Insizwa, Umzimvubu Local Municipality, Alfred Nzo District Municipality, Eastern Cape, South Africai
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Insizwa | Lobe |
| Umzimvubu Local Municipality | Municipality |
| Alfred Nzo District Municipality | Municipality |
| Eastern Cape | Province |
| South Africa | Country |
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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
30° 43' 0'' South , 29° 17' 58'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
Köppen climate type:
Nearest Settlements:
| Place | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Kokstad | 25,373 (2012) | 22.3km |
Other/historical names associated with this locality:
Insizwa Complex; Insizwa Range; MAC
Name(s) in local language(s):
Ntsizwa
Layered mafic sill 25 km in diameter and 1000 m thick.
A number of doleritic and gabbroic intrusive sheets occur in the northern Eastern Cape Province. One of the more extensive of these is the Insizwa-Ingeli-Tonti-Tabankulu intrusion, which occurs 175 kilometres southwest of Durban. Picrite and troctolite dominate the basal zone, hypersthene gabbro the central zone, and quartz diorite and quartz monzonite the upper zone. Chalcopyrite, pentlandite and pyrrhotite grains occur in the picrite as well as in cross-cutting veins and sheets of massive sulphide in association with the acid phases. The sulphide mineralisation is confined to the lower contact of the intrusive gabbroic sill and it is generally accepted that the two are genetically related. Nickel sulphides were originally found at Waterfall Gorge as early as 1865 by Rudlin. Insizwa is known for its assemblage of platinum group minerals, of which insizwaite (PtBi2), niggliite (PtSn) and parkerite (Ni3(Bi,Pb)2S2) were first described from here and several remain unnamed. Sperrylite is relatively common in the massive ore, where it occurs as well-formed crystals up to 0.2mm in length in contact with pyrrhotite, cubanite and parkerite.
A number of doleritic and gabbroic intrusive sheets occur in the northern Eastern Cape Province. One of the more extensive of these is the Insizwa-Ingeli-Tonti-Tabankulu intrusion, which occurs 175 kilometres southwest of Durban. Picrite and troctolite dominate the basal zone, hypersthene gabbro the central zone, and quartz diorite and quartz monzonite the upper zone. Chalcopyrite, pentlandite and pyrrhotite grains occur in the picrite as well as in cross-cutting veins and sheets of massive sulphide in association with the acid phases. The sulphide mineralisation is confined to the lower contact of the intrusive gabbroic sill and it is generally accepted that the two are genetically related. Nickel sulphides were originally found at Waterfall Gorge as early as 1865 by Rudlin. Insizwa is known for its assemblage of platinum group minerals, of which insizwaite (PtBi2), niggliite (PtSn) and parkerite (Ni3(Bi,Pb)2S2) were first described from here and several remain unnamed. Sperrylite is relatively common in the massive ore, where it occurs as well-formed crystals up to 0.2mm in length in contact with pyrrhotite, cubanite and parkerite.
Select Mineral List Type
Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsMineral List
Mineral list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities32 valid minerals. 3 (TL) - type locality of valid minerals.
Detailed Mineral List:
| ⓘ Augite Formula: (CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6 |
| ⓘ Auricupride ? Formula: Cu3Au References: |
| ⓘ Bismuthinite Formula: Bi2S3 References: |
| ⓘ Bornite Formula: Cu5FeS4 |
| ⓘ Braggite Formula: PdPt3S4 |
| ⓘ Chalcocite Formula: Cu2S |
| ⓘ Chalcopyrite Formula: CuFeS2 |
| ⓘ Chromite Formula: Fe2+Cr3+2O4 |
| ⓘ Cooperite Formula: PtS |
| ⓘ Covellite Formula: CuS |
| ⓘ Cubanite Formula: CuFe2S3 References: |
| ⓘ Enstatite Formula: Mg2Si2O6 |
| ⓘ Enstatite var. Bronzite Formula: (Mg,Fe2+)2[SiO3]2 |
| ⓘ 'Fayalite-Forsterite Series' |
| ⓘ Forsterite Formula: Mg2(SiO4) |
| ⓘ Froodite Formula: α-PdBi2 References: |
| ⓘ Galena Formula: PbS |
| ⓘ Ilmenite Formula: Fe2+TiO3 |
| ⓘ Insizwaite (TL) Formula: PtBi2 Type Locality: |
| ⓘ Irarsite Formula: (Ir,Ru,Rh,Pt)AsS References: |
| ⓘ Laurite Formula: RuS2 |
| ⓘ 'Lead-parkerite' Formula: Ni3Pb2S2 |
| ⓘ Mackinawite Formula: FeS |
| ⓘ Millerite Formula: NiS |
| ⓘ Native Bismuth Formula: Bi |
| ⓘ Nickeline Formula: NiAs |
| ⓘ Niggliite (TL) Formula: PtSn Type Locality: |
| ⓘ Parkerite (TL) Formula: Ni3(Bi,Pb)2S2 Type Locality: |
| ⓘ Pentlandite Formula: (NixFey)Σ9S8 |
| ⓘ 'Plagioclase' Formula: (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8 |
| ⓘ Pyrite Formula: FeS2 |
| ⓘ Pyrite var. Bravoite Formula: (Fe,Ni)S2 |
| ⓘ Pyrrhotite Formula: Fe1-xS |
| ⓘ Sperrylite Formula: PtAs2 References: |
| ⓘ Sphalerite Formula: ZnS |
| ⓘ Valleriite Formula: (Fe2+,Cu)4(Mg,Al)3S4(OH,O)6 |
| ⓘ Wollastonite Formula: Ca3(Si3O9) |
Gallery:
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
| Group 1 - Elements | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ⓘ | Auricupride ? | 1.AA.10a | Cu3Au |
| ⓘ | Niggliite (TL) | 1.AG.60 | PtSn |
| ⓘ | Native Bismuth | 1.CA.05 | Bi |
| Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts | |||
| ⓘ | Froodite | 2.AC.45a | α-PdBi2 |
| ⓘ | Chalcocite | 2.BA.05 | Cu2S |
| ⓘ | Bornite | 2.BA.15 | Cu5FeS4 |
| ⓘ | Pentlandite | 2.BB.15 | (NixFey)Σ9S8 |
| ⓘ | Parkerite (TL) | 2.BE.20 | Ni3(Bi,Pb)2S2 |
| ⓘ | Covellite | 2.CA.05a | CuS |
| ⓘ | Sphalerite | 2.CB.05a | ZnS |
| ⓘ | Chalcopyrite | 2.CB.10a | CuFeS2 |
| ⓘ | Cubanite | 2.CB.55a | CuFe2S3 |
| ⓘ | Nickeline | 2.CC.05 | NiAs |
| ⓘ | Pyrrhotite | 2.CC.10 | Fe1-xS |
| ⓘ | Millerite | 2.CC.20 | NiS |
| ⓘ | Mackinawite | 2.CC.25 | FeS |
| ⓘ | Braggite | 2.CC.35a | PdPt3S4 |
| ⓘ | Cooperite | 2.CC.35b | PtS |
| ⓘ | Galena | 2.CD.10 | PbS |
| ⓘ | Bismuthinite | 2.DB.05 | Bi2S3 |
| ⓘ | Pyrite var. Bravoite | 2.EB.05a | (Fe,Ni)S2 |
| ⓘ | Insizwaite (TL) | 2.EB.05a | PtBi2 |
| ⓘ | Laurite | 2.EB.05a | RuS2 |
| ⓘ | Pyrite | 2.EB.05a | FeS2 |
| ⓘ | Sperrylite | 2.EB.05a | PtAs2 |
| ⓘ | Irarsite | 2.EB.25 | (Ir,Ru,Rh,Pt)AsS |
| ⓘ | Valleriite | 2.FD.30 | (Fe2+,Cu)4(Mg,Al)3S4(OH,O)6 |
| Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
| ⓘ | Chromite | 4.BB.05 | Fe2+Cr3+2O4 |
| ⓘ | Ilmenite | 4.CB.05 | Fe2+TiO3 |
| Group 9 - Silicates | |||
| ⓘ | Forsterite | 9.AC.05 | Mg2(SiO4) |
| ⓘ | Enstatite | 9.DA.05 | Mg2Si2O6 |
| ⓘ | var. Bronzite | 9.DA.05 | (Mg,Fe2+)2[SiO3]2 |
| ⓘ | Augite | 9.DA.15 | (CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6 |
| ⓘ | Wollastonite | 9.DG.05 | Ca3(Si3O9) |
| Unclassified | |||
| ⓘ | 'Lead-parkerite' | - | Ni3Pb2S2 |
| ⓘ | 'Fayalite-Forsterite Series' | - | |
| ⓘ | 'Plagioclase' | - | (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8 |
List of minerals for each chemical element
| H | Hydrogen | |
|---|---|---|
| H | ⓘ Valleriite | (Fe2+,Cu)4(Mg,Al)3S4(OH,O)6 |
| O | Oxygen | |
| O | ⓘ Augite | (CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6 |
| O | ⓘ Chromite | Fe2+Cr23+O4 |
| O | ⓘ Enstatite | Mg2Si2O6 |
| O | ⓘ Forsterite | Mg2(SiO4) |
| O | ⓘ Ilmenite | Fe2+TiO3 |
| O | ⓘ Valleriite | (Fe2+,Cu)4(Mg,Al)3S4(OH,O)6 |
| O | ⓘ Wollastonite | Ca3(Si3O9) |
| O | ⓘ Enstatite var. Bronzite | (Mg,Fe2+)2[SiO3]2 |
| O | ⓘ Fayalite-Forsterite Series | |
| O | ⓘ Plagioclase | (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8 |
| Na | Sodium | |
| Na | ⓘ Plagioclase | (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8 |
| Mg | Magnesium | |
| Mg | ⓘ Augite | (CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6 |
| Mg | ⓘ Enstatite | Mg2Si2O6 |
| Mg | ⓘ Forsterite | Mg2(SiO4) |
| Mg | ⓘ Valleriite | (Fe2+,Cu)4(Mg,Al)3S4(OH,O)6 |
| Mg | ⓘ Enstatite var. Bronzite | (Mg,Fe2+)2[SiO3]2 |
| Mg | ⓘ Fayalite-Forsterite Series | |
| Al | Aluminium | |
| Al | ⓘ Valleriite | (Fe2+,Cu)4(Mg,Al)3S4(OH,O)6 |
| Al | ⓘ Plagioclase | (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8 |
| Si | Silicon | |
| Si | ⓘ Augite | (CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6 |
| Si | ⓘ Enstatite | Mg2Si2O6 |
| Si | ⓘ Forsterite | Mg2(SiO4) |
| Si | ⓘ Wollastonite | Ca3(Si3O9) |
| Si | ⓘ Enstatite var. Bronzite | (Mg,Fe2+)2[SiO3]2 |
| Si | ⓘ Fayalite-Forsterite Series | |
| Si | ⓘ Plagioclase | (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8 |
| S | Sulfur | |
| S | ⓘ Bismuthinite | Bi2S3 |
| S | ⓘ Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
| S | ⓘ Braggite | PdPt3S4 |
| S | ⓘ Pyrite var. Bravoite | (Fe,Ni)S2 |
| S | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| S | ⓘ Chalcocite | Cu2S |
| S | ⓘ Cooperite | PtS |
| S | ⓘ Covellite | CuS |
| S | ⓘ Cubanite | CuFe2S3 |
| S | ⓘ Galena | PbS |
| S | ⓘ Irarsite | (Ir,Ru,Rh,Pt)AsS |
| S | ⓘ Laurite | RuS2 |
| S | ⓘ Lead-parkerite | Ni3Pb2S2 |
| S | ⓘ Mackinawite | FeS |
| S | ⓘ Millerite | NiS |
| S | ⓘ Parkerite | Ni3(Bi,Pb)2S2 |
| S | ⓘ Pentlandite | (NixFey)Σ9S8 |
| S | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| S | ⓘ Pyrrhotite | Fe1-xS |
| S | ⓘ Sphalerite | ZnS |
| S | ⓘ Valleriite | (Fe2+,Cu)4(Mg,Al)3S4(OH,O)6 |
| Ca | Calcium | |
| Ca | ⓘ Augite | (CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6 |
| Ca | ⓘ Wollastonite | Ca3(Si3O9) |
| Ca | ⓘ Plagioclase | (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8 |
| Ti | Titanium | |
| Ti | ⓘ Ilmenite | Fe2+TiO3 |
| Cr | Chromium | |
| Cr | ⓘ Chromite | Fe2+Cr23+O4 |
| Fe | Iron | |
| Fe | ⓘ Augite | (CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6 |
| Fe | ⓘ Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
| Fe | ⓘ Pyrite var. Bravoite | (Fe,Ni)S2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Chromite | Fe2+Cr23+O4 |
| Fe | ⓘ Cubanite | CuFe2S3 |
| Fe | ⓘ Ilmenite | Fe2+TiO3 |
| Fe | ⓘ Mackinawite | FeS |
| Fe | ⓘ Pentlandite | (NixFey)Σ9S8 |
| Fe | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Pyrrhotite | Fe1-xS |
| Fe | ⓘ Valleriite | (Fe2+,Cu)4(Mg,Al)3S4(OH,O)6 |
| Fe | ⓘ Enstatite var. Bronzite | (Mg,Fe2+)2[SiO3]2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Fayalite-Forsterite Series | |
| Ni | Nickel | |
| Ni | ⓘ Pyrite var. Bravoite | (Fe,Ni)S2 |
| Ni | ⓘ Lead-parkerite | Ni3Pb2S2 |
| Ni | ⓘ Millerite | NiS |
| Ni | ⓘ Nickeline | NiAs |
| Ni | ⓘ Parkerite | Ni3(Bi,Pb)2S2 |
| Ni | ⓘ Pentlandite | (NixFey)Σ9S8 |
| Cu | Copper | |
| Cu | ⓘ Auricupride | Cu3Au |
| Cu | ⓘ Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
| Cu | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| Cu | ⓘ Chalcocite | Cu2S |
| Cu | ⓘ Covellite | CuS |
| Cu | ⓘ Cubanite | CuFe2S3 |
| Cu | ⓘ Valleriite | (Fe2+,Cu)4(Mg,Al)3S4(OH,O)6 |
| Zn | Zinc | |
| Zn | ⓘ Sphalerite | ZnS |
| As | Arsenic | |
| As | ⓘ Irarsite | (Ir,Ru,Rh,Pt)AsS |
| As | ⓘ Nickeline | NiAs |
| As | ⓘ Sperrylite | PtAs2 |
| Ru | Ruthenium | |
| Ru | ⓘ Irarsite | (Ir,Ru,Rh,Pt)AsS |
| Ru | ⓘ Laurite | RuS2 |
| Rh | Rhodium | |
| Rh | ⓘ Irarsite | (Ir,Ru,Rh,Pt)AsS |
| Pd | Palladium | |
| Pd | ⓘ Braggite | PdPt3S4 |
| Pd | ⓘ Froodite | α-PdBi2 |
| Sn | Tin | |
| Sn | ⓘ Niggliite | PtSn |
| Ir | Iridium | |
| Ir | ⓘ Irarsite | (Ir,Ru,Rh,Pt)AsS |
| Pt | Platinum | |
| Pt | ⓘ Braggite | PdPt3S4 |
| Pt | ⓘ Cooperite | PtS |
| Pt | ⓘ Insizwaite | PtBi2 |
| Pt | ⓘ Irarsite | (Ir,Ru,Rh,Pt)AsS |
| Pt | ⓘ Niggliite | PtSn |
| Pt | ⓘ Sperrylite | PtAs2 |
| Au | Gold | |
| Au | ⓘ Auricupride | Cu3Au |
| Pb | Lead | |
| Pb | ⓘ Galena | PbS |
| Pb | ⓘ Lead-parkerite | Ni3Pb2S2 |
| Pb | ⓘ Parkerite | Ni3(Bi,Pb)2S2 |
| Bi | Bismuth | |
| Bi | ⓘ Native Bismuth | Bi |
| Bi | ⓘ Bismuthinite | Bi2S3 |
| Bi | ⓘ Froodite | α-PdBi2 |
| Bi | ⓘ Insizwaite | PtBi2 |
| Bi | ⓘ Parkerite | Ni3(Bi,Pb)2S2 |
Localities in this Region
- Eastern Cape
- Alfred Nzo District Municipality
- Umzimvubu Local Municipality
- Insizwa
- Umzimvubu Local Municipality
- Alfred Nzo District Municipality
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
AfricaContinent
African Plate
- Karoo basinBasin
- Namaqua-Natal BeltOrogenic Belt
Somali PlateTectonic Plate
South Africa
- Mount Ayliff ComplexComplex
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References
Cabri, L. J., Harris, D. C. (1972) The new mineral insizwaite (PtBi2) and new data on niggliite (PtSn) Mineralogical Magazine, 38 (299) 794-800 doi:10.1180/minmag.1972.038.299.03
Lightfoot, P. C., Naldrett, A. J., Hawkesworth, C. J. (1984) The geology and geochemistry of the Waterfall Gorge section of the Insizwa Complex with particular reference to the origin of the nickel sulfide deposits. Economic Geology, 79 (8) 1857-1879 doi:10.2113/gsecongeo.79.8.1857
Ferré, Eric C., Bordarier, Cécile, Marsh, Julian S. (2002) Magma flow inferred from AMS fabrics in a layered mafic sill, Insizwa, South Africa. Tectonophysics, 354 (1) 1-23 doi:10.1016/s0040-1951(02)00273-1
Maier, W. D., Marsh, J. S., Barnes, S.-J., Dodd, D. C. (2002) The Distribution of Platinum Group Elements in the Insizwa Lobe, Mount Ayliff Complex, South Africa: Implications for Ni-Cu-PGE Sulfide Exploration in the Karoo Igneous Province. Economic Geology, 97 (6) 1293-1306 doi:10.2113/gsecongeo.97.6.1293
Insizwa, Umzimvubu Local Municipality, Alfred Nzo District Municipality, Eastern Cape, South Africa