Western Bushveld JV: Geology

The Bushveld Complex is an enormous body of rock that cooled from a molten intrusion 2 billion years ago. The intrusion is more than 330 kilometers across at surface and can be seen from space.

In geological terms, molten intrusive bodies in the earth are not uncommon, but the massive Bushveld Complex, so far in the known world, is a unique occurrence.

This large intrusion is thought to have tapped deep into the earth and cooled and mixed in such a way that platinum and palladium mineralization was concentrated and settled into distinct and continuous layers, each approximately 1 metre thick. The exact mechanisms that formed these bowl-like platinum and palladium bearing layers are still hotly debated, but the extraordinary continuity and grade of these layers across enormous distances is well demonstrated.

The Merensky and UG2 (Upper Group layer #2) Reefs are the main layers mined for platinum in the approximately 20 mines around the perimeter of the Bushveld Complex.

There is extraordinary continuity and predictability of the platinum-bearing layers of the Bushveld Complex and rarity in the Bushveld Complex setting.

The mining in Western Limb region of the Complex is dominated by the Merensky Reef, of particular value due to its higher percentage of platinum compared to palladium.  As well, the metals in the Merensky Reef are more easily mined, extracted and recovered than those in the UG2 Reef.  Because of these features, 70% of the world's platinum production is found on the Western Limb of the Bushveld Complex.   

As a result of the world's increasing need for platinum, and the unique nature of the Bushveld Complex as the primary supplier of the world's platinum, properties located on the Bushveld Complex are generally increasing in value.