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Loolekop pipe, Palabora Mine, Phalaborwa, Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality, Mopani District Municipality, Limpopo, South Africai
Regional Level Types
Loolekop pipePipe
Palabora MineOpen-Cast Mine
PhalaborwaTown
Ba-Phalaborwa Local MunicipalityMunicipality
Mopani District MunicipalityMunicipality
LimpopoProvince
South AfricaCountry

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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
23° 59' 34'' South , 31° 7' 48'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
-23.99284,31.13009
GRN:
S16E21
Type:
Pipe
Köppen climate type:
BSh : Hot semi-arid (steppe) climate
Nearest Settlements:
PlacePopulationDistance
Phalaborwa109,468 (2012)5.7km
Mindat Locality ID:
278218
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:278218:1
GUID (UUID V4):
0


The Loolekop Pipe forms the core of the Palabora open pit mine.

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Mineral List


30 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:

ⓘ 'Apatite'
Formula: Ca5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
ⓘ Baddeleyite
Formula: ZrO2
ⓘ Baryte
Formula: BaSO4
ⓘ Bornite
Formula: Cu5FeS4
ⓘ Brucite
Formula: Mg(OH)2
ⓘ Calcite
Formula: CaCO3
ⓘ Chalcocite
Formula: Cu2S
ⓘ Chalcopyrite
Formula: CuFeS2
ⓘ 'Chlorite Group'
ⓘ Chondrodite
Formula: Mg5(SiO4)2F2
ⓘ Covellite
Formula: CuS
ⓘ Cubanite
Formula: CuFe2S3
ⓘ Dolomite
Formula: CaMg(CO3)2
ⓘ Fairchildite
Formula: K2Ca(CO3)2
ⓘ Galena
Formula: PbS
ⓘ Geikielite
Formula: MgTiO3
ⓘ 'Glimmerite'
ⓘ Halite
Formula: NaCl
ⓘ Heazlewoodite
Formula: Ni3S2
ⓘ Ilmenite
Formula: Fe2+TiO3
ⓘ Ilmenite var. Picroilmenite
Formula: (Fe2+,Mg)TiO3
ⓘ Mackinawite
Formula: FeS
ⓘ Magnetite
Formula: Fe2+Fe3+2O4
ⓘ Millerite
Formula: NiS
ⓘ 'Olivine Group'
Formula: M2SiO4
ⓘ Pentlandite
Formula: (NixFey)Σ9S8
ⓘ Phlogopite
Formula: KMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘ Pyrrhotite
Formula: Fe1-xS
ⓘ 'Serpentine Subgroup'
Formula: D3[Si2O5](OH)4
ⓘ Shandite
Formula: Ni3Pb2S2
ⓘ Sphalerite
Formula: ZnS
ⓘ Spinel
Formula: MgAl2O4
ⓘ Thorianite
Formula: ThO2
ⓘ Thorianite var. Uranothorianite
Formula: (Th,U)O2
ⓘ 'UM2000-65-SiO:CaCe'
Formula: CaCe2(SiO4)2
ⓘ 'UM2001-01-As:HgPbPd'
Formula: Pd11(Pb,Hg)As2
ⓘ Valleriite
Formula: (Fe2+,Cu)4(Mg,Al)3S4(OH,O)6
ⓘ Witherite
Formula: BaCO3
ⓘ Zircon
Formula: Zr(SiO4)

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
ⓘChalcocite2.BA.05Cu2S
ⓘBornite2.BA.15Cu5FeS4
ⓘHeazlewoodite2.BB.05Ni3S2
ⓘPentlandite2.BB.15(NixFey)Σ9S8
ⓘShandite2.BE.15Ni3Pb2S2
ⓘCovellite2.CA.05aCuS
ⓘSphalerite2.CB.05aZnS
ⓘChalcopyrite2.CB.10aCuFeS2
ⓘCubanite2.CB.55aCuFe2S3
ⓘPyrrhotite2.CC.10Fe1-xS
ⓘMillerite2.CC.20NiS
ⓘMackinawite2.CC.25FeS
ⓘGalena2.CD.10PbS
ⓘValleriite2.FD.30(Fe2+,Cu)4(Mg,Al)3S4(OH,O)6
Group 3 - Halides
ⓘHalite3.AA.20NaCl
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘMagnetite4.BB.05Fe2+Fe3+2O4
ⓘSpinel4.BB.05MgAl2O4
ⓘGeikielite4.CB.05MgTiO3
ⓘIlmenite4.CB.05Fe2+TiO3
ⓘvar. Picroilmenite4.CB.05(Fe2+,Mg)TiO3
ⓘBaddeleyite4.DE.35ZrO2
ⓘThorianite4.DL.05ThO2
ⓘvar. Uranothorianite4.DL.05(Th,U)O2
ⓘBrucite4.FE.05Mg(OH)2
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
ⓘCalcite5.AB.05CaCO3
ⓘDolomite5.AB.10CaMg(CO3)2
ⓘWitherite5.AB.15BaCO3
ⓘFairchildite5.AC.20K2Ca(CO3)2
Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
ⓘBaryte7.AD.35BaSO4
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘZircon9.AD.30Zr(SiO4)
ⓘChondrodite9.AF.45Mg5(SiO4)2F2
ⓘPhlogopite9.EC.20KMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Unclassified
ⓘ'Chlorite Group'-
ⓘ'Serpentine Subgroup'-D3[Si2O5](OH)4
ⓘ'Apatite'-Ca5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
ⓘ'Olivine Group'-M2SiO4
ⓘ'Glimmerite'-
ⓘ'UM2000-65-SiO:CaCe'-CaCe2(SiO4)2
ⓘ'UM2001-01-As:HgPbPd'-Pd11(Pb,Hg)As2

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
Hⓘ BruciteMg(OH)2
Hⓘ PhlogopiteKMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Hⓘ Valleriite(Fe2+,Cu)4(Mg,Al)3S4(OH,O)6
Hⓘ Serpentine SubgroupD3[Si2O5](OH)4
Hⓘ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
CCarbon
Cⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Cⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Cⓘ FairchilditeK2Ca(CO3)2
Cⓘ WitheriteBaCO3
OOxygen
Oⓘ BaddeleyiteZrO2
Oⓘ BaryteBaSO4
Oⓘ BruciteMg(OH)2
Oⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Oⓘ ChondroditeMg5(SiO4)2F2
Oⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Oⓘ FairchilditeK2Ca(CO3)2
Oⓘ GeikieliteMgTiO3
Oⓘ IlmeniteFe2+TiO3
Oⓘ MagnetiteFe2+Fe23+O4
Oⓘ PhlogopiteKMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Oⓘ SpinelMgAl2O4
Oⓘ ThorianiteThO2
Oⓘ Thorianite var. Uranothorianite(Th,U)O2
Oⓘ Valleriite(Fe2+,Cu)4(Mg,Al)3S4(OH,O)6
Oⓘ WitheriteBaCO3
Oⓘ ZirconZr(SiO4)
Oⓘ Ilmenite var. Picroilmenite(Fe2+,Mg)TiO3
Oⓘ Serpentine SubgroupD3[Si2O5](OH)4
Oⓘ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
Oⓘ Olivine GroupM2SiO4
Oⓘ UM2000-65-SiO:CaCeCaCe2(SiO4)2
FFluorine
Fⓘ ChondroditeMg5(SiO4)2F2
Fⓘ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
NaSodium
Naⓘ HaliteNaCl
MgMagnesium
Mgⓘ BruciteMg(OH)2
Mgⓘ ChondroditeMg5(SiO4)2F2
Mgⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Mgⓘ GeikieliteMgTiO3
Mgⓘ PhlogopiteKMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Mgⓘ SpinelMgAl2O4
Mgⓘ Valleriite(Fe2+,Cu)4(Mg,Al)3S4(OH,O)6
Mgⓘ Ilmenite var. Picroilmenite(Fe2+,Mg)TiO3
AlAluminium
Alⓘ PhlogopiteKMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Alⓘ SpinelMgAl2O4
Alⓘ Valleriite(Fe2+,Cu)4(Mg,Al)3S4(OH,O)6
SiSilicon
Siⓘ ChondroditeMg5(SiO4)2F2
Siⓘ PhlogopiteKMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Siⓘ ZirconZr(SiO4)
Siⓘ Serpentine SubgroupD3[Si2O5](OH)4
Siⓘ Olivine GroupM2SiO4
Siⓘ UM2000-65-SiO:CaCeCaCe2(SiO4)2
PPhosphorus
Pⓘ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
SSulfur
Sⓘ BaryteBaSO4
Sⓘ BorniteCu5FeS4
Sⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Sⓘ ChalcociteCu2S
Sⓘ CovelliteCuS
Sⓘ CubaniteCuFe2S3
Sⓘ GalenaPbS
Sⓘ HeazlewooditeNi3S2
Sⓘ MackinawiteFeS
Sⓘ MilleriteNiS
Sⓘ Pentlandite(NixFey)Σ9S8
Sⓘ PyrrhotiteFe1-xS
Sⓘ ShanditeNi3Pb2S2
Sⓘ SphaleriteZnS
Sⓘ Valleriite(Fe2+,Cu)4(Mg,Al)3S4(OH,O)6
ClChlorine
Clⓘ HaliteNaCl
Clⓘ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
KPotassium
Kⓘ FairchilditeK2Ca(CO3)2
Kⓘ PhlogopiteKMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
CaCalcium
Caⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Caⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Caⓘ FairchilditeK2Ca(CO3)2
Caⓘ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
Caⓘ UM2000-65-SiO:CaCeCaCe2(SiO4)2
TiTitanium
Tiⓘ GeikieliteMgTiO3
Tiⓘ IlmeniteFe2+TiO3
Tiⓘ Ilmenite var. Picroilmenite(Fe2+,Mg)TiO3
FeIron
Feⓘ BorniteCu5FeS4
Feⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Feⓘ CubaniteCuFe2S3
Feⓘ IlmeniteFe2+TiO3
Feⓘ MackinawiteFeS
Feⓘ MagnetiteFe2+Fe23+O4
Feⓘ Pentlandite(NixFey)Σ9S8
Feⓘ PyrrhotiteFe1-xS
Feⓘ Valleriite(Fe2+,Cu)4(Mg,Al)3S4(OH,O)6
Feⓘ Ilmenite var. Picroilmenite(Fe2+,Mg)TiO3
NiNickel
Niⓘ HeazlewooditeNi3S2
Niⓘ MilleriteNiS
Niⓘ Pentlandite(NixFey)Σ9S8
Niⓘ ShanditeNi3Pb2S2
CuCopper
Cuⓘ BorniteCu5FeS4
Cuⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Cuⓘ ChalcociteCu2S
Cuⓘ CovelliteCuS
Cuⓘ CubaniteCuFe2S3
Cuⓘ Valleriite(Fe2+,Cu)4(Mg,Al)3S4(OH,O)6
ZnZinc
Znⓘ SphaleriteZnS
AsArsenic
Asⓘ UM2001-01-As:HgPbPdPd11(Pb,Hg)As2
ZrZirconium
Zrⓘ BaddeleyiteZrO2
Zrⓘ ZirconZr(SiO4)
PdPalladium
Pdⓘ UM2001-01-As:HgPbPdPd11(Pb,Hg)As2
BaBarium
Baⓘ BaryteBaSO4
Baⓘ WitheriteBaCO3
CeCerium
Ceⓘ UM2000-65-SiO:CaCeCaCe2(SiO4)2
HgMercury
Hgⓘ UM2001-01-As:HgPbPdPd11(Pb,Hg)As2
PbLead
Pbⓘ GalenaPbS
Pbⓘ ShanditeNi3Pb2S2
Pbⓘ UM2001-01-As:HgPbPdPd11(Pb,Hg)As2
ThThorium
Thⓘ ThorianiteThO2
Thⓘ Thorianite var. Uranothorianite(Th,U)O2
UUranium
Uⓘ Thorianite var. Uranothorianite(Th,U)O2

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

AfricaContinent
Somali 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

Giebel, R. Johannes, Gauert, Christoph, Costin, Gelu (xxxx) Rare earth minerals in the lower part of the Palabora Carbonatite Complex, South Africa.
d-nb.info (n.d.) https://d-nb.info/1198858842/34
www.researchgate.net (n.d.) https://www.researchgate.net/publication/223468590_Fairchildite_K2CaCO32_in_phoscorites_from_Phalaborwa_South_Africa_The_first_occurrence_in_alkaline_carbonatite_complexes
www.academia.edu (n.d.) https://www.academia.edu/35912607/Multi_stage_formation_of_REE_minerals_in_the_Palabora_Carbonatite_Complex_South_Africa
www.researchgate.net (n.d.) https://www.researchgate.net/publication/290438800_Rare_earth_minerals_in_the_lower_part_of_the_Palabora_Carbonatite_Complex_South_Africa
Vielreicher, Noreen M., Groves, David I., Vielreicher, Richard M. (2000) The Phalabowra (Palabora) Deposit and Its Potential Connection to Iron-Oxide Copper-Gold Deposits of Olympic Dam Type. In: Porter, T.M. (editor) Hydrothermal Iron Oxide Copper-Gold and Related Deposits: A Global Perspective, PGC Publishing, Adelaide, v. 1: 321-329.
Zhitova, L.M., Sharygin, V.V., Nigmatulina, E.N., Zhitov, E.Y. (2009) Fairchildite K2Ca(CO3)2 in carbonatites at Loolekop mine, Phalaborwa Igneous Complex. http://geo.web.ru/conf/alkaline/2009/Zhitova.htm
Sharygin, Victor Victorovich, Zhitova, L.M., Nigmatulina, E.N. (2011) Fairchildite K2Ca(CO3)2 in phoscorites from Phalaborwa, South Africa: the first occurrence in alkaline carbonatite complexes. Russian Geology and Geophysics: 52(2): 208-219.
Giebel, R. Johannes, Gauert, Christoph D.K., Marks, Michael A.W., Costin, Gelu, Markl, Gregor (2017) Multi-stage formation of REE minerals in the Palabora Carbonatite Complex, South Africa. American Mineralogist, 102 (6) 1218-1233 doi:10.2138/am-2017-6004
Southwood, Malcolm, Cairncross, Bruce (2017) The Minerals of Palabora, Limpopo Province, South Africa. Rocks & Minerals, 92 (5) 426-453 doi:10.1080/00357529.2017.1331398
Du Plessis, Pieter George (2019) The parageneses of sulphide minerals in transgressive carbonatite of the Palabora Carbonatite Complex, South Africa. Master's thesis, Department of Geology in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the University of the Free State, 240 pages.
Giebel, R. Johannes (2019) The petrogenesis of carbonatites: Mineral variations and effects on the REE mineralization. PhD thesis, Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftlichen Fakultät der Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, 127 pages.
scholar.ufs.ac.za (n.d.) https://scholar.ufs.ac.za/handle/11660/10359
Le Bras, Loic Y., Bolhar, Robert, Bybee, Grant M., Nex, Paul A. M., Guy, Bradley M., Moyana, Thabitha, Lourens, Paulien (2021) Platinum-group and trace elements in Cu-sulfides from the Loolekop pipe, Phalaborwa: implications for ore-forming processes. Mineralium Deposita, 56 (1). 161-177 doi:10.1007/s00126-020-01005-4
Le Bras, Loic Y., Bolhar, Robert, Bam, Lunga, Guy, Bradley M., Bybee, Grant M., Nex, Paul A.M. (2021) Three-dimensional textural investigation of sulfide mineralisation from the Loolekop carbonatite–phoscorite polyphase intrusion in the Phalaborwa Igneous Complex (South Africa), with implications for ore-forming processes. Mineralogical Magazine, 85 (4) 514-531 doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.32
www.cambridge.org (n.d.) https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/F64A63E7ACA9A656EA4568EE111808DF/S0026461X21000323a.pdf/div-class-title-three-dimensional-textural-investigation-of-sulphide-mineralisation-from-the-loolekop-carbonatite-phoscorite-polyphase-intrusion-in-the-phalaborwa-igneous-complex-south-africa-with-implications-for-ore-forming-processes-div.pdf
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