Mineral Evolution Database
Created and maintained by the Mineral Evolution Project in partnership with RRUFF and mindat.
Mineral locality data provided by mindat.org



The Mineral Evolution database is currently under development.

The goal of this page is to present localities at which the mineral is found, and estimates of the oldest possible geologic age of the minerals at these localities.


Locality Name:
Phalaborwa, Limpopo, South Africa

Oldest recorded age at locality: 2500
Youngest recorded age at locality: 1600

mindat Locality ID: 27708
mindat URL: http://www.mindat.org/loc-27708.html

Tectonic Settings:

Total number of sublocalities beneath "Phalaborwa, Limpopo, South Africa": 4
Total number of bottom-level sublocalities: 3

Number of Child Localities: 3
Child Localities:
Foskor Apatite Pit
Guide Mine
Loolekop

Latitude: 23°58'45"S
Longitude: 31°7'34"E
Decimal Degree (lat, lon): -23.979166666667,31.126111111111
AThis mineral is Anthropogenic.
GThis mineral is directly dated.
BThis mineral is reported as having this age.
YThis mineral is using an age reported as an element mineralization period.
OThis mineral is using an age calculated from all data at the locality.
RThe age displayed for this mineral originates from a different, non-child locality.
PThe age displayed for this mineral is the range of ages for this mineral at all of this locality's children.
This mineral's age has not yet been recorded.

This Mineral list contains entries from this locality, including sub-localities. Minerals in bold are reported by mindat.org as occurring directly at this locality, and do not occur at any children (sublocalities) of this locality.

Elements at this locality, including sub-localities: Ag Al As Au B Ba Bi C Ca Ce Cl Co Cu F Fe H K Mg Na Ni O P Pb Pd Pt S Sb Se Si Sn Sr Te Th Ti U Y Zn Zr 

Elements from minerals reported directly at this locality: Ca Cu Fe H Mg Na O S Si Ti 

Structural Groups for minerals in this locality: 
AmphiboleAnalcimeApatiteApophylliteAragoniteAuricuprideBaddeleyiteBaryteBruciteCalcite
ChalcopyriteChloriteClayCopperCorrensiteCorundumCovelliteCubaniteFeldsparFluorite
GadoliniteGypsumHumiteHydrotalciteJalpaiteMalachiteMarcasiteMicaMilleriteNatrolite
NickelineNoneNot in a structural groupPectolitePentlanditePerovskitePrehnitePseudobrookitePyritePyroxene
QuartzRocksaltSerpentineSmectite-vermiculiteSphaleriteSpinelStilbiteStillwateriteTetrahedriteThomsonite
TitaniteValleriiteWurtziteZirconZirconolite

96 IMA Minerals at location:
Aegirine  (*)Analcime  (*)Antigorite  (*)Anzaite-(Ce)  (*)Aragonite  (*)
Arfvedsonite  (*)Argentopentlandite  (*)Arsenopalladinite  (*)Atokite  (*)Azurite  (*)
Baddeleyite  (*)Baryte  (*)Bornite  (*)Brucite  (*)Cabriite  (*)
Calcite  (*)Celestine  (*)Chalcocite  (*)Chalcopyrite  (*)Chondrodite  (*)
Clinochlore  (*)Covellite  (*)Cubanite  (*)Cuprite  (*)Datolite  (*)
Diopside  (*)Dolomite  (*)Fluoborite  (*)Fluorapatite  (*)Fluorapophyllite-(K)  (*)
Fluorite  (*)Froodite  (*)Galena  (*)Geikielite  (*)Gold  (*)
Gypsum  (*)Hessite  (*)Hydrobiotite  (*)Hydromagnesite  (*)Hydrotalcite  (*)
Ilmenite  (*)Iowaite  (*)Jalpaite  (*)Kyanite  (*)Laumontite  (*)
Linnaeite  (*)Mackinawite  (*)Magnesite  (*)Magnetite  (*)Majakite  (*)
Malachite  (*)Marcasite  (*)Mertieite-II  (*)Mesolite  (*)Millerite  (*)
Mooihoekite  (*)Muscovite  (*)Natrolite  (*)Naumannite  (*)Orthoclase  (*)
Pectolite  (*)Pentlandite  (*)Phlogopite  (*)Pigeonite  (*)Portlandite  (*)
Prehnite  (*)Pseudobrookite  (*)Pyrite  (*)Pyrrhotite  (*)Quartz  (*)
Saponite  (*)Scolecite  (*)Siegenite  (*)Silver  (*)Sperrylite  (*)
Sphalerite  (*)Stilbite-Ca  (*)Stromeyerite  (*)Strontianite  (*)Taimyrite-I  (*)
Talnakhite  (*)Tetra-auricupride  (*)Tetrahedrite-(Zn)  (*)Thomsonite-Ca  (*)Thorianite  (*)
Titanite  (*)Ulvöspinel  (*)Uraninite  (*)Valleriite  (*)Vermiculite  (*)
Violarite  (*)Witherite  (*)Xonotlite  (*)Zircon  (*)Zirconolite  (*)
Zirkelite  (*)
Mineral nameStructural GroupsIMA FormulaMax Age (Ma)Min Age (Ma)# of Sublocalities containing mineralLOCALITY IDs, not mindat ids# of localities containing mineral
Aegirine  (*)PyroxeneNaFe3+Si2O62060199311064671022
Analcime  (*)AnalcimeNa(AlSi2O6)·H2O2060199311064671627
Antigorite  (*)Serpentine ClayMg3Si2O5(OH)4206019931106467708
Anzaite-(Ce)  (*)Not in a structural groupCe4Fe2+Ti6O18(OH)22060199311064672
Aragonite  (*)AragoniteCa(CO3)2060199311064673250
Arfvedsonite  (*)AmphiboleNaNa2(Fe2+4Fe3+)Si8O22(OH)22063.319930295
Argentopentlandite  (*)PentlanditeAg(Fe,Ni)8S820601993110646767
Arsenopalladinite  (*)StillwateritePd8As320601993110646731
Atokite  (*)Auricupride PerovskitePd3Sn20601993110646729
Azurite  (*)Not in a structural groupCu3(CO3)2(OH)22060199311064675509
Baddeleyite  (*)BaddeleyiteZrO2206019931106467238
Baryte  (*)BaryteBa(SO4)209419932106464,10646711547
Bornite  (*)NoneCu5FeS4209419932106465,1064675516
Brucite  (*)BruciteMg(OH)2206019931106467462
Cabriite  (*)NonePd2CuSn20601993110646712
Calcite  (*)CalciteCa(CO3)209419933106464,106465,10646727770
Celestine  (*)BaryteSr(SO4)209419932106464,1064671252
Chalcocite  (*)NoneCu2S2060199311064675707
Chalcopyrite  (*)ChalcopyriteCuFeS2209419933106464,106465,10646727198
Chondrodite  (*)HumiteMg5(SiO4)2F2206019931106467285
Clinochlore  (*)Chlorite ClayMg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)82060199311064671756
Covellite  (*)CovelliteCuS2060199311064674165
Cubanite  (*)Cubanite WurtziteCuFe2S3206019931106467802
Cuprite  (*)Not in a structural groupCu2O2060199311064672970
Datolite  (*)GadoliniteCaB(SiO4)(OH)206019931106467498
Diopside  (*)PyroxeneCaMgSi2O6209419932106465,1064674135
Dolomite  (*)NoneCaMg(CO3)2209419932106464,1064679895
Fluoborite  (*)NoneMg3(BO3)F320601993110646752
Fluorapatite  (*)ApatiteCa5(PO4)3F2060199311064672740
Fluorapophyllite-(K)  (*)ApophylliteKCa4Si8O20F·8H2O206019931106467303
Fluorite  (*)FluoriteCaF2209419932106464,1064679617
Froodite  (*)NonePdBi220601993110646762
Galena  (*)RocksaltPbS209419932106465,10646724243
Geikielite  (*)CorundumMgTiO320601993110646770
Gold  (*)CopperAu20601993110646730554
Gypsum  (*)GypsumCa(SO4)·2H2O2060199311064676890
Hessite  (*)NoneAg2Te206019931106467804
Hydrobiotite  (*)Corrensite ClayK(Mg,Fe2+)6(Si,Al)8O20(OH)4·nH2O20601993110646749
Hydromagnesite  (*)NoneMg5(CO3)4(OH)2·4H2O206019931106467341
Hydrotalcite  (*)HydrotalciteMg6Al2CO3(OH)16(H2O)420601993110646787
Ilmenite  (*)CorundumFe2+Ti4+O32060199311064675433
Iowaite  (*)HydrotalciteMg6Fe3+2(OH)16Cl2·4H2O20601993110646714
Jalpaite  (*)JalpaiteAg3CuS2206019931106467116
Kyanite  (*)Not in a structural groupAl2OSiO42060199311064671507
Laumontite  (*)Not in a structural groupCaAl2Si4O12·4H2O2060199311064671271
Linnaeite  (*)SpinelCo2+Co3+2S4206019931106467249
Mackinawite  (*)None(Fe,Ni)1+xS (x = 0-0.07)206019931106467451
Magnesite  (*)CalciteMg(CO3)2060199311064671487
Magnetite  (*)SpinelFe2+Fe3+2O420601993110646714899
Majakite  (*)NonePdNiAs20601993110646722
Malachite  (*)MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)220601993110646712537
Marcasite  (*)MarcasiteFeS22060199311064675674
Mertieite-II  (*)StillwateritePd8Sb2.5As0.520601993110646744
Mesolite  (*)NatroliteNa2Ca2(Si9Al6)O30·8H2O206019931106467425
Millerite  (*)MilleriteNiS2060199311064671066
Mooihoekite  (*)ChalcopyriteCu9Fe9S162063.31993020
Muscovite  (*)Mica ClayKAl2(Si3Al)O10(OH)220601993110646717380
Natrolite  (*)NatroliteNa2(Si3Al2)O10·2H2O2060199311064671236
Naumannite  (*)Not in a structural groupAg2Se206019931106467192
Orthoclase  (*)FeldsparK(AlSi3O8)2094199311064652349
Pectolite  (*)PectoliteNaCa2Si3O8(OH)206019931106467363
Pentlandite  (*)Pentlandite(Ni,Fe)9S82060199311064671512
Phlogopite  (*)Mica ClayKMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)22047204711064672273
Pigeonite  (*)Pyroxene(Mg,Fe,Ca)2Si2O62063.319930303
Portlandite  (*)BruciteCa(OH)220601993110646751
Prehnite  (*)PrehniteCa2Al(Si3Al)O10(OH)22060199311064671898
Pseudobrookite  (*)Pseudobrookite(Fe3+2Ti)O52063.319930164
Pyrite  (*)PyriteFeS220601993110646739462
Pyrrhotite  (*)NickelineFe7S82060199311064679056
Quartz  (*)QuartzSiO2209419932106464,10646761156
Saponite  (*)Clay Smectite-vermiculite(Ca,Na)0.3(Mg,Fe)3(Si,Al)4O10(OH)2·4H2O206019931106467301
Scolecite  (*)NatroliteCa(Si3Al2)O10·3H2O206019931106467390
Siegenite  (*)SpinelCoNi2S4206019931106467249
Silver  (*)CopperAg2060199311064675186
Sperrylite  (*)PyritePtAs2206019931106467337
Sphalerite  (*)SphaleriteZnS20601993110646721482
Stilbite-Ca  (*)StilbiteNaCa4(Si27Al9)O72·28H2O206019931106467268
Stromeyerite  (*)NoneCuAgS206019931106467332
Strontianite  (*)AragoniteSr(CO3)206019931106467589
Taimyrite-I  (*)None(Pd,Pt)9Cu3Sn420601993110646711
Talnakhite  (*)ChalcopyriteCu9Fe8S1620601993110646735
Tetra-auricupride  (*)NoneCuAu20601993110646730
Tetrahedrite-(Zn)  (*)TetrahedriteCu6(Cu4Zn2)Sb4S132060199311064675317
Thomsonite-Ca  (*)ThomsoniteNaCa2(Al5Si5)O20·6H2O206019931106467452
Thorianite  (*)FluoriteThO2206019931106467236
Titanite  (*)TitaniteCaTi(SiO4)O2094199311064654899
Ulvöspinel  (*)SpinelFe2+2TiO42063.319930120
Uraninite  (*)FluoriteUO22060199311064672718
Valleriite  (*)Valleriite2[(Fe,Cu)S]·1.53[(Mg,Al)(OH)2]206019931106467237
Vermiculite  (*)Clay Smectite-vermiculiteMg0.7(Mg,Fe,Al)6(Si,Al)8O20(OH)4·8H2O209419933106464,106465,106467652
Violarite  (*)SpinelFeNi2S4206019931106467380
Witherite  (*)AragoniteBa(CO3)209419931106464251
Xonotlite  (*)NoneCa6Si6O17(OH)2206019931106467109
Zircon  (*)ZirconZr(SiO4)2050205011064675251
Zirconolite  (*)Zirconolite(Ca,Y)Zr(Ti,Mg,Al)2O7206019931106467140
Zirkelite  (*)Fluorite(Ti,Ca,Zr)O2-x20601993110646727


Locality Notes from all Ages at Locality:
Age IDLocality Notes
Jen_0000532carbonatite complex
Jen_0000533carbonatite complex
Jen_0000534carbonatite complex
Jen_0000535carbonatite complex
Jen_0000536carbonatite complex
Jen_0001077MAGMATIC STYLE: 400x900 vertical pipe of arcuate sheets of ‘banded’ carbonatite intruded by a central, irregular body of ‘transgressive’ carbonatite with numerous dykes and veins emanating from it. ASSOCIATED SILICATE ROCKS: Pyroxenite, phoscorite, serpentinite, mica rocks, syenite and fenite.
Jen_0001078MAGMATIC STYLE: 400x900 vertical pipe of arcuate sheets of ‘banded’ carbonatite intruded by a central, irregular body of ‘transgressive’ carbonatite with numerous dykes and veins emanating from it. ASSOCIATED SILICATE ROCKS: Pyroxenite, phoscorite, serpentinite, mica rocks, syenite and fenite.
Jen_0001079MAGMATIC STYLE: 400x900 vertical pipe of arcuate sheets of ‘banded’ carbonatite intruded by a central, irregular body of ‘transgressive’ carbonatite with numerous dykes and veins emanating from it. ASSOCIATED SILICATE ROCKS: Pyroxenite, phoscorite, serpentinite, mica rocks, syenite and fenite.


10 Ages assigned to this locality:

Excel IDMax Age (Ma)Min Age (Ma)Age as listed in referenceDating MethodAge InterpretPrioritized?Sample SourceSample NumRun NumAge from other LocalityDated MineralMinerals explicitely stated as having this ageAge applies to these ElementsMinDat Locality IDDated Locality (Max Age)Location as listed in referenceReferenceReference DOIReference IDAge Notes
Jen_00005322060.620592059.8±0.8        27708Phalaborwa, Limpopo, South AfricaPhalaborwaErnst and Bell (2010)10.1007/s00710-009-0074-1MP98_55 
Jen_00005332061.12060.12060.6±0.5U-Pb       27708Phalaborwa, Limpopo, South AfricaPhalaborwaErnst and Bell (2010)10.1007/s00710-009-0074-1MP98_55 
Jen_00005342063.32056.52059.9±3.4U-Pb       27708Phalaborwa, Limpopo, South AfricaPhalaborwaErnst and Bell (2010)10.1007/s00710-009-0074-1MP98_55 
Jen_000053520602059.22059.6±0.4U-Pb       27708Phalaborwa, Limpopo, South AfricaPhalaborwaErnst and Bell (2010)10.1007/s00710-009-0074-1MP98_55 
Jen_0001077203119932012±19U-Pb uranothorianite, baddeleyite     3091Palabora Mine (Foscor Open Pit; PMC Mine), Loolekop, Phalaborwa, Limpopo, South AfricaPhalaborwaWoolley and Kjarsgaard (2008)10.4095/225115GSCOF5796 
Jen_0001078205020502050U-Pb zircon   Zircon  3091Palabora Mine (Foscor Open Pit; PMC Mine), Loolekop, Phalaborwa, Limpopo, South AfricaPhalaborwaWoolley and Kjarsgaard (2008)10.4095/225115GSCOF5796 
Jen_0001079204720472047Rb-Sr phlogopite   Phlogopite  3091Palabora Mine (Foscor Open Pit; PMC Mine), Loolekop, Phalaborwa, Limpopo, South AfricaPhalaborwaWoolley and Kjarsgaard (2008)10.4095/225115GSCOF5796 
MD36_189-00001206020602060        3091Palabora Mine (Foscor Open Pit; PMC Mine), Loolekop, Phalaborwa, Limpopo, South AfricaPhalabowra ComplexGroves and Vielreivher (2001)10.1007/s001260050298MD36_189 
ree-0056925001600Early Proterozoic  low      3091Palabora Mine (Foscor Open Pit; PMC Mine), Loolekop, Phalaborwa, Limpopo, South AfricaPalabora (Phalaborwa)Orris and Grauch (2002) USGSOFR02_189 
Jen_0000536209420242059±35U-Pb apatite  Yes  56243Schiel, Vhembe District, Limpopo, South AfricaSchielErnst and Bell (2010)10.1007/s00710-009-0074-1MP98_55 

SampleSource LocalityReference URL
FKM-74Palabora Mine (Foscor Open Pit; PMC Mine), Loolekop, Phalaborwa, Limpopo, South Africahttps://www.rockptx.com/fkm-51-to-fkm-75/#FKM-74
R100171Palabora Mine (Foscor Open Pit; PMC Mine), Loolekop, Phalaborwa, Limpopo, South Africahttps://rruff.info/R100171
R060272Palabora Mine (Foscor Open Pit; PMC Mine), Loolekop, Phalaborwa, Limpopo, South Africahttps://rruff.info/R060272
R060540Palabora Mine (Foscor Open Pit; PMC Mine), Loolekop, Phalaborwa, Limpopo, South Africahttps://rruff.info/R060540

All locality data graciously provided by mindat.org

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