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Richards Bay, King Cetshwayo District Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa i
Regional Level Types
Richards Bay Bay
King Cetshwayo District Municipality District
KwaZulu-Natal Province
South Africa Country

Regional Level Types
Richards Bay	Bay
King Cetshwayo District Municipality	District
KwaZulu-Natal	Province
South Africa	Country

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Predictive Mineralogy

Heavy minerals in dune sand

Richards Bay, King Cetshwayo District Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Mining operation at Richards Bay

Richards Bay, King Cetshwayo District Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Pyrite

Richards Bay, King Cetshwayo District Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Heavy minerals in dune sand

Richards Bay, King Cetshwayo District Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Mining operation at Richards Bay

Richards Bay, King Cetshwayo District Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Pyrite

Richards Bay, King Cetshwayo District Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Heavy minerals in dune sand

Richards Bay, King Cetshwayo District Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Mining operation at Richards Bay

Richards Bay, King Cetshwayo District Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):

28° 47' 6'' South , 32° 2' 25'' East

Latitude & Longitude (decimal):

Type:

Köppen climate type:

Cfa : Humid subtropical climate

Nearest Settlements:

Place	Population	Distance
Richards Bay	252,968 (2012)	0.4km
Empangeni	28,093 (2012)	14.6km
eSikhaleni	49,265 (2018)	16.7km

Mindat Locality ID:

57098

Long-form identifier:

mindat:1:2:57098:2

GUID (UUID V4):

Richards Bay has been mined for Zircon, Rutile and Ilmenite since 1977 extracting the minerals from sand dunes via dredging. Richards Bay Minerals produces roughly 25% of the world's titanium (titania slag and rutile), 33% of the world's zircon productiona and 25% global pig iron production. The leased areas are Tisand, Zulti North, and Zulti South

The minerals are derived from igneous rocks in the Drakensberg Mountains and transported to the coast via the Unfolozi River. Here long shore drift transports the material up coast where NW prevailing winds deposits them on land into sand dunes (placer deposit).

Extraction begins 1/2 a mile inland where the sand is dredged in an artificial 600m wide freshwater pond and taken to a concentrator.

During processing, magnetite and chromium (Cr) containing minerals are first removed magnetically; the rest is then taken to a mineral separation plant. When the heavy mineral concentrate (HMC) arrives, it is re-slurried and pumped into a mineral separation unit which separates out the major heavy minerals using magnets and each minerals relative densities. At this point zircon and 95% pure rutile are ready for dispatch in sand forms.

The ilmenite grains have a high chromium (Cr2O3) containing outer shell which is removed (by magnets) to get to the higher grade, higher titanium (Ti) containing centre. These ilmenite centres are then roasted (oxidised) to increase their magnetivity and allow easier separation of the now more magnetic, low-Cr ilmenite. This ilmenite is smelted with anthracite to produce a high grade (85%) titanium dioxide (TiO2) slag and high purity pig iron co-product.

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Mineral List

19 valid minerals.

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Almandine

Formula: Fe²⁺₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃

References:

Ware, C.I. (2001). Evolution of the northern Kwa-Zulu-Natal coastal dune cordon: evidence from the fien-grained sediment fraction. Master of Science dissertation, School of Geological and Computer Sciences, University of Natal, Durban, South Africa, 197 pages.

ⓘ 'Apatite'

Formula: Ca₅(PO₄)₃A

References:

ⓘ 'Apatite var. Collophane'

Formula: Ca₅(PO₄)₃(Cl/F/OH)

References:

ⓘ Augite

Formula: (Ca_xMg_yFe_z)(Mg_y1Fe_z1)Si₂O₆

References:

ⓘ Calcite

Formula: CaCO₃

References:

ⓘ Chromite

Formula: Fe²⁺Cr³⁺₂O₄

References:

ⓘ Epidote

Formula: (CaCa)(AlAlFe³⁺)O[Si₂O₇][SiO₄](OH)

References:

ⓘ 'Garnet Group'

Formula: X₃Z₂(SiO₄)₃

References:

Cairncross, B., Dixon, R. (1995) Minerals of South Africa. Geological Society of South Africa. p.1-290.

ⓘ 'Glauconite'

Formula: K_0.60-0.85(Fe³⁺,Mg,Al)₂(Si,Al)₄O₁₀](OH)₂

References:

ⓘ Goethite

Formula: Fe³⁺O(OH)

References:

ⓘ Hematite

Formula: Fe₂O₃

References:

ⓘ Ilmenite

Formula: Fe²⁺TiO₃

References:

Cairncross, B., Dixon, R. (1995) Minerals of South Africa. Geological Society of South Africa. p.1-290.

G.E. Williams and J.D. Steenkamp (2006) Heavy Mineral Processing at Richards Bay Minerals. Southern African Pyrometallurgy, South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Johannesburg.

ⓘ Kaolinite

Formula: Al₂(Si₂O₅)(OH)₄

References:

ⓘ Kyanite

Formula: Al₂(SiO₄)O

References:

ⓘ Magnetite

Formula: Fe²⁺Fe³⁺₂O₄

References:

ⓘ 'Monazite Group'

Formula: REE(PO₄)

References:

ⓘ Muscovite

Formula: KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂

References:

ⓘ Muscovite var. Illite

Formula: K_0.65Al_2.0[Al_0.65Si_3.35O₁₀](OH)₂

References:

ⓘ Pyrite

Formula: FeS₂

References:

ⓘ Pyrope

Formula: Mg₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃

References:

ⓘ Quartz

Formula: SiO₂

References:

ⓘ Rutile

Formula: TiO₂

References:

Cairncross, B., Dixon, R. (1995) Minerals of South Africa. Geological Society of South Africa. p.1-290.

G.E. Williams and J.D. Steenkamp (2006) Heavy Mineral Processing at Richards Bay Minerals. Southern African Pyrometallurgy, South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Johannesburg.

ⓘ Staurolite

Formula: Fe²⁺₂Al₉Si₄O₂₃(OH)

References:

ⓘ Titanite

Formula: CaTiO(SiO₄)

References:

ⓘ Zircon

Formula: Zr(SiO₄)

References:

Cairncross, B., Dixon, R. (1995) Minerals of South Africa. Geological Society of South Africa. p.1-290.

G.E. Williams and J.D. Steenkamp (2006) Heavy Mineral Processing at Richards Bay Minerals. Southern African Pyrometallurgy, South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Johannesburg.

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
ⓘ	Pyrite	2.EB.05a	FeS₂
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘ	Goethite	4.00.	Fe³⁺O(OH)
ⓘ	Chromite	4.BB.05	Fe²⁺Cr³⁺₂O₄
ⓘ	Magnetite	4.BB.05	Fe²⁺Fe³⁺₂O₄
ⓘ	Hematite	4.CB.05	Fe₂O₃
ⓘ	Ilmenite	4.CB.05	Fe²⁺TiO₃
ⓘ	Quartz	4.DA.05	SiO₂
ⓘ	Rutile	4.DB.05	TiO₂
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
ⓘ	Calcite	5.AB.05	CaCO₃
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘ	Almandine	9.AD.25	Fe²⁺₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃
ⓘ	Pyrope	9.AD.25	Mg₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃
ⓘ	Zircon	9.AD.30	Zr(SiO₄)
ⓘ	Kyanite	9.AF.15	Al₂(SiO₄)O
ⓘ	Staurolite	9.AF.30	Fe²⁺₂Al₉Si₄O₂₃(OH)
ⓘ	Titanite	9.AG.15	CaTiO(SiO₄)
ⓘ	Epidote	9.BG.05a	(CaCa)(AlAlFe³⁺)O[Si₂O₇][SiO₄](OH)
ⓘ	Augite	9.DA.15	(Ca_xMg_yFe_z)(Mg_y1Fe_z1)Si₂O₆
ⓘ	Muscovite var. Illite	9.EC.15	K_0.65Al_2.0[Al_0.65Si_3.35O₁₀](OH)₂
ⓘ		9.EC.15	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
ⓘ	Kaolinite	9.ED.05	Al₂(Si₂O₅)(OH)₄
Unclassified
ⓘ	'Glauconite'	-	K_0.60-0.85(Fe³⁺,Mg,Al)₂(Si,Al)₄O₁₀](OH)₂
ⓘ	'Monazite Group'	-	REE(PO₄)
ⓘ	'Apatite var. Collophane'	-	Ca₅(PO₄)₃(Cl/F/OH)
ⓘ	'Garnet Group'	-	X₃Z₂(SiO₄)₃
ⓘ	'Apatite'	-	Ca₅(PO₄)₃A

List of minerals for each chemical element

H	Hydrogen
H	ⓘ Epidote	(CaCa)(AlAlFe³⁺)O[Si₂O₇][SiO₄](OH)
H	ⓘ Glauconite	K_0.60-0.85(Fe³⁺,Mg,Al)₂(Si,Al)₄O₁₀](OH)₂
H	ⓘ Goethite	Fe³⁺O(OH)
H	ⓘ Muscovite var. Illite	K_0.65Al_2.0[Al_0.65Si_3.35O₁₀](OH)₂
H	ⓘ Kaolinite	Al₂(Si₂O₅)(OH)₄
H	ⓘ Muscovite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
H	ⓘ Staurolite	Fe₂²⁺Al₉Si₄O₂₃(OH)
H	ⓘ Apatite var. Collophane	Ca₅(PO₄)₃(Cl/F/OH)
C	Carbon
C	ⓘ Calcite	CaCO₃
O	Oxygen
O	ⓘ Augite	(Ca_xMg_yFe_z)(Mg_y1Fe_z1)Si₂O₆
O	ⓘ Almandine	Fe₃²⁺Al₂(SiO₄)₃
O	ⓘ Calcite	CaCO₃
O	ⓘ Chromite	Fe²⁺Cr₂³⁺O₄
O	ⓘ Epidote	(CaCa)(AlAlFe³⁺)O[Si₂O₇][SiO₄](OH)
O	ⓘ Glauconite	K_0.60-0.85(Fe³⁺,Mg,Al)₂(Si,Al)₄O₁₀](OH)₂
O	ⓘ Goethite	Fe³⁺O(OH)
O	ⓘ Hematite	Fe₂O₃
O	ⓘ Muscovite var. Illite	K_0.65Al_2.0[Al_0.65Si_3.35O₁₀](OH)₂
O	ⓘ Ilmenite	Fe²⁺TiO₃
O	ⓘ Kaolinite	Al₂(Si₂O₅)(OH)₄
O	ⓘ Kyanite	Al₂(SiO₄)O
O	ⓘ Magnetite	Fe²⁺Fe₂³⁺O₄
O	ⓘ Monazite Group	REE(PO₄)
O	ⓘ Muscovite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
O	ⓘ Pyrope	Mg₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃
O	ⓘ Quartz	SiO₂
O	ⓘ Rutile	TiO₂
O	ⓘ Staurolite	Fe₂²⁺Al₉Si₄O₂₃(OH)
O	ⓘ Titanite	CaTiO(SiO₄)
O	ⓘ Zircon	Zr(SiO₄)
O	ⓘ Apatite var. Collophane	Ca₅(PO₄)₃(Cl/F/OH)
O	ⓘ Garnet Group	X₃Z₂(SiO₄)₃
O	ⓘ Apatite	Ca₅(PO₄)₃A
F	Fluorine
F	ⓘ Apatite var. Collophane	Ca₅(PO₄)₃(Cl/F/OH)
Mg	Magnesium
Mg	ⓘ Augite	(Ca_xMg_yFe_z)(Mg_y1Fe_z1)Si₂O₆
Mg	ⓘ Glauconite	K_0.60-0.85(Fe³⁺,Mg,Al)₂(Si,Al)₄O₁₀](OH)₂
Mg	ⓘ Pyrope	Mg₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃
Al	Aluminium
Al	ⓘ Almandine	Fe₃²⁺Al₂(SiO₄)₃
Al	ⓘ Epidote	(CaCa)(AlAlFe³⁺)O[Si₂O₇][SiO₄](OH)
Al	ⓘ Glauconite	K_0.60-0.85(Fe³⁺,Mg,Al)₂(Si,Al)₄O₁₀](OH)₂
Al	ⓘ Muscovite var. Illite	K_0.65Al_2.0[Al_0.65Si_3.35O₁₀](OH)₂
Al	ⓘ Kaolinite	Al₂(Si₂O₅)(OH)₄
Al	ⓘ Kyanite	Al₂(SiO₄)O
Al	ⓘ Muscovite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
Al	ⓘ Pyrope	Mg₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃
Al	ⓘ Staurolite	Fe₂²⁺Al₉Si₄O₂₃(OH)
Si	Silicon
Si	ⓘ Augite	(Ca_xMg_yFe_z)(Mg_y1Fe_z1)Si₂O₆
Si	ⓘ Almandine	Fe₃²⁺Al₂(SiO₄)₃
Si	ⓘ Epidote	(CaCa)(AlAlFe³⁺)O[Si₂O₇][SiO₄](OH)
Si	ⓘ Glauconite	K_0.60-0.85(Fe³⁺,Mg,Al)₂(Si,Al)₄O₁₀](OH)₂
Si	ⓘ Muscovite var. Illite	K_0.65Al_2.0[Al_0.65Si_3.35O₁₀](OH)₂
Si	ⓘ Kaolinite	Al₂(Si₂O₅)(OH)₄
Si	ⓘ Kyanite	Al₂(SiO₄)O
Si	ⓘ Muscovite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
Si	ⓘ Pyrope	Mg₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃
Si	ⓘ Quartz	SiO₂
Si	ⓘ Staurolite	Fe₂²⁺Al₉Si₄O₂₃(OH)
Si	ⓘ Titanite	CaTiO(SiO₄)
Si	ⓘ Zircon	Zr(SiO₄)
Si	ⓘ Garnet Group	X₃Z₂(SiO₄)₃
P	Phosphorus
P	ⓘ Monazite Group	REE(PO₄)
P	ⓘ Apatite var. Collophane	Ca₅(PO₄)₃(Cl/F/OH)
P	ⓘ Apatite	Ca₅(PO₄)₃A
S	Sulfur
S	ⓘ Pyrite	FeS₂
Cl	Chlorine
Cl	ⓘ Apatite var. Collophane	Ca₅(PO₄)₃(Cl/F/OH)
K	Potassium
K	ⓘ Glauconite	K_0.60-0.85(Fe³⁺,Mg,Al)₂(Si,Al)₄O₁₀](OH)₂
K	ⓘ Muscovite var. Illite	K_0.65Al_2.0[Al_0.65Si_3.35O₁₀](OH)₂
K	ⓘ Muscovite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
Ca	Calcium
Ca	ⓘ Augite	(Ca_xMg_yFe_z)(Mg_y1Fe_z1)Si₂O₆
Ca	ⓘ Calcite	CaCO₃
Ca	ⓘ Epidote	(CaCa)(AlAlFe³⁺)O[Si₂O₇][SiO₄](OH)
Ca	ⓘ Titanite	CaTiO(SiO₄)
Ca	ⓘ Apatite var. Collophane	Ca₅(PO₄)₃(Cl/F/OH)
Ca	ⓘ Apatite	Ca₅(PO₄)₃A
Ti	Titanium
Ti	ⓘ Ilmenite	Fe²⁺TiO₃
Ti	ⓘ Rutile	TiO₂
Ti	ⓘ Titanite	CaTiO(SiO₄)
Cr	Chromium
Cr	ⓘ Chromite	Fe²⁺Cr₂³⁺O₄
Fe	Iron
Fe	ⓘ Augite	(Ca_xMg_yFe_z)(Mg_y1Fe_z1)Si₂O₆
Fe	ⓘ Almandine	Fe₃²⁺Al₂(SiO₄)₃
Fe	ⓘ Chromite	Fe²⁺Cr₂³⁺O₄
Fe	ⓘ Epidote	(CaCa)(AlAlFe³⁺)O[Si₂O₇][SiO₄](OH)
Fe	ⓘ Glauconite	K_0.60-0.85(Fe³⁺,Mg,Al)₂(Si,Al)₄O₁₀](OH)₂
Fe	ⓘ Goethite	Fe³⁺O(OH)
Fe	ⓘ Hematite	Fe₂O₃
Fe	ⓘ Ilmenite	Fe²⁺TiO₃
Fe	ⓘ Magnetite	Fe²⁺Fe₂³⁺O₄
Fe	ⓘ Pyrite	FeS₂
Fe	ⓘ Staurolite	Fe₂²⁺Al₉Si₄O₂₃(OH)
Zr	Zirconium
Zr	ⓘ Zircon	Zr(SiO₄)

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

AfricaContinent

African Plate

Mozambique basinBasin
Mozambique BeltOrogenic Belt

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

www.riotinto.com (n.d.) http://www.riotinto.com/energyandminerals/richards-bay-minerals-4642.aspx-

en.wikipedia.org (n.d.) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richards_Bay_Minerals

Hobday, D.K. and Orme, A.R. (1974). The Port Durnford Formation: a major Pleistocene barrier-lagoon complex along the Zululand coast. Transactions of the Geological Society of South Africa, 77(2), 141-149.

Maud, R.R. and Orr, W.N. (1975). Aspects of post-Karroo geology in the Richards Bay area. Transactions of the Geological Society of South Africa, 78, 101-109.

Hugo, V.E. and Cornell, D.H. (1991). Altered ilmenites in Holocene dunes from Zululand, South Africa: petrographic evidence for multistage alteration. South African Journal of Geology, 94(5/6), 365-378.

Ware, C.I. (2001). Evolution of the northern KwaZulu-Natal coastal dune cordon; evidence from the fine-grained sediment fraction. Master of Science dissertation, School of Geological and Computer Sciences, University of Natal, Durban, South Africa, 197 pages.

G.E. Williams and J.D. Steenkamp (2006). Heavy Mineral Processing at Richards Bay Minerals. Southern African Pyrometallurgy, xx pp.

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