Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Article
  • Published:

Strontium isotope evidence for preserved density stratification in the main zone of the Bushveld Complex, South Africa

Nature volume 316, pages 119–126 (1985)Cite this article

Abstract

The Bushveld Complex formed from two isotopically distinct magmas. Magma addition and mixing can be tracked by measuring initial strontium isotope ratios of cumulates. Rocks with ratios of 0.7065 lie below the lower 2.2 km of the main zone (ratio = 0.7085), whereas those with ratios of 0.7073 lie above it. This unit represents a liquid layer intruded into the density-stratified magma pile near the base of the chamber. The Merensky Reef was produced by mixing of the pile with underlying trapped liquid enriched in precious metals.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on SpringerLink
  • Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Sharpe, M. R. J. geol. Soc., Lond. 138, 307–326 (1981).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Irvine, T. N. & Sharpe, M. R. Yb. Carnegie Instn Wash. 81, 294–303 (1982).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Cawthorn, R. G., Clubley-Armstrong, A. R., Davies, G. & McCarthy, T. S. Lithos 14, 1–16 (1981).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Cawthorn, R. G. & Davies, G. Contr. Miner. Petrol. 83, 128–135 (1983).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Sharpe, M. R. & Irvine, T. N. Yb. Carnegie Instn Wash. 82, 295–300 (1983).

    Google Scholar 

  6. Cameron, W. E., Nisbet, E. G. & Dietrich, V. J. Nature 80, 550–553 (1979).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Irvine, T. N., Keith, D. W. & Todd, S. G. Yb. Carnegie Instn Wash. 81, 286–294 (1982).

    Google Scholar 

  8. Hamilton, P. J. J. Petrol. 18, 24–52 (1977).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Harmer, R. E. & Sharpe, M. R. Econ. Geol. 80, (in the press).

  10. Irvine, T. N., Keith, D. W. & Todd, S. G. Econ. Geol. 78, 1287–1334 (1983).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Campbell, I. H., Naldrett, A. J. & Barnes, S. J. J. Petrol. 24, 133–165 (1983).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Huppert, H. E., Turner, J. S. & Sparks, R. S. J. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 57, 345–257 (1982).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Hatton, C. J., Harmer, R. E. & Sharpe, M. R. Symp. Metallogeny Basic Ultrabasic Rocks, Abstr. (Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, London, 1985).

    Google Scholar 

  14. Von Gruenewaldt, G. Trans. geol. Soc. S. Afr. 76, 207–227 (1973).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Molyneux, T. G. Trans. geol. Soc. S. Afr. 77, 329–338 (1974).

    Google Scholar 

  16. Von Gruenewaldt, G. Econ. Geol. 71, 1324–1336 (1976).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Page, N. J., Von Gruenewaldt, G., Haffty, J. & Aruscavage, P. J. Econ. Geol. 77, 1405–1418 (1982).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Kruger, F. J. & Marsh, J. S. Nature 298, 53–55 (1982).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Von Gruenewaldt, G., Sharpe, M. R. & Hatton, C. J. Econ. Geol. 80 (in the press).

  20. Davies, R. D., Allsopp, H. L., Erlank, A. J. & Manton, W. I. in Symp. Bushveld Complex and Other Layered Intrusions Spec. Publ. 1 (eds Visser, D. J. L. & Von Gruenewaldt, G.) 576–593 (Geol. Soc. S. Afr.,1970).

    Google Scholar 

  21. Hunter, D. & Hamilton, P. J. in Evolution of the Earth's Crust (ed. Tarling, D. H.) 107–173 (Academic, London, 1978).

    Google Scholar 

  22. De Paolo, D. J. & Wasserburg, G. J. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 43, 615–627 (1979).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. De Paolo, D. J. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 53, 189–202 (1981).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. McCarthy, T. S., Lee, C. A., Fesq, H. W., Kable, E. J. D. & Erasmus, C. S. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 48, 1005–1019 (1984).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Sharpe, M. R., Irvine, T. N., Mysen, B. O. & Hazen, R. M. Yb. Carnegie Instn Wash. 82, 300–305 (1983).

    Google Scholar 

  26. Sharpe, M. R. & Hulbert, L. J. Econ. Geol. 80 (in the press).

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Geological Research on the Bushveld Complex, University of Pretoria, Hillcrest, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa

    Martin R. Sharpe

Authors
  1. Martin R. Sharpe
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sharpe, M. Strontium isotope evidence for preserved density stratification in the main zone of the Bushveld Complex, South Africa. Nature 316, 119–126 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1038/316119a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/316119a0

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing