Selebi Phikwe Research Articles

Heavy metal accumulation of aquatic grasses from mine tailing's wastewater drainage spillway of BCL Cu‐Ni mine in Selebi Phikwe, Botswana

AbstractMining activities introduce countless contaminants into the environment, including toxic levels of heavy metals that accumulate in soil and water, requiring environmental management to prevent detrimental effects. One strategy is to use plants because of their natural ability to adsorb and accumulate different contaminants in their tissues. To develop a rhizofiltration technique for mine wastewater in Botswana, there is a need to identify suitable aquatic plant species which can remove heavy metals from acid mine drainage and associated sediments. Plant species growing in the vicinity of acid mine drainage at the BCL mine were sampled and analyzed for heavy metal concentration in the various plant tissues.The plants analyzed were: Cyperus papyrus; Phragmites australis; Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani; and Baumea rubiginosa. These plants all accumulated above‐average concentrations of Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, and Zn in their tissues, especially Cr, Cu, and Ni. C. papyrus accumulates more Cr (up to 6080.86 mg kg−1in shoots and 5047.15 mg kg−1 in roots), Cu (up to 2166.43 mg kg−1 in roots and 1231.12 mg kg−1 in shoots), and Ni (up to 949.97 mg kg−1 in roots and 1163.42 mg kg−1 in shoots). P. australis accumulates more Cu in roots (up to 7416.87 mg kg−1) than in shoots (221.71 mg kg−1). S. tabernaemontani accumulates more Ni than Cu and Cr which it mostly retains in the roots (1015.88 mg kg−1). B. rubiginosa accumulates more Cu than Ni with a concentration up to 927.36 mg kg−1 in shoots and 401.70 mg kg−1 in roots (BAF 35.53; TF 0.90). Among these plants' species, C. papyrus had the ability for multi‐metal accumulation, retaining Cr, Cu, and Ni.

Characterization of copper slag for beneficiation of iron and copper

Before disposal of any metallurgical waste to the environment, it is the responsibility of mining institutes to adhere to the permissible metal content limits. Base metals, especially iron and copper, have adverse effects of reducing the soil pH and excessive concentrations of these in the disposed waste may result in soil pollution and toxicity, with adverse effects on plant growth and animal health. Copper slag is a metallurgical waste that is disposed by way of stockpiling at designated dump sites within a mining site. The observed depletion of high-grade iron ores in Botswana and the environmental hazards associated with disposal of untreated metallurgical waste, presents an opportunity for research on secondary sources of iron and copper. Our characterization results show that this BCL copper slag is a good secondary source of base metals, especially iron and copper. These results reveal that the elemental proportion of iron was around 35.4%. Literature states that an iron grade that is considered viable for economic beneficiation should be at least 25% and this slag has an iron content above this limit, hence poses a serious environmental threat upon disposal. This article presents an investigation into the mineralogy of the copper slag at a plant situated in Selebi Phikwe, a town in the northern part of Botswana. Quantitative evaluation of minerals by scanning electron microscopy (QEMSCAN) quantified that no cobalt – sulphide was detected and strongly indicated that the cobalt within the sample occurs in solid solution in either the fayalite phase or glass phase. Spot analysis from electron probe micro – analyzer (EPMS) images indicated an unusually high content of copper compared to any other metal. We elucidate that, this was due to the inefficient processing techniques employed during operational years of the mine. The relative compositions of Co, Fe, Ni and Cu were 0.14%, 35.4%, 0.28% and 0.29% respectively. This analysis justifies our interest in considering this copper slag as a secondary source of iron for beneficiation purposes.

Waste Management and Treatment of Copper Slag BCL, Selebi Phikwe Botswana: Review

The production of copper bears both viable product and by product know as slag which is a challenge to dispose and poses a problem to the environment. BCL holds copper slag is seen as waste which is iron - opulent containing heavy metals which can seep into ground water and affect environment. These metal accumulate in millions of tonnes year after year posing as a threat to the environment and need to be managed to avoid them being harmful. This paper explores metallurgical ways of treating the slag and utilizing it in different ways. Extracting metals such as iron is one way of managing the slag, as previous research and present indicate that iron can be recovered from copper slag. This will help manage the waste slag and rehabilitate land sustainably. The copper slag can also be used in cement and concrete production and provides potential environmental and economic benefits for all parties involved. The BCL dump will be regarded as raw material rather than waste hence igniting management and treatment of waste to sustainability.

Geochemistry and pH control of seepage from Ni-Cu rich mine tailings at Selebi Phikwe, Botswana.

Acid mine drainage from mine tailings at Selebi Phikwe, eastern Botswana, has been investigated using a combination of total decomposition, sequential extraction, X-ray diffraction, Mössbauer spectroscopy, and SEM analyses of solid phase samples, water analyses, isotopic analyses, and geochemical modeling. The principal ferric phases in the seepage stream sediments are jarosite and goethite, which incorporate Ni and Cu. The Mössbauer spectroscopy (MS) indicated exclusively 3+ oxidation state of iron with typical features of ferric hydroxides/sulfates. A fraction of dissolved sulfate is also sequestered in gypsum which precipitates further downstream. Significant portions of Fe, Ni, and Cu are transported in suspension. Values of pH decreased downstream due to H+ generated by the precipitation of jarosite. Values of δ2H and δ18O indicate evaporation of pore water in the mine tailings before seepage. Values of δ34S(SO4) are consistent with the oxidation of sulfides, but sample from the seepage face is affected by dissolution of gypsum. No minerals of Ni and Cu were detected and the principal attenuation processes seem to be adsorption and co-precipitation with jarosite. Higher contents of Cu are sequestered in solid phases compared to Ni, in spite of much higher dissolved Ni concentrations. Based on the speciation calculations, seepage water is undersaturated with respect to all Ni and Cu phases and adsorption and co-precipitation with jarosite seems to be the principal attenuation processes. Direct geochemical modeling was able to reproduce downstream pH trends, thus confirming the precipitation of jarosite as the principal pH-controlling process.

Preliminary investigation of transfer of metals from soil to vegetables: Case study of Spinacia oleracea L.

The objective of the study was to measure concentrations of Cu, Ni and Zn in Spinacia oleracea cultivated at a site near the copper and nickel mine in Selebi Phikwe. The mean concentrations (in dry matter-basis) of Cu, Zn and Ni in the whole plant system were 7.30 ± 2.51, 6.02 ± 2.16 and 0.03 ± 0.02, mg/kg, respectively. Enrichment factors (EF) of Cu, Ni and Zn were far below the EF value of 1.5 suggesting that the soils at the study site were either good in retention of metals and/or there was minimal translocation of metals in the plants. The authors recommend a multiple exposure effect of heavy metal monitoring to be conducted regularly at the study site. Key words: Dietary toxicity, estimated dietary intake, Spinacia oleracea, target hazard quotient.

The diabetic foot risks profile in Selebi Phikwe Government Hospital, Botswana.

AimThe present study aimed: (1) to evaluate the proportion of each diabetic foot (DF) risk category, according to the International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot (IWGDF) consensus, in patients attending the diabetic clinic in Selebi Phikwe Government Hospital (SPGH) and (2) to examine some of the factors that may be associated with the progression to higher risk categories such as anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and lipid profile.MethodsA retrospective, cross sectional chart review of patients who had attended the diabetic clinic in SPGH from January 2013 to December 2013 was performed. Patients were included if they had undergone a foot examination. Patients with amputation due to accident were excluded. The DF risk category was assessed by determining the proportion of patients in each of four risk categories, as described by the IWGDF consensus.ResultsThe study encompassed 144 records from patients reviewed for foot examination from January to December 2013. Patients’ ages were between 16 and 85 years, 46 (40%) were male and 98 (60%) were female. The majority (122, [85%]) of patients were in DF risk category 0, whilst a limited number of patients were classified in risk category 1 (10, [6.9%]), risk category 2 (7, [4.9%]) and risk category 3 (5, [3.5%]). Most of the patients had the type 2 diabetes mellitus (139, [97%; 95% CI 92% – 99%]). Patients’ ages were associated with the progressively higher DF risk categories. The adjusted odd ratio was 1.1 (95% CI 1.03-1.14; p = 0.004).ConclusionThe present study revealed that about 15% of patients attending the SPGH diabetic clinic were categorised in higher risk groups for diabetic foot; patients’ ages were linked to the higher DF risk categories.

Assessment of Heavy Metal Enrichment and Degree of Contamination around the Copper-Nickel Mine in the Selebi Phikwe Region, Eastern Botswana

This paper focuses on heavy metal (Co, Cu, Fe, Pb, Mn, Ni and Zn) enrichment and degree of contamination in the soils windward of the Selebi Phikwe copper and nickel mine (eastern Botswana). Pollution by these metals was examined using several calculation methods: enrichment factors, modified degree of contamination, pollution load index and geoaccumulation index. Enrichment factors were further assessed by comparing present day soil metal contents obtained using actual Fe content in standard earth material obtained from literature with that measured in soils sampled from areas adjacent to the site of concern to represent uncontaminated background concentrations. The latter method was found to be the most relevant and the normalised enrichment values demonstrate moderate enrichment of Cu and Ni. The proposed modified calculation method of degree of contamination, which involves determination of arithmetic mean of contamination factors by individual studied metals, revealed moderate contamination by metals. The PLI, which basically is a measure of site quality, indicated deterioration due to metal contamination. These results were further supported by values obtained from indices of geoaccumulation method of pollution assessment. Principal component analysis at windward site of the mine extracted two major components: 1. high positive loading of Pb, Ni, Cu and Zn associated with anthropogenic influence by smelter emissions and 2.high positive loadings of Co, Mn and Fe are associated with contributions from natural processes. This evaluation would serve to create consistent calculation methods as a contribution towards building a consensus on methodologies applicable to the study of polluted soils.

Botswana's mining path to urbanisation and poverty alleviation

Relative to the rest of sub-Saharan Africa, Botswana has recorded exceptionally high rates and levels of urbanisation. At national independence in the 1960s, Botswana was overwhelmingly a rural country. Now, over half of the population currently lives in urban settlements. The discovery and exploitation of the country's rich mineral resources since independence in 1966 have made a significant contribution to the development of new towns, such as Orapa, Jwaneng and Selebi Phikwe. This contribution documents the nature of diamond and copper-nickel mining activities in Botswana and their influence on the urban settlement pattern. Botswana's mining towns are run on welfare capitalist lines by foreign companies, primarily DeBeers, in which the Botswana government has a minority share. The populations of the towns and surrounding areas have grown well beyond their planned levels. The government has been acutely conscious of the limited life of the mines and of the need to make provision for employment after the end of mining. The Selebi Phikwe nickel mine was expected to cease production in 2010 and efforts have been made to create non-mining employment with some success. The dilemmas posed by depleting mineral supplies and the government's attempts to find economic employment alternatives to sustain existing urban settlements are discussed. Given Botswana's reputation for investing mining wealth in infrastructural development and public welfare for current and future generations, this analysis assesses the challenges large-scale mining poses for achievement of sustainable development, social justice and poverty alleviation.

Health Worker Opinion/Perception of Health Services provided to Patients in the Selebi Phikwe Ni-Cu Mine Area, Botswana

This study determines the prevalence of types of sicknesses and diseases affecting patients visiting health service facilities and the available health services within the Selebi Phikwe Ni-Cu mine area, Botswana. Through the administration of questionnaires and structured questions, attempts were made to establish and verify the existing human health problems at the study area by focusing on respiratory tract related symptoms of sicknesses and diseases. With the aid of statistical package for social sciences (SPSS), interpreted results from respondents indicated that all the health service providers served patients suffering from headaches, persistent coughing, chest pains, lower abdominal pains, pain when passing out urine, genital discharge and diarrhea. Seventy one percent of the health service providers indicated that their patients suffered from body weakness, 86 % indicated that they had patients who suffered from recent loss of body weight, and another 86 % pointed out that their patients had influenza/common cold. Other health complaints reported included unusual spitting, shortness of breath, palpitations, nausea/vomiting, diarrhoea, and constipation. Moreover the health service providers indicated that they had patients who suffered from significant illnesses of which some passed away. However if there are lacking facilities, patients are referred to bigger health service providers in the country. The findings of the study do not in general depict demarcating differences of health status of residents of the study area to those of the control site. A need therefore for further investigations to be conducted to establish relations of mining activities to human health at Selebi Phikwe is called for.

Headaches among residents within the Selebi Phikwe Nickel-Copper mining environment, Botswana

Headache occurrences among different classes of residents within a nickel-copper (Ni-Cu) mining and smelting environment in Botswana are investigated using questionnaires and statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). Interpreted results from respondents indicated that all of the health service providers, 80% of educational institutions, and 70 % of businesses enterprises had patients, learners and workers respectively, and 77 % of individuals, complained of one form of headache or the other. Similar high values were obtained when responses were considered according to study sites, especially for frontal and temple headaches. Females suffered slightly more often from headaches than males. Values for sites close to smelter/concentrator plant and mine were in general higher. Mining activities especially the release of sulphur gases and fumes into the atmosphere, and other climatic factors could possibly be contributory to the rampant occurrence of headaches at Selebi Phikwe. African Journal of Health Sciences Vol. 13 (3-4) 2006: pp. 43-52

Environmental Effects of Nickel-Copper Exploitation on Workers Health Status at Selebi Phikwe Area, Botswana

Environmental Effects of Nickel-Copper Exploitation on Workers Health Status at Selebi Phikwe Area, Botswana

Application of a constrained non-linear hydraulic gradient design tool to water reticulation network upgrade

Southern Africa has embarked on substantial expansion of its water supply network in order to ensure safe, reliable, convenient and sufficient water for everyone. To achieve this, new systems are being built and many existing systems are being upgraded. The upgrade of many existing systems is required for two reasons: some currently functional systems may run dry if subjected to additional demands as these systems were not initially designed to cater for such demand, and some systems are currently non- or sub-functional as they were ill-designed and/or ill-implemented from inception. Many of the systems that require upgrade are underdesigned due to a lack of skill, tools and/or knowledge of designers, or from other extraneous factors (e.g., illegal connections and sabotage). It is hardly surprising therefore that the failures of water projects in developing countries are recorded to be as high as 80%. Ill-designed systems increase operation and maintenance costs significantly. In especially Southern Africa, designers require simple, yet rigorously tested tools to facilitate sustainable, yet cost-effective network designs. Presented in this paper is a simple, yet robust constrained non-linear hydraulic gradient network reticulation design tool. The design tool is calibrated using the New York City water supply problem that has served as a benchmark problem for other models and then applied to the Selebi – Phikwe (SP) water reticulation network (WRN) in Botswana, which was designed based on engineering judgement. The optimization algorithm employed in the design tool is based on the concept that a hypothetical hydraulic gradient for a hydraulically balanced WRN exists that, when achieved iteratively, produces optimal pipe sizes and an optimal flow relation between each pipe. The unique problems and challenges of the SP WRN (pressure deficiencies in sections of the existing network and the proposed addition of three new residential developments) required determining the most appropriate peak and night flow operating scenarios, and optimal pipe sizes for the proposed expansion of the network. Optimization by trial and error had been previously employed in the design of the SP WRN—a common practice amongst water system designers, and the results are compared with those generated with the design tool. The design tool achieved a 62% reduction in total pipe cost from that obtained by trial and error for the SP WRN problem. At the same time, the design tool gives comparable pipe costs to those published in literature for the New York City water supply tunnels problem.

Health worker opinion/perception of health services provided to patients in the Selebi Phikwe Ni-Cu mine area, Botswana

This study determines the prevalence of types of sicknesses and diseases affecting patients visiting health service facilities and the available health services within the Selebi Phikwe Ni-Cu mine area, Botswana. Through the administration of questionnaires and structured questions, attempts were made to establish and verify the existing human health problems at the study area by focusing on respiratory tract related symptoms of sicknesses and diseases. With the aid of statistical package for social sciences (SPSS), interpreted results from respondents indicated that all the health service providers served patients suffering from headaches, persistent coughing, chest pains, lower abdominal pains, pain when passing out urine, genital discharge and diarrhea. Seventy one percent of the health service providers indicated that their patients suffered from body weakness, 86 % indicated that they had patients who suffered from recent loss of body weight, and another 86 % pointed out that their patients had influenza/common cold. Other health complaints reported included unusual spitting, shortness of breath, palpitations, nausea/vomiting, diarrhoea, and constipation. Moreover the health service providers indicated that they had patients who suffered from significant illnesses of which some passed away. However if there are lacking facilities, patients are referred to bigger health service providers in the country. The findings of the study do not in general depict demarcating differences of health status of residents of the study area to those of the control site. A need therefore for further investigations to be conducted to establish relations of mining activities to human health at Selebi Phikwe is called for. African Journal of Health Sciences Vol. 12(3-4) 2005: 78-86

Heavy metals concentrations in the biophysical environment around the Ni-Cu mine and the smelter/concentrator plant, Selebi Phikwe, Botswana

The present work involves the study of heavy metals concentrations in the biophysical environment of a Ni-Cu mining and smelting area in Botswana, Africa. Samples of tailings dump, soils, particulate air matter (PAM), Imbrasia belina , and Colophospermum mopane were analysed for concentrations of heavy metals. Elements analysed were those associated with Ni-Cu mining and smelting included Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, Fe, Ni, Se and Zn, which were likely to be found in Ni-Cu orebodies and released into the biophysical environment through mining and smelting activities. Results depicted higher concentration levels of heavy metals in samples obtained close to the mine and the concentrator/smelter plant compared to samples obtained further away from where mining and smelting activities are being carried out. It is anticipated that these findings may be useful in interpreting biophysical environments where Ni-Cu mining and smelting activities are being conducted. Keywords : Selebi Phikwe, biophysical, heavy metals, environment Global Journal of Environmental Sciences Vol. 4(2) 2005: 97–110

Heavy metals concentrations in <i>Imbrasia belina</i> (phane caterpillar) around the Selebi Phikwe Ni-Cu mine and smelter/concentrator plant, Botswana

Samples of Imbrasia belina (phane caterpillar) obtained from around the Selebi Phikwe Ni-Cu mine and smelter/concentrator plant, Botswana were investigated for their heavy metals concentrations. The samples were obtained from 10 sampling sites, which included a chosen control site located 56 km from Selebi Phikwe. Chemical analyses for Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Se and Zn concentrations in the samples of Imbrasia belina were measured using atomic absorption spectrometry. Concentration values obtained for heavy metals in Imbrasia belina were as follows: Cd was between 0.01 ppm and 0.05 ppm, Co was between 0.01 ppm and 0.6 ppm, Cr was between 0.03 ppm and 1.03 ppm, Cu was between 1.3 ppm and 9.79 ppm, Fe was between 1 ppm and 13.5 ppm, Ni was between 1.2 ppm and 4.20 ppm, Se was between 0.01 ppm and 0.03 ppm, and Zn was between 0.6 ppm and 5.79 ppm. The correlation coefficients between heavy metals in Imbrasia belina were generally average. Strong correlations included Fe/Cu, Ni/Cr, Se/Co, Zn/Cu and Zn/Ni. The lowest correlation coefficient was at 0.03 with Ni/Fe. The worms close to the plant; more specifically sites four, five and six were the most contaminated. Results from this baseline study calls for the need to further investigate the possible effects on human health due to the consumption of Imbrasia belina . Keywords : heavy metals, Imbrasia belina , concentrations, linear trend, nickel-copper Global Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences Vol. 11(4) 2005: 553-559

The occurrences of chest pains and frequent coughing among residents living within the Selebi Phikwe Ni-Cu mine area, Botswana

This study aimed at establishing occurrences of chest pains and frequent coughing among different classes of residents within Selebi Phikwe, Botswana where there are on going nickel-copper (Ni-Cu) mining and smelting activities. Through the administration of questionnaires and structured questions to 600 individuals, 7 health service providers, 200 business enterprises, and 30 educational institutions, attempts were made to establish and verify the existing human health status at Selebi Phikwe by focusing on chest pains and frequent coughing which are considered to be some of the respiratory tract related symptoms of sicknesses and diseases. With the aid of statistical package for social sciences (SPSS), interpreted results from respondents indicated that 33 % of the individuals complained of persistent chest pains; and 27 % of educational institutions, 45 % business enterprises, and all health service providers had learners, workers, and patients who complained of chest pains. Furthermore, 49 % of the individuals complained of persistent frequent coughing; and 70 % of educational institutions, 45 % business enterprises, and all health service providers had learners, workers, and patients who complained of frequent coughing. According to study sites, respondents living in sites closest to the mine and smelter / concentrator plant reported a higher incidence of chest pains and frequent coughing, compared to those living in other parts of the study area. Residents associate fumes and dust from mining activities to the frequent coughing and persistent chest pains, which could be symptoms of respiratory tract diseases. This baseline investigation calls for further studies to establish relations of mining activities to human health at Selebi Phikwe.

General health status of residents of the Selebi Phikwe Ni-Cu mine area, Botswana

Residents of the Selebi Phikwe area, Botswana where nickel-copper (Ni-Cu) is being exploited often exhibit symptoms of varied degrees of ailments, sicknesses and diseases. A need to investigate their general health status was therefore eminent. Primary data was obtained by means of a questionnaire and structured interviews conducted with individuals, health service providers, business enterprises and educational Institutions. The generated data revealed common ailments, sicknesses and diseases in the area with the four most frequent health complaints being frequent coughing headaches, influenza/common colds and rampant chest pains. Research findings indicated that residents had respiratory tract-related problems, suspected to be linked to the effects of air pollution caused by the emission of sulphur dioxide (SO2) from mining and smelting activities. Residents were frequently in contact with SO2 and related gases and fumes, mineral and silica dust generated from the mining processes. No clearly demarcating differences were noticed in the health status of residents living in the control site from those in the main study area. However, sites most affected were those close to where Ni-Cu is exploited. Environmental factors resulting from mining and smelting activities, among others, could be contributory to the negative health effects occurring at Selebi Phikwe.

Mineralogy of Tailings Dump around Selebi Phikwe Nickel-Copper Plant, Botswana

This study aimed at mineralogically characterizing the tailings dump emanating from the mining and smelting of nickel-copper (Ni-Cu) at Selebi Phikwe, Botswana, Southern Africa. Samples of tailings dump around the Selebi Phikwe Ni-Cu plant were studied using petrographic microscopy and X-ray Powder Diffraction (XRPD) technique. The tailings dump comprised of the following minerals: nickelblodite, pyrrhotite, quartz, pentlandite, malachite, chalcopyrite, actinolite, cristobalite, tremolite, kaolinite, mica and albite. Nickelblodite and malachite were mineralized from the primary ore minerals in the tailings dump. The sulfur-rich minerals contained in the tailings dump serve as principal promoting sources for acid mine drainage in the immediate surrounding environment. Consequently, aspects of pollution management such as phytoremediation and phytomining, and environmental desulfurization could be introduced as pollution control measures at Selebi Phikwe. Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management Vol. 8 (1) 2004:37 - 44

Petrographic And Physico-Chemical Characterisation Of Tailings Dump And Soils Around A Nickel-Copper Mining And Smelting Environment

Recent concerns of mining and smelting of nickel-copper (Ni-Cu) in Selebi Phikwe, Botswana possibly affecting the environmental physico-chemistry motivated this study. Physico-chemical analyses which included particle size distribution (PSD), pH, electrical conductivity (EC), cation exchange capacity (CEC), color and descriptive petrography on samples of tailings dump and soils were performed in order to understand the significance of these properties on the surrounding physical environment. The PSD of soil samples revealed the average wt % of the 2 μ m to 50 μ m to KEY WORDS: tailings dump; soils; physico-chemistry; particle size distribution; petrography; environment Global Journal of Environmental Sciences Vol.4(1) 2005: 31-39

Environmental chemistry and mineralogy of particulate air matter around Selebi Phikwe nickel–copper plant, Botswana

This study aimed at chemically and mineralogically characterizing whole particulate air matter (PAM) occurring at the Selebi Phikwe nickel–copper (Ni–Cu) area in Botswana, and postulating its possible environmental implications. Heavy metals concentrations in PAM samples around the Selebi Phikwe Ni–Cu plant were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry and the mineral phases identified by X-ray powder diffraction technique. The particles consisted of quartz, pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite, albite and djurleite. Concentration levels of heavy metals contained in PAM samples could be related to mineral phases present. Quite significantly is the occurrence of djurleite, which has not been found in both the orebody and surrounding soils. Djurleite polymorphs formed from secondary mineralization of chalcocite and the gases H 2S and SO 2 released from concentration/smelting processes. Possible environmental chemistry of the whole PAM based on its mineralogy at Selebi Phikwe area is discussed.