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Middelplaats Mine, Joe Morolong Local Municipality, John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality, Northern Cape, South Africai
Regional Level Types
Middelplaats MineMine
Joe Morolong Local MunicipalityMunicipality
John Taolo Gaetsewe District MunicipalityDistrict Municipality
Northern CapeProvince
South AfricaCountry

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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
27° 21' 28'' South , 22° 56' 8'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
-27.35780,22.93577
GRN:
S19E15
Type:
Mine
Köppen climate type:
BSh : Hot semi-arid (steppe) climate
Nearest Settlements:
PlacePopulationDistance
Kathu9,219 (2012)39.2km
Kuruman9,093 (2012)50.1km
Mindat Locality ID:
16296
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:16296:9
GUID (UUID V4):
0


A manganese mine 300-400m deep, 60 km west of Kuruman, owned by S.A. Manganese Amcor, Ltd.

the Mn deposit and, by extension, the Hotazel Formation, was discovered in 1965 through magnetic survey and exploration drilling as there are no outcrops. Mining of the deposit commenced in 1975 and is still active today. The general stratigraphy of the Hotazel at Middelplaats, with MnF1 generally up to 28 m thick, MnF3 rarely thicker than 3 m, and significant Mooidraai Formation present above most, if not all, Hotazel Formation sections. The Hotazel Formation dips gently to the northeast, thins to the south and southwest, and is absent due to erosion in the southwestern sector of Middelplaats.

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Commodity List

This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded at this locality.


Mineral List


25 valid minerals.

Rock Types Recorded

Note: data is currently VERY limited. Please bear with us while we work towards adding this information!

Select Rock List Type

Alphabetical List Tree Diagram

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Actinolite
Formula: ◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
ⓘ Andradite
Formula: Ca3Fe3+2(SiO4)3
ⓘ Ankerite
Formula: Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2
ⓘ Augite
Formula: (CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6
ⓘ Bixbyite-(Mn)
Formula: Mn3+2O3
ⓘ Braunite
Formula: Mn2+Mn3+6(SiO4)O8
ⓘ Brucite
Formula: Mg(OH)2
ⓘ Calcite
Formula: CaCO3
ⓘ Calcite var. Manganese-bearing Calcite
Formula: (Ca,Mn)CO3
ⓘ 'Chlorite Group'
ⓘ Dolomite
Formula: CaMg(CO3)2
ⓘ Edenite
Formula: NaCa2Mg5(Si7Al)O22(OH)2
ⓘ Epidote
Formula: (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
ⓘ Feitknechtite
Formula: Mn3+O(OH)
ⓘ Friedelite
Formula: Mn2+8Si6O15(OH,Cl)10
ⓘ Greenalite
Formula: (Fe2+,Fe3+)2-3Si2O5(OH)4
ⓘ Grossular
Formula: Ca3Al2(SiO4)3
ⓘ Hausmannite
Formula: Mn2+Mn3+2O4
ⓘ Hematite
Formula: Fe2O3
ⓘ Ilmenite
Formula: Fe2+TiO3
ⓘ Jacobsite
Formula: Mn2+Fe3+2O4
ⓘ Kutnohorite
Formula: CaMn2+(CO3)2
ⓘ Lizardite
Formula: Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)4
ⓘ Magnetite
Formula: Fe2+Fe3+2O4
ⓘ 'Plagioclase'
Formula: (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
ⓘ Quartz
Formula: SiO2
ⓘ Rutile
Formula: TiO2
ⓘ 'Serpentine Subgroup'
Formula: D3[Si2O5](OH)4
ⓘ Stilpnomelane
Formula: (K,Ca,Na)(Fe,Mg,Al)8(Si,Al)12(O,OH)36 · nH2O

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘJacobsite4.BB.05Mn2+Fe3+2O4
ⓘMagnetite4.BB.05Fe2+Fe3+2O4
ⓘHausmannite4.BB.10Mn2+Mn3+2O4
ⓘHematite4.CB.05Fe2O3
ⓘIlmenite4.CB.05Fe2+TiO3
ⓘBixbyite-(Mn)4.CB.10Mn3+2O3
ⓘQuartz4.DA.05SiO2
ⓘRutile4.DB.05TiO2
ⓘBrucite4.FE.05Mg(OH)2
ⓘFeitknechtite4.FE.25Mn3+O(OH)
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
ⓘCalcite5.AB.05CaCO3
ⓘvar. Manganese-bearing Calcite5.AB.05(Ca,Mn)CO3
ⓘAnkerite5.AB.10Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2
ⓘDolomite5.AB.10CaMg(CO3)2
ⓘKutnohorite5.AB.10CaMn2+(CO3)2
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘAndradite9.AD.25Ca3Fe3+2(SiO4)3
ⓘGrossular9.AD.25Ca3Al2(SiO4)3
ⓘBraunite9.AG.05Mn2+Mn3+6(SiO4)O8
ⓘEpidote9.BG.05a(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
ⓘAugite9.DA.15(CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6
ⓘActinolite9.DE.10◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
ⓘEdenite9.DE.15NaCa2Mg5(Si7Al)O22(OH)2
ⓘGreenalite9.ED.15(Fe2+,Fe3+)2-3Si2O5(OH)4
ⓘLizardite9.ED.15Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)4
ⓘFriedelite9.EE.10Mn2+8Si6O15(OH,Cl)10
ⓘStilpnomelane9.EG.40(K,Ca,Na)(Fe,Mg,Al)8(Si,Al)12(O,OH)36 · nH2O
Unclassified
ⓘ'Chlorite Group'-
ⓘ'Plagioclase'-(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
ⓘ'Serpentine Subgroup'-D3[Si2O5](OH)4

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
Hⓘ Actinolite◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
Hⓘ BruciteMg(OH)2
Hⓘ EdeniteNaCa2Mg5(Si7Al)O22(OH)2
Hⓘ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Hⓘ FeitknechtiteMn3+O(OH)
Hⓘ FriedeliteMn82+Si6O15(OH,Cl)10
Hⓘ Greenalite(Fe2+,Fe3+)2-3Si2O5(OH)4
Hⓘ LizarditeMg3(Si2O5)(OH)4
Hⓘ Stilpnomelane(K,Ca,Na)(Fe,Mg,Al)8(Si,Al)12(O,OH)36 · nH2O
Hⓘ Serpentine SubgroupD3[Si2O5](OH)4
CCarbon
Cⓘ AnkeriteCa(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2
Cⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Cⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Cⓘ KutnohoriteCaMn2+(CO3)2
Cⓘ Calcite var. Manganese-bearing Calcite(Ca,Mn)CO3
OOxygen
Oⓘ Actinolite◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
Oⓘ AndraditeCa3Fe23+(SiO4)3
Oⓘ AnkeriteCa(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2
Oⓘ Augite(CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6
Oⓘ Bixbyite-(Mn)Mn23+O3
Oⓘ BrauniteMn2+Mn63+(SiO4)O8
Oⓘ BruciteMg(OH)2
Oⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Oⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Oⓘ EdeniteNaCa2Mg5(Si7Al)O22(OH)2
Oⓘ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Oⓘ FeitknechtiteMn3+O(OH)
Oⓘ FriedeliteMn82+Si6O15(OH,Cl)10
Oⓘ Greenalite(Fe2+,Fe3+)2-3Si2O5(OH)4
Oⓘ GrossularCa3Al2(SiO4)3
Oⓘ HausmanniteMn2+Mn23+O4
Oⓘ HematiteFe2O3
Oⓘ IlmeniteFe2+TiO3
Oⓘ JacobsiteMn2+Fe23+O4
Oⓘ KutnohoriteCaMn2+(CO3)2
Oⓘ LizarditeMg3(Si2O5)(OH)4
Oⓘ Calcite var. Manganese-bearing Calcite(Ca,Mn)CO3
Oⓘ MagnetiteFe2+Fe23+O4
Oⓘ QuartzSiO2
Oⓘ RutileTiO2
Oⓘ Stilpnomelane(K,Ca,Na)(Fe,Mg,Al)8(Si,Al)12(O,OH)36 · nH2O
Oⓘ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
Oⓘ Serpentine SubgroupD3[Si2O5](OH)4
NaSodium
Naⓘ EdeniteNaCa2Mg5(Si7Al)O22(OH)2
Naⓘ Stilpnomelane(K,Ca,Na)(Fe,Mg,Al)8(Si,Al)12(O,OH)36 · nH2O
Naⓘ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
MgMagnesium
Mgⓘ Actinolite◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
Mgⓘ AnkeriteCa(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2
Mgⓘ Augite(CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6
Mgⓘ BruciteMg(OH)2
Mgⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Mgⓘ EdeniteNaCa2Mg5(Si7Al)O22(OH)2
Mgⓘ LizarditeMg3(Si2O5)(OH)4
Mgⓘ Stilpnomelane(K,Ca,Na)(Fe,Mg,Al)8(Si,Al)12(O,OH)36 · nH2O
AlAluminium
Alⓘ EdeniteNaCa2Mg5(Si7Al)O22(OH)2
Alⓘ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Alⓘ GrossularCa3Al2(SiO4)3
Alⓘ Stilpnomelane(K,Ca,Na)(Fe,Mg,Al)8(Si,Al)12(O,OH)36 · nH2O
Alⓘ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
SiSilicon
Siⓘ Actinolite◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
Siⓘ AndraditeCa3Fe23+(SiO4)3
Siⓘ Augite(CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6
Siⓘ BrauniteMn2+Mn63+(SiO4)O8
Siⓘ EdeniteNaCa2Mg5(Si7Al)O22(OH)2
Siⓘ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Siⓘ FriedeliteMn82+Si6O15(OH,Cl)10
Siⓘ Greenalite(Fe2+,Fe3+)2-3Si2O5(OH)4
Siⓘ GrossularCa3Al2(SiO4)3
Siⓘ LizarditeMg3(Si2O5)(OH)4
Siⓘ QuartzSiO2
Siⓘ Stilpnomelane(K,Ca,Na)(Fe,Mg,Al)8(Si,Al)12(O,OH)36 · nH2O
Siⓘ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
Siⓘ Serpentine SubgroupD3[Si2O5](OH)4
ClChlorine
Clⓘ FriedeliteMn82+Si6O15(OH,Cl)10
KPotassium
Kⓘ Stilpnomelane(K,Ca,Na)(Fe,Mg,Al)8(Si,Al)12(O,OH)36 · nH2O
CaCalcium
Caⓘ Actinolite◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
Caⓘ AndraditeCa3Fe23+(SiO4)3
Caⓘ AnkeriteCa(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2
Caⓘ Augite(CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6
Caⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Caⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Caⓘ EdeniteNaCa2Mg5(Si7Al)O22(OH)2
Caⓘ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Caⓘ GrossularCa3Al2(SiO4)3
Caⓘ KutnohoriteCaMn2+(CO3)2
Caⓘ Calcite var. Manganese-bearing Calcite(Ca,Mn)CO3
Caⓘ Stilpnomelane(K,Ca,Na)(Fe,Mg,Al)8(Si,Al)12(O,OH)36 · nH2O
Caⓘ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
TiTitanium
Tiⓘ IlmeniteFe2+TiO3
Tiⓘ RutileTiO2
MnManganese
Mnⓘ Bixbyite-(Mn)Mn23+O3
Mnⓘ BrauniteMn2+Mn63+(SiO4)O8
Mnⓘ FeitknechtiteMn3+O(OH)
Mnⓘ FriedeliteMn82+Si6O15(OH,Cl)10
Mnⓘ HausmanniteMn2+Mn23+O4
Mnⓘ JacobsiteMn2+Fe23+O4
Mnⓘ KutnohoriteCaMn2+(CO3)2
Mnⓘ Calcite var. Manganese-bearing Calcite(Ca,Mn)CO3
FeIron
Feⓘ Actinolite◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
Feⓘ AndraditeCa3Fe23+(SiO4)3
Feⓘ AnkeriteCa(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2
Feⓘ Augite(CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6
Feⓘ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Feⓘ Greenalite(Fe2+,Fe3+)2-3Si2O5(OH)4
Feⓘ HematiteFe2O3
Feⓘ IlmeniteFe2+TiO3
Feⓘ JacobsiteMn2+Fe23+O4
Feⓘ MagnetiteFe2+Fe23+O4
Feⓘ Stilpnomelane(K,Ca,Na)(Fe,Mg,Al)8(Si,Al)12(O,OH)36 · nH2O

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

AfricaContinent
African PlateTectonic Plate
South Africa

This page contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database. This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.

References

Pienaar, Herbert S. (1982) Gem-Quality Friedelite from the Kalahari Manganese Field Near Kuruman, South Africa. Gems & Gemology, 18 (4) 221-224 doi:10.5741/gems.18.4.221
Mining Annual review (1985) 90.
Jennings M. (1986). The Middelplaats manganese ore deposit, Griqualand West. In: Anhaeusser, C.R. and Maske, S. (editors). Mineral Deposits of Southern Africa. Geological Society of South Africa, Johannesburg, 979–983.
Cairncross, B., Dixon, R. (1995) Minerals of South Africa. Geological Society of South Africa. p.1-290.
Cairncross, B., Beukes, N., and Gutzmer, J., (1997), The Manganese Adventure, The South African Manganese Fields. Associated Ore & Metal Corporation Limited, Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa.
Terracin, Matthew Theodore (2014) Petrography, geochemistry and origin of atypical sedimentary-igneous contact relationships at the base of the Hotazel Formation around Middelplaats, Northern Cape Province, RSA. Rhodes University.
[1]Fitton, Dillan (2022) A Detailed Stratigraphic, Mineralogical and Geochemical Assessment of the Hotazel Formation at Middelplaats, Kalahari Mn Field, Northern Cape Province, South Africa. University of Johannesburg (South Africa).
[2]Smith, Albertus J.B.; Fitton, Dillan; Vorster, Clarisa; Schoenberg, Ronny (2026) The iron and manganese formations of the Paleoproterozoic Hotazel Formation in the southern Kalahari Manganese Field of South Africa: Paleoenvironmental and depositional implications at the onset of the Great Oxidation Event. Ore Geology Reviews, 188. 107060 doi:10.1016/j.oregeorev.2025.107060
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