Tungsten Mineralization and Mica REE Geochemistry,Huangsha,Jiangxi

The Huangsha Ag-rich tungsten deposit is genetically related to a buried granite which shows apparent vertical zoning in alteration.Greisen-type W(Mo) ores coccur at the top or the intrusive and sulfide-wolframite-quartz veins developed at the major stage of mineralization are present in low-grade metamorphic rocks in the outer-contacts.The veins exhibit a reversed zonation in the vertical section with silver concentrated in the lower part in association with sulfides.Micas,characterized by high Si and low Al.are extensively developed both in the granite and in the veins.They have similar cell parameters.belonging to 2M1 type,but those in the veins are understanding of the petrogenesis, evolution and mineralization of the granite.     

The Voisey’s Bay Ni-Cu-Co Sulfide Deposit, Labrador, Canada: Emplacement of Silicate and Sulfide-Laden Magmas into Spaces Created within a Structural Corridor

The Voisey’s Bay Ni-Cu-Co sulfide deposit is hosted in a 1.34 Ga mafic intrusion that is part of the Nain Plutonic Suite in Labrador, Canada.The Ni-Cu-Co sulfide mineralization is associated with magmatic breccias that are typically contained in weakly mineralized olivine gabbros, troctolites and ferrogabbros, but also occur as veins in adjacent paragneiss.The mineralization is associated with a dyke-like body which is termed the feeder dyke.This dyke connects the shallow differentiated Eastern Deeps chamber in the east to a deeper intrusion in the west termed the Western Deeps Intrusion.Where the conduit is connected to the Eastern Deeps Intrusion, the Eastern Deeps Deposit is developed at the entry line of the dyke along the steep north wall of the Eastern Deeps Intrusion.The Eastern Deeps Deposit is surrounded by a halo of moderately to weakly mineralized Variable-Textured Troctolite (VTT) that reaches a maximum thickness above the ENE-WSW axis of the Eastern Deeps Deposit. At depth to the west, the conduit is adjacent to the south side of the Western Deeps Intrusion, where the dyke and intrusion contain disseminated magmatic sulfide mineralization.The Reid Brook Zone plunges to the east within the dyke, and both the dyke and adjacent paragneiss are mineralized.The Ovoid Deposit comprises a bowl-shaped body of massive sulfide where the dyke widens near to the present-day surface.It is not clear whether this deposit was developed as a widened-zone within the conduit or at the entry point into a chamber that is now lost to erosion. The massive sulfides and breccia sulfides of the Eastern Deeps are petrologically and chemically different when compared to the disseminated sulfides in the VTT; there is a marked break in Ni tenor (Ni content in 100% sulfide, abbreviated to [Ni]100) and Ni/Co of sulfide between the two.The boundary of the sulfide types is often marked by strong sub-horizontal alignment of heavily digested and metamorphosed paragneiss fragments, development of barren olivine gabbro, and by a change from typically massive sulfides and breccias sulfides into more typical variable-textured troctolites with heavy to weak disseminated sulfide.Sulfides hosted in the feeder dyke tend to have low metal tenors ([Ni]100=2.5%-3.5%); sulfides in Eastern Deeps massive and breccia ores have intermediate Ni tenors ([Ni]100=3.5%-4%) and disseminated sulfides in overlying rocks have high Ni tenors ([Ni] 100=4%-8%) . Conduit-hosted mineralization and mineral zones in the paragneiss adjacent to the Reid Brook Deposit tend to have lower Ni tenor than the Ovoid and Eastern Deeps Deposits.The tenor of mineral hosted in the country rock gneisses tends to be the same as that developed in the conduit ; the injection of the sulfide into the country rocks likely occurred before formation of monosulfide solid solution.The Ovoid Deposit is characterized by coarse-grained loop-textured ores consisting of 10cm-2msized pyrrhotite crystals separated by chalcopyrite and pentlandite.A small lens of massive cubanite surrounded by more magnetite-rich sulfide assemblages represents what appears to be the product of in-situ sulfide fractionation. Detailed exploration in the area between the Reid Brook Zone and the Eastern Deeps has shown that these intrusions and ore deposits are connected by a branched dyke and chamber system in a major westeast fault zone.The Eastern Deeps chamber may be controlled by graben-like fault structures , and the marginal structures appear to have controlled dykes which connect the chambers at different levels in the crust.The geological relationships in the intrusion are consistent with emplacement of the silicate and sulfide laden magma from a deeper sub-chamber (possibly a deep eastward extension of the Western Deeps Intrusion where S-saturation was initially achieved) .The silicate and sulfide magmas were likely emplaced through this conduit into the Eastern Deeps intrusion as a number of different fragment laden pulses of sulfide-silicate melt that evolved with different R factors and in response to some variation in the degree of evolution of the parental magma.S isotope and S/Se data coupled with geological evidence point to a crustal source for the sulfur , and the site of equilibration of mafic magma and crustal S is placed at depth in a sulfidic Tasiuyak Gneiss. The structural control on emplacement of small intrusions with transported sulfide is a feature found in different nickel sulfide deposits around the world.Champagne glass-shaped openings in sub-vertical chonoliths are a common morphology for this deposit type (e.g.the Jinchuan , Huangshan , Huangshandong , Jingbulake , Limahe , Hong Qi Ling deposits in China , the Eagle deposits in the United States , and the Double Eagle deposit in Canada) .Some of the structures of the Midcontinent Rift of North America also host Ni-Cu-(PGE) deposits of this type (e.g.the Current Lake Complex in the Quetico Fault Zone in Ontario , Canada and the Tamarac mineralisation in the Great Lakes Structural Zone of the United States) .Other major nickel deposits associated with flat structures adjacent to major mantle-penetrating structures include the Noril’sk , Noril’sk II , Kharaelakh , NW Talnakh , and NE Talnakh Intrusions of the Noril’sk Region of Russia , the Kalatongke deposit in NW China , and Babel-Nebo in Western Australia.These deposits are all formed in mantle-penetrating structural conduits that link into the roots of large igneous provinces near the edges of old cratons.     

Geological Relationships Between the Intrusions,Country Rocks,and Ni-Cu-PGE Sulfides of the Kharaelakh Intrusion,Noril′sk Region:Implications for the Roles of Sulfide Differentiation and Metasomatism in Their Genesis

The Ni-Cu-platinum group element sulfide ore deposits of the Kharaelakh Intrusion,Noril′sk Region,Siberia,represent a large concentration of sulfides associated with a small differentiated intrusion formed at the edge of the Siberian Craton in the roots of the Siberian Trap flood basalt.The deposit is associated with an intrusion that occupies a flanking periclinal structure adjacent to the Noril′sk-Kharaelakh Fault.The intrusion is strongly differentiated and comprises taxitic gabbrodolerites,picritic gabbrodolerites,and gabbrodolerites within the main body which in turn forms a chonolith within a sheet-like intrusion that extends laterally to form extensive undifferentiated sills of gabbrodolerite.The intrusion substantially replaces the stratigraphy of the country rocks,and although it appears to have exploited the axis of structures developed in response to transtension,the intrusion has created space by both mechanical dilation of stratigraphy and magmatic replacement of pre-existing sedimentary rocks.The frontal lobes of the main intrusion have complex apophyses of gabrodolerite on a range of scales that demonstrate replacement of the sedimentary rocks and link to the development of an extensive metamorphic halo in the country rocks.This halo is much narrower over the main body of the intrusion,and these observations have implications for the thermal history of the intrusion.Mg-skarns and breccias are developed in the roof of the main body of the intrusion.Within the intrusion,the taxitic rocks contain vesicles and the blebby sulfides developed in the picritic and taxitic gabbrodolerites appear to have a linkage to volatile phases.Cuprous sulfide mineralization developed at the roof of the Kharaelakh Intrusion is associated with metamorphosed and skarn-bearing country rocks,and appears to have been generated by a combination of sulfide fractionation and associated metasomatism.The geological relationships appear consistent with a chonolith model for the development of the differentiated intrusion and mineralization,but the extent of metasmorphism of the country rocks appears to be related to the unusual thickness of gabbrodolerite apophyses at the flanks of the intrusion rather than metamorphism produced by the passage of mafic magma through the intrusion.Variations in disseminated sulfide compositions and metasomatic textures in the skarns are described,and a model is proposed which balances traditional views on the evolution of the magma conduits with the impact of magmatic fluids transported through the magma column(i.e.transmagmatic fluids).The importance of structures in controlling the nature of the conduit,and the resultant small intrusions with excess sulfide is a feature of many other Ni-Cu sulfide deposits including Voisey′s Bay,and it is suggested that the sulfides are more likely to have beentransported from depth into their final resting place rather than developed by in-situ equilibration of sulfide with fresh magma in the chonolith.     

Discovery of Pyrrhotite-Chalcopyrite-Bearing Amphibole Megacrysts in Tongling Area, Anhui Province

Some pyrrhotite-chalcopyrite-bearing amphibole megacrysts (including pyroxene megacrysts) were discovered in Mesozoic augite diorite-porphyrite at Caoshan in Tongling area, Anhui Province. The amphibole megacrysts, belonging mainly to pargasite and magnesiohastingsite, are characteristic of the amphibole composition derived from mantle and crystallized in lower crust. In general, the aggregates of pyrrhotite-chalcopyrite take the shapes of cylinder and sphere. Three occurrences have been recognized in the amphibole megacrysts: parallel linear, bunchy and scattered. The unique cylinder-like shape of the aggregates and remarkable Ni-poor sulfides in Caoshan are distinctively different from the spherical Ni-rich sulfides in pyroxene megacrysts and any other kinds of megacrysts. In terms of composition, the amphibole megacrysts and their sulfides in Caoshan are similar to those in the pyroxenite xenoliths in Qilin, Guangdong Province. In terms of origin, the pyrrhotite-chalcopyrites as exsolution products resulted from the subsolidus re-equilibration of sulfide solid solution within amphibole megacrysts.amphibole megacrysts were first discovered inside and outside China. This discovery is important for the study of regional magma evolution and its associated mineralizations and ore sources as well.     

Mode of Occurrence of Gold in Micro-Disseminated Strata-Bound Sb-Au Deposits,Qinling Region,China

Optical studies,backscattered electron images,secondary ion spectrometry and highprecision transmission electron imaging demonstrate that gold is strongly correlated with arsenic on a microscopic scale in the sediment-hosted micro-disseminated gold deposits.The positive correlation between Au and As,despite varying Au/As ratio,is persistent in arsenian pyrite overgrowths and arsenopyrite,It is found that gold occurs in native state as submicro beads in association with arsenic-bearing sulfides,The extremely small grain size of gold may indicate a very rapid process of deposition.     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987115000596

Seafloor polymetallic sulfide resources exhibit significant development potential.In 2011,China received the exploration rights for 10,000 km~2 of a polymetallic sulfides area in the Southwest Indian Ocean;China will be permitted to retain only 25%of the area in 2021.However,an exploration of seafloor hydrothermal sulfide deposits in China remains in the initial stage.According to the quantitative prediction theory and the exploration status of seafloor sulfides,this paper systematically proposes a quantitative prediction evaluation process of oceanic polymetallic sulfide resources and divides it into three stages:prediction in a large area,prediction in the prospecting region,and the verification and evaluation of targets.The first two stages of the prediction process have been employed in seafloor sulfides prospecting of the Chinese contract area.The results of stage one suggest that the Chinese contract area is located in the high posterior probability area,which indicates good prospecting potential area in the Indian Ocean.In stage two,the Chinese contract area of 48°-52° E has the highest posterior probability value,which can be selected as the reserved region for additional exploration.In stage three,the method of numerical simulation is employed to reproduce the ore-forming process of sulfides to verify the accuracy of the reserved targets obtained from the three-stage prediction.By narrowing the exploration area and gradually improving the exploration accuracy,the prediction will provide a basis for the exploration and exploitation of seafloor polymetallic sulfide resources.     

Geochemical Styudy of Gold and Arsenic Mineralization of the Carlin-Type Gold Deposits,Qinling Region,China

Element geochemistry of gold arsenic and mineralogical features of their sulfides in the Carlin-type gold depostis of the Qinling region are discussed in this paper.The initial contents of ore-forming elements such as glod and arsenic are high the ore-bearing rock series in the Qinling region.Furthermore,both the metals are concentrated mainly in the diagenetic pyrite.Study on the mineralogy of arsenic-bearing sulfide minerals in the ores demonstrated that there is a poistive correlation between gold and arsenic in the sulfide minerals.Available evidence suggests that gold in the As-bearing sulfide minerals in likely to be presented as a charge species(Au ),and it is most possible for it to replace the exxcess arsenic at the site of iron and war probably deposited together with arsenic as solid in the sulfide minerals. Pyrite is composed of(Aux^3 ,Fe1-2^2 )([AsS]x^3-[S2]1-x^2-),and arenopyrite of (Aux^3 ,Fe1-x^3 )([AsS]x^3-[AsS2]1-x^3-).The occurrence of glod in the As-sulfied minerals from the Carlin-type gold depostis in the Qinling region has been confirmed by electron probe and transmission electron microscopic studies.The results show that gold was probably depostied together with arsenicas coupled solid solutions in sulfide minerals in the early stage of mineralization.Metallogenic chemical reactions concerning gold deposition in the Carlin-type As-rich gold deposits would involve oxidation of glod and concurrent reduction of arsenic.Later,the deposited gold as solid was remobilized and redistributed as exsolutions,as a result of increasing hydrothermal alteration and crystallization,and decreasing resistance to refractoriness of the host minerals.Gold occurs as sub-microscopic grains(ranging from 0.04tp 0.16μm in diameter)of native gold along micro factures in and crystalline grains of the sulfiedes.     

Mineralogical and Geochemical Constraints on Arsenic Mobility in a Philippine Geothermal Field

Arsenic is usually associated with sulphide minerals formed in the geothermal environment. However, sulphide minerals are prone to dissolution after contact with meteoric water under surface oxidizing conditions. Secondary precipitates that form from the dissolution of the primary sulfides exert a greater influence on arsenic mobility in the geothermal environment. Fe-hydroxides have very good affinity with dissolved arsenate and are stable under most surface oxidizing conditions. Both amorphous silica directly precipitated from geothermal fluids and possibly a kaolinite alteration can host a small significant amount of arsenic. These silicates are also more stable under a wide range of pH and redox conditions.     

Lead Isotopic Composition and Lead Source of the Huogeqi Cu-Pb-Zn Deposit, Inner Mongolia, China

The Huogeqi orefield located on the northern side of Mt. Langshan, Inner Mongolia occurs in the Middle Proterozoic Langshan Group metamorphic rocks, and the orebodies arc stratiform. In the past twenty years, many Chinese geologists have conducted researches on the Huogeqi Cu-Pb-Zn deposit, but there has been still a controversy on its origin. Some advocate that the deposit is of sedimentary-metamorphic rcworking origin, some hold that it is of sea-floor SEDEX origin, and others have a preference for magmatic superimposition origin. The crux of the controversy is that there is no common understanding about the source of ore-forming materials. In this paper, the Pb isotopic compositions of regional Achaean-Early Proterozoic basement rocks, various types of sedimentary- metamorphic rocks and volcanic rocks in the mining district, Late Proterozoic and Hercynian magmatic rocks arc introduced and compared with the orc-lead composition, so as to constrain the source of the ore lead. The result indicates that （1） sulfides in the ores have homogeneous Pb isotopic compositions, showing a narrow variation range. Their ^206pb/^204pb ratios arc within a range of 17.027- 17.317; ^207Pb/^204pb ratios, 15.451-15.786 and ^208Pb/^204pb ratios, 36.747-37.669; （2） the Pb isotopic compositions of the regional Achaean-Early Proterozoic basement rocks arc characteristic of the old Pb isotopic composition at the early-stage evolution of the Earth, which varies over a wider range, reflecting significant differences in Pb isotopic compositions of the ores. All this indicates that the source of ore lead has no bearing on the basement rocks; （3） the sedimentary-metamorphic rocks in the mining district arc characterized by highly variable and more radiogenic Pb isotopic compositions and their Pb isotopic ratios arc obviously higher than those of ores, demonstrating that ore lead did not result from metamorphic rcworking of these rocks; （4） Pb isotopic compositions of Late Proterozoic diorite-gabbro and Hercynian granite are higher than those of ores. Meanwhile, the Pb isotopic compositions of sulfides in the small-sized strata-penetrating mineralized veinlets formed at later stages arc completely consistent with that of sulfides in stratiform-banded ores, suggesting that these veiniets arc the product of autochthonous rcworking of the stratiform-banded ores during the period of metamorphism and the late magmatic superimposition-mineralization can be excluded; （5） amphibolite, whose protolith is basic volcanic rocks, has the same Pb isotopic compositions as ores, implying that ore lead was derived probably from basic volcanism. So, the source of ore-forming materials for the Huogeqi deposit is like that of the volcanic massive sulfide （VMS） deposits. However, the orebodies do not occur directly within the volcanic rocks, and instead they overlie the volcanic rocks, showing some differences from those typical VMS-type deposits.     

Microtexture and Distribution of Minerals in Hydrothermal Barite-Silica Chimney from the Franklin Seamount, SW Pacific: Constraints on Mode of Formation

An extinct hydrothermal barite-silica chimney from the Franklin Seamount of the Woodlark Basin, in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, was investigated for mineral distribution and geochemical composition. Six layers on either side of the orifice of a chimney show significant disparity in color, mineral assemblage and major element composition. Electron microscope(SEM) images reveal that the peripheral wall of the chimney is composed of colloform silica, suggesting that incipient precipitation of silica-saturated hydrothermal fluid initiated the development of the chimney wall. Intermediate layers, between the exterior wall and the inner fluid-orifice, dominate with barite and sulfides. Low Sr-to-Ba ratios(SrO/BaO = 0.015–0.017) indicate restricted fluid-seawater mixing, which causes relatively high-temperature formation of the intermediate layers. Whereas the innermost layer bordering the chimney orifice is characterized by more silica and a higher Sr-to-Ba ratio(SrO/BaO = 0.023), could have formed due to a paragenetic shift from a high-temperature active phase to a cooler waning stage of formation. A paragenetic shift is also probably responsible for the change in mineral formation mechanism that resulted in the textural variation of barite and colloform silica developed during different growth phases of this barite-silica chimney.     

Petrological characteristics of podiform chromitites and associated peridotites of the Pan African Proterozoic ophiolite complexes of Egypt

Mafic-ultramafic fragments of a dismembered ophiolite complex are abundant in the late Precambrian Pan African belt of the Eastern Desert of Egypt and north-east Sudan. The ultramafic bodies in the Eastern Desert of Egypt are mostly characterised by the harzburgite–dunite–chromitite association. Because of their severe metamorphism, almost all primary silicates were converted to secondary minerals and we use the chrome spinel as a reliable petrogenetic indicator. The podiform chromitite deposits are common as small and irregularly shaped masses in the central and southern parts of the Eastern Desert. They strongly vary in texture, degree of alteration and chemical composition of chrome spinel. The podiform chromitites exhibit a wide range of composition from high Cr to high Al varieties. The Cr of chrome spinel ranges from 0.65 to 0.85 in dunite, quite similar in the high-Cr chromitite, whereas it is around 0.5 in harzburgite. Primary hydrous mineral inclusions, amphibole and phlogopite, in chrome spinel are reported for the first time from the Pan African Proterozoic podiform chromitites. The petrological characteristics of Pan African podiform chromitites and associated peridotites of Egypt are similar to those of Phanerozoic ophiolites. The Proterozoic podiform chromitites may have formed in the same way as the Phanerozoic ones, namely by melt-harzburgite reaction and subsequent melt mixing. The similarity of the mantle section of the late Proterozoic and the Phanerozoic ophiolites suggests that the thermal conditions controlling genesis of the crust–mantle system basically have not changed since the late Proterozoic era. The Pan African harzburgite is very similar to abyssal peridotite at fast-spreading ridges, and the high-Cr, low-Ti character of spinel in chromitite and dunite indicates a genetic link with a supra-subduction zone setting. The late Proterozoic ophiolites of Egypt are possibly a fragment of oceanic lithosphere modified by arc-related magmatic rocks, or a fragment of back-arc basin lithosphere. Received: 26 October 1999 / Accepted: 28 June 2000     

Petrology of Al- and Cr-rich ophiolitic chromitites from the Muğla,SW Turkey: implications from composition of chromite,solid inclusions of platinum-group mineral,silicate, and base-metal mineral,and Os-isotope geochemistry

Ultramafic rocks around the city of Muğla in SW Turkey are represented by mantle peridotites depleted to various degrees, ranging from cpx-rich harzburgites to depleted harzburgite and dunite. Cpx-rich harzburgites are thought to be the residua left after extraction of MORB-type basalt, from which high-Al chromitite [49.2 < Cr# = 100 × Cr/(Cr + Al) < 53.5] crystallised with a higher proportion of ¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os (average of 0.1361). However, depleted harzburgites are assumed to be the residua left after extraction of hydrous boninitic melt produced by second stage partial melting of already depleted mantle due to a subducting slab, from which high-Cr chromitites (64.2 < Cr# < 85.9) with lower and heterogeneous ¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os ratio (average of 0.1324) were crystallised as a result of melt–rock interaction in a supra-subduction environment. Dunites around the chromite deposits are considered to be the product of melt–peridotite interaction. Most of the chromitites contain high-Cr chromite and display enrichment in IPGE (Os, Ir, Ru) over PPGE (Rh, Pt, Pd), with PGE concentrations between 61 and 1,305 ppb. Consistently, laurite-erlichmanite series minerals with various Os concentrations are found to be the most abundant PGM inclusions in chromite. Os–Ir–Ru alloy, irarsite, and kashinite, as well as Pt–Fe alloy and Pt-oxide, which are not common in ophiolitic chromitites, were also detected as magmatic PGM inclusions. Pentlandite, millerite, and, rarely heazlewoodite form the magmatic inclusions of base-metal sulphide. The presence of olivine and clinopyroxene, as well as hydrous silicate inclusions such as amphibole and phlogopite, in high-Cr chromitite supports the idea that high-Cr chromitites were formed in a supra-subduction environment.     

Podiform Chromitites in the Luobusa Ophiolite (Southern Tibet): Implications for Melt-Rock Interaction and Chromite Segregation in the Upper Mantle

The Luobusa ophiolite in the Indus—Yarlung Zangbo sutureof southern Tibet hosts the largest known chromite deposit inChina. The podiform chromitites occur in a well-preserved mantlesequence consisting of harzburgite with abundant lenses of dunite.The harzburgites have relatively uniform bulk-rock compositionswith mg-numbers [100 Mg/(Mg + Fe)] ranging from 89 to 91 andshow flat, unfractionated, chondrite-normalized platinum groupelement (PGE) patterns. Their accessory chromite varies widelyin cr-number [100Cr/(Cr + Al)] (18–66). These rocks areessentially residua left after extraction of mid-ocean ridgebasalt (MORB)-type magmas. The podiform chromitites displaynodular, massive, disseminated and banded textures and typicallyhave dunite envelopes that grade into the surrounding harzburgiteand diopsidic harzburgite with increasing pyroxene contents.They consist of relatively uniform chromite with high cr-numbers(74–82), have strongly fractionated, chondrite-normalizedPGE patterns with enrichment in Os, Ir and Ru relative to Rh,Pt and Pt, and are believed to have formed from a boniniticmagma produced by a second stage of melting. Dunites containaccessory chromite intermediate in composition between thoseof harzburgite and chromitite and are believed to be the productsof reaction between new boninitic magmas and old MORB-type peridotites.The melt-rock reaction removed pyroxene from the peridotitesand precipitated oli-vine, forming dunite envelopes around thechromitite pods. The melts thus became more boninitic in compositionand chromite saturated, leading to precipitation of chromitealone. The interplay of melt-rock interaction, chromite fractionationand magma mixing should lead to many fluctuations in melt composition,producing both massive and disseminated chromitites and phaselayering within individual podiform bodies observed in the Luobusaophiolite. KEY WORDS: boninitic magmas; dunite envelope; melt—rock interaction; MORB peridotities; podiform chromitites ^*Corresponding author. Present address: Department of Geology, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ont, Canada P3E 2C6.     

Platinum–Group Minerals in Podiform Chromitite from the Kamuikotan Zone, Hokkaido, Northern Japan

Abstract: Ru–Os–Ir alloys have been found in two podiform chromitites located at the Chiroro and Bankei mines in the Sarugawa peridotite complex in the Kamuikotan zone, Hokkaido, Japan. This is the first report on the occurrence of PGM (= platinum-group minerals) from chromitites in Japan. The Ru–Os–Ir alloys most typically form polyhedra associated with other minerals (Ni–Fe alloys and heazlewoodite) in chromian spinel. The PGM are possibly pseudomorphs after some primary PGM such as laurite and are chemically highly inhomogeneous, indicating a low-temperature alteration origin. This is consistent with intense alteration (formation of serpentine, uvarovite and kämmererite) imposed on the Kamuikotan chromitites. High-temperature primary PGE (platinum–group elements)–bearing sulfides were possibly recrystallized at low temperatures into a new assemblage of PGM, Ni-Fe alloys and sulfides. Placer PGM around the peridotite complexes are chemically different from the PGM in dunite and chromitite possibly due to the, as yet, incomplete search for the rock-hosted PGM. The PGE content in chromitites is distinctly higher in those in the Kamuikotan zone than in those in the Sangun zone of Southwest Japan, consistent with the more refractory nature (Cr# of spinel, up to 0.8) of the former than the latter (Cr# of spinel, 0.5).     

Mineralogy, composition and PGM of chromitites from Pefki, Pindos ophiolite complex (NW Greece): evidence for progressively elevated fAs conditions in the upper mantle sequence

The Pindos ophiolite complex, located in the northwestern part of continental Greece, hosts various chromite deposits of both metallurgical (high-Cr) and refractory (high-Al) type. The Pefki chromitites are banded and sub-concordant to the surrounding serpentinized dunites. The Cr# [Cr/(Cr?+?Al)] of magnesiochromite varies between 0.75 and 0.79. The total PGE grade ranges from 105.9 up to 300.0?ppb. IPGE are higher than PPGE, typical of mantle hosted ophiolitic chromitites. The PGM assemblage in chromitites comprises anduoite, ruarsite, laurite, irarsite, sperrylite, hollingworthite, Os-Ru-Ir alloys including osmium and rutheniridosmine, Ru-bearing oxides, braggite, paolovite, platarsite, cooperite, vysotskite, and palladodymite. Iridarsenite and omeiite were also observed as exsolutions in other PGM. Rare electrum and native Ag are recovered in concentrates. This PGM assemblage is of great petrogenetic importance because it is significantly different from that commonly observed in podiform mantle-hosted and banded crustal-hosted ophiolitic chromitites. PGE chalcogenides of As and S are primary, and possibly crystallized directly from a progressively enriched in As boninitic melt before or during magnesiochromite precipitation. The presence of Ru-bearing oxides implies simultaneous desulfurization and dearsenication processes. Chemically zoned laurite and composite paolovite-electrum intergrowths are indicative of the relatively high mobility of certain PGE at low temperatures under locally oxidizing conditions. The PGM assemblage and chemistry, in conjunction with geological and petrologic data of the studied chromitites, indicate that it is characteristic of chromitites found within or close to the petrologic Moho. Furthermore, the strikingly different PGM assemblages between the high-Cr chromitites within the Pindos massif is suggestive of non-homogeneous group of ores.     

Mössbauer spectroscopy studies of the valence state of iron in chromite from the Luobusa massif of Tibet: implications for a highly reduced deep mantle

Mössbauer spectroscopy was applied to study the valence state of iron in chromite from massive, nodular and disseminated podiform chromitite ores of the Luobasa ophiolite massif of Tibet. The results show that Fe³⁺/ΣFe = 0.42 in chromite from massive ore, and Fe³⁺/ΣFe = 0.22 in chromite from nodular and disseminated ores. The massive ore records traces of ultra high pressure mineralogical assemblages, such as diamond inclusions in OsIr alloys, exsolution lamellae of coesite and diopside in chromite, inclusions of metal‐nitrides, native iron and others, which suggests a strongly reducing environment. In contrast, chromite from nodular and disseminated ore contains abundant low‐pressure OH‐bearing mineral inclusions whose formation requires a more oxidizing environment. The high value of Fe³⁺/ΣFe in the ‘reduced’ massive ore is explained by crystallographic stabilization of Fe³⁺ in a high‐pressure polymorph of chromite deep in the upper mantle despite low ambient fO₂ conditions. The presence of high‐pressure phases within the massive chromitite ore requires that the latter, together with its host peridotite, was transported in the solid state from a highly reduced deep mantle environment to shallow depths beneath an ocean spreading centre. It is suggested that in the low‐pressure environment of the spreading centre, the deep‐seated, reduced, massive chromitites partially reacted with their host peridotite in the presence of hydrous melt, yielding the nodular and disseminated chromitite ores. The preponderance of evidence suggests that the latter interaction involved boninitic melts in a supra‐subduction zone environment as proposed previously.     

The effect of metasomatism on the Cr-PGE mineralization in the Finero Complex, Ivrea Zone, Southern Alps

The magmatic metasomatism that was responsible for producing chromitite–dunite bodies in the unusual phlogopite peridotite of the Finero Complex in Permian to Triassic times also influenced the Cr-platinum group elements (PGE) mineralization. At least the end stages of this metasomatism are recorded in compositional zoning of chromite grains in the podiform chromitite. Metasomatic melt, with or without vapor, reacted with chromite to produce core-to-rim Cr enrichment of extant chromite grains and was concurrent with pyroxene crystallization. Under conditions of lower melt/rock ratio, metasomatism resulted in core-to-rim Al enrichment in chromite and crystallization of amphibole between chromite and clinopyroxene. This early, high-temperature metasomatism is unrelated to the later and pervasive K-metasomatism that crystallized phlogopite and was associated with the intrusion of clinopyroxenite dikes that cut the peridotite. Much later, serpentinization of olivine locally depleted chromite in Al and enriched it in Fe and formed minor amounts of magnetite.The PGE, which are present mainly as laurite inclusions in chromite, were remobilized by the early metasomatism. This resulted in substantial variation in the PGE contents of chromitites and imposed a characteristic PGE pattern in which chondrite-normalized Os, Ir, Ru and Rh contents are high but Pt and Pd contents are low. The slopes of PGE chondrite-normalized concentration patterns are systematically related to absolute PGE abundance and to rock mode. Chromitites with low modal orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene, and amphibole exhibit negative PGE slopes and contain relatively high PGE concentrations, whereas chromitites rich in these silicate minerals have positive slopes and low PGE contents.     

Platinum-group minerals in the chromitites from the Great Serpentinite Belt,NSW, Australia

Summary Occurrences of platinum-group minerals (PGM) from chromitites of the Great Serpentinite Belt of New South Wales are reported for the first time in this study. On the basis of their major components, these minerals are classified into various groups, including sulphides, sulpharsenides, arsenides, antimonides, amalgams, and alloys of Os-Ir-Ru-(Fe Ni), Pd Cu Sn, Ni-Fe-Pt-Pd, Pd-Pb-Cu, and Rh-Sn-Cu. They are present: (i) as inclusions within chromite, (ii) in interstitial silicates, (iii) in ferritchromite and (iv) along fractures in chromite. Ir-subgroup (Ir, Os, Ru) minerals (IPGM) dominate podiform chromitites hosted by upper mantle serpentinised harzburgite, whereas Pdsubgroup (Pd, Pt, Rh) minerals (PPGM) characterise banded chromitites in cumulates of the overlying magmatic series. A highly brecciated podiform chromitite, however, is distinguished by abundant disseminated PPGM containing Sb ± Cu. Primary magmatic PGM in podiform chromitite comprise IPGM sulphides, sulpharsenides, and alloys, whereas hydrothermal PGM are characterised by PPGM alloys with Hg, Sb, and Cu. Dominantly hydrothermal PGM in the banded chromitites formed by remobilisation of primary magmatic PGM during serpentinisation. The contrast in PGM association is related to the crystallisation of the host chromitites; IPGM crystallised early from the parental magma along with podiform chromitite, but PPGM formed later at lower temperatures during crystallisation of banded chromitite.[

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Platingruppen-Minerale in den Chromititen aus dem Great Serpentinite Belt, NSW, Australien

Zusammenfassung In dieser Studie wird zum ersten Mal über das Vorkommen von PlatingruppenMineralen (PGM) in Chromititen der Great Serpentinite Belt berichtet. Die auftretenden Mineralphasen umfassen Sulfide, Sulfarsenide, Arsenide, Antimonide, Amalgam und Legierungen von Os-Ir-(Fe-Ni), Pd-Cu-Sn, Ni-Fe-Pt-Pd, Pd-Pb-Cu and Rh-Sn-Cu. Sie treten als i) Einschlüsse im Chromit, ii) in Silikaten der Grundmasse, iii) Im Ferritchromit und iv) in Frakturen des Chromit auf. Mineralphasen der Ir-Untergruppe (IPGM = Ir, Os, Ru) dominieren in podiformen Chromititen, die in serpentinisierten Harzburgiten des oberen Mantels auftreten. Minerale der Pd-Untergruppe (PPGM = Pd, Pt, Rh) charakterisieren gebänderte Chromitite, die innerhalb der über der Mantelsequenz liegenden Kumulatabfolge vorkommen. Ein deutlich brekzierter podiformer Chromitit unterscheidet sich von den übrigen podiformen Chromititen durch häufiges Auftreten von disseminierten PPGM, die auch Sb ± Cu führen. Primär magmatisch gebildete PGM in podiformen Chromititen umfassen IPGM in Form von Sulfide, Sulfarsenide und Legierungen, während PPGM als Legierungen mit Hg, Sb und Cu hydrothermale Phasen darstellen. Die hydrothermalen PGM in den gebänderten Chromititen wurden überwiegend durch Remobilisation aus primär magmatischen PGM während der Serpentinisierung gebildet. Der markante Unterschied in den während der Serpentinisierung gebildet. Der markante nterschied in den PGM-Assoziationen steht mit der Kristallisation des jeweiligen Chromitit in Verbindung: Während IPGM früh aus dem Magma zusammen mit den podiformen Chromititen kristallisierten, wurden PPGM später unter niedrigeren Temperaturen während der Kristallisation der gebänderten Chromitite gebildet.[

     

西昆仑库地蛇绿岩富Al型豆荚状铬铁矿床成因

西昆仑库地蛇绿岩发育小规模的铬铁矿床,矿体呈豆荚状和层状、似层状,均与纯橄岩紧密伴生。这些纯橄岩主要由橄榄石和副矿物尖晶石组成,与方辉橄榄岩相比,橄榄岩中的橄榄石粒径粗(平均2.5mm),Mg#(88~90)低,这与它们全岩低Mg#(90)值,富Al_2O_3、TiO_2、Cr_2O_3、Fe_2O_3相吻合,与熔融残余成因的纯橄岩明显不同,反映了其很可能是由熔体与方辉橄榄岩反应而成。矿体主要由块状、浸染状及脉状铬铁矿石组成;铬铁矿石中的尖晶石具有低而相对稳定的Cr#(43~56),低于富铬型铬铁矿矿床中的铬铁矿(Cr#60)。块状矿石与纯橄岩呈突变接触,矿石中的尖晶石呈浑圆状,包裹有较多橄榄石、辉石等硅酸盐矿物及角闪石等含水硅酸盐矿物;浸染状铬铁矿石中的尖晶石与橄榄石颗粒构成交织结构,或呈云朵状,沿橄榄石颗粒边界相互连接,矿石的结构构造显示了熔/岩反应成因特征。通过计算分析,我们认为该区富铝型铬铁矿石是由拉斑玄武质熔体与地幔橄榄岩反应而成,由于熔体中含有较高的H_2O,参与反应的熔体可能源于弧后扩张脊环境。     

Diversity of platinum-group mineral assemblages in banded and podiform chromitite from the Kraubath ultramafic massif,Austria: evidence for an ophiolitic transition zone?

We report highly unusual platinum-group mineral (PGM) assemblages from geologically distinct chromitites (banded and podiform) of the Kraubath massif, the largest dismembered mantle relict in the Eastern Alps. The banded chromitite has a pronounced enrichment of Pt and Pd relative to the more refractory platinum-group elements (PGEs) of the IPGE group (Os, Ir, Ru), similar to crustal sections of ophiolites. On the contrary, the podiform chromitite displays a negatively sloping chondrite-normalised PGE pattern typical of ophiolitic podiform chromitite. The chemical composition of chromite varies from Cr# 73-77 in the banded type to 81-86 in the podiform chromitite. Thirteen different PGMs and one gold-rich mineral are first observed in the banded chromitite. The dominant PGM is sperrylite (53% of all PGMs), which occurs in polyphase assemblages with an unnamed Pt-base metal (BM) alloy and Pd-rich minerals such as stibiopalladinite, mayakite, mertieite II, unnamed Pd-Rh-As and Pd(Pt)-(As,Sb) minerals. This banded type also contains PGE sulphides (about 7%) represented by a wide compositional range of the laurite-erlichmanite series and irarsite (8%). Os-Ir alloy, geversite, an unnamed Pt-Pd-Bi-Cu phase and tetrauricupride are present in minor amounts. By contrast, the podiform chromitite, which yielded 21 different PGMs, is dominated by laurite (43% of all PGMs) which occurs in complex polyphase assemblages with PGE alloys (Ir-Os, Os-Ir, Pt-Fe), PGE sulphides (kashinite, bowieite, cuproiridsite, cuprorhodsite, unnamed (Fe,Cu)(Ir,Rh)₂S₄, braggite, unnamed BM-Ir and BM-Rh sulphides) and Pd telluride (keithconnite). A variety of PGE sulpharsenides (33%) including irarsite, hollingworthite, platarsite, ruarsite and a number of intermediate species have been identified, whereas sperrylite and stibiopalladinite are subordinate (2%). The occurrence of such a wide variety of PGMs from only two, 2.5-kg chromitite samples is highly unusual for an ophiolitic environment. Our novel sample treatment allowed to identify primary PGM assemblages containing all six PGEs in both laurite-dominated podiform chromitite as well as in uncommon sperrylite-dominated banded chromitite. We suggest that the geologically, geochemically and mineralogically distinct banded chromitite from Kraubath characterises the transition zone of an ophiolite, closely above the mantle section hosting podiform chromitite, rather than being representative of the crustal cumulate pile.