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Prof Steffen Büttner

Associate Professor
Structural Geology, Plate Tectonics & Crustal Evolution

PhD: University of Frankfurt (Germany)
MSc: TU Darmstadt (Germany)
PGDipHE: Rhodes University

t: +27 (0) 46 603 8775
e: s.buttner(at)ru.ac.za

GOOGLE SCHOLAR   ResearchGate   ORCID  YouTube
RESEARCH
  • The tectono-metamorphic evolution of the Namaqua Metamorphic Province.
  • Ore body formation in the O'okiep Copper District (collaboration with Steve Prevec, CIMERA) 
  • Pegmatitic gem and coltan deposits in Malawi and Kenya (with Tuhin Chakraborty (RU), Nancy K. Muriungi (RU), Johannes Glodny (GFZ Potsdam, Germany), Dirk Frei (UWC, Cape Town), Charles F. Kankuzi (University of Malawi); project supported by Rhodes University's Glencore-Xstrata Research Fellowship Fund and CIMERA)
  • Evolution of kimberlitic megacryst-hosted melt inclusions (collaboration with Geoff Howarth, UCT; project support from CIMERA).

 

COURSES
  • Structural Geology and Plate Tectonics (GLG102, GLG202, GLG301)
  • The Formation of Rocks (Part 1)
  • 2nd year Field Trip
  • BSc Honours modules on Structural Geology and Mineral Chemistry 
COURSE VIDEOS ON YouTube
RECENT PUBLICATIONS

  1. Chakraborty T, Büttner SH, Costin G, Kankuzi CF (2023) The petrogenesis of highly fractionated gem-bearing pegmatites of Malawi: evidence from mica and tourmaline chemistry and finite step trace element modelling. Mineralium Deposita, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00126-023-01236-1. 

  2. Büttner SH, van Huyssteen A, Marima E, du Plessis A., Tshibalanganda M, Schmidt C., Howarth GH (2023) The capturing and decompression of melt inclusions in olivine and ilmenite megacrysts from the Monastery kimberlite, South Africa. Gondwana Research, 115, 81-97. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gr.2022.11.013.

  3. Chakraborty T, Kankuzi CF, Glodny J, Frei D, Büttner SH (2023) The timing and tectonic context of Pan-African gem bearing pegmatites in Malawi: Evidence from Rb–Sr and U–Pb geochronology. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 197, 104750, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2022.104750 

  4. Büttner SH, Prevec SA, Schmeldt GA (2021) Petrogenesis of Mesoproterozoic granites of the Swartoup Hills region, Kakamas Domain, Namaqua Belt, South Africa.  Frontiers in Earth Science, 8, 1–23. 

  5. Büttner SH, Isemonger EW, Isaaks M, van Niekerk D, Sipler RE, Dorrington RA (2021) Living phosphatic stromatolites in a low-phosphorus environment: implications for the use of phosphorus as a proxy for phosphate levels in paleo-systems. Geobiology, 2021: 19:35–47 and related Cover page of issue 2021:19.

  6. Büttner SH (2020) Comment on “Evidence for Mesoproterozoic collision, deep burial and rapid exhumation of garbenschiefer in the Namaqua Front, South Africa” by Valby Van Schijndel, David H. Cornell, Robert Anczkiewicz, Anders Schersten, Geoscience Frontiers, Volume 11, Issue 2, Pages 511-531". Geoscience Frontiers, 11, 1889-1894.  

  7. Howarth GH, Büttner SH (2019) New constraints on archetypal South African kimberlite petrogenesis from quenched glass-rich melt inclusions in olivine megacrysts.  Gondwana Research, 68, 116-126.

  8. Prevec SA, Büttner SH (2018) Multi-phase emplacement of impact melt sheet into the footwall: offset dykes of the Sudbury Igneous Complex, Canada. Meteoritics and Planetary Science, 53, 1301-1322.

  9. Büttner SH, Reid WK, Glodny J, Wiedenbeck M, Chuwa G, Moloto T, Gucsik A (2016) Fluid sources in the Twangiza-Namoya Gold Belt (Democratic Republic of Congo): Evidence from tourmaline and fluid compositions, and from boron and Rb-Sr isotope systematics. Precambrian Research, 280, 161-178. 

  10. Bial J, Büttner SH, Appel, P (2016) Timing and conditions of regional metamorphism and crustal shearing in the granulite facies basement of south Namibia: Implications for the crustal evolution of the Namaqualand metamorphic basement in the Mesoproterozoic. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 123, 145-176.

  11. Büttner SH, Reid WK, Erasmus R (2016) Late Permian tectonics and associated fluid influx during the Cape Orogeny: evidence from fault-bound quartz veins in the Witteberg Group (Cape Supergroup, South Africa). South African Journal of Geology, 119 (2), 379-398.

  12. Bial J, Büttner SH, Schenk V, Appel P (2015) The long-term high-temperature history of the central Namaqua Metamorphic Complex: Evidence for a Mesoproterozoic continental back-arc in southern Africa. Precambrian Research, 268, 243-278. 

  13. Büttner SH (2015) Comment: “One kilometre-thick ultramylonite, Sierra de Quilmes, Sierras Pampeanas, NW Argentina” by M.A. Finch, R.F. Weinberg, M.G. Fuentes, P. Haslova, and R. Becchio, Journal of Structural Geology 72 (2015) 33-54. Journal of Structural Geology 76, 80-83.

  14. Bial J, Büttner SH, Frei D (2015) Formation and emplacement of two contrasting late-Mesoproterozoic magma types in the central Namaqua Metamorphic Complex (South Africa, Namibia): Evidence from geochemistry and geochronology. Lithos 224/225, 272-294.

 Conference abstracts 

  1. Büttner SH, Chakraborty T, Frei T, Glodny J (2024) Geochronology, geochemistry, and melt fractionation of gem bearing Pan-African pegmatites in Malawi. 12th Igneous and Metamorphic Studies Group Conference: IMSG 2024, Book of Abstracts, Lake Eland Resort, South Africa.

  2. Muriungi NK, Büttner SH, Glodny J, Harder S (2024) Geochronology and mineralization of Pan-African gem pegmatites in Kenya. 12th Igneous and Metamorphic Studies Group Conference: IMSG 2024, Book of Abstracts, Lake Eland Resort, South Africa.

  3. Büttner SH, Prevec SA (2024) Dynamic constraints of multiple offset dyke injections in the footwall of the Sudbury impact melt sheet. 12th Igneous and Metamorphic Studies Group Conference: IMSG 2024, Book of Abstracts, Lake Eland Resort, South Africa.

  4. Büttner SH, Howarth GH, Marima E, Qobolo N (2023) Crystallization and segregation of carbonated silicate melt in kimberlitic melt inclusions from the Monastery kimberlite. 2023 Geocongress, Stellenbosch, South Africa.

  5. Marima E, Büttner SH, van Huyssteen A, Schmidt C, du Plessis A, Tshibalanganda M, Howarth GH (2021) The segregation of carbonate and silicate melts in kimberlitic melt inclusions from Monastery mine, South Africa. Goldschmidt Conference 2021, Lyon, France.

  6. Van Huyssteen A, Büttner SH, Howarth GH (2019) Ilmenite-hosted melt inclusions from the Monastery kimberlite: implications for kimberlite origins. 11th Igneous and Metamorphic Studies Group Conference: IMSG 2019, Book of Abstracts, Johannesburg/Parys, South Africa.

  7. Büttner SH, Marima E, van Huyssteen A., Howarth GH (2019) Equilibrium and disequilibrium crystallization and melt segregation in kimberlitic melt inclusions from Monastery mine, South Africa. TIGeR Conference 2019, Perth, Australia; online Book of abstracts p. 42-43.

  8. Maleki L, Omran NR, Hooshmandzadeh A, Büttner S, Cottel J (2018) Retrogressed eclogites and eclogitic metagabbros in the Boneh Shurow Complex, Central Iran. EGU General Assembly 2018, Geophysical Research Abstracts, Vol. 20, EGU2018, 2018.

  9. Büttner SH, Howarth GH (2018) The evolution of Kimberlitic melt inclusions in olivine megacrysts from the Monastery kimberlite. 10th Igneous and Metamorphic Studies Group Conference: IMSG 2018, Book of Abstracts, Cape Town, South Africa.

  10. Schmeldt G, Büttner SH (2017) Petrogenetic relationships between the Koenap Formation migmatites and the Swartoup Granodiorite (central Namaqua Metamorphic Complex). 9th Igneous and Metamorphic Studies Group Conference: IMSG 2017, Book of Abstracts, Johannesburg, South

  11. Büttner SH, Glodny J, Moloto T, Wiedenbeck M, Chuwa G (2017) Fluid sources in the Twangiza-Namoya Gold Belt (South Kivu, DRC): Evidence from tourmaline compositions and B- and Rb-Sr isotope 9th Igneous and Metamorphic Studies Group Conference: IMSG 2017, Book of Abstracts, Johannesburg, South Africa.

  12. Büttner SH (2016) Mesoproterozoic terrane collision in the Namaqua belt of south-western Africa - Time for revision of deeply entrenched views? Arthur Holmes Meeting 2016 - The Wilson Cycle: Plate Tectonics and Structural Inheritance During Continental The Geological Society, London, UK, Book of Abstracts, 12.

 CURRENT STUDENTS
  • Nancy Kendi Muriungi (PhD) The petrogenesis of gem-bearing Pan-African pegmatites in the Mozambique Belt of Kenya. Project support by CIMERA and Glencore-Xstrata. 
RECENT GRADUATES

  • Vimbayinashe Tambudze (BScH) Hydrothermal alterations of metabasalt from Aggeneys (Northern Cape Province). 

  • Luke Cuthbert (BScH) Design of training materials for Geology Field Guides in nature conservation. 

  • Edmore Marima (2022; MSc) Sulphur isotope variations of the Koperberg Suite and associated rocks in the O'okiep Copper District (co-supervision with Steve Prevec).

  • Graeme Schmeldt (2021; MSc) Genetic relationships between migmatites and the Swartoup Granite in the Swartoup Hills (central Namaqua Belt) (co-supervision with Steve Prevec).

  • Aiden van Huyssteen (2021; MSc) Genesis of kimberlitic melt inclusions in ilmenite megacrysts from the Monastery kimberlite (co-supervision with Geoffrey Howarth, UCT).

  • Mwango Chilekwa (2020; MSc in Exploration Geology) Petrography and P-T estimations of metamorphic rocks from the western Copperbelt (Zambia).

  • Wesson Reid (2020; MSc) Fluid characteristics in hydrothermal veins of the Twangiza-Namoya Gold Belt (South Kivu, DRC). 

  • Charles Kankuzi (2019; PhD) Gemstone bearing pegmatites of Malawi: age, composition and fluid characteristics. Co-supervision with Yong Yao. 

  • Emmanuel Busane Aganze (2019; MSc in Exploration Geology) Sulphide textures and compositions associated with the hydrothermal/magmatic system of the Twangiza gold deposit (South Kivu, DRC).

  • Thapelo Moloto (2018; MSc) Sulphur isotope signatures of pyrite in the Twangiza-Namoya Gold Belt (DRC).

  • Jenna Knox (2018; MSc) Chemical weathering on selected nunataks in western Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica. Co-supervision with Ian Meiklejohn. 

Last Modified: Tue, 12 Dec 2023 12:58:29 SAST