Bushveld Geology and Metallogeny Research Chair
Bushveld Geology and Metallogeny Research Chair
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Bushveld Geology and Metallogeny Research Chair

The Bushveld Complex in South Africa is a repository of some truly global resources. The Critical Zone of this complex hosts an estimated 88% of the world’s known platinum group elements (PGE) resources and 72% of the world’s chromite ore, whilst the Upper Zone contains approximately 45% of the world’s vanadium resources as well as substantial phosphate mineralization (Viljoen, 2016). Despite the extensive exploration and high-quality academic studies conducted over the past forty years, the Bushveld Complex remains enigmatic. In response to this need for future geological investigation and mineral resource exploitation of the Bushveld Complex, the School of Geosciences at the University of the Witwatersrand, being South Africa’s leading applied geoscience training and research entity has established the Bushveld Geology and Metallogeny Research Chair under the leadership of Prof. Rais Latypov.
This research chair will facilitate providing a framework for future exploration, contribute to enhancing mining and processing efficiencies, environmental sustainability and optimal consideration of the full Platinum Group Minerals (PGM) basket. The buoyant commodity prices across the globe over the past three years have contributed to a significant re-focus of the South African mining industry on the Bushveld Complex, where world-class operators seek to expand the extraction of chromium, platinum group elements and vanadium mineral resources. More importantly is re-establishing the academic support foundation for the continued understanding of the formation and mineralisation of the Bushveld Complex’s mineral deposits and their sustainable mining. Advanced orebody knowledge and generation of exploration models, together with building and sustaining academic research capacity, which has declined, are necessary to re-invigorate and integrate the PGM (including Ir, Ru and base metals) and chromite industry with academia.
 

Aims of the BUGEMET Research Chair

The BUGEMET Research Chair is proposed to ensure dedicated and continued focus on improved understanding of the geology and metallogeny of the Bushveld Complex; and the impact for discovery, exploration, and economic extraction. This will include (but is not limited to) ore-forming processes, stratigraphic studies, structure, facies distribution, style of mineralization, economic considerations, regional stratigraphy, and geological controls on mineralization. It is anticipated that research would, where required, be focused on site-specific research topics (e.g., facies variations of the MR and UG2, the effect of transgressive IRUP on ore bodies, distribution of footwall sulphide mineralization of the MR, effects of alteration on ore rheology during flotation, and ore grade distribution). The objective of the initiative will include general academic support to the industry as detailed below.

To accomplish this aim, the BUGEMET Research Chair will plan to achieve three major strategic objectives:  

Strategic Objectives

Building knowledge

To implement world class and cutting-edge research on the Bushveld Complex in South Africa (and potentially other layered intrusions worldwide) with the focus on the geological setting of mineral deposits and ore-forming processes which will be integrated with the mining and exploration industry challenges. The research will be accomplished via research projects at Masters, PhD and Post Doctoral Fellowship level by members of an enthusiastic and dynamic research team under the supervision of the Research Chair and co-investigators/collaborators. 

The major results of the research will be disseminated via publications in highly ranked scientific journals as well as presentations at international conferences, symposia and congresses (e.g., International Platinum and Ni-Cu symposiums, AGU and EGU meetings, Geological Congresses). 

An essential part of the research activity is the creation of an accessible database comprising all geologically important information about mineral deposits of the Bushveld Complex. The research will provide an important step beyond the current state-of-the-art knowledge in theoretical and applied fields of modern mineral deposit geology. This will significantly improve and strengthen the overall global position and competitiveness of South African geosciences and will lessen the need for ‘parachute research’ among the global scientific community. This refers to the practice of scientists and research groups to conduct research and collect data in South Africa (and other African’s countries) and to publish their findings in prestigious journals, giving little or no credit to their local collaborators. The creation and successful operation of the BUGEMET Research Chair will promote the production of our own publications in high-ranking journals. Publishing in these high-impact journals is extremely difficult because they only accept research of outstanding scientific importance that reaches a conclusion of interest to an interdisciplinary readership. 

Currently, a research group lead by the proposed research chair, Prof. Rais Latypov, has ten manuscripts already published and two more at different stages of a review/publication process in Nature/Science indicating a high potential of this dynamic group to conduct world-class research. Bringing the Bushveld’s related topics to the pages of these journals will increase the prestige of this research not only among other fields of geology, but in science in general. A monograph ‘Mineral Deposits and Parental Melts: Origin of the Bushveld Igneous Complex’ is to be published as an outcome of this initiative. 

Building the next generation

To contribute to the growth of a new generation of suitably qualified geoscientists who would be able to adequately address the problems at South Africa’s industry sector. This activity will develop along three major lines:

•    Training of industry-based geoscientists at operations associated with the Bushveld Complex to ensure that they have refreshed current geological knowledge to assist them in their roles. The geoscientists will have an opportunity to continuously update their knowledge on the geology and mineral deposit styles of the Bushveld Complex and other similar intrusions worldwide through CPD-accredited courses and related field trips to the Bushveld Complex. The courses and field trips will provide a review of current models to understand the geological processes that affect trends in the mineralization and its variability thereby contributing to an increase in general knowledge of geoscientists.  

•    Training of industry-based geoscientists via a wide range of MSc and PhD research projects on various topics/questions related to geology, petrology and metallogeny of the Bushveld Complex. These incumbents would be the source of a wider pool of talent to creatively solve current and future challenging problems and to develop the future decision-makers in industry. Involvement and training of South African students, especially from previously disadvantaged groups, will be a priority of this initiative.  

•    Supporting all activities of the Eastern and Western Bushveld GSSA branches including (a) the establishment of a digital archive (photo library, published papers, presentation, maps, reports, theses, drillhole data, historic Bushveld geological endeavours and discoveries, etc.), (b) distribution of recent publications, presentations and general research topics and (c) help in organizing lectures at mine or exploration sites on Bushveld research topics. 

An important initiative here is to establish and run a biennial workshop/conference in ‘Bushveld Geology and Metallogeny’ as a forum for all industry- and university-based geoscientists to share their recent field findings/work in progress/research results of both fundamental and applied significance on the Bushveld Complex. The first three workshops/conferences are proposed to be organized successively at Western (2024), Eastern (2026) and Northern (2028) Limbs of the Bushveld Complex. 

Building public awareness

To introduce a novel initiative, the Bushveld Complex and Importance of Mining for Non-Geologists, with an aim of raising public awareness and community engagement regarding the significance of geology and mineral deposits in general, and the importance of research on the Bushveld Complex in particular, as well as to emphasize a decisive role of a mining industry in promoting our research and supporting the economy of South Africa. 

This will be done via (a) running science knowledge talks and field excursions for the general public and school pupils, (b) education of the general public and school pupils via publishing popular geological articles in national newspapers, and taking part in national radio and television programs and using Wikipedia to update the latest achievements in our field for public use, (c) establishing an internet homepage containing all basic information about the BUGEMET Research Chair, including a summary of the research being undertaken, personnel, aims and objectives, major milestones and targets, publications, major contributions, science knowledge talks and field excursions, and work in progress. The activity will greatly contribute to developing and maintaining a positive public image of South Africa’s mining industry.

Sponsors for BUGEMET

This initiative aims to include all the established industry companies that actively operate on the Bushveld Complex (Sibanye-Stillwater, Northam, Anglo American Platinum, Implats, Samancor, African Rainbow Minerals, Glencore, Royal Bafokeng Platinum, Ivanhoe, Sedibelo, Tharisa, Bauba, Wesizwe, Siyanda Bakgatla, PTM, Bushveld Minerals, and Red Graniti SA).

Currently, 5 platinum and chromite companies have signed up for a 5-year-long term collaboration.

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