Palabora
Limpopo, Phalaborwa carbonatite complex, South Africa
Magmatic (Ni-Cu-PGE, carbonatites)Cu-P (U)
- Type
- Intrusive uranium
Deposit of the high-temperature redox category in the study of uranium ore concentrates (yellowcake) from 40 mines. Uranium reduced at high temperature (igneous or metamorphic processes): clustered 238U/235U, indistinguishable from the non-redox conglomerates (common mean 137.833 ± 0.034, 2SD), and 235U/234U close to secular equilibrium (Brennecka et al., 2010). By-product uranium of the copper-bearing carbonatite complex; high ratio for its category. Foskor and Phalaborwa apatite with Sr much more radiogenic (0.7114) than Kola apatite (0.7033) and δ238U close to 0 (Hill et al., 2024). Indicative coordinates (Phalaborwa).
238U/235U isotope ratio, no unit Values of the same system
Standard : CRM 129-A (rapport absolu, double traceur 236U-233U)
| Value | Range | n | Mineral or matrix | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 137.865 ± 0.018 | 1 | uranium ore concentrate (yellowcake) Single analysis; high-temperature redox category; by-product uranium of the copper-bearing carbonatite complex; high ratio for its category. | Brennecka et al. (2010), Natural variations in uranium isotope ratios of uranium ore conc… |
235U/234U isotope ratio, no unit Values of the same system
Standard : CRM 129-A (rapport absolu, double traceur 236U-233U)
| Value | Range | n | Mineral or matrix | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 132.02 ± 0.42 | 1 | uranium ore concentrate (yellowcake) Single analysis; high-temperature redox category. | Brennecka et al. (2010), Natural variations in uranium isotope ratios of uranium ore conc… |
87Sr/86Sr isotope ratio, no unit Values of the same system
Standard : NIST SRM 987
| Value | Range | n | Mineral or matrix | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.711435 ± 0.000013 | 0.711426 / 0.711445 | 2 | magmatic phosphate (bulk) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 2 analyses, samples ZA-A, ZA-B; ZA-A from Foskor, ZA-B from Phalaborwa (carbonatite complex apatite, Hill et al., 2024). | Hill et al. (2024), Reconstructing the depositional environment and diagenetic modificati… |
δ238U in ‰ (per mil) Values of the same system
Standard : NBL CRM 112-A
| Value | Range | n | Mineral or matrix | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.029 ± 0.066 ‰ | 1 | magmatic apatite (leached fraction) Single analysis; sample ZA-A; ZA-A from Foskor, ZA-B from Phalaborwa (carbonatite complex apatite, Hill et al., 2024). | Hill et al. (2024), Reconstructing the depositional environment and diagenetic modificati… |
δ234U in ‰ (per mil) Values of the same system
Standard : équilibre séculaire
| Value | Range | n | Mineral or matrix | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.33 ± 13.85 ‰ | 1 | magmatic apatite (leached fraction) Single analysis; sample ZA-A; a departure from 0 signals uranium mobility within the last two million years; ZA-A from Foskor, ZA-B from Phalaborwa (carbonatite complex apatite, Hill et al., 2024). | Hill et al. (2024), Reconstructing the depositional environment and diagenetic modificati… |
δ18O in ‰ (per mil) Values of the same system
Standard : V-SMOW
| Value | Range | n | Mineral or matrix | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.63 ‰ | 1 | magmatic apatite (PO4 oxygen) Single analysis; sample ZA-B; ZA-A from Foskor, ZA-B from Phalaborwa (carbonatite complex apatite, Hill et al., 2024). | Hill et al. (2024), Reconstructing the depositional environment and diagenetic modificati… |
Deposits of the same type
- Bushveld, Platreef South Africa
- Zaaiplaats South Africa
- Bikita Zimbabwe
- Bushveld, UG2 chromitite South Africa
- Bushveld, Merensky Reef South Africa
- Shangani Zimbabwe
- Great Dyke (Main Sulfide Zone) Zimbabwe
- Mutoko (pegmatites) Zimbabwe
Cite this page
IsoFind Atlas (2026). Palabora, isotope signatures. https://www.isofind.tech/isotopes/en/deposits/palabora/ (accessed 2026-10-15).
@misc{isofind2026palaboraisotopesignatures,
title = {Palabora, isotope signatures},
author = {{IsoFind Atlas}},
year = {2026},
url = {https://www.isofind.tech/isotopes/en/deposits/palabora/},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15}
}Updated : 2026-10-15