Professor Fanus Viljoen

Professor Fanus Viljoen holds an MSc from the University of Cape Town and a PhD from the University of the Witwatersrand, both in Geochemistry. Having been involved in the study of kimberlites, diamonds and mantle xenoliths for much of his career while employed in Industry, he joined the University of Johannesburg in 2008 to take up the DST/NRF Research Chair in Geometallurgy. Geometallurgy is a rapidly evolving field of interdisciplinary research that bridges the gap between the geosciences, minerals research, metallurgy and the mining and exploration industry. The primary thrust of the Research Chair is to develop and apply geometallurgical methods to quantify the mineralogical and textural characteristics of ore bodies, ores, concentrates and successor products in resource types relevant to the South African minerals industry. Professor Viljoen is the author and co-author of 54 articles in peer-reviewed journals as well as numerous congress proceedings abstracts.

 

Recent Publications

  1. Maier WD, Peltonen P, McDonald I, Barnes SJ, Barnes S.-J. Hatton C, Viljoen F (2012) The platinum-group element budget of the Kaapvaal and Karelian sub-continental mantle: further evidence for a PGE depleted Archean mantle. Chemical Geology 302-303 : 119-135.
  2. Huizenga J-M, Crossingham A, Viljoen F (2012) Diamond precipitation from ascending reduced fluids in the Kaapvaal lithosphere: thermodynamic constraints. Comptes Rendus Geoscience 344(2) : 67-76.
  3. Van der Merwe F, Viljoen F, Knoper M (2012) The mineralogy and mineral associations of platinum group elements and gold in the Platreef at Zwartfontein, Akanani Project, Northern Bushveld Complex, South Africa. Mineralogy and Petrology 106 : 25-38.
  4. Dzvinamurungu T, Viljoen KS, Knoper MW, Mulaba-Bafubiandi A (2013) Geometallurgical characterisation of Merensky Reef and UG2 at the Marikana Mine, Bushveld Complex, South Africa. Minerals Engineering 52 : 74-81.
  5. Kramers JD, Andreoli MAG, Atanasova M, Belyanin GA, Block DL, Franklyn C, Harris C, Lekgoathi M, Montross CS, Ntsoane T, Pischedda V, Segonyane P, Viljoen KS (Fanus), Westraadt JE (2013) Unique chemistry of a diamond-bearing pebble from the Libyan Desert Glass strewnfield, SW Egypt: Evidence for a shocked comet fragment. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 382 : 21-31.
  6. Mishra G, Viljoen KS, Mouri H (2013) Influence of mineralogy and ore texture on pentlandite flotation at the Nkomati nickel mine, South Africa. Minerals Engineering 54 : 63-78.
  7. Smith AJB, Viljoen KS, Schouwstra R, Roberts J, Schalkwyk C, Gutzmer J (2013) Geological variations in the Merensky Reef at Bafokeng Rasimone platinum mine and its influence on flotation performance. Minerals Engineering 52 : 155-168.
  8. Thyse EL, Akdogan G, Taskinen P, Viljoen KS, Eksteen JJ (2013) Towards understanding nickel converter matte solidification. Minerals Engineering 54 : 39-51.
  9. Wohlgemuth-Ueberwasser CC, Viljoen F, McClung CR (2014) Metamorphic alteration of the massive sulfide horizon from the Salt River VMS deposit (South Africa). Ore Geology Reviews 56 : 45-52.
  10. Viljoen KS, Harris JW, Ivanic T, Richardson S, Gray K (2014) Trace element geochemistry and Ni thermometry of garnet inclusions in peridotitic diamonds from Finsch and Premier, South Africa: Implications for diamond formation. Lithos 208-209 : 1-15. 

ABSTRACTS 

  1. Aulbach S, Viljoen F (2014) Cratonic eclogite perspectives on cratonic crust formation. Abstracts Goldschmidt 2014, Sacramento, U.S.A., 8-13 June 2014.
  2. Ramakoloi N, Viljoen F (2014) Mineral chemistry of PGE-bismuthotellurides in the platreef, Akanani prospect, Lonmin plc. Abstracts 21st General Meeting of the International Mineralogical Association (IMA2014), Johannesburg, South Africa, 1-5 September 2014, ISBN: 978-0-620-60082-8, p. 106. 
  3. Pretorius D, Viljoen F, Cairncross B (2014) Characterisation of New Vaal coal using automated mineralogy with a view on liberation. Abstracts 21st General Meeting of the International Mineralogical Association (IMA2014), Johannesburg, South Africa, 1-5 September 2014, ISBN: 978-0-620-60082-8, p. 116. 
  4. Rose D, Viljoen F, Mouri H (2014) A mineralogical characterisation of Eastern Bushveld Merensky and UG2 ore processed through an MF2 circuit. Abstracts 21st General Meeting of the International Mineralogical Association (IMA2014), Johannesburg, South Africa, 1-5 September 2014, ISBN: 978-0-620-60082-8, p. 118. 
  5. Smith B, Viljoen F, Schouwstra R, Roberts J, Gutzmer J (2014) A quantitative mineralogical investigation of variable flotation performance produced by different Merensky Reef facies types at Bafokeng Rasimone platinum mine, South Africa. Abstracts 21st General Meeting of the International Mineralogical Association (IMA2014), Johannesburg, South Africa, 1-5 September 2014, ISBN: 978-0-620-60082-8, p. 119. 
  6. Dzvinamurungu T, Viljoen F, Knoper M (2014) Assessment of geometallurgical responses of Merensky Reef facies and the UG2 at the Lonmin Marikana mine, Bushveld Complex, South Africa. Abstracts 21st General Meeting of the International Mineralogical Association (IMA2014), Johannesburg, South Africa, 1-5 September 2014, ISBN: 978-0-620-60082-8, p. 120. 
  7. McLoughlin A, Blignaut L, Viljoen F (2014) A geometallurgical examination of gold, uranium and thorium in the Black Reef quartzite formation. Abstracts 21st General Meeting of the International Mineralogical Association (IMA2014), Johannesburg, South Africa, 1-5 September 2014, ISBN: 978-0-620-60082-8, p. 122. 
  8. Mishra G, Viljoen F, Mouri H (2014) Geometallurgical assessment of Pit 3 ore Nkomati mine, South Africa. Abstracts 21st General Meeting of the International Mineralogical Association (IMA2014), Johannesburg, South Africa, 1-5 September 2014, ISBN: 978-0-620-60082-8, p. 123. 
  9. Nkomo T, Viljoen F, Mouri H (2014) Mineralogical Assessment of the Aggeneys-Gamsberg district and the implications thereof for the mineral processing behaviour. Abstracts 21st General Meeting of the International Mineralogical Association (IMA2014), Johannesburg, South Africa, 1-5 September 2014, ISBN: 978-0-620-60082-8, p. 123. 
  10. Blignaut L, Viljoen F, Tsikos H (2014) A geochemical and geometallurgical analysis of the Kalahari manganese deposit, northern Cape. Abstracts 21st General Meeting of the International Mineralogical Association (IMA2014), Johannesburg, South Africa, 1-5 September 2014, ISBN: 978-0-620-60082-8, p. 125. 
  11. Perritt S, Preston R, Viljoen F, van der Linde G (2014) A record of structural and chemical processes in the mantle preserved in a suite of deformed garnet megacrysts from Monteleo kimberlite, Souith Africa. Abstracts 21st General Meeting of the International Mineralogical Association (IMA2014), Johannesburg, South Africa, 1-5 September 2014, ISBN: 978-0-620-60082-8, p. 194. 
  12. Mxinwa T, Viljoen F, Mouri H (2014) Major and trace element chemistry of a suite of mantle-derived eclogites from the Balmoral kimberlite in South Africa. Abstracts 21st General Meeting of the International Mineralogical Association (IMA2014), Johannesburg, South Africa, 1-5 September 2014, ISBN: 978-0-620-60082-8, p. 226