A research report submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science by Coursework and Research Report. Johannesburg, March 2016. / A vegetation survey was carried out in July 2014 on the substrates of 5 tailings dams by selecting 10 sampling sites which were previously used as sampling plots during the 1996/97 survey of Weiersbye et al. (2006). At each sampling site a 100m transect horizontally across the substrate and covering all levels of the tailings dam from the flat top to the toe paddock was established. Each transect was surveyed for the frequency of the species occurring and these were categorized based on their mode of colonization (natural, intentionally introduced and persisting) while tailings were collected by digging approximately 20cm into the ground for soil sample collection per substrate. The recorded species were then divided using Raunkier’s classification categories into growth forms and a comparison was done between the two surveys (2014 versus 1996/7) to identify the species that were lost, those that were still persisting and the new ones that had colonized over time. A total of 51 species (over 15ha) in 36 genera within 14 families were recorded on the tailings dams, compared to 168 species (over 765ha), 98 genera and 59 families found in the previous study. Families with the most species in 2014 were similar to those of the 1996/97 survey, following the dominance order of Poaceae >Asteraceae >Fabaceae >Anacardiaceae, with the percentage frequency of grasses (Poaceae) noted to have almost doubled over this period. Compared to 6 species common across the substrates in the previous study, the later survey recorded 12 common species (6 of the species occurring on all substrates) but overall both studies found vegetation cover to be high (above 65%) on flat tops and berms with species richness being high on the toe paddock>slopes>tops and berms and substrates susceptible to low nutritional (N,P,K,C) value. Indigenous plant species (54.9%) were dominating the tailing dams and were mostly perennials (82.3%) that were naturally colonizing and persisting (72.5%) on the tailings dams (similar to the 1996/97 survey), while alien (45.1%) plant species comprised annuals/biennials (17.7%) that were intentionally introduced (27.5%) prior to the 1996/97 survey by contractors. The ceased ameliorative initiatives since the first survey are believed to have significantly contributed to a decrease in herbaceous species richness, which formed the majority of the introduced species in the former survey (58.8% compared to 29.4%) as they depended on the supplementary additions of fertilizers and lime. Approximately 117 species, 62 genera and 45 families (including Chenopodiaceae, which was dominant) were lost over the 17 years period, the majority of these were introduced prior to the 1996/97 vegetation survey, while only Ficus sp. was the only new species colonizing apart from the increase noted in alien species (some invasive in nature). The decrease in species richness has encouraged woody and semi-woody (35.3%) and grasses (35.3%) to dominate the slimes reaffirming their potential as temporal and long term rehabilitation species that have developed physiological tolerance to acidic conditions, salinity and heavy metal pollution. In conclusion, this study has identified the species that can be used for phytoremediation to provide long terms solutions for dust, air and water pollution and soil erosion suppression for rehabilitation of these contaminated lands (Appendix 8). The survey also helps to identify species that are able to naturally colonize and persist on the tailings dams without supplements, making them ideal economic species to use for rehabilitation. Results also highlight the negative impacts of the lack of ameliorative supplementations, which in turn affects the floristic composition and structure on these tailings dams over time. Keywords: Aerial cover, Macronutrients, Tailings dams, Species richness, Tailings Storage Facilities (TSFs) and Vegetation survey / LG2017

M.Sc. / The Dabolava region is an area of approximately 600 km2 and is situated on the western edge of the Precambrian in west-central Madagascar. The geology mainly consists of Proterozoic amphibolite facies metavolcanic rocks, inter-layered with minor metasedimentary rocks, crosscut by granodioritic to gabbroic plutons. The country rocks of the granodiorite and gabbroic plutons are composed of 50% amphibolites, 30% quartzofeldspathic gneisses and 20% metasedimentary rocks, mainly carbonates. The amphibolites consist dominantly of hornblende with plagioclase and minor quartz groundmass, although orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene, chlorite, and biotite are present in certain samples. They have tholeiitic affinities and may have been derived from basaltic lavas. They contain felsic segregations of tonalitic composition that possibly represent migmatitic leucosomes, with hornblende concentrated in associated melanosomes. The amphibolites are highly deformed compared to the plutonic rocks. Meta-quartzofeldspathic rocks of dominant rhyolitic compositions are interlayered within the amphibolites; these may represent felsic volcanics coeval with the metabasalt. Metamorphosed carbonates are also interlayered within the amphibolites. This assemblage of supracrustal rocks is intruded by Neoproterozoic granitoid and gabbroic plutons, and granodiorite dykes. The composition of the majority of the plutons in the area of study is mainly granodioritic, with minor quartz diorite and quartz monzodiorite. They are metaluminous and contain quartz, plagioclase, with minor K-feldspar (microcline); biotite and hornblende constitute the ferromagnesian minerals. The granodiorites have a prominent foliation defined by biotite and hornblende. According to their chemical and mineralogical composition, the granodiorites are classified as I-type in origin. Gold mineralization is associated with the Neoproterozoic granodiorite plutons, mainly the Dabolava and the Ambatomiefy plutons. It is hosted within quartz veins that are generally oriented parallel to the foliation of the host rock. A limited degree of alteration is observed within the granodiorite, with the alteration assemblages consisting of biotite, pseudomorphic chlorite, calcite, and sericite. Gold is associated with hydrothermal biotite and sulphide assemblages consist of pyrrhotite, arsenopyrite with minor pyrite and chalcopyrite, magnetite and ilmenite. The chemistry of analysed gold grains from the Dabolava pluton shows that they mainly consist of 95-97% gold with the remainder composed of Ag, Hg and Cu. A gold concentration of up to 2232 ppm was observed in one of the gold excavations within the Ambatomiefy pluton. Microthermometric studies reveal three fluid types, including a high salinity fluid (type 4), a CO2-rich fluid (type 1-a), and an aqueous type (type 3). It is suggested that the CO2-rich and high salinity fluids were exsolved from the magma. With decreasing temperature a low salinity CO2-H2O-NaCl fluid (type 1-b, type 2) (Th ranges from ~ 220-350° C) resulted from heterogeneous mixting of a CO2-rich fluid and a low salinity aqueous fluid. Therefore, fluid inclusion studies indicate a magmatic origin of the mineralizing fluid(s). A porphyry-type deposit is suggested for the gold mineralization in the study area, as it is associated with I-type granitoid plutons, the mineralizing fluid (s) are of magmatic origin, and gold is associated with chalcopyrite, albeit in minor amounts. Based on the rock associations observed in the field, which consist of metabasalts interlayered with minor coeval metarhyolite, with associated intrusive plutonic rocks, as well as trace element discrimination diagrams, an active continental margin tectonic setting is inferred for the rocks in the study area. Two samples from the granodiorite plutons and one sample from a gabbro body were dated using U-Pb single zircon geochronology. A sample from the Ambatomiefy pluton yielded an age of ~1002±3 Ma, which is interpreted to represent the crystallization age of the pluton. The Dabolava pluton has also been dated, and a similar age of 1008 Ma has been obtained. A gabbro sample from a smaller mafic body in the area has been dated at 982±2 Ma. This defines a ~26 m.y. period of Neoproterozoic magmatic activity. An age of 982.3±2 .9 was also reported from a gabbro body located in the southern part of Madagascar (Amborompotsy-Ikalamavony). These provide evidence of the presence of 1000 Ma magmatic activity in Madagascar. The extent and the significance of this magmatic event are not yet understood although it could be related to the Mesoproterozoic event associated with the assembly of the supercontinent Rodinia. The identification of granitoids of similar age and character in Madagascar and within Gondwana has economic significance regarding the potential of these granitoids for porphyry-type gold mineralization. Therefore, this is useful for future gold exploration.