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Selebi-Phikwe, Central District, Botswanai
Regional Level Types
Selebi-PhikweTown
Central DistrictDistrict
BotswanaCountry

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PhotosMapsSearchMineralogy
08390550017272043994774.jpg
Pentlandite, etc.

Phikwe Mine, Selebi-Phikwe belt, Selebi-Phikwe, Central District, Botswana
07638990017272044003033.jpg
Pentlandite, etc.

Phikwe Mine, Selebi-Phikwe belt, Selebi-Phikwe, Central District, Botswana
02765370017272285643512.jpg
Fluorapophyllite, etc.

Selebi-Phikwe belt, Selebi-Phikwe, Central District, Botswana
01302850017272285652645.jpg
Pentlandite, etc.

Phikwe Mine, Selebi-Phikwe belt, Selebi-Phikwe, Central District, Botswana
04574610017272285652206.jpg
Pentlandite, etc.

Phikwe Mine, Selebi-Phikwe belt, Selebi-Phikwe, Central District, Botswana
02765370017272285643512.jpg
Fluorapophyllite, etc.

Selebi-Phikwe belt, Selebi-Phikwe, Central District, Botswana
08390550017272043994774.jpg
Pentlandite, etc.

Phikwe Mine, Selebi-Phikwe belt, Selebi-Phikwe, Central District, Botswana
07638990017272044003033.jpg
Pentlandite, etc.

Phikwe Mine, Selebi-Phikwe belt, Selebi-Phikwe, Central District, Botswana
Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
21° 58' 32'' South , 27° 50' 23'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
-21.97583,27.84000
GRN:
S15E19
Type:
Town
Köppen climate type:
BSh : Hot semi-arid (steppe) climate
Mindat Locality ID:
412896
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:412896:3
GUID (UUID V4):
0


Selebi-Phikwe (also spelt Selibe Phikwe) is a mining town located in the Central District of Botswana. The town is an administrative district, separate from the surrounding Central District.

Nickel mining commenced in 1973 and has been the main activity since. The complex includes a mine and a smelter. All operations are now deep mining. Originally there were two tiny places called Selebi and Phikwe, which straddled a large undiscovered deposit of copper and nickel in the area. When the mineral wealth of the area was discovered in the 1960s a mine and a township were built in the woodland between the places with the combined name of Selebi-Phikwe.

The main source of employment was the BCL Limited mine which excavated and smelted mixed copper-nickel ore from several shafts in deep and opencast mines. The opencast pit is now unused. Ore is transported from the shaft by rail for smelting. The locomotives used were steam-powered, having been bought from National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) and South African Railways (SAR).

BCL only intended to stay in operation until 2010 and more recently 2013. It finally ceased operations in September 2016 putting thousands out of work.

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Commodity List

This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded from this region.


Mineral List

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

21 valid minerals.

Rock Types Recorded


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

Select Rock List Type

Alphabetical List Tree Diagram

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ 'Biotite'
Formula: K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
ⓘ Bornite
Formula: Cu5FeS4
ⓘ Calcite
Formula: CaCO3
ⓘ Chalcopyrite
Formula: CuFeS2
ⓘ Covellite
Formula: CuS
ⓘ Cubanite
Formula: CuFe2S3
ⓘ 'Fayalite-Forsterite Series'
ⓘ 'Feldspar Group'
ⓘ Gedrite
Formula: ◻Mg2(Mg3Al2)(Al2Si6O22)(OH)2
ⓘ Goethite
Formula: Fe3+O(OH)
ⓘ Hematite
Formula: Fe2O3
ⓘ 'Hornblende Root Name Group'
Formula: ◻Ca2(C2+4C3+)(AlSi7O22)W2
ⓘ Ilmenite
Formula: Fe2+TiO3
ⓘ Jarosite
Formula: KFe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6
ⓘ Magnetite
Formula: Fe2+Fe3+2O4
ⓘ Marcasite
Formula: FeS2
ⓘ 'Maufite'
ⓘ Natroalunite
Formula: NaAl3(SO4)2(OH)6
ⓘ Natrojarosite
Formula: NaFe3(SO4)2(OH)6
ⓘ 'Orthopyroxene Subgroup'
ⓘ Pentlandite
Formula: (NixFey)Σ9S8
ⓘ Pyrite
Formula: FeS2
ⓘ Pyrite var. Bravoite
Formula: (Fe,Ni)S2
ⓘ Pyrrhotite
Formula: Fe1-xS
ⓘ Quartz
Formula: SiO2
ⓘ Smythite
Formula: (Fe,Ni)3+xS4 (x=0-0.3)
ⓘ Spinel
Formula: MgAl2O4
ⓘ Violarite
Formula: Fe2+Ni3+2S4

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
ⓘBornite2.BA.15Cu5FeS4
ⓘPentlandite2.BB.15(NixFey)Σ9S8
ⓘCovellite2.CA.05aCuS
ⓘChalcopyrite2.CB.10aCuFeS2
ⓘCubanite2.CB.55aCuFe2S3
ⓘPyrrhotite2.CC.10Fe1-xS
ⓘSmythite2.CC.10(Fe,Ni)3+xS4 (x=0-0.3)
ⓘViolarite2.DA.05Fe2+Ni3+2S4
ⓘPyrite
var. Bravoite		2.EB.05a(Fe,Ni)S2
ⓘ2.EB.05aFeS2
ⓘMarcasite2.EB.10aFeS2
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘMagnetite4.BB.05Fe2+Fe3+2O4
ⓘSpinel4.BB.05MgAl2O4
ⓘHematite4.CB.05Fe2O3
ⓘIlmenite4.CB.05Fe2+TiO3
ⓘQuartz4.DA.05SiO2
ⓘGoethite4.FD.10Fe3+O(OH)
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
ⓘCalcite5.AB.05CaCO3
Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
ⓘJarosite7.BC.10KFe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6
ⓘNatroalunite7.BC.10NaAl3(SO4)2(OH)6
ⓘNatrojarosite7.BC.10NaFe3(SO4)2(OH)6
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘGedrite9.DD.05◻Mg2(Mg3Al2)(Al2Si6O22)(OH)2
Unclassified
ⓘ'Biotite'-K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
ⓘ'Feldspar Group'-
ⓘ'Maufite'-
ⓘ'Fayalite-Forsterite Series'-
ⓘ'Hornblende Root Name Group'-◻Ca2(C2+4C3+)(AlSi7O22)W2
ⓘ'Orthopyroxene Subgroup'-

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
Hⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Hⓘ Gedrite◻Mg2(Mg3Al2)(Al2Si6O22)(OH)2
Hⓘ GoethiteFe3+O(OH)
Hⓘ JarositeKFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6
Hⓘ NatroaluniteNaAl3(SO4)2(OH)6
Hⓘ NatrojarositeNaFe3(SO4)2(OH)6
CCarbon
Cⓘ CalciteCaCO3
OOxygen
Oⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Oⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Oⓘ Gedrite◻Mg2(Mg3Al2)(Al2Si6O22)(OH)2
Oⓘ GoethiteFe3+O(OH)
Oⓘ HematiteFe2O3
Oⓘ IlmeniteFe2+TiO3
Oⓘ JarositeKFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6
Oⓘ MagnetiteFe2+Fe23+O4
Oⓘ NatroaluniteNaAl3(SO4)2(OH)6
Oⓘ NatrojarositeNaFe3(SO4)2(OH)6
Oⓘ QuartzSiO2
Oⓘ SpinelMgAl2O4
Oⓘ Fayalite-Forsterite Series
Oⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group◻Ca2(C42+C3+)(AlSi7O22)W2
FFluorine
Fⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
NaSodium
Naⓘ NatroaluniteNaAl3(SO4)2(OH)6
Naⓘ NatrojarositeNaFe3(SO4)2(OH)6
MgMagnesium
Mgⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Mgⓘ Gedrite◻Mg2(Mg3Al2)(Al2Si6O22)(OH)2
Mgⓘ SpinelMgAl2O4
Mgⓘ Fayalite-Forsterite Series
AlAluminium
Alⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Alⓘ Gedrite◻Mg2(Mg3Al2)(Al2Si6O22)(OH)2
Alⓘ NatroaluniteNaAl3(SO4)2(OH)6
Alⓘ SpinelMgAl2O4
Alⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group◻Ca2(C42+C3+)(AlSi7O22)W2
SiSilicon
Siⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Siⓘ Gedrite◻Mg2(Mg3Al2)(Al2Si6O22)(OH)2
Siⓘ QuartzSiO2
Siⓘ Fayalite-Forsterite Series
Siⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group◻Ca2(C42+C3+)(AlSi7O22)W2
SSulfur
Sⓘ BorniteCu5FeS4
Sⓘ Pyrite var. Bravoite(Fe,Ni)S2
Sⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Sⓘ CovelliteCuS
Sⓘ CubaniteCuFe2S3
Sⓘ JarositeKFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6
Sⓘ MarcasiteFeS2
Sⓘ NatroaluniteNaAl3(SO4)2(OH)6
Sⓘ NatrojarositeNaFe3(SO4)2(OH)6
Sⓘ Pentlandite(NixFey)Σ9S8
Sⓘ PyriteFeS2
Sⓘ PyrrhotiteFe1-xS
Sⓘ Smythite(Fe,Ni)3+xS4 (x=0-0.3)
Sⓘ ViolariteFe2+Ni23+S4
KPotassium
Kⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Kⓘ JarositeKFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6
CaCalcium
Caⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Caⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group◻Ca2(C42+C3+)(AlSi7O22)W2
TiTitanium
Tiⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Tiⓘ IlmeniteFe2+TiO3
FeIron
Feⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Feⓘ BorniteCu5FeS4
Feⓘ Pyrite var. Bravoite(Fe,Ni)S2
Feⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Feⓘ CubaniteCuFe2S3
Feⓘ GoethiteFe3+O(OH)
Feⓘ HematiteFe2O3
Feⓘ IlmeniteFe2+TiO3
Feⓘ JarositeKFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6
Feⓘ MagnetiteFe2+Fe23+O4
Feⓘ MarcasiteFeS2
Feⓘ NatrojarositeNaFe3(SO4)2(OH)6
Feⓘ Pentlandite(NixFey)Σ9S8
Feⓘ PyriteFeS2
Feⓘ PyrrhotiteFe1-xS
Feⓘ Smythite(Fe,Ni)3+xS4 (x=0-0.3)
Feⓘ ViolariteFe2+Ni23+S4
Feⓘ Fayalite-Forsterite Series
NiNickel
Niⓘ Pyrite var. Bravoite(Fe,Ni)S2
Niⓘ Pentlandite(NixFey)Σ9S8
Niⓘ Smythite(Fe,Ni)3+xS4 (x=0-0.3)
Niⓘ ViolariteFe2+Ni23+S4
CuCopper
Cuⓘ BorniteCu5FeS4
Cuⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Cuⓘ CovelliteCuS
Cuⓘ CubaniteCuFe2S3

Other Databases

Wikipedia:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selebi-Phikwe
Wikidata ID:Q141263

Localities in this Region

Botswana

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

AfricaContinent
African PlateTectonic Plate

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