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Mount Ayliff Complex, South Africai
Regional Level Types
Mount Ayliff ComplexComplex
South AfricaCountry

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PhotosSearchMineralogy
07804560017272394793253.jpg
The Lobes Of The Mount Ayliff Complex

Mount Ayliff Complex, South Africa
02783930017271978749031.jpg
Waterfall Gorge, Insizwa

Insizwa, Umzimvubu Local Municipality, Alfred Nzo District Municipality, Eastern Cape, South Africa
07804560017272394793253.jpg
The Lobes Of The Mount Ayliff Complex

Mount Ayliff Complex, South Africa
02783930017271978749031.jpg
Waterfall Gorge, Insizwa

Insizwa, Umzimvubu Local Municipality, Alfred Nzo District Municipality, Eastern Cape, South Africa
08373960017272394805726.jpg
The Lobes Of The Mount Ayliff Complex

Mount Ayliff Complex, South Africa
02783930017271978749031.jpg
Waterfall Gorge, Insizwa

Insizwa, Umzimvubu Local Municipality, Alfred Nzo District Municipality, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Type:
Complex
Age:
200 to 130 Ma
Geologic Time:
Phanerozoic
Mindat Locality ID:
373740
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:373740:1
GUID (UUID V4):
0
Other/historical names associated with this locality:
MAC; Insizwa


Mount Aylifff Complex is located in the northern part of the Eastern Cape and crosses province's into Kwa-Zulu Natal.

The complex forms part of the Karoo Igneous Province (KIP) and has five named lobes. These lobes are remnants of a single continuous intrusive sheet of huge magnitude. The outcrop is now estimated at 800 km² surface area and up to 1200 M thickness. Each lobe has a similiar sequence of rock types, divided into three zones.

Note: Originally the name 'Insizwa' was used for one of the lobes as well as the entire complex and this became confusing. The Mount Ayliff Complex (MAC) is named after the largest village in it's centre.

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Mineral List

Mineral list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities

32 valid minerals. 3 (TL) - type locality of valid minerals.

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Augite
Formula: (CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6
ⓘ Auricupride ?
Formula: Cu3Au
ⓘ Bismuthinite
Formula: Bi2S3
ⓘ Bornite
Formula: Cu5FeS4
ⓘ Braggite
Formula: PdPt3S4
ⓘ Chalcocite
Formula: Cu2S
ⓘ Chalcopyrite
Formula: CuFeS2
ⓘ Chromite
Formula: Fe2+Cr3+2O4
ⓘ Cooperite
Formula: PtS
ⓘ Covellite
Formula: CuS
ⓘ Cubanite
Formula: CuFe2S3
ⓘ Enstatite
Formula: Mg2Si2O6
ⓘ Enstatite var. Bronzite
Formula: (Mg,Fe2+)2[SiO3]2
ⓘ 'Fayalite-Forsterite Series'
ⓘ Forsterite
Formula: Mg2(SiO4)
ⓘ Froodite
Formula: α-PdBi2
ⓘ Galena
Formula: PbS
ⓘ Ilmenite
Formula: Fe2+TiO3
ⓘ Insizwaite (TL)
Formula: PtBi2
Type Locality:
ⓘ Irarsite
Formula: (Ir,Ru,Rh,Pt)AsS
ⓘ Laurite
Formula: RuS2
ⓘ 'Lead-parkerite'
Formula: Ni3Pb2S2
ⓘ Mackinawite
Formula: FeS
ⓘ Millerite
Formula: NiS
ⓘ Native Bismuth
Formula: Bi
ⓘ Nickeline
Formula: NiAs
ⓘ Niggliite (TL)
Formula: PtSn
Type Locality:
ⓘ Parkerite (TL)
Formula: Ni3(Bi,Pb)2S2
Type Locality:
ⓘ Pentlandite
Formula: (NixFey)Σ9S8
ⓘ 'Plagioclase'
Formula: (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
ⓘ Pyrite
Formula: FeS2
ⓘ Pyrite var. Bravoite
Formula: (Fe,Ni)S2
ⓘ Pyrrhotite
Formula: Fe1-xS
ⓘ Sperrylite
Formula: PtAs2
ⓘ Sphalerite
Formula: ZnS
ⓘ Valleriite
Formula: (Fe2+,Cu)4(Mg,Al)3S4(OH,O)6
ⓘ Wollastonite
Formula: Ca3(Si3O9)

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 1 - Elements
ⓘAuricupride ?1.AA.10aCu3Au
ⓘNiggliite (TL)1.AG.60PtSn
ⓘNative Bismuth1.CA.05Bi
Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
ⓘFroodite2.AC.45aα-PdBi2
ⓘChalcocite2.BA.05Cu2S
ⓘBornite2.BA.15Cu5FeS4
ⓘPentlandite2.BB.15(NixFey)Σ9S8
ⓘParkerite (TL)2.BE.20Ni3(Bi,Pb)2S2
ⓘCovellite2.CA.05aCuS
ⓘSphalerite2.CB.05aZnS
ⓘChalcopyrite2.CB.10aCuFeS2
ⓘCubanite2.CB.55aCuFe2S3
ⓘNickeline2.CC.05NiAs
ⓘPyrrhotite2.CC.10Fe1-xS
ⓘMillerite2.CC.20NiS
ⓘMackinawite2.CC.25FeS
ⓘBraggite2.CC.35aPdPt3S4
ⓘCooperite2.CC.35bPtS
ⓘGalena2.CD.10PbS
ⓘBismuthinite2.DB.05Bi2S3
ⓘPyrite
var. Bravoite		2.EB.05a(Fe,Ni)S2
ⓘInsizwaite (TL)2.EB.05aPtBi2
ⓘLaurite2.EB.05aRuS2
ⓘPyrite2.EB.05aFeS2
ⓘSperrylite2.EB.05aPtAs2
ⓘIrarsite2.EB.25(Ir,Ru,Rh,Pt)AsS
ⓘValleriite2.FD.30(Fe2+,Cu)4(Mg,Al)3S4(OH,O)6
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘChromite4.BB.05Fe2+Cr3+2O4
ⓘIlmenite4.CB.05Fe2+TiO3
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘForsterite9.AC.05Mg2(SiO4)
ⓘEnstatite9.DA.05Mg2Si2O6
ⓘvar. Bronzite9.DA.05(Mg,Fe2+)2[SiO3]2
ⓘAugite9.DA.15(CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6
ⓘWollastonite9.DG.05Ca3(Si3O9)
Unclassified
ⓘ'Lead-parkerite'-Ni3Pb2S2
ⓘ'Fayalite-Forsterite Series'-
ⓘ'Plagioclase'-(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
Hⓘ Valleriite(Fe2+,Cu)4(Mg,Al)3S4(OH,O)6
OOxygen
Oⓘ Augite(CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6
Oⓘ ChromiteFe2+Cr23+O4
Oⓘ EnstatiteMg2Si2O6
Oⓘ ForsteriteMg2(SiO4)
Oⓘ IlmeniteFe2+TiO3
Oⓘ Valleriite(Fe2+,Cu)4(Mg,Al)3S4(OH,O)6
Oⓘ WollastoniteCa3(Si3O9)
Oⓘ Enstatite var. Bronzite(Mg,Fe2+)2[SiO3]2
Oⓘ Fayalite-Forsterite Series
Oⓘ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
NaSodium
Naⓘ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
MgMagnesium
Mgⓘ Augite(CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6
Mgⓘ EnstatiteMg2Si2O6
Mgⓘ ForsteriteMg2(SiO4)
Mgⓘ Valleriite(Fe2+,Cu)4(Mg,Al)3S4(OH,O)6
Mgⓘ Enstatite var. Bronzite(Mg,Fe2+)2[SiO3]2
Mgⓘ Fayalite-Forsterite Series
AlAluminium
Alⓘ Valleriite(Fe2+,Cu)4(Mg,Al)3S4(OH,O)6
Alⓘ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
SiSilicon
Siⓘ Augite(CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6
Siⓘ EnstatiteMg2Si2O6
Siⓘ ForsteriteMg2(SiO4)
Siⓘ WollastoniteCa3(Si3O9)
Siⓘ Enstatite var. Bronzite(Mg,Fe2+)2[SiO3]2
Siⓘ Fayalite-Forsterite Series
Siⓘ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
SSulfur
Sⓘ BismuthiniteBi2S3
Sⓘ BorniteCu5FeS4
Sⓘ BraggitePdPt3S4
Sⓘ Pyrite var. Bravoite(Fe,Ni)S2
Sⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Sⓘ ChalcociteCu2S
Sⓘ CooperitePtS
Sⓘ CovelliteCuS
Sⓘ CubaniteCuFe2S3
Sⓘ GalenaPbS
Sⓘ Irarsite(Ir,Ru,Rh,Pt)AsS
Sⓘ LauriteRuS2
Sⓘ Lead-parkeriteNi3Pb2S2
Sⓘ MackinawiteFeS
Sⓘ MilleriteNiS
Sⓘ ParkeriteNi3(Bi,Pb)2S2
Sⓘ Pentlandite(NixFey)Σ9S8
Sⓘ PyriteFeS2
Sⓘ PyrrhotiteFe1-xS
Sⓘ SphaleriteZnS
Sⓘ Valleriite(Fe2+,Cu)4(Mg,Al)3S4(OH,O)6
CaCalcium
Caⓘ Augite(CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6
Caⓘ WollastoniteCa3(Si3O9)
Caⓘ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
TiTitanium
Tiⓘ IlmeniteFe2+TiO3
CrChromium
Crⓘ ChromiteFe2+Cr23+O4
FeIron
Feⓘ Augite(CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6
Feⓘ BorniteCu5FeS4
Feⓘ Pyrite var. Bravoite(Fe,Ni)S2
Feⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Feⓘ ChromiteFe2+Cr23+O4
Feⓘ CubaniteCuFe2S3
Feⓘ IlmeniteFe2+TiO3
Feⓘ MackinawiteFeS
Feⓘ Pentlandite(NixFey)Σ9S8
Feⓘ PyriteFeS2
Feⓘ PyrrhotiteFe1-xS
Feⓘ Valleriite(Fe2+,Cu)4(Mg,Al)3S4(OH,O)6
Feⓘ Enstatite var. Bronzite(Mg,Fe2+)2[SiO3]2
Feⓘ Fayalite-Forsterite Series
NiNickel
Niⓘ Pyrite var. Bravoite(Fe,Ni)S2
Niⓘ Lead-parkeriteNi3Pb2S2
Niⓘ MilleriteNiS
Niⓘ NickelineNiAs
Niⓘ ParkeriteNi3(Bi,Pb)2S2
Niⓘ Pentlandite(NixFey)Σ9S8
CuCopper
Cuⓘ AuricuprideCu3Au
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ⓘ Irarsite(Ir,Ru,Rh,Pt)AsS
Asⓘ NickelineNiAs
Asⓘ SperrylitePtAs2
RuRuthenium
Ruⓘ Irarsite(Ir,Ru,Rh,Pt)AsS
Ruⓘ LauriteRuS2
RhRhodium
Rhⓘ Irarsite(Ir,Ru,Rh,Pt)AsS
PdPalladium
Pdⓘ BraggitePdPt3S4
Pdⓘ Frooditeα-PdBi2
SnTin
Snⓘ NiggliitePtSn
IrIridium
Irⓘ Irarsite(Ir,Ru,Rh,Pt)AsS
PtPlatinum
Ptⓘ BraggitePdPt3S4
Ptⓘ CooperitePtS
Ptⓘ InsizwaitePtBi2
Ptⓘ Irarsite(Ir,Ru,Rh,Pt)AsS
Ptⓘ NiggliitePtSn
Ptⓘ SperrylitePtAs2
AuGold
Auⓘ AuricuprideCu3Au
PbLead
Pbⓘ GalenaPbS
Pbⓘ Lead-parkeriteNi3Pb2S2
Pbⓘ ParkeriteNi3(Bi,Pb)2S2
BiBismuth
Biⓘ Native BismuthBi
Biⓘ BismuthiniteBi2S3
Biⓘ Frooditeα-PdBi2
Biⓘ InsizwaitePtBi2
Biⓘ ParkeriteNi3(Bi,Pb)2S2

Localities in this Region

South Africa

Other Regions, Features and Areas that Intersect

AfricaContinent
African Plate
Somali PlateTectonic Plate

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

Du Toit, A.L. (1910) Copper-nickel deposits of the Insizwa, Mount Ayliff, East Griqualand. Fifteenth Annual report of the Geological Commission, Cape of Good Hope, Cape Town, South Africa, 111-142.
Rose, J.G., (1911) The Insizwa copper nickel deposits. South African Journal of Science, 129-130.
Scholtz, D.L., (1936) The magmatic nickeliferous ore deposits of east Griqualand and Pondoland. Transactions of the Geological Society of South Africa, 39, 81-209.
Du Preez, J.W. (1944) Ann. Univ. Stellenbosch, 22, sect. A, p. 101.
Bruynzeel, D. (1956) A petrographic study of the Waterfall Gorge profile at Insizwa. Annals of the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa, 33A (10), 481-534.
Cabri, L. J., Harris, D. C. (1972) The new mineral insizwaite (PtBi2) and new data on niggliite (PtSn) Mineralogical Magazine, 38 (299) 794-800 doi:10.1180/minmag.1972.038.299.03
Tischler, S.E., Cawthorn, R.G., Kingston, G.A. and Maske, S., (1981) Magmatic Cu Ni PGE mineralization at Waterfall Gorge, Insizwa, Pondoland, Transkei. Canadian Mineralogist, 19, 607-618.
Lightfoot, P.C. and Naldrett, A.J., (1983) The geology of the Tabankulu section of the Insizwa Complex, Transkei, southern Africa, with reference to the nickel sulphide potential. Transactions of the Geological Society of South Africa, 86(3), 169-188.
Lightfoot, P. C., Naldrett, A. J., Hawkesworth, C. J. (1984) The geology and geochemistry of the Waterfall Gorge section of the Insizwa Complex with particular reference to the origin of the nickel sulfide deposits. Economic Geology, 79 (8) 1857-1879 doi:10.2113/gsecongeo.79.8.1857
Maske, S. and Cawthorn, R.G., (1986) The nickel occurrence in the Insizwa Complex, Transkei. In: Anhaeusser, C.R. and Maske, S., (Eds.). Mineral Deposits of Southern Africa, Vols I & II, Geological Society of South Africa, Johannesburg, 2149-2158.
Cairncross, B., Dixon, R. (1995) Minerals of South Africa. Geological Society of South Africa. p.1-290.
Ferré, Eric C., Bordarier, Cécile, Marsh, Julian S. (2002) Magma flow inferred from AMS fabrics in a layered mafic sill, Insizwa, South Africa. Tectonophysics, 354 (1) 1-23 doi:10.1016/s0040-1951(02)00273-1
Maier, W. D., Marsh, J. S., Barnes, S.-J., Dodd, D. C. (2002) The Distribution of Platinum Group Elements in the Insizwa Lobe, Mount Ayliff Complex, South Africa: Implications for Ni-Cu-PGE Sulfide Exploration in the Karoo Igneous Province. Economic Geology, 97 (6) 1293-1306 doi:10.2113/gsecongeo.97.6.1293
Marsh, J.S. (2003) The geochemical structure of the Insizwa lobe of the Mount Ayliff complex with implications for the emplacement and evolution of the complex and its Ni-sulphide potential. South African Journal of Geology, 106 (4) 409-428 doi:10.2113/106.4.409
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