MINERAL DEPOSITS EPSC 452
Debate topics
March 23rd
Debate 1
The Witwatersrand Basin in South Africa has yielded approximately 50% of all the gold
that has been mined on this planet. It has also been the subject of literally thousands of
scholarly articles. Despite this, the genesis of the deposits is still the subject of heated
debate, with many arguing that the deposits are paleoplacers and others that they are
hydrothermal in origin. Recently, it has even been suggested that hydrocarbons may have
played a role in the gold concentration. The issue of the genesis of the Witwatersrand
gold is one that should therefore provoke vigorous debate for those of you who decide to
tackle it.
Resolution:
“Be it resolved that the gold deposits of the Witwatersrand Basin are dominantly of
detrital origin”.
Debate 2
The Bushveld complex in South Africa is the source of much of the world’s platinum,
and, like the Witwatersrand, has also been the subject of large numbers of scholarly
articles. Although there is more of a consensus that the platinum was concentrated to
economic levels by sulphide melts, a number of researchers have presented interesting
data that challenges this conventional wisdom. The genesis of the Bushveld platinum is
thus a topic worthy of debate.
Resolution:
“Be it resolved that the platinum ores in the Bushveld Complex mainly owe their
existence to the concentrating powers of sulphide melts”