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Witwatersrand, Evander, East Rand, Central Rand, West Rand, Carltonville, Klerksdorp, Welkom
South Africa
Main commodities: Au U




The most recent source geological information used to prepare this description was dated: 2007.    
This description is a summary from published sources, the chief of which are listed below.
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    Selected References
Agangi A, Hofmann A and Wohlgemuth-Ueberwasser C C,  2013 - Pyrite Zoning as a Record of Mineralization in the Ventersdorp Contact Reef, Witwatersrand Basin, South Africa: in    Econ. Geol.   v.108 pp. 1243-1272
Antrobus E S A  1986 - The South Rand Goldfield: in Anhaeusser C R, Maske S, (Eds.), 1986 Mineral Deposits of South Africa Geol. Soc. South Africa, Johannesburg   v1 pp 689-703
Antrobus E S A, Brink W C J, Brink M C, Caulkin J, Hutchinson R I, Thomas D E, van Graan J A, Viljoen J J  1986 - The Klerksdorp Goldfield: in Anhaeusser C R, Maske S, (Eds.), 1986 Mineral Deposits of South Africa Geol. Soc. South Africa, Johannesburg   v1 pp 549-598
Berlenbach J W,  1995 - Aspects of bedding-parallel faulting associated with the Ventersdorp contact reef on the Kloof gold mine : in    S. Afr. J. Geol.   v98 pp 335-348
Berlenbach J W,  1995 - Underthrusting in the Kloof gold mine : in    S. Afr. J. Geol.   v98 pp 35-42
Burke, K., Kidd, W.S.F. and Kusky, T.M.,  1986 - Archean foreland basin tectonics in the Witwatwersrand, South Africa: in    Tectonics   v.5, pp. 439-456.
Chingwaru, S.J., Von der Heyden, B. and Tadie, M.,  2023 - An underexploited invisible gold resource in the Archean sulphides of the Witwatersrand tailings dumps: in    Scientific Reports, Nature Portfolio    10p. doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-30219-5.
Dankert, B.T. and Hein, K.A.A.  2010 - Evaluating the structural character and tectonic history of the Witwatersrand Basin: in    Precambrian Research   v.177, pp. 1-22.
Drennan G R, Robb L J, Meyer F M, Armstrong R A and de Bruiyn H,  1990 - The nature of the Archaean basement in the hinterland of the Witwatersrand Basin; II, A crustal profile west of the Welkom Goldfield and comparisons with the Vredefort crustal profile: in    S. Afr. J. Geol.   v93 pp 41-53
Ebert, L.B., Robbins, E.I., Rose, K.D., Kastrup, R.V., Scanlon, J.C., Gebhard, L.A. and Garcia, A.R.,  1990 - Chemistry and palynology of carbon seams and associated rocks from the Witwatersrand goldfields, South Africa: in    Ore Geology Reviews   v.5, pp. 423-444.
Els B G  1991 - Placer formation during progradational fluvial degradation: the Late Archean Middelvlei Gold Placer, Witwatersrand, South Africa: in    Econ. Geol.   v86 pp 261-277
Els B G and Beukes N J,  1987 - Sedimentology of the Middelvlei Placer, Doornfontein Gold Mine, Witwatersrand Supergroup: in    S. Afr. J. Geol.   v90 pp 72-85
Els B G,  1988 - Textural and mineralogical composition of some fluvial Witwatersrand rocks of the West Wits Line Goldfield: in    S. Afr. J. Geol.   v91 pp 543-549
Engelbrecht C J, Baumbach G W S, Matthysen J L, Fletcher P  1986 - The West Wits Line: in Anhaeusser C R, Maske S, (Eds.), 1986 Mineral Deposits of South Africa Geol. Soc. South Africa, Johannesburg   v1 pp 599-648
Frimmel H E  2005 - Archaean atmospheric evolution: evidence from the Witwatersrand gold fields, South Africa: in    Earth Science Reviews   v70 pp 1-46
Frimmel H E, le Roex A P, Knight J, Minter W E L,   1993 - A case study of the postdepositional alteration of the Witwatersrand Basal Reef gold placer: in    Econ. Geol.   v88 pp 249-265
Fuchs, S., Williams-Jones, A.E. and Przybylowicz, W.J.,  2016 - The origin of the gold and uranium ores of the Black Reef Formation, Transvaal Supergroup, South Africa: in    Ore Geology Reviews   v.72, pp. 149-164.
Gartz V H, Frimmel H E  1999 - Complex metasomatism of an Archean placer in the Witswatersrand Basin, South Africa: the Ventersdorp contact reef - a hydrothermal aquifer?: in    Econ. Geol.   v94 pp 689-706
Gray N K, Tucker R F, Kershaw D J  1994 - The Sun Project - I. Discovery of a major new Witwatersrand goldfield: in    XVth CMMI Congress, Johannesburg, SAIMM, 1994   v3 pp 95-102
Hallbauer D K  1986 - The mineralogy and geochemistry of Witwatersrand pyrite, gold, uranium, and carbonaceous matter: in Anhaeusser C R, Maske S, (Eds.), 1986 Mineral Deposits of South Africa Geol. Soc. South Africa, Johannesburg   v1 pp 731-752
Henckel J and Schweitzer J K,  1990 - The identification of provenance-controlled facies by geochemical methods on a portion of the Vaal Reef, Klerksdorp Goldfield : in    S. Afr. J. Geol.   v93 pp 602-610
Hutchinson R W and Viljoen R P,  1988 - Re-evaluation of gold source in Witwatersrand ores : in    S. Afr. J. Geol.   v91 pp 157-173
Jolley, S.J., Freeman, S.R., Barnicoat, A.C., Phillips, G.M., Knipe, R.J., Pather, A., Fox, N.P.C., Strydom, D., Birch, M.T.G., Henderson, I.H.C. and Rowland, T.W.,  2004 - Structural controls on Witwatersrand gold mineralisation: in    J. of Structural Geology   v.26, pp. 1067-1086.
Jolley, S.J., Henderson, I.H.C., and Fox, N.P.C.,  1999 - Thrust-fracture network and hydrothermal gold mineralization: Witwatersrand Basin, South Africa: in McCaffrey, K.J.W., Lonergan, L. and Wilkinson, J., (Eds.), 1999 Fractures, Fluid Flow and Mineralization. Geological Society, London,   Special Publication 155, pp. 153-165.
Killick A M and Roering C,  1994 - Bedding-parallel simple shear deformation at Randfontein Estates gold mine, Cooke section, Witwatersrand Basin, South Africa : in    S. Afr. J. Geol.   v97 pp 228-231
Large R R, Meffre S, Burnett R, Guy B, Bull S, Gilbert S, Goemann K and Danyushevsky L,  2013 - Evidence for an Intrabasinal Source and Multiple Concentration Processes in the Formation of the Carbon Leader Reef, Witwatersrand Supergroup, South Africa: in    Econ. Geol.   v.108 pp. 1215-1241
Malitc K N, Merkle R K W,  2004 - Ru-Os-Ir-Pt and Pt-Fe alloys from the Evander Goldfield, Witwatersrand Basin, South Africa: detrital origin inferred from compositional and osmium-isotope data - **CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE**: in    The Canadian Mineralogist   v42 pp 631-650
Meyer F M, Robb L J, Oberthur T, Saager R and Stupp H D,  1990 - Cobalt, nickel, and gold in pyrite from primary gold deposits and Witwatersrand reefs: in    S. Afr. J. Geol.   v93 pp 70-82
Minter W E L and Loen J S,  1991 - Palaeocurrent dispersal patterns of Witwatersrand gold placers : in    S. Afr. J. Geol.   v94 pp 70-85
Minter W E L, Goedhart M, Knight J, Frimmel H E  1993 - Morphology of Witwatersrand gold grains from the Basal Reef: Evidence for their detrital origin: in    Econ. Geol.   v88 pp 237-265
Minter W E L, Hill W C N, Kidger R J, Kingsley C S, Snowden P A  1986 - The Welkom Goldfield: in Anhaeusser C R, Maske S, (eds),  Mineral Deposits of Southern Africa Geol. Soc. of South Africa, Johannesburg   v1 pp 497-539
Mossman, D.J., Minter, W.E.L., Dutkiewicz, A., Hallbauer, D.K., George, S.C., Hennigh, Q., Reimer, T.O. and Horscroft, F.D.,  2008 - The indigenous origin of Witwatersrand carbon: in    Precambrian Research   v.164, pp. 173-186.
Muntean, J.L., Frimmel, H.E., Phillips, N., Law, J. and Myers, R.,  2005 - Controversies on the Origin of World-Class Gold Deposits, Part II: Witwatersrand Gold Deposits: in    SEG Newsletter,   January 2005 pp. 7, 12-19.
Myers R E, McCarthy T S, Stanistreet I G  1990 - A tectono-sedimentary reconstruction of the development and evolution of the Witwatersrand Basin, with particular emphasis on the Central Rand Group: in    S. Afr. J. Geol.   v93, no. 1 pp 180-201
Nwaila, G.T., Bourdeau, J.E., Jinnah, Z., Frimmel, H.E., Bybee, G.M., Zhang, S.E., Manzi, M.S.D., Minter, W.E.L. and Mashaba, D.,  2021 - The Significance of Erosion Channels on Gold Metallogeny in the Witwatersrand Basin (South Africa): Evidence from the Carbon Leader Reef in the Carletonville Gold Field: in    Econ. Geol.   v.116, pp. 265-284.
Oberthur T, Saager R  1986 - Silver and Mercury in Gold particles from the Proterozoic Witwatersrand placer deposits of South Africa: metallogenic and geochemical implications: in    Econ. Geol.   v81 pp 20-31
Parnell J  2001 - Paragenesis of mineralization within fractured pebbles in Witwatersrand conglomerates: in    Mineralium Deposita   v36 pp 689-699
Phillips G N and Law J D M  1994 - Metamorphism of the Witwatersrand gold fields: A review: in    Ore Geology Reviews   v9 pp 1-31
Phillips G N, Law J D M, Myers R E  1990 - The role of fluids in the evolution of the Witwatersrand Basin: in    S. Afr. J. Geol.   v93, no. 1 pp 54-69
Phillips G N, Myers R E  1989 - The Witwatersrand Gold Fields: Part II. An origin for Witwatersrand gold during metamorphism and associated alteration: in    Econ. Geol. Mono. 6    pp 598-608
Phillips G N, Myers R E, Law J D M, Bailey A C, Cadle A B, Beneke S D, Guisti L  1989 - The Witwatersrand Gold Fields: Part I. Post depositional history, synsedimentary processes and gold distribution: in    Econ. Geol. Mono. 6    pp 585-597
Phillips G N, Zhou T and Powell R,  1997 - Metamorphic temperature variations among Witwatersrand goldfields; evidence from the pyrophyllite-chloritoid-chlorite mineral assemblage : in    S. Afr. J. Geol.   v100 pp 393-404
Phillips GN, Law J D M, and Stevens G,  1997 - Alteration, heat, and Witwatersrand gold; 111 years after Harrison and Langlaagte: in    S. Afr. J. Geol.   v100 pp 377-392
Phillips, G.N. and Powell, R.,  2015 - Hydrothermal alteration in the Witwatersrand goldfields: in    Ore Geology Reviews   v.65, pp. 245-273. doi.org/10.1016/j.oregeorev.2014.09.031.
Pretorius D A  1974 - The nature of the Witwatersrand gold-uranium deposits: in Wolf K H, (ed),  Handbook of Stratabound and Stratiform Ore Deposits, Elsevier   v7 pp 29-88
Pretorius D A  1991 - The sources of Witwatersrand gold and uranium: A continued difference of opinion (extracts): in    Econ. Geol.   Monograph 8 pp 139-145, 160-163
Pretorius D A  1986 - The goldfields of the Witwatersrand Basin: in Anhaeusser C R, Maske S, (eds),  Mineral Deposits of Southern Africa Geol. Soc. of South Africa, Johannesburg   v1 pp 489-493
Robb L J and Meyer M,  1987 - The nature of the Archaean basement in the hinterland of the Witwatersrand Basin; I, The Rand Anticline between Randfontein and Rysmierbult : in    S. Afr. J. Geol.   v90 pp 44-63
Robb L J, Meyer F M  1994 - Geological environment and mineralisation processes during the formation of the Witwatersrand Au-U deposits: in    XVth CMMI Congress, Johannesburg, SAIMM, 1994   v3 pp 3-18
Robb L J, Meyer F M, Ferraz M F and Drennan G K,  1990 - The distribution of radioelements in Archaean granites of the Kaapvaal Craton, with implications for the source of uranium in the Witwatersrand Basin : in    S. Afr. J. Geol.   v93 pp 5-40
Robb, L.J. and Meyer, F.M.,  1995 - The Witwatersrand Basin, South Africa: Geological framework and mineralization processes: in    Ore Geology Reviews   v.10, pp. 67-94.
Smith A J B, Beukes N J and Gutzmer J,  2013 - The Composition and Depositional Environments of Mesoarchean Iron Formations of the West Rand Group of the Witwatersrand Supergroup, South Africa : in    Econ. Geol.   v.108 pp. 111-134
Smits G,  1984 - Mineral modifications observed in uranium-bearing reefs of the Witwatersrand, South Africa : in    S. Afr. J. Geol.   v87 pp 245-256
Stevens G, Boer R and Gibson R,  1997 - Metamorphism, fluid-flow, and gold mobilization in the Witwatersrand Basin; towards a unifying model: in    S. Afr. J. Geol.   v100 pp 363-375
Stewart R A, Reimold W U and Charlesworth E G,  2004 - Tectonosedimentary model for the Central Rand Goldfield, Witwatersrand Basin, South Africa: in    S. Afr. J. Geol.   v107 pp 603-618
Tainton S  1994 - A review of the Witwatersrand Basin and trends in exploration: in    XVth CMMI Congress, Johannesburg, SAIMM, 1994   v3 pp 19-45
Tucker R F, Schlegel G C-J, Wagener J H F, Gray N K  1994 - The Sun Project - II. Scientific and technological innovations in a Witwatersrand exploration venture: in    XVth CMMI Congress, Johannesburg, SAIMM, 1994   v3 pp 103-116
Tucker R F, Viljoen R P  1986 - The geology of the West Rand Goldfield, with special reference to the southern limb: in Anhaeusser C R, Maske S, (eds),  Mineral Deposits of Southern Africa Geol. Soc. of South Africa, Johannesburg   v1 pp 649-688
Tucker R F, Viljoen R P  1986 - The geology of the West Rand Goldfield, with special reference to the southern limb: in Anhaeusser C R, Maske S, (Eds.), 1986 Mineral Deposits of South Africa Geol. Soc. South Africa, Johannesburg   v1 pp 649-688
Tucker, R., Viljoen, R.P. and Viljoen, M.J.,  2016 - A Review of the Witwatersrand Basin - The Worlds Greatest Goldfield: in    Episodes   v.39, pp. 105-133. doi.org/10.18814/epiiugs/2016/v39i2/95771.
Tweedie E B  1986 - The Evander Goldfield: in Anhaeusser C R, Maske S, (Eds.), 1986 Mineral Deposits of South Africa Geol. Soc. South Africa, Johannesburg   v1 pp 705-730
Tweedie K A M  1986 - The discovery and exploration of Beisa and Beatrix gold and uranium mines in the southern extension of the Welkom goldfield: in Anhaeusser C R, Maske S, (Eds.), 1986 Mineral Deposits of South Africa Geol. Soc. South Africa, Johannesburg   v1 pp 541-547
Vennemann T W, Kesler S E, Frederickson G C, Minter W E L, Heine R R  1996 - Oxygen isotope sedimentology of Gold- and Uranium-bearing Witwatersrand and Huronian Supergroup Quartz-pebble conglomerates: in    Econ. Geol.   v 91 pp 322-342
Vollbrecht A, Oberthur T, Ruedrich J and Weber K  2002 - Microfabric analyses applied to the Witwatersrand gold- and uranium-bearing conglomerates: constraints on the provenance and post-depositional modification of rock and ore components: in    Mineralium Deposita   v37 pp 433-451
Vollbrecht A, Oberthur T, Ruedrich J, Weber K  2002 - Microfabric analyses applied to the Witwatersrand Gold- and Uranium-bearing conglomerates: constraints on the provenance and post-depostional modification of rock and ore components: in    Mineralium Deposita   v37 pp 433-451
Zhou T, Phillips C N, Dong G, Myers R E  1995 - Pyrrhotite in the Witwatersrand Gold fields, South Africa: in    Econ. Geol.   v 90 pp 2361-2369


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