Phosphate in South Africa

SYNOPSIS This paper reviews the geology, history, current beneficiation practices, uses, marketing, and future outlook of phosphate in South Africa. The vastness of the reserves, and the industry's efficiency and competitiveness in world terms, are highlighted. SAMEVATTING Hierdie referaat gee 'n oorsig oor die geologie, geskiedenis, huidige veredelingspraktyke, gebruike, bemarking en vooruitsigte vir die toekoms van fosfaat in Suid-Afrika. Die geweldige omvang van die reserwes en die doeltreffendheid en mededingendheid in wereldterme word na vore gebring. OCCURRENCE AND GEOLOGY The commercially important phosphate deposits in South Africa are confined to igneous and marine sedimentary geological environments (Fig. I). The former environment is by far the most important in South Africa in that roughly 95 per cent of the country's production comes from the Phalaborwa Complex in the northeastern Transvaal. For this reason, the other deposits are dealt with only briefly in this paper.