Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / The Platreef is a platinum group elements (PGE) deposit located in the Northern limb of the Bushveld Igneous Complex (BIC). It is a series of mafic and ultramafic sills that are overlain by rocks from the Main Zone (MZ) of the BIC. In comparison to PGE deposits (i.e., Merensky Reef and the UG-2 chromitite) occurring in the Critical Zone (CZ) of the Eastern and Western Limbs of the BIC, which are less than 1 m in thickness, the Platreef is 10 to 400 m in thickness and is comprised of a variety of rocks. PGE mineralisation in the Platreef is not confined to a specific rock type, and its distribution and styles also vary with depth and along strike. Despite the numerous researches that have been conducted, the genesis of Platreef is still poorly understood. New major and trace elements in conjunction with Sr–Nd isotope data, generated from whole-rock analyses of different Platreef rocks, were collected from four drill cores along its strike. The data were examined to determine the source of the magmas and identify the processes involved in its genesis. The study also aimed at establishing whether a genetic link exists between the Platreef magmas and the magmas that formed the Lower Zone (LZ), CZ and MZ in the Rustenburg Layered Suite (RLS) of the BIC. The petrography revealed that the Platreef in the four drill cores consists of harzburgite, olivine pyroxenite, pyroxenite, feldspathic pyroxenite and norite. Based on the textural and modal mineralogy variations, feldspathic pyroxenite was subdivided into five types (I, II, III, IV and V). The variation in the average contents of MgO, LaN/YbN and ΣREE for the Platreef rocks are consistent with the modal mineralogy from the least to the most differentiated rocks. However, the Sr–Nd isotope data of the Platreef rocks have revealed two distinct groups of samples with decreasing ɛNd2060. Group 1 consists of pyroxenite and feldspathic pyroxenite II, III and V having ɛNd2060 values that range from –8.4 to –2.9, and 87Sr/86Sr2060 values from 0.707281 to 0.712106. The Platreef rocks of group 2 consist of olivine pyroxenite and feldspathic pyroxenite Type I with ɛNd2060 ranging from –12.6 to –10.8, and 87Sr/86Sr2060 ranging from 0.707545 to 0.710042. In comparison to the LZ, CZ and MZ rocks, which have ɛNd values ranging from –8.5 to –5.1, and 87Sr/86Sr ranging from 0.704400 to 0.709671, Platreef pyroxenite of group 1 have lower negative ɛNd2060 values (from –3.8 to –2.9) and higher 87Sr/86Sr2060 values from 0.709177 to 0.710492, whereas feldspathic pyroxenite of group 1 have overlapping ɛNd2060 values (from –8.4 to –4.9) but also higher 87Sr/86Sr2060 values (from 0.707281 to 0.712106). Instead, the Platreef olivine pyroxenite and feldspathic pyroxenite in group 2 highly negative ɛNd2060 values and overlapping 87Sr/86Sr2060 values. It is therefore suggested that the Platreef magmas derived from the partial melting of an heterogeneous mantle source comprising depleted mantle melts and both metasomatized slightly unradiogenic Nd enriched melts and highly unradiogenic Nd enriched melts from the subcontinental lithospheric mantle. These magmas ascended via the continental crust using different paths and interacted with rocks of different Sr–Nd isotopic compositions which resulted in the formation the hybrid magmas. The study speculates that sulphide saturation in the Platreef magmas was reached in the staging chambers at depth, and the varying styles of the PGE mineralisation in the Platreef rocks are the result of the varying degree of partial melting of the heterogeneous source for their magmas. In conlusion, this study suggests that the genesis of the Platreef is much more complex and should be considered very much independent from processes involved in the genesis of the RLS in the Eastern and Western Limbs of BIC in agreement with earlier studies. / NRF Inkaba ye Africa Iphakade / 2020-08-31

As intrusões Indaiá I e II (também referidas como Perdizes 3-A e 3-B) são corpos intrusivos hipoabissais ultrabásicos de pequeno porte, associados ao magmatismo cretácico da Província Alcalina Alto Paranaíba, oeste do Estado de Minas Gerais. Esta dissertação de mestrado objetivou compreender a gênese e processos de evolução relacionados a intrusão Indaiá II, cuja classificação ambígua entre kimberlito e kamafugito dividiu autores em trabalhos anteriores.. Também buscou-se discutir a possível vinculação genética com a intrusão vizinha, Indaiá I. Para tanto, foram realizadas novas análises petrográficas, geoquímicas e isotópicas de rocha total, e química mineral. A intrusão principal (Indaiá I) é classificada como um kimberlito do Grupo I. Já a intrusão satélite (Indaiá II) distingue-se quimicamente e petrograficamente, possuindo uma composição ultrapotássica, similar à kamafugítica, e apresenta menor concentração de macrocristais de olivina, diopsídio como o principal constituinte da matriz ( e não a monticellita como Indaiá I) e possui uma presença abundante de microenclaves félsicos. Estes enclaves apresentam estrutura estirada, e são constituídos principalmente por kalsilita/ nefelina, vidro devitrificado, diopsídio e flogopita. A presença de texturas sugestivas de desequilíbrio físico-químico como embayment e sieve em grãos de olivina e clinopiroxênio em Indaiá II são indicativas de processos de sistema aberto. A abundância de diopsídio na matriz e a substituição de olivina por clinopiroxênio nas bordas de macrocristais e microcristais apontam para um aumento da atividade de sílica no decorrer do processo de cristalização. A alta proporção de xenólitos crustais na rocha, totalmente transformados ou com evidências de fusão parcial, e a presença de apatitas aciculares nas suas cercanias, indicam a operação de um processo de contaminação crustal. Novos dados de química mineral e litogeoquímica de elementos maiores e traços corroboram esse processo. Os trends composicionais de minerais como espinélio e flogopita são bastante similares a ocorrências de kimberlitos contaminados registrados na literatura. Além disso, amostras de Indaiá II apresentam elevado C.I. (Contamination Index, 2,12-2,25), maior percentual de SiO2, K2O e maior razão Rb/Sr que a intrusão principal. Modelos de contaminação crustal foram efetuados a partir da mistura do fundido de Indaiá I e do fundido das rochas granitoides encaixantes. Os fundidos de Indaiá I e II foram obtidos pela extração do volume dos núcleos de macrocristais de olivina, considerados xenocristais em ambas as ocorrências, das análises de rocha total. A quantidade de olivina foi obtida através de análises modais, e a composição considerada foi obtida através de uma média das análises pontuais de microssonda eletrônica e LA-ICP-MS. O fundido da encaixante foi estimado utilizando-se as análises de rocha-total das encaixantes crustais da área e calculando-se um fundido parcial desta rocha a 750ºC e pressões entre 1-5Kbar com o software RhyoliteMelts (para elementos maiores). A composição de elementos-traço do fundido foi modelada por balanço de massa, a partir de coeficientes de partição compilados da literatura e a proporção de minerais no resíduo sólido obtida dos modelos por elementos maiores. Curvas de mistura entre elementos maiores e traços também parecem confirmar o processo. Novos dados isotópicos de 87Sr/86Sr e 143Nd/144Nd foram obtidos para estas intrusões, como também para a encaixante local. Curvas de mixing isotópico foram feitas para tentar estabelecer a quantidade de contribuição crustal nos magmas de Indaiá II. Nestes modelos, as amostras de Indaiá II ajustam-se concordantemente às curvas de mistura entre os polos de Indaiá I e da encaixante. Concluimos que: 1) a intrusão Indaiá II representaria uma intrusão kimberlítica altamente contaminada, 2) a contaminação provavelmente ocorreu pela assimilação de fundidos anatéticos oriundos das principais rochas encaixantes crustais da área, 3) que Indaiá I e Indaiá II poderiam ter um mesmo magma progenitor, mas com diferentes graus de contaminação crustal. / The intrusions Indaiá I and II (also referred as Perdizes 3-A and 3-B) are hypoabissal ultrabasic bodies of small size associated with the Cretaceous magmatism of the Alto Paranaiba Alkaline Province, west of the Minas Gerais state. This master\'s dissertation aimed a better understanding of the genesis and the evolution processes related to the Indaiá II intrusion, whose ambiguous classification between kimberlite and kamafugite divided the authors of former works. Also, it is discussed the possible genetic linkage of Indaiá II with the neighbor intrusion, Indaiá I. For this purpose, new petrographic, whole rock geochemical, isotopic and mineral chemistry analyses were made. The main intrusion (Indaiá I) was classified as a group-I kimberlite. The satellite intrusion, Indaiá II, is petrographically and chemically distinct of the main one, having a ultrapotassic composition, similar to those of kamafugites, and presenting lower volumes of olivine macrocrysts, diopside as the main matrix phase (instead of monticellite as found in Indaiá I), and an abundant presence of felsic microenclaves. These enclaves present elongated structure and they mainly have kalsilite, devitrified glass, diopside and phlogopite. The presence of textures indicative of physical-chemical disequilibrium, such as embayment and sieve in olivine and clinopyroxene grains from Indaiá II are indicative of an open system process. The high amounts of diopside in the matrix and the substitution of the rims of olivine macro- and microcrysts by clinopyroxene point to an increase in the silica activity during the crystallization. The high proportion of crustal xenoliths in the rocks, most of these totally transformed or with evidences with partial melt, and the presence of acicular apatite in their border regions, indicate the action of crustal contamination processes. New mineral chemistry and whole rock geochemical (major and trace elements) data corroborate this process. The spinel and phlogopite compositional trends are very similar with those from contaminated kimberlitic occurrences registered in the literature. Moreover, samples from Indaiá II have high Contamination Index (C.I., 2.12-2.25), greater amounts of SiO2, K2O and higher Rb/Sr ratios than those from the main intrusion. Crustal contamination models were developed considering a mixing between the melt of Indaiá I and the partial melt of the granitoid host rocks of the area. The composition of melts from Indaiá I and II were calculated by the extraction of the amount of the cores of olivine macrocrysts, considered xenocrysts in both occurrences, from the whole-rock compositions. The amount of olivines was taken from modal concentrations and the considered composition was obtained by the average of electron microprobe and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA ICP-MS) analyses. The major element composition of the partial melt of the host rock was estimated using the algorithm RhyoliteMelts. For these models, we considered the whole-rock compositions of the main host rocks of the area and used 750ºC and 1-5Kbar. The trace element composition of the host rock partial melts was modeled by mass balance calculations, using partition coefficients from the literature and the proportion of minerals in the solid residue obtained for the major element models. After the calculation of these liquid compositions, mixing curve models using major and trace element compositions were made and they are concordant with the crustal contamination processes. New 87Sr/86Sr and 143Nd/144Nd isotopic data were obtained for Indaiá I and II intrusions, as well as for the local host rock. Isotopic mixing curves were also made trying to constrain the amount of crustal contribution in Indaiá II magmas. In these models, Indaiá II samples fit concordantly with the mixing curves having Indaiá I and the host rock ratios as the main poles. We conclude that 1) Indaiá II is representative of a highly contaminated kimberlitic intrusion, 2) the contamination possibly occurred by the assimilation of the anatetic melts from the main crustal host rocks of this area and 3) that Indaiá I and Indaiá II could have the same parent melt, but with different degrees of crustal contamination.

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. Johannesburg, 2017. / Massif-type anorthosites formed in the Proterozoic Eon are the most voluminous anorthosite occurrences on Earth, reaching tens of thousands of square kilometers in aerial extent. While they formed throughout the Proterozoic, most formed during a 700 Ma period between 1800 and 1100 Ma. The rocks are dominated by plagioclase (typically 70 – 95 volume %) of intermediate composition (An40-65). Olivine, orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene and Fe-Ti oxides make up the minor mafic proportion. While most researchers agree that the anorthosites formed from a high-alumina basaltic parental magma, there are disparate views on how that parental magma was generated. Whether the parental magma formed by partial melting of the lower crust, or by mantle melting, is a topic of much debate. The anorthosites commonly have crust-like isotopic signatures, but this could be produced by melting of the lower crust, or by crustal contamination of mantle-derived magmas. Many Proterozoic anorthosite complexes consist of both olivine-bearing and orthopyroxene-bearing anorthosites. This has been attributed to variable amounts of crustal contamination of mantle-derived magmas, based on evidence from isotopes and field relations. While geochemical and petrologic evidence for crustal contamination is plentiful, existing experimental work shows that a thermal divide exists for high-alumina basalts fractionating at lower crustal depths, casting doubts on whether fractionation of a mantle melt could produce anorthosite. Here I use high-pressure experiments to test whether the fractionation of high-alumina basalt can form anorthosites, and to what extent crustal contamination affects the fractionation sequence. The results are compared to new geochemical and petrologic data from the Kunene Anorthosite Complex (KAC), in Angola and Namibia. The KAC is one of the largest anorthosite complexes in the world, with an area of ~18 000 km2. The KAC (1438 – 1319 Ma) has an elongate shape and intruded into Palaeoproterozoic to Mesoproterozoic country rocks (~2200 to 1635 Ma) at the southern margin of the Congo craton. It is associated with a suite of granitoid rocks of variable composition, which are akin to the granitoids associated with nearly all Proterozoic anorthosites. The granitoids have been shown to be coeval with the anorthosites, but were from a chemically independent magma series. The most distinctive granitoids in the KAC are the Red Granites, which outcrop around the southern margins of the complex, and also cross-cut the complex in a NE-SW linear belt, dividing the complex roughly into northern and southern domains. The rocks of the KAC are highly variable in terms of mode, mineral chemistry, and texture, but there is a general trend of more olivine-bearing anorthosites north of the granite belt, and orthopyroxene-bearing anorthosites to the south. The olivine-bearing rocks (or leucotroctolites) typically contain plagioclase and cumulus and/or intercumulus olivine, with lesser interstitial orthopyroxene and/or clinopyroxene, Fe-Ti oxides, and biotite. The orthopyroxene-bearing anorthosites (or leuconorites) contain cumulus plagioclase ± cumulus orthopyroxene, and interstitial orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene, oxides and biotite. The leucotroctolites are characterized by more calcic plagioclase (An56-75), while the leuconorites contain more intermediate plagioclase (An48-56). The variability of the rocks across the complex suggests that the KAC consists of several coalesced plutons with different histories. The petrologic data and field observations in this study are consistent with the leuconorites of the complex being derived from a mantle-derived magma that experienced contamination by silica-rich rocks, crystallizing orthopyroxene rather than olivine, and less calcic plagioclase. The leucotroctolites experienced less or no contamination. To test whether the mineral dichotomy and the variations in plagioclase chemistry observed in Proterozoic anorthosites are due to variably contaminated mantle-derived magma, piston cylinder experiments were conducted on a synthetic high-alumina basalt (HAB) composition, as well as a mixture of this HAB with 30% of a Red Granite composition. Experiments were conducted at 10 kbar, to simulate the depth at which anorthosite differentiation most likely begins (based on Al-in-orthopyroxene geobarometry of highly aluminous orthopyroxene megacrysts that occur in many massifs). The uncontaminated experiments produced olivine as the first liquidus phase, followed by plagioclase (An65-68), and then by clinopyroxene, pigeonite and ilmenite at progressively lower temperatures. Residual liquids evolve towards more silica-rich compositions with decreasing temperature. The contamination experiments produced liquidus orthopyroxene, followed by plagioclase (An51-56), and then by pigeonite at lower temperatures. The experiments show that contamination of a primitive HAB magma by granitic material, most likely produced by partial melting of the lower crust during anorthosite formation, can shift the mineral assemblages of the crystallizing anorthosite from olivinebearing to orthopyroxene-bearing, and produce less calcic plagioclase than the uncontaminated HAB magma. This could explain the observation of olivine-bearing and orthopyroxene-bearing anorthosites in the KAC and many other Proterozoic anorthosites. Previous high-pressure experimental studies, using a slightly more evolved HAB composition, indicated the presence of a thermal divide, which causes liquids to evolve to more Si-poor compositions. The experimental results presented in this study however, do not show a thermal divide, indicating that small variations in experimental starting composition can cause large differences in the liquid line of descent. The results of this study indicate that partial melting of the mantle can produce anorthosite parental magmas, and that the range in mineral assemblages of the anorthosites can be accounted for by crustal contamination of a mantle-derived magma. Fractionation of the experimental starting compositions was also modeled using the MELTS algorithm. These calculations produce a close match to the experimental liquid trends. This allows for modeling of a variety of compositional and environmental variables. The MELTS modeling shows that as little as 10% contamination of HAB magma with a granitic composition may position the magma in the orthopyroxene stability field, forming orthopyroxene-bearing anorthosites. The modeling also shows that a variety of silica-rich contaminants, including granites, granodiorites and tonalities, produce similar results and liquid evolution trends, so a range of granitoid compositions may successfully produce the shift in mineral assemblages of the anorthosites. This suggests that crustal contamination of mantle-derived HAB could be a widespread process and the primary mechanism that produces the distinctive crust-like signatures in Proterozoic anorthosites. In summary, the mineralogical and chemical diversity observed in Proterozoic anorthosites can be produced by variable amounts of crustal contamination of mantle-derived, highalumina basaltic magma. The experimental results in this study combined with field observations, and geochemical and isotopic data, provide evidence for a model of massif-type anorthosite petrogenesis. Orthopyroxene-bearing rocks formed from an originally highalumina basaltic magma that experienced contamination by granitic partial melts of the lower crust, during ponding of the magma at the Moho. This process preconditioned the surrounding crust and possibly prevented further anatexis. Following emplacement of orthopyroxene-bearing anorthosites, subsequent magma pulses ponded at the Moho did not assimilate any/as much granitic material, as they were interacting with preconditioned crust, and formed olivine-bearing anorthosites. With better constraints on the parental magma composition, magma source, and crustal contamination processes, addressing aspects such as the tectonic setting and emplacement mechanisms of these massive intrusions should be prioritized. Understanding these enigmatic aspects of anorthosite petrogenesis is leading the anorthosite community towards answering the ultimate questions of why massif-type anorthosites are restricted to the Proterozoic. / XL2018

No description available.

A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of PhD in Geology< University of the Witwatersrand. / Numerous small base-metal deposits occur in the acidic rocks of the Bushveld Complex, and modern exploration programs are currently re-examining this metallotect in an attempt to refine the current working hypothesis for mineralisation in these granites. The hypothesis proposed for the origin of mineralisation is multifaceted, encompassing both spatial and temporal relationships between at least three episodes of ore formation. The first episode of mineralisation (typified by the Zaaiplaats tin deposit) occurred at relatively high temperatures (>600'C to 4000' C), and resulted in the formation of orthomagmatic cassiterite, scheelite and an early generation of fluorite. At lower temperatures (200°C<T<400°C), where processes were essentially fluid dominated, a mesothermal Cu-Pb-Zn-As-Ag-Au assemblage was deposited (exemplified by the Spoedwel, Boschhoek and Albert copper and silver deposits). A third episode of mineralisation resulted in the formation of an Fe-U-F assemblage and is recognised at several, but not necessanly all, of the deposits examined (for example, the Albert silver deposit). The extended nature of this three-stage paragenetic sequence is considered to reflect widespread mixing between an early fluid derived by H20-saturation of the granitic magma and an external meteoric/connate fluid, circulation of which was stimulated by the long-lived high heat-productive capacity of the Bushveld granites, as well as exhumation of the metallotect; The early high-temperature Sn/W assemblage was precipitated while magmatic fluids dominated the system. With time, the pluton cooled and was subject to regional uplift. Fractures developed, acting as conduits for external fluids of meteoric and/or connate origin. The late magmatic fluids, enriched in incompatible metals (and volatiles), interacted with the latter fluid, resulting in the localised precipitation of a secondary, lower-temperature mineral assemblage (Cu-Pb-Zn) in the zone of fluid mixing. As the external fluid component became progressively more dominant, the paragenesis changed, forming the :final Fe-U-F assemblage. The formation of these three different, temporally separate assemblages is adequately explained in terms of a fluid mixing model, wherein the concentration ofmetaIs and localisation of ore deposits are controlled by lithology and structure. / Andrew Chakane 2018

A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, 2013. / The aim of the thesis is to derive group invariant, exact, approximate analytical and numerical solutions for a two-dimensional laminar, non-Newtonian pre-existing hydraulic fracture propagating in impermeable and permeable elastic media. The fracture is driven by the injection of an incompressible, viscous non-Newtonian fluid of power law rheology in which the fluid viscosity depends on the magnitude of the shear rate and on the power law index n > 0. By the application of lubrication theory, a nonlinear diffusion equation relating the half-width of the fracture to the fluid pressure is obtained. When the interface is permeable the nonlinear diffusion equation has a leak-off velocity sink term. The half-width of the fracture and the net fluid pressure are linearly related through the PKN approximation. A condition, in the form of a first order partial differential equation for the leak-off velocity, is obtained for the nonlinear diffusion equation to have Lie point symmetries. The general form of the leak-off velocity is derived. Using the Lie point symmetries the problem is reduced to a boundary value problem for a second order ordinary differential equation. The leak-off velocity is further specified by assuming that it is proportional to the fracture half-width. Only fluid injection at the fracture entry is considered. This is the case of practical importance in industry. Two exact analytical solutions are derived. In the first solution there is no fluid injection at the fracture entry while in the second solution the fluid velocity averaged over the width of the fracture is constant along the length of the fracture. For other working conditions at the fracture entry the problem is solved numerically by transforming the boundary value problem to a pair of initial value problems. The numerical solution is matched to the asymptotic solution at the fracture tip. Since the fracture is thin the fluid velocity averaged over the width of the fracture is considered. For the two analytical solutions the ratio of the averaged fluid velocity to the velocity of the fracture tip varies linearly along the fracture. For other working conditions the variation is approximately linear. Using this observation approximate analytical solutions are derived for the fracture half-width. The approximate analytical solutions are compared with the numerical solutions and found to be accurate over a wide range of values of the power-law index n and leak-off parameter β. The conservation laws for the nonlinear diffusion equation are investigated. When there is fluid leak-off conservation laws of two kinds are found which depend in which component of the conserved vector the leak-off term is included. For a Newtonian fluid two conservation laws of each kind are found. For a non-Newtonian fluid the second conservation law does not exist. The behaviour of the solutions for shear thinning, Newtonian and shear thickening fluids are qualitatively similar. The characteristic time depends on the properties of the fluid which gives quantitative differences in the solution for shear thinning, Newtonian and shear thickening fluids.

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Science,University of the Witwatersrand, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. December 2016. / This research is concerned with the analysis of a two-dimensional Newtonian fluid-driven fracture in a permeable rock. The fluid flow in the fracture is laminar and the fracture is driven by the injection of a Newtonian fluid into it. Most of the problems in litera- ture involving fluid flow in permeable rock formation have been modeled with the use of Darcy's law. It is however known that Darcy's model breaks down for flows involv- ing high fluid velocity, such as the flow in a porous rock formation during hydraulic fracturing. The Forchheimer flow model is used to describe the non-Darcy fluid flow in the porous medium. The objective of this study is to investigate the problem of a fluid-driven fracture in a porous medium such that the flow in the porous medium is non-Darcy. Lubrication theory is applied to the system of partial di erential equations since the fracture that is considered is thin and its width slowly varies along its length. For this same reason, Perkins-Kern-Nordgren approximation is adopted. The theory of Lie group analysis of differential equations is used to solve the nonlinear coupled sys- tem of partial differential equations to obtain group invariant solutions for the fracture half-width, leak-o depth and length of the fracture. The strength of fluid leak-off at the fracture wall is classi ed into three forms, namely, weak, strong and moderate. A group invariant solution of the traveling wave form is obtained and an exact solution for the case in which there is weak fluid leak-off at the interface is found. A dimensionless parameter, F0, termed the Forchheimer number was obtained and investigated. Nu- merical results are obtained for both the case of Darcy and non-Darcy flow. Computer generated graphs are used to illustrate the analytical and numerical results. / MT2017

A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of PhD in Geology University of the Witwatersrand / Numerous small base-metal deposits occur in the acidic rocks of the Bushveld Complex, and modern exploration programs are currently re-examining this metallotect in an attempt to refine the current working hypothesis for mineralisation in these granites. The hypothesis proposed for the origin of mineralisation is multifaceted, encompassing both spatial and temporal relationships between at least three episodes of ore formation. The first episode of mineralisation (typified by the Zaaiplaats tin deposit) occurred at relatively high temperatures (>600'C to 4000' C), and resulted in the formation of orthomagmatic cassiterite, scheelite and an early generation of fluorite. At lower temperatures (200°C<T<400°C), where processes were essentially fluid dominated, a mesothermal Cu-Pb-Zn-As-Ag-Au assemblage was deposited (exemplified by the Spoedwel, Boschhoek and Albert copper and silver deposits). A third episode of mineralisation resulted in the formation of an Fe-U-F assemblage and is recognised at several, but not necessanly all, of the deposits examined (for example, the Albert silver deposit). The extended nature of this three-stage paragenetic sequence is considered to reflect widespread mixing between an early fluid derived by H20-saturation of the granitic magma and an external meteoric/connate fluid, circulation of which was stimulated by the long-lived high heat-productive capacity of the Bushveld granites, as well as exhumation of the metallotect; The early high-temperature Sn/W assemblage was precipitated while magmatic fluids dominated the system. With time, the pluton cooled and was subject to regional uplift. Fractures developed, acting as conduits for external fluids of meteoric and/or connate origin. The late magmatic fluids, enriched in incompatible metals (and volatiles), interacted with the latter fluid, resulting in the localised precipitation of a secondary, lower-temperature mineral assemblage (Cu-Pb-Zn) in the zone of fluid mixing. As the external fluid component became progressively more dominant, the paragenesis changed, forming the :final Fe-U-F assemblage. The formation of these three different, temporally separate assemblages is adequately explained in terms of a fluid mixing model, wherein the concentration ofmetaIs and localisation of ore deposits are controlled by lithology and structure. / Andrew Chakane 2018

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Título: Petrologia e aspetos geoquímicos das rochas vulcânicas ácidas tipo Palmas e Chapecó da província magmática do Paraná / Orientador: Antonio José Ranalli Nardy / Banca: João Manuel Lima da Silva Mata / Banca: Fábio Braz Machado / Resumo: As rochas ácidas da Província Magmática do Paraná (PMP) cobrem cerca de 2,5% do volume total do vulcanismo intracontinental ocorrido durante o Cretáceo Inferior, o que levou à abertura do Atlântico Sul. As análises petrográficas e o estudo da química mineral dos principais constituintes minerais, plagioclásio, piroxênio (orto e clino) e Ti-magnetita, das rochas ácidas do tipo Palmas (ATP) e ácidas tipo Chapecó (ATC), permitiram obter dados inéditos e correlacionar, com maior rigor, os vários magmas-tipo que essas rochas geraram. Foi possível descriminar a mineralogia distinta do grupo Palmas, ao que diz respeito aos cristais de piroxênio, assim como as heterogeneidades geoquímicas deste mesmo grupo e de Chapecó. Ortopiroxênio é exclusivo das rochas ATP e especificamente do magma-tipo Caxias do Sul. Os clinopiroxênios, pigeonita e augita são comuns em todos os subtipos das ácidas, porém, esta última está ausente da associação mineralógicas das rochas do magma-tipo Santa Maria (ATP). Com o estudo detalhado da relação mineralógica entre os cristais permitiu inferir sobre a sequência de cristalização dos piroxênios e, por conseguinte das rochas tipo Palmas. As feições texturais, dados de química mineral e (raros) de geotermobarometria obtidos nas rochas ATP e ATC sugerem que os minerais presentes nestas rochas não estão em equilíbrio com o líquido que gerou a rocha hospedeira. As feições petrográficas encontradas nos cristais de piroxênio e plagioclásio, tais como, bordas corroíd... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The acid rocks of the Paraná Magmatic Province (PMP) cover about 2.5% of the total volume of intracontinental volcanism that occurred during the Lower Cretaceous, which led to the opening of the South Atlantic. Petrographic analyzes and the study of mineral chemistry of the main Palmas acid type (ATP) and Chapecó acid type rocks (ATC), made it possible to obtain unpublished data and correlate, with greater rigor, the various types of magmas these rocks generated. It was possible to discriminate the mineralogy distinct from the Palmas group, as regards the pyroxene crystals, as well as the geochemical heterogeneities of this group and Chapecó group. Orthopyroxene crystals are unique to ATP rocks and specifically to the Caxias do Sul magma-type. Clinopyroxenes crystals, pigeonite and augite, are very common in all acidic subtypes, but the latter is absent from the mineralogical association of the Santa Maria magma-type rocks (from ATP). With the detailed study of the mineralogical relationship between these crystals allowed us to infer about the crystallization sequence of the pyroxenes and, consequently, of the Palmas group. The textural features, mineral chemistry data and (rare) geothermobarometry data obtained in the ATP and ATC rocks suggest that the minerals present in these rocks are not in equilibrium with the liquid that generated the host rock. The petrographic features found in pyroxene and plagioclase crystals, such as corroded edges, corona and matrix impregnation,... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre