Prof Roland K W Merkle

 

Professor

Office: 4-40

E-mail: [email protected]

  Tel: +27-(0)12- 420 3504
  Fax: +27-(0)12- 362 5219
 
  • Ore mineralogy
  • Ore-forming processes
  • Behaviour of platinum-group elements
  • Applied mineralogy (i.e., how to get the stuff out).
  • Bushveld Complex
  • Mineral chemistry
  • Anything that tickles my fancy
 

1975

"Diplom-Vorprüfung" in geology/palaeontology. Mainz University, Germany.

1978

"Diplom" (~ MSc equivalent) in mineralogy. Title of thesis: "Ore microscopic investigations on the ore deposit Luikonlahti/Finland" (in German). Mainz University, Germany.

1982

Dr rer.nat. (~ PhD equivalent). Title of thesis: "Geochemical investigations on the genesis of the ore deposit Riihilahti/Finland" (in German). Mainz University, Germany.

 

Since January 2002 Professor, University of Pretoria, Department of Geology

Jan. 1997 - Dec. 2001 Associate Professor, University of Pretoria (Department of Earth Sciences)

June 1993 - Dec. 1996 Senior Lecturer (economic geology, ore microscopy, applied mineralogy), University of Pretoria (Department of Geology).

1989 -1991 Part-time employment (through the University of Pretoria) as external consultant on mineralogical problems pertaining to ore, smelter, and converter at Crocodile River Mine, and on the mineralogy of platinum refinery products at Barplats Refineries.

June 1987 - June 1993 Research Officer / Senior Research Officer, University of Pretoria (Institute for Geological Research on the Bushveld Complex).

Jan. 1983 - June 1987 Post-doctoral Research Associate, University of Pretoria (Institute for Geological Research on the Bushveld Complex).

 
 

Responsibilities:

Honours (4th year) programme
Project supervision (active):

Ms Gryffenberg, L.: A mineralogical investigation of the Franspoort nepheline syenite - implications for beneficiation. MSc (supervisor). Sponsored by Mamelody Quarries

Ms Lois Kubelua, M.: Characterisation of metamorphic conditions in the black shale-hosted, Co-Ni-Cu deposits of Kalumbila, Zambia.. MSc (co-supervisor)

Ms Antoniades, M.: Geochemical and mineralogical characterization of black shales from Zambia. MSc (supervisor)

Mr Molebale,J.I.: Characterization of platinum group minerals in the UG-2 chromitite layer, Bushveld Complex, South Africa. MSc (supervisor). Sponsored by MINTEK

Mr Al Nagashi, M.: Mineralogical characterization of gold ores from Barberton greenstone belt, South Africa. PhD (supervisor)

Mr Dixon, R.D.: Trace Element Geochemistry of Gold in the Witwatersrand Basin. PhD (supervisor)

Lecturing:

GLY 251 Crystal Optics + Crystal Chemistry

GLY 362 Geostatistics & Ore Deposit Evaluation

GLY 702 Fluid – rock interaction

GLY 714 Mineralogy

 

Sunder Raju, P.V. and Merkle, R.K.W. (2008) Microprobe studies on Chromites of Sittampundi Anorthosite Complex; Constraints for Platinum Group ElementsMineralisation. International Conference of Geology - Indian Scenario and Global Context, Kolkata, India, 7-11 January 2008.

Sunder Raju, P.V., Merkle, R.K.W. and Charan,S.N. (2008) Petrochemical characteristics of base metal sulphides associated with platinum group minerals and chromite from Katpal and Bangur chromite mines, Orissa. National Symposium on Significant Milestones in the growth of Geochemistry in India during the 50 year period: 1958 - 2008, Hyderabad, India, February 20 - 22.

Verryn, S.M.C. and Merkle, R.K.W. (2008) Phase relationships in the system PtS-PdS-NiS: Summary of previous results and new X-ray diffraction data. Goldschmidt Conference 2008, Vancouver, Canada, July 13 - 18.

Sunder Raju, P.V. and Merkle, R.K.W. (2008) PGE mineralisation in mafic-ultramafics around Bababudan-Nallur lineament, Western Dharwar Craton, Karnataka, India. Goldschmidt Conference 2008, Vancouver, Canada, July 13 - 18.

Sunder Raju, P.V., Madoom Hussain, S., Merkle, R.K.W. and Yelloppa,T. (2008) Cr-Ni-PGE in the mafic-ultramafic enclaves around Arsikere-Tavarkere Lineament, Karnataka. Ninth International Congress for Applied Mineralogy, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 8 - 10 September 2008

Sunder Raju, P.V., Merkle, R.K.W. and Whiteman, E. (2008) QEMSCAN® and Microprobe Studies on the Chromitite of Sittampundi Anorthosite Complex, Tamil Nadu – Implications for Platinum Group Element Mineralisation. Ninth International Congress for Applied Mineralogy, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 8 - 10 September 2008

For older contributions please see downloadable CV.

 

Sunder Raju, P.V. and Merkle, R.K.W. (2007), Native platinum, chromite and Fe-Ni sulphides in Sittampundi Anorthosite complex. Journal of Geological Society of India, 70, 680-682.

Sunder Raju, P.V., Merkle, R.K.W., Gräser,P., Botha, A., Mohanthy, J.K., and Classen, M. (2007) A report on Ni-Cr-PGE occurrence from a drill-core of Katpal chromite mine, Sukinda chromite field, Orissa. Current Science India, 93, 851-854.

Merkle,R.K.W., Sunder Raju,P.V., and Loubser,M. (2008) XRF analysis of chromite rich samples - another look at powder briquettes. X-Ray Spectrometry 37, 273-279.

Merkle, R.K.W., Grote, W. and Gräser, P.H.P. (2008) Compositional and textural peculiarities of gold-rich alloys from the Merensky Reef. South African Journal of Geology, 111, 177-186

Merkle, R.K.W. (2008) The systematics of Co, Ni, and Cu contents in pyrrhotite from the upper zone of the western Bushveld Complex, South Africa. South African Journal of Geology 111, 187-200.

Sunder Raju, P.V., Madoom Hussain, S., Merkle, R.K.W. and Yelloppa,T. (2008) Cr-Ni-PGE in the mafic-ultramafic enclaves around Arsikere-Tavarkere Lineament, Karnataka. Ninth International Congress for Applied Mineralogy, Brisbane, QLD, 8 - 10 September 2008

Sunder Raju, P.V., Merkle, R.K.W. and Whiteman,E. (2008) QEMSCAN® and Microprobe Studies on the Chromitite of Sittampundi Anorthosite Complex, Tamil Nadu – Implications for Platinum Group Element Mineralisation. Ninth International Congress for Applied Mineralogy, Brisbane, QLD, 8 - 10 September 2008

For older publications please see downloadable CV.

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