Vote for your favorite mineral in #MinCup26! - Arsenuranylite vs. Talc
It's a pair of soft and lovely minerals as Stichtite and Talc compete for your votes.
Log InRegister
Quick Links : The Mindat ManualThe Rock H. Currier Digital LibraryMindat Newsletter [Free Download]
Home PageAbout MindatThe Mindat ManualHistory of MindatCopyright StatusWho We AreContact UsAdvertise on Mindat
Donate to MindatCorporate SponsorshipSponsor a PageSponsored PagesMindat AdvertisersAdvertise on Mindat
Learning CenterWhat is a mineral?The most common minerals on earthInformation for EducatorsMindat ArticlesThe ElementsThe Rock H. Currier Digital LibraryGeologic TimeExplore Fossils
Minerals by PropertiesMinerals by ChemistryMineral Visual ExplorerAdvanced Locality SearchRandom MineralRandom LocalitySearch by minIDLocalities Near MeSearch ArticlesSearch GlossaryMore Search Options
Search For:
Mineral Name:
Locality Name:
Keyword(s):
 
The Mindat ManualAdd a New PhotoRate PhotosLocality Edit ReportCoordinate Completion ReportAdd Glossary Item
Mining CompaniesStatisticsUsersMineral MuseumsClubs & OrganizationsMineral Shows & EventsThe Mindat DirectoryDevice SettingsThe Mineral QuizTime Machine
Photo SearchPhoto GalleriesSearch by ColorPhoto Colour ExplorerNew Photos TodayNew Photos YesterdayMembers' Photo GalleriesPast Photo of the Day GalleryPhotography

Witbank coalfield, eMalahleni (Witbank), Emalahleni Local Municipality, Nkangala District Municipality, Mpumalanga, South Africai
Regional Level Types
Witbank coalfieldCoal Field
eMalahleni (Witbank)- not defined -
Emalahleni Local MunicipalityMunicipality
Nkangala District MunicipalityDistrict
MpumalangaProvince
South AfricaCountry

This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
PhotosMapsSearch
04806210017456983856882.jpg
Rietspruit coal mine, Witbank (Emalalhleni) coalfield.

Witbank coalfield, eMalahleni, Emalahleni Local Municipality, Nkangala District Municipality, Mpumalanga, South Africa
09336900017456983857588.jpg
Pyrite

Witbank coalfield, eMalahleni, Emalahleni Local Municipality, Nkangala District Municipality, Mpumalanga, South Africa
09270490017272059047323.jpg
Calcite

Goedehoop Mine, Witbank coalfield, eMalahleni, Emalahleni Local Municipality, Nkangala District Municipality, Mpumalanga, South Africa
05323970017272082702137.jpg
Rietspruit coal mine, Witbank (Emalalhleni) coalfield.

Witbank coalfield, eMalahleni, Emalahleni Local Municipality, Nkangala District Municipality, Mpumalanga, South Africa
05275180017456932248936.jpg
Pyrite

Witbank coalfield, eMalahleni, Emalahleni Local Municipality, Nkangala District Municipality, Mpumalanga, South Africa
09270490017272059047323.jpg
Calcite

Goedehoop Mine, Witbank coalfield, eMalahleni, Emalahleni Local Municipality, Nkangala District Municipality, Mpumalanga, South Africa
05323970017272082702137.jpg
Rietspruit coal mine, Witbank (Emalalhleni) coalfield.

Witbank coalfield, eMalahleni, Emalahleni Local Municipality, Nkangala District Municipality, Mpumalanga, South Africa
01852110017456983868005.jpg
Pyrite

Witbank coalfield, eMalahleni, Emalahleni Local Municipality, Nkangala District Municipality, Mpumalanga, South Africa
Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
26° 0' 5'' South , 29° 13' 60'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
-26.00139,29.23333
GRN:
S18E19
Type:
Coal Field
Köppen climate type:
Cwb : Subtropical highland climate or temperate oceanic climate with dry winters
Mindat Locality ID:
56939
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:56939:3
GUID (UUID V4):
0


The Witbank coalfield is, historically, the most important coal-producing region in South Africa. Bituminous coal is hosted in the Permian Vryheid Formation (Karoo Supergroup) and five coal seams exist in the region, although not all are economically exploitable.

About 22 coal mines in the area around Witbank. Some dumps are burning, in part already for decades.

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Commodity List

This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded from this region.


Mineral List

Mineral list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities

19 valid minerals.

Rock Types Recorded

Note: data is currently VERY limited. Please bear with us while we work towards adding this information!

Rock list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities

Select Rock List Type

Alphabetical List Tree Diagram

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Anatase
Formula: TiO2
ⓘ Baryte
Formula: BaSO4
ⓘ Calcite
Formula: CaCO3
ⓘ Copiapite
Formula: Fe2+Fe3+4(SO4)6(OH)2 · 20H2O
ⓘ 'Glauconite'
Formula: K0.60-0.85(Fe3+,Mg,Al)2(Si,Al)4O10](OH)2
ⓘ Gypsum
Formula: CaSO4 · 2H2O
ⓘ Hexahydrite
Formula: MgSO4 · 6H2O
ⓘ Kaolinite
Formula: Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4
ⓘ Letovicite
Formula: (NH4)3H(SO4)2
ⓘ Marcasite
Formula: FeS2
ⓘ Mascagnite
Formula: (NH4)2SO4
ⓘ Microcline
Formula: K(AlSi3O8)
ⓘ Muscovite
Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘ Muscovite var. Illite
Formula: K0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2
ⓘ Native Sulphur
Formula: S8
ⓘ Phlogopite
Formula: KMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘ 'Plagioclase'
Formula: (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
ⓘ Pyrite
Formula: FeS2
ⓘ Quartz
Formula: SiO2
ⓘ Rutile
Formula: TiO2
ⓘ Salammoniac
Formula: NH4Cl
ⓘ Siderite
Formula: FeCO3
ⓘ 'Unnamed (NH4 Thiosulphate)'
Formula: (NH4)2(S2O3)

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 1 - Elements
ⓘNative Sulphur1.CC.05S8
Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
ⓘPyrite2.EB.05aFeS2
ⓘMarcasite2.EB.10aFeS2
Group 3 - Halides
ⓘSalammoniac3.AA.25NH4Cl
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘQuartz4.DA.05SiO2
ⓘRutile4.DB.05TiO2
ⓘAnatase4.DD.05TiO2
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
ⓘCalcite5.AB.05CaCO3
ⓘSiderite5.AB.05FeCO3
Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
ⓘMascagnite7.AD.05(NH4)2SO4
ⓘLetovicite7.AD.20(NH4)3H(SO4)2
ⓘBaryte7.AD.35BaSO4
ⓘHexahydrite7.CB.25MgSO4 · 6H2O
ⓘGypsum7.CD.40CaSO4 · 2H2O
ⓘCopiapite7.DB.35Fe2+Fe3+4(SO4)6(OH)2 · 20H2O
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘMuscovite
var. Illite		9.EC.15K0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2
ⓘ9.EC.15KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘPhlogopite9.EC.20KMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘKaolinite9.ED.05Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4
ⓘMicrocline9.FA.30K(AlSi3O8)
Unclassified
ⓘ'Glauconite'-K0.60-0.85(Fe3+,Mg,Al)2(Si,Al)4O10](OH)2
ⓘ'Plagioclase'-(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
ⓘ'Unnamed (NH4 Thiosulphate)'-(NH4)2(S2O3)

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
Hⓘ CopiapiteFe2+Fe43+(SO4)6(OH)2 · 20H2O
Hⓘ GlauconiteK0.60-0.85(Fe3+,Mg,Al)2(Si,Al)4O10](OH)2
Hⓘ GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
Hⓘ HexahydriteMgSO4 · 6H2O
Hⓘ Muscovite var. IlliteK0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2
Hⓘ KaoliniteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Hⓘ Letovicite(NH4)3H(SO4)2
Hⓘ Mascagnite(NH4)2SO4
Hⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Hⓘ PhlogopiteKMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Hⓘ SalammoniacNH4Cl
Hⓘ Unnamed (NH4 Thiosulphate)(NH4)2(S2O3)
CCarbon
Cⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Cⓘ SideriteFeCO3
NNitrogen
Nⓘ Letovicite(NH4)3H(SO4)2
Nⓘ Mascagnite(NH4)2SO4
Nⓘ SalammoniacNH4Cl
Nⓘ Unnamed (NH4 Thiosulphate)(NH4)2(S2O3)
OOxygen
Oⓘ AnataseTiO2
Oⓘ BaryteBaSO4
Oⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Oⓘ CopiapiteFe2+Fe43+(SO4)6(OH)2 · 20H2O
Oⓘ GlauconiteK0.60-0.85(Fe3+,Mg,Al)2(Si,Al)4O10](OH)2
Oⓘ GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
Oⓘ HexahydriteMgSO4 · 6H2O
Oⓘ Muscovite var. IlliteK0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2
Oⓘ KaoliniteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Oⓘ Letovicite(NH4)3H(SO4)2
Oⓘ Mascagnite(NH4)2SO4
Oⓘ MicroclineK(AlSi3O8)
Oⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Oⓘ PhlogopiteKMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Oⓘ QuartzSiO2
Oⓘ RutileTiO2
Oⓘ SideriteFeCO3
Oⓘ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
Oⓘ Unnamed (NH4 Thiosulphate)(NH4)2(S2O3)
NaSodium
Naⓘ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
MgMagnesium
Mgⓘ GlauconiteK0.60-0.85(Fe3+,Mg,Al)2(Si,Al)4O10](OH)2
Mgⓘ HexahydriteMgSO4 · 6H2O
Mgⓘ PhlogopiteKMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
AlAluminium
Alⓘ GlauconiteK0.60-0.85(Fe3+,Mg,Al)2(Si,Al)4O10](OH)2
Alⓘ Muscovite var. IlliteK0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2
Alⓘ KaoliniteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Alⓘ MicroclineK(AlSi3O8)
Alⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Alⓘ PhlogopiteKMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Alⓘ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
SiSilicon
Siⓘ GlauconiteK0.60-0.85(Fe3+,Mg,Al)2(Si,Al)4O10](OH)2
Siⓘ Muscovite var. IlliteK0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2
Siⓘ KaoliniteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Siⓘ MicroclineK(AlSi3O8)
Siⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Siⓘ PhlogopiteKMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Siⓘ QuartzSiO2
Siⓘ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
SSulfur
Sⓘ BaryteBaSO4
Sⓘ CopiapiteFe2+Fe43+(SO4)6(OH)2 · 20H2O
Sⓘ GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
Sⓘ HexahydriteMgSO4 · 6H2O
Sⓘ Letovicite(NH4)3H(SO4)2
Sⓘ MarcasiteFeS2
Sⓘ Mascagnite(NH4)2SO4
Sⓘ PyriteFeS2
Sⓘ Native SulphurS8
Sⓘ Unnamed (NH4 Thiosulphate)(NH4)2(S2O3)
ClChlorine
Clⓘ SalammoniacNH4Cl
KPotassium
Kⓘ GlauconiteK0.60-0.85(Fe3+,Mg,Al)2(Si,Al)4O10](OH)2
Kⓘ Muscovite var. IlliteK0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2
Kⓘ MicroclineK(AlSi3O8)
Kⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Kⓘ PhlogopiteKMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
CaCalcium
Caⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Caⓘ GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
Caⓘ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
TiTitanium
Tiⓘ AnataseTiO2
Tiⓘ RutileTiO2
FeIron
Feⓘ CopiapiteFe2+Fe43+(SO4)6(OH)2 · 20H2O
Feⓘ GlauconiteK0.60-0.85(Fe3+,Mg,Al)2(Si,Al)4O10](OH)2
Feⓘ MarcasiteFeS2
Feⓘ PyriteFeS2
Feⓘ SideriteFeCO3
BaBarium
Baⓘ BaryteBaSO4

Localities in this Region

South Africa

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

AfricaContinent
African Plate
Somali PlateTectonic Plate
South Africa

This page contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database. This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.

References

www.eoearth.org (n.d.) http://www.eoearth.org/article/Natural_and_anthropogenic_coal_fires
www.youtube.com (n.d.) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X97CY15vh7w
Cairncross, B. (1980). Anastomosing river deposits; palaeoenvironmental control on coal quality and distribution, northern Karoo Basin. Transactions of the Geological Society of South Africa, vol. 83, 327-332.
Cairncross, B. and Cadle, A. B. (1987). A genetic stratigraphy for the Permian coal-bearing Vryheid Formation in the east Witbank Coalfield South Africa. South African Journal of Geology, vol. 90, No. 3, 219-230.
Cairncross, B. and Cadle, A.B. (1988). Palaeoenvironmental control on coal formation, distribution and quality in the east Witbank Coalfield, South Africa. International Journal of Coal Geology, vol. 9, 343-370.
Cairncross, B. and Cadle, A.B. (1988). Depositional environments of the coal-bearing Permian Vryheid Formation in the east Witbank Coalfield, South Africa. South African Journal of Geology, vol. 91, No. 1, 1-17.
Cairncross, B. (1989). Depositional environments and tectono-sedimentary controls of the post-glacial Permian coals, Karoo Basin, South Africa. International Journal of Coal Geology, Special Publication, vol. 12, 365-380.
Cairncross, B., Hart, R.J. and Willis, J.P. (1990). Geochemistry and sedimentology of coal seams from the Permian Witbank Coalfield, South Africa: a means of identification. International Journal of Coal Geology, 16, 309-325.
Cadle, A.B., Cairncross, B., Christie, A.D.M. and Roberts, D.L. (1993). The Karoo Basin of South Africa: type-basin for coal-bearing deposits of southern Africa. International Journal of Coal Geology. Special issue: World Coal Basins: vol. 23, 117-157.
Venter, M.E. and Cairncross, B. (1995). Acritarchs from the Number 5 coal seam, Permian Vryheid Formation, Greenside Colliery, Witbank Coalfield, South Africa. South African Journal of Geology, vol. 94, 479-481.
Weber, S-L., Cairncross, B. and Falcon, R.M.S. (2000). Mineralogical, petrographic and geological controls on coal ash fusion temperature from New Clydesdale Colliery, Witbank Coalfield, South Africa. Journal of the South African Institute for Mining and Metallurgy. Vol. 100, No. 3, 181-190.
Cairncross, B. (2001). An overview of the Permian (Karoo) coals of Southern Africa. Journal of African Earth Science, Vol. 33, 529-562.
en.wikipedia.org (n.d.) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witbank
J. Denis N. Pone, Kim A.A. Hein, Glenn B. Stracher, Harold J. Annegarn, Robert B. Finkleman, Donald R. Blake, John K. McCormack, Paul Schroeder (2007) The spontaneous combustion of coal and its by-products in the Witbank and Sasolburg coalfields of South Africa. International Journal of Coal Geology 72 (2007) 124–140
Stracher, G.B., Finkelman, R.B., Hower, J.C., Pone, J.D.N., Prakash, A., Blake, D.R., Schroeder, P.A., Emsbo-Mattingly, S.D., and O'Keefe, J.M.K. (2009): Natural and anthropogenic coal fires. In: Umran Dogan, A., and Cutler, J. (eds.): Encyclopedia of Earth. Environmental Information Coalition, National Council for Science and the Environment, Cleveland (Washington, D.C.)
Cairncross, B. (2013). Guide to borehole core in the Karoo Basin Coalfields. Random House Struik Publishers, Cape Town, COALTECH Publishers, 76 pages.
Quick NavTopCommoditiesMineral ListRock TypesLocalities in RegionOther RegionsReferences
 
and/or  
Mindat.org® is an outreach project of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Mindat® and mindat.org® are registered trademarks of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy.
Copyright © mindat.org and the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy 1993-2026, except where stated. Most political location boundaries are © OpenStreetMap contributors. Mindat.org relies on the contributions of thousands of members and supporters. Founded in 2000 by Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau.
Content on this site may not be used to train, fine-tune, or otherwise develop artificial intelligence or machine learning models without prior written permission - see our Terms & Conditions.
To cite: Ralph, J., Von Bargen, D., Martynov, P., Zhang, J., Que, X., Prabhu, A., Morrison, S. M., Li, W., Chen, W., & Ma, X. (2025). Mindat.org: The open access mineralogy database to accelerate data-intensive geoscience research. American Mineralogist, 110(6), 833–844. doi:10.2138/am-2024-9486.
Privacy Policy - Terms & Conditions - Contact Us / DMCA issues - Report a bug/vulnerability Current server date and time: September 8, 2026 12:38:01 Page updated: October 17, 2025 12:46:47
Go to top of page