You need JavaScript to view this

Sedimentology and economic potential of a storm-derived heavy-mineral deposit in the Witteberg group, Cape Province

Abstract

Two heavy-mineral-bearing, very fine-grained sandstone beds occur in the upper part of the Weltevrede Formation of the Witteberg Group, 35 km east-north-east of Willowmore, Cape Province. The beds are located within a 10-m-thick stratigraphic interval approximately 100 m below the base of the Witpoort Formation. The beds are amalgamated and consist of up to 5 units, each representing deposition from a storm-surge ebb current. Nine samples taken from the upper bed and one from the lower were analysed for heavy-mineral content. In order of decreasing abundance the heavy-minerals are rutile, zircon, ilmenite, magnetite, monazite, staurolite and sphene. The zircon contains uranium and the monazite is thorium bearing. Simple linear regression analysis of three elements, three oxides, the heavy mineral fraction and the radiometric response indicate that the proportion of heavy minerals does not vary significantly between samples and that the radiometric response of the beds (determined with a portable gamma-ray scintillometer) is directly related to the heavy mineral content. The heavy minerals are concentrated in the upper 20 cm of each bed where deposition from suspension, during the final phase of storm activity, was predominant. Significant concentrations are limited to the upper bed.
Publication Date:
Jun 01, 1982
Product Type:
Technical Report
Report Number:
GSO-1982-0084
Reference Number:
AIX-15-063800; EDB-85-010926
Resource Relation:
Other Information: Open file 249
Subject:
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS; 58 GEOSCIENCES; THORIUM; GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS; RADIOMETRIC SURVEYS; URANIUM DEPOSITS; GEOCHEMISTRY; MONAZITES; RARE EARTHS; RUTILE; SANDSTONES; SEDIMENTATION; ZIRCON; ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS; ACTINIDES; CHALCOGENIDES; CHEMISTRY; ELEMENTS; GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS; MATERIALS; METALS; MINERAL RESOURCES; MINERALS; OXIDE MINERALS; OXIDES; OXYGEN COMPOUNDS; PHOSPHATES; PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS; RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS; RADIOACTIVE MINERALS; RARE EARTH COMPOUNDS; RESOURCES; ROCKS; SEDIMENTARY ROCKS; SILICATE MINERALS; SILICATES; SILICON COMPOUNDS; SURVEYS; THORIUM COMPOUNDS; THORIUM MINERALS; THORIUM PHOSPHATES; TITANIUM COMPOUNDS; TITANIUM OXIDES; TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS; ZIRCONIUM COMPOUNDS; ZIRCONIUM SILICATES; 050100* - Nuclear Fuels- Reserves, Exploration, & Mining; 580100 - Geology & Hydrology- (-1989)
OSTI ID:
6288304
Research Organizations:
Department of Mineral and Energy Affairs, Pretoria (South Africa). Geological Survey
Country of Origin:
South Africa
Language:
English
Availability:
Geological Survey, Private Bag X112, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa.
Submitting Site:
INIS
Size:
Pages: 42
Announcement Date:
May 13, 2001

Citation Formats

Cole, D I, and Labuschagne, L S. Sedimentology and economic potential of a storm-derived heavy-mineral deposit in the Witteberg group, Cape Province. South Africa: N. p., 1982. Web.
Cole, D I, & Labuschagne, L S. Sedimentology and economic potential of a storm-derived heavy-mineral deposit in the Witteberg group, Cape Province. South Africa.
Cole, D I, and Labuschagne, L S. 1982. "Sedimentology and economic potential of a storm-derived heavy-mineral deposit in the Witteberg group, Cape Province." South Africa.
@misc{etde_6288304,
title = {Sedimentology and economic potential of a storm-derived heavy-mineral deposit in the Witteberg group, Cape Province}
author = {Cole, D I, and Labuschagne, L S}
abstractNote = {Two heavy-mineral-bearing, very fine-grained sandstone beds occur in the upper part of the Weltevrede Formation of the Witteberg Group, 35 km east-north-east of Willowmore, Cape Province. The beds are located within a 10-m-thick stratigraphic interval approximately 100 m below the base of the Witpoort Formation. The beds are amalgamated and consist of up to 5 units, each representing deposition from a storm-surge ebb current. Nine samples taken from the upper bed and one from the lower were analysed for heavy-mineral content. In order of decreasing abundance the heavy-minerals are rutile, zircon, ilmenite, magnetite, monazite, staurolite and sphene. The zircon contains uranium and the monazite is thorium bearing. Simple linear regression analysis of three elements, three oxides, the heavy mineral fraction and the radiometric response indicate that the proportion of heavy minerals does not vary significantly between samples and that the radiometric response of the beds (determined with a portable gamma-ray scintillometer) is directly related to the heavy mineral content. The heavy minerals are concentrated in the upper 20 cm of each bed where deposition from suspension, during the final phase of storm activity, was predominant. Significant concentrations are limited to the upper bed.}
place = {South Africa}
year = {1982}
month = {Jun}
}