismuthinite is silver-poor. Gold associated with galena may be either silver-rich or silver-poor, whereas gold which is of the same age as chalcopyrite or sphalerite is very frequently rich in silver. The difficulty which is encountered in establishing the age of gold which is intimately associated with pyrite and arsenopyrite renders uncertain the correlation between fineness and age of gold in these latter cases. There are, however, indications that gold which is truly contemporaneous with either pyrite or arsenopyrite is silver-rich. In the discussion, the objections to the common practice of singling out temperature as the most potent factor controlling gold fineness are listed. Chief amongst these objections is the fact that gold does not in all deposits increase in fineness with increasing depth: examples are quoted where fineness was found to decrease as deeper levels of the ore body were exploited. It is shown that there is no consistent relationship between the size of gold grains and their silver content. It is the writer's conclusion that in hydrothermal deposits in this territory the high fineness of the gold is due to increasing solubility of silver in the ore fluids in the late states, and that where hydrothermal deposits are characterized by gold with low average fineness, an unusually large proportion of the gold has been deposited early in the paragenotic sequence. In the majority of hypothermal deposits, however, the bulk of tho gold separates late in the sequence and the fineness is accordingly high. It is believed that the relationship which exists between fineness and tenor in many deposits is due to protracted crystallization of gold in those portions of the ore body which remained permeable to the latest stages. These portions of the ore body, which represent either valuable ore shoots or ore shoots in miniature, are likely to contain gold of variable character, but the average silver content will be low because a large proportion of the gold is "late" gold. The factors which might cause epithermal gold to have a lower fineness than mesothermal or hypothermal gold are briefly discussed. Some possible applications of this study are indicated in the final chapter. It is claimed that records of gold fineness might constitute a valuable addition to mill records. Tentative suggestions are made regarding a method whereby the approaching exhaustion of a deposit might in some cases be predicted. With regard to the origin of the gold in the Witwatersrand sediments, it is pointed out that the modified placer hypothesis is not fully equipped to explain certain of the variations in the composition of the gold.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Eales, Hugh V
- Date: 1961
- Subjects: Hydrothermal deposits -- Zimbabwe , Gold ores -- Zimbabwe , Silver ores -- Zimbabwe , Silver mines and mining -- Zimbabwe
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:5077 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1014887
- Description: This investigation is concerned with primary variations in the silver content of gold which occurs in hydrothermal deposits, particularly those of hypothermal character which are found in Basement rocks in Southern Rhodesia. The nature of the gold produced by a number of different mines has been studied by reference to production data, and microscope techniques as well as gold and silver assays have been used to determine and to explain the variations in gold fineness. The literature does not contain a great deal of information which is relevant to this topic, but an attempt has been made here to summarize the more important contributions by different writers. From this it emerges that the interpretations given by different investigators are in conflict and that paradoxes may arise when efforts are made to explain observed variations in fineness in terms of certain generalizations which have become entrenched in the literaure. In particular, it is shown that falling temperature alone cannot account for the occurrence of silver-rich gold in certain deposits. The Gwanda district of Southern Rhodesia has been selected as a typical gold belt, and the variation in fineness in 150 producers is described. The deposits are hypothermal in character, and the average fineness of the gold is high but variable, but in a small proportion the fineness is low. It is shown that the nature of the host rock and the distance of a deposit from the granite contact appear to have no influence on the fineness of the gold and that there is no zonal arrangement of fineness values. There is a suggestion that diversity of mineral species in any particular area may be accompanied by rather wide fluctuations in the gold fineness. The variations of fineness in eight typical Southern Rhodesian deposits are studied in detail, by analysis of production data, by assaying specimens of the ore and by the examination of polished specimens of gold-bearing ore. Briefer reference is made to two other deposits in the territory, and to deposits in other countries which appear to bear out the conclusions reached in this section. It emerges that there are two factors which can commonly be correlated with variations in fineness. The first of these is the grade of the ore: high-grade ore generally contains purer gold than low-grade ore. Secondly, the textural evidence indicates that gold which separates relatively early in the paragenesis contains more silver than that which is deposited in the final stages of metallization. A general survey which draws on the literature as well as on the writer's examinations of deposits in the territory indicates that, in general, gold which is associated with late-stage minerals such as tellurides, antimony, bismuth and bismuthinite is silver-poor. Gold associated with galena may be either silver-rich or silver-poor, whereas gold which is of the same age as chalcopyrite or sphalerite is very frequently rich in silver. The difficulty which is encountered in establishing the age of gold which is intimately associated with pyrite and arsenopyrite renders uncertain the correlation between fineness and age of gold in these latter cases. There are, however, indications that gold which is truly contemporaneous with either pyrite or arsenopyrite is silver-rich. In the discussion, the objections to the common practice of singling out temperature as the most potent factor controlling gold fineness are listed. Chief amongst these objections is the fact that gold does not in all deposits increase in fineness with increasing depth: examples are quoted where fineness was found to decrease as deeper levels of the ore body were exploited. It is shown that there is no consistent relationship between the size of gold grains and their silver content. It is the writer's conclusion that in hydrothermal deposits in this territory the high fineness of the gold is due to increasing solubility of silver in the ore fluids in the late states, and that where hydrothermal deposits are characterized by gold with low average fineness, an unusually large proportion of the gold has been deposited early in the paragenotic sequence. In the majority of hypothermal deposits, however, the bulk of tho gold separates late in the sequence and the fineness is accordingly high. It is believed that the relationship which exists between fineness and tenor in many deposits is due to protracted crystallization of gold in those portions of the ore body which remained permeable to the latest stages. These portions of the ore body, which represent either valuable ore shoots or ore shoots in miniature, are likely to contain gold of variable character, but the average silver content will be low because a large proportion of the gold is "late" gold. The factors which might cause epithermal gold to have a lower fineness than mesothermal or hypothermal gold are briefly discussed. Some possible applications of this study are indicated in the final chapter. It is claimed that records of gold fineness might constitute a valuable addition to mill records. Tentative suggestions are made regarding a method whereby the approaching exhaustion of a deposit might in some cases be predicted. With regard to the origin of the gold in the Witwatersrand sediments, it is pointed out that the modified placer hypothesis is not fully equipped to explain certain of the variations in the composition of the gold.
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The petrology of the Khale dolerite sheet
- Authors: Eales, Hugh V
- Date: 1953
- Subjects: Petrology -- Botswana , Diabase -- Botswana
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5076 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1014853
- Description: In the hills and in the plain of the Khale area are exposed two sheets of quartz-dolerite, the upper sheet being locally mushroom-shaped. The rock corresponds loosely with the Downes mountain type of dolorite, and contains numerous horizons of coarse-grained dolorite-pegmatite. The plagioclase felspars are described with special reference to the variation of grain-size, the features of zoned crystals, and the possible causes of a peculiar brown clouding in the basic zones of the crystals. Phenocrysts of augite and pigeonite, as well as plagioclase are recorded in the chilled contact rock. The micrometric data indicate that the mineral composition of the specimens is largely governed by the oxidation state of the iron, and that the Soret effect has caused the marginal rock to be enriched in basic elements. Hydrothermal veinlets composed largely of chlorite occur in both the dolorite and the country rock, and evidence suggests that veins of both residual material and mobilised granite occur in the upper finer-grained dolorite.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Eales, Hugh V
- Date: 1953
- Subjects: Petrology -- Botswana , Diabase -- Botswana
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5076 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1014853
- Description: In the hills and in the plain of the Khale area are exposed two sheets of quartz-dolerite, the upper sheet being locally mushroom-shaped. The rock corresponds loosely with the Downes mountain type of dolorite, and contains numerous horizons of coarse-grained dolorite-pegmatite. The plagioclase felspars are described with special reference to the variation of grain-size, the features of zoned crystals, and the possible causes of a peculiar brown clouding in the basic zones of the crystals. Phenocrysts of augite and pigeonite, as well as plagioclase are recorded in the chilled contact rock. The micrometric data indicate that the mineral composition of the specimens is largely governed by the oxidation state of the iron, and that the Soret effect has caused the marginal rock to be enriched in basic elements. Hydrothermal veinlets composed largely of chlorite occur in both the dolorite and the country rock, and evidence suggests that veins of both residual material and mobilised granite occur in the upper finer-grained dolorite.
- Full Text:
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