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:
Palabora Mine (Foscor Open Pit; PMC Mine), Loolekop, Phalaborwa, Limpopo, South Africa

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

mindat Locality ID: 3091
mindat URL: http://www.mindat.org/loc-3091.html

Tectonic Settings:

Total number of sublocalities beneath "Palabora Mine (Foscor Open Pit; PMC Mine), Loolekop, Phalaborwa, Limpopo, South Africa": 0
Total number of bottom-level sublocalities: 0

Latitude: 23°59'31"S
Longitude: 31°7'41"E
Decimal Degree (lat, lon): -23.991944444444,31.128055555556
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: 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 

Structural Groups for minerals in this locality: 
AnalcimeApatiteApophylliteAragoniteAuricuprideBaddeleyiteBaryteBruciteCalciteChalcopyrite
ChloriteClayCopperCorrensiteCorundumCovelliteCubaniteFluoriteGadoliniteGypsum
HumiteHydrotalciteJalpaiteMalachiteMarcasiteMicaMilleriteNatroliteNickelineNone
Not in a structural groupPectolitePentlanditePerovskitePrehnitePyritePyroxeneQuartzRocksaltSerpentine
Smectite-vermiculiteSphaleriteSpinelStilbiteStillwateriteTetrahedriteThomsoniteValleriiteWurtziteZircon
Zirconolite

88 IMA Minerals at location:
Aegirine  (*)Analcime  (*)Antigorite  (*)Anzaite-(Ce)  (*)Aragonite  (*)
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  (*)Muscovite  (*)
Natrolite  (*)Naumannite  (*)Pectolite  (*)Pentlandite  (*)Phlogopite  (*)
Portlandite  (*)Prehnite  (*)Pyrite  (*)Pyrrhotite  (*)Quartz  (*)
Saponite  (*)Scolecite  (*)Siegenite  (*)Silver  (*)Sperrylite  (*)
Sphalerite  (*)Stilbite-Ca  (*)Stromeyerite  (*)Strontianite  (*)Taimyrite-I  (*)
Talnakhite  (*)Tetra-auricupride  (*)Tetrahedrite-(Zn)  (*)Thomsonite-Ca  (*)Thorianite  (*)
Uraninite  (*)Valleriite  (*)Vermiculite  (*)Violarite  (*)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+Si2O62060199301022
Analcime  (*)AnalcimeNa(AlSi2O6)·H2O2060199301627
Antigorite  (*)Serpentine ClayMg3Si2O5(OH)4206019930708
Anzaite-(Ce)  (*)Not in a structural groupCe4Fe2+Ti6O18(OH)22060199302
Aragonite  (*)AragoniteCa(CO3)2060199303250
Argentopentlandite  (*)PentlanditeAg(Fe,Ni)8S820601993067
Arsenopalladinite  (*)StillwateritePd8As320601993031
Atokite  (*)Auricupride PerovskitePd3Sn20601993029
Azurite  (*)Not in a structural groupCu3(CO3)2(OH)22060199305509
Baddeleyite  (*)BaddeleyiteZrO2206019930238
Baryte  (*)BaryteBa(SO4)20601993011547
Bornite  (*)NoneCu5FeS42060199305516
Brucite  (*)BruciteMg(OH)2206019930462
Cabriite  (*)NonePd2CuSn20601993012
Calcite  (*)CalciteCa(CO3)20601993027770
Celestine  (*)BaryteSr(SO4)2060199301252
Chalcocite  (*)NoneCu2S2060199305707
Chalcopyrite  (*)ChalcopyriteCuFeS220601993027198
Chondrodite  (*)HumiteMg5(SiO4)2F2206019930285
Clinochlore  (*)Chlorite ClayMg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)82060199301756
Covellite  (*)CovelliteCuS2060199304165
Cubanite  (*)Cubanite WurtziteCuFe2S3206019930802
Cuprite  (*)Not in a structural groupCu2O2060199302970
Datolite  (*)GadoliniteCaB(SiO4)(OH)206019930498
Diopside  (*)PyroxeneCaMgSi2O62060199304135
Dolomite  (*)NoneCaMg(CO3)22060199309895
Fluoborite  (*)NoneMg3(BO3)F320601993052
Fluorapatite  (*)ApatiteCa5(PO4)3F2060199302740
Fluorapophyllite-(K)  (*)ApophylliteKCa4Si8O20F·8H2O206019930303
Fluorite  (*)FluoriteCaF22060199309617
Froodite  (*)NonePdBi220601993062
Galena  (*)RocksaltPbS20601993024243
Geikielite  (*)CorundumMgTiO320601993070
Gold  (*)CopperAu20601993030554
Gypsum  (*)GypsumCa(SO4)·2H2O2060199306890
Hessite  (*)NoneAg2Te206019930804
Hydrobiotite  (*)Corrensite ClayK(Mg,Fe2+)6(Si,Al)8O20(OH)4·nH2O20601993049
Hydromagnesite  (*)NoneMg5(CO3)4(OH)2·4H2O206019930341
Hydrotalcite  (*)HydrotalciteMg6Al2CO3(OH)16(H2O)420601993087
Ilmenite  (*)CorundumFe2+Ti4+O32060199305433
Iowaite  (*)HydrotalciteMg6Fe3+2(OH)16Cl2·4H2O20601993014
Jalpaite  (*)JalpaiteAg3CuS2206019930116
Kyanite  (*)Not in a structural groupAl2OSiO42060199301507
Laumontite  (*)Not in a structural groupCaAl2Si4O12·4H2O2060199301271
Linnaeite  (*)SpinelCo2+Co3+2S4206019930249
Mackinawite  (*)None(Fe,Ni)1+xS (x = 0-0.07)206019930451
Magnesite  (*)CalciteMg(CO3)2060199301487
Magnetite  (*)SpinelFe2+Fe3+2O420601993014899
Majakite  (*)NonePdNiAs20601993022
Malachite  (*)MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)220601993012537
Marcasite  (*)MarcasiteFeS22060199305674
Mertieite-II  (*)StillwateritePd8Sb2.5As0.520601993044
Mesolite  (*)NatroliteNa2Ca2(Si9Al6)O30·8H2O206019930425
Millerite  (*)MilleriteNiS2060199301066
Muscovite  (*)Mica ClayKAl2(Si3Al)O10(OH)220601993017380
Natrolite  (*)NatroliteNa2(Si3Al2)O10·2H2O2060199301236
Naumannite  (*)Not in a structural groupAg2Se206019930192
Pectolite  (*)PectoliteNaCa2Si3O8(OH)206019930363
Pentlandite  (*)Pentlandite(Ni,Fe)9S82060199301512
Phlogopite  (*)Mica ClayKMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)22047204702273
Portlandite  (*)BruciteCa(OH)220601993051
Prehnite  (*)PrehniteCa2Al(Si3Al)O10(OH)22060199301898
Pyrite  (*)PyriteFeS220601993039462
Pyrrhotite  (*)NickelineFe7S82060199309056
Quartz  (*)QuartzSiO220601993061156
Saponite  (*)Clay Smectite-vermiculite(Ca,Na)0.3(Mg,Fe)3(Si,Al)4O10(OH)2·4H2O206019930301
Scolecite  (*)NatroliteCa(Si3Al2)O10·3H2O206019930390
Siegenite  (*)SpinelCoNi2S4206019930249
Silver  (*)CopperAg2060199305186
Sperrylite  (*)PyritePtAs2206019930337
Sphalerite  (*)SphaleriteZnS20601993021482
Stilbite-Ca  (*)StilbiteNaCa4(Si27Al9)O72·28H2O206019930268
Stromeyerite  (*)NoneCuAgS206019930332
Strontianite  (*)AragoniteSr(CO3)206019930589
Taimyrite-I  (*)None(Pd,Pt)9Cu3Sn420601993011
Talnakhite  (*)ChalcopyriteCu9Fe8S1620601993035
Tetra-auricupride  (*)NoneCuAu20601993030
Tetrahedrite-(Zn)  (*)TetrahedriteCu6(Cu4Zn2)Sb4S132060199305317
Thomsonite-Ca  (*)ThomsoniteNaCa2(Al5Si5)O20·6H2O206019930452
Thorianite  (*)FluoriteThO2206019930236
Uraninite  (*)FluoriteUO22060199302718
Valleriite  (*)Valleriite2[(Fe,Cu)S]·1.53[(Mg,Al)(OH)2]206019930237
Vermiculite  (*)Clay Smectite-vermiculiteMg0.7(Mg,Fe,Al)6(Si,Al)8O20(OH)4·8H2O206019930652
Violarite  (*)SpinelFeNi2S4206019930380
Xonotlite  (*)NoneCa6Si6O17(OH)2206019930109
Zircon  (*)ZirconZr(SiO4)2050205005251
Zirconolite  (*)Zirconolite(Ca,Y)Zr(Ti,Mg,Al)2O7206019930140
Zirkelite  (*)Fluorite(Ti,Ca,Zr)O2-x20601993027


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     Yes  27708Phalaborwa, Limpopo, South AfricaPhalaborwaErnst and Bell (2010)10.1007/s00710-009-0074-1MP98_55 
Jen_00005332061.12060.12060.6±0.5U-Pb    Yes  27708Phalaborwa, Limpopo, South AfricaPhalaborwaErnst and Bell (2010)10.1007/s00710-009-0074-1MP98_55 
Jen_00005342063.32056.52059.9±3.4U-Pb    Yes  27708Phalaborwa, Limpopo, South AfricaPhalaborwaErnst and Bell (2010)10.1007/s00710-009-0074-1MP98_55 
Jen_000053520602059.22059.6±0.4U-Pb    Yes  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

All age data...

Other copyright data...