我国黄铁矿矿床类型、分布规律及前景评估

中国黄铁矿资源丰富，按元素和矿物组合的不同，其矿床类型可分为：黄铁矿矿床；黄铁矿型铜矿床；含锌、铜黄铁矿型矿床；黄铁矿型多金属矿床；含钨黄铁矿型铜矿床；含锡黄铁矿型矿床；含金黄铁矿型矿床。最主要的成因类型是海底喷气沉积矿床，它广泛分布于不同时期的造山带及早前寒武纪克拉通。黄铁矿形成的构造环境可分为５种，即：边缘浅海或优地槽环境；上叠的断裂坳陷带；洋中脊；岛弧地带；陆相火山盆地。     

我国黄铁矿矿床类型,分布规律前景评估

中国黄铁矿资源丰富，按元素和矿物组合的不同，其矿床类型可分为：黄铁矿矿床，黄铁矿型铜矿床；含锌、铜黄铁矿型矿床；黄铁矿型多金属矿床；内铁矿型铜矿床；含锡黄铁矿型矿床；含金黄铁矿型矿床。最主要的成因素类型是海底喷气沉积矿床，它广泛分布于不同时期的造山带及早前寒武纪克拉通。黄铁矿形成的构造环境可分为５种，即：边缘浅海或优地槽环境；上叠的断裂坳陷带；洋中脊；岛弧地带，陆相火山盆地。     

四川黑牛洞铜矿床磁黄铁矿的标型特征及成矿指示意义

黑牛洞铜矿床是近年来国内发现的富铜矿床之一.磁黄铁矿是该矿床中含量最高的金属矿物,且与该矿床最重要的矿石矿物黄铜矿共生.本文试图通过研究磁黄铁矿的矿物学特征,为揭示黑牛洞铜矿床的成因提供重要参考信息.本文运用电子探针、扫描电镜、X射线衍射分析和矿相显微镜观测等方法,对黑牛洞不同产状磁黄铁矿进行了形貌、化学组成和结构分析.研究表明不同矿石类型的磁黄铁矿均为六方晶系,其Fe原子含量的百分比变化范围是42.43%～45.58%.在Fe-S相图中,黑牛洞矿床的磁黄铁矿位于磁黄铁矿和黄铁矿共生相区.据研究,黑牛洞矿床中磁黄铁矿的成分、结构和矿物组合中罕见黄铁矿等信息寓示磁黄铁矿的峰期变质温度高于450℃.该矿床中磁黄铁矿至少有两种成因,即主要从流体中沉淀并受变质的磁黄铁矿和少量由黄铁矿变质脱硫而成的磁黄铁矿.黑牛洞矿床矿体和蚀变围岩中石墨广泛发育表明,变质过程处于强还原环境,而还原环境中S在流体中的溶解度较小且易于沉淀.矿床中黑色电气石的普遍产出表明中高温热液存在.这与磁黄铁矿的标型特征相对应.中高温流体存在、强还原环境和碳质的催化作用等为黄铁矿变质形成磁黄铁矿提供了有利的条件,也为黑牛洞铜矿床铜元素在韧性剪切带形成的有利客矿空间中沉淀、再富集提供了必要的物理化学条件.     

新疆阿舍勒铜矿黄铁矿标型特征及矿床成因意义

新疆阿舍勒铜矿黄铁矿标型特征及矿床成因意义任秉琛（地质矿产部西安矿产地质研究所，西安７１００５４）关键词黄铁矿标型，矿床成因意义，新疆阿舍勒铜矿属海底喷气火山成因含铜黄铁矿型矿床，黄铁矿是其中分布广、数量大的矿石矿物。１黄铁矿形态标型多数情况下为他形...     

芬兰北部克维特斯塔镍-铜-铂族元素矿床地质特征及矿床成因

位于芬兰北部中拉普兰绿岩带的克维特斯塔(Kevitsa)镍-铜-铂族元素矿床是世界上主要的岩浆镍-铜硫化物矿床之一。该矿床储量大,含丰富的镍-铜硫化物和铂族元素。对矿床产出环境、地质特征、矿床成因等进行了总结,结果表明:矿体主要赋存于克维特斯塔基性—超基性层状侵入体的超基性单元中。主要矿石类型为普通型和镍-铂族元素型2种,其中镍-铂族元素型矿石内橄榄石具极高的Ni含量。主要矿石矿物为磁黄铁矿、镍黄铁矿、黄铜矿、黄铁矿、针硫镍矿、红砷镍矿、砷镍矿、辉砷镍矿等,绝大部分铂族矿物包含在硅酸盐中和附着在硫化物颗粒边界。Re-Os、Sm-Nd、Sr及S同位素特征显示成矿岩浆为幔源,但受到地壳物质的混染作用。Pb同位素年代学结果表明克维特斯塔侵入体形成于古元古代。     

云南镇康芦子园铅锌铁多金属矿床矿石矿物特征及成因分析

镇康芦子园铅锌铁多金属矿床属大型铅锌铁矿床,对矿床矿石矿物的系统研究表明,矿石主要金属硫化物有闪锌矿、方铅矿、黄铜矿、黄铁矿。根据矿床地质特征、矿物共生组合及相互穿插关系,认为成矿主要分为热液成矿期和表生期,矿床是与燕山期隐伏岩体有关的岩浆热液型矿床。     

白银厂矿区折腰山矿床碳酸盐矿物的新认识

甘肃白银厂黄铁矿型铜矿床是我国重要的铜矿类型之一,矿床的矿物成分繁多,成因复杂。自开采以来相继有许多单位、学者对该矿床的主要矿石矿物做了大量的研究工作,但对与之紧密共生的碳酸盐矿物却研究不够,笔者对本区折腰山矿床中除方解石外的碳酸盐矿物进行了矿物学研究,过去一直被定名为铁白云石的矿物,经过这次对其物理性质、光学性质盼     

滇黔桂地区微细粒浸染型金矿床的矿床地球化学类型

根据矿床产出的区域域构造背景、含矿建造的岩性特点和沉积环境、矿石的矿物共生组合和成矿元素组合以及标型矿物的成分特征等，将滇黔桂地区的微细粒浸染型金矿划分为三种矿床地球化学类型：金－锑－黄铁矿型矿床、金－汞（铊）型矿床和金－砷－（锑）型矿床；并分别做了。     

铜矿自然重砂矿物组合规律及其对铜矿成因类型的指示

根据铜矿床的成因类型,对全国177个铜矿床的自然重砂矿物进行统计分析。结果显示,自然重砂矿物对于铜矿床成因类型具有较好的指示意义。不同成因类型铜矿床的自然重砂矿物组合不同,尤其是岩浆型、斑岩型、矽卡岩型、火山岩型铜矿床均具有特征自然重砂指示矿物。除了铜矿物、铅锌矿物、黄铁矿、白钨矿等各类型铜矿床共有自然重砂矿物外,铬铁矿、镍黄铁矿、辉石、橄榄石等为岩浆型铜矿床的特征指示矿物,自然金、辉钼矿、磷灰石、磷钇矿等可以指示斑岩型铜矿床;锆石、锡石和石榴子石是矽卡岩型铜矿床的特征指示矿物;火山岩型铜矿床则以雄黄、雌黄作为特征指示矿物。这些研究对于建立不同成因类型铜矿的自然重砂找矿模型具有重要意义。     

山东桃科铜镍矿床矿物学特征及其对矿床成因的指示

桃科铜镍矿床是山东目前发现的仅有的2处铜镍矿床之一,也是中国最早开采的铜镍矿床之一,同时也可能是中国形成时代最老的铜镍矿床。含矿岩体主要由橄榄辉长苏长岩、蚀变辉长苏长岩、变辉长岩、角闪岩组成,主要矿物为贵橄榄石、古铜辉石、普通辉石、角闪石和中基性斜长石(培长石、中长石、拉长石),岩石常发生强烈的绿泥石化、钠黝帘石化、纤闪石化;矿石中黄铜矿+镍黄铁矿+磁黄铁矿的矿物组合,为典型的岩浆型铜镍硫化物矿床的矿物组合;岩石及矿物特征表明矿床为岩浆作用的产物。通过矿物显微结构特征以及计算得出:桃科岩体橄榄石开始结晶温度大约在1421℃左右,古铜辉石和普通辉石的结晶温度在1030~1230℃之间,两矿物相在岩石中可以共存。矿石中大量镍黄铁矿蚀变为针镍矿,黄铜矿在边部蚀变为斑铜矿,以及黄铁矿较高的Co/Ni比值(0.1~12.9,平均4.1),都表明矿床在后期遭受了强烈的热液叠加改造作用。     

A laser ablation ICP-MS study of platinum-group and chalcophile elements in base metal sulfide minerals of the Jinchuan Ni–Cu sulfide deposit,NW China

The paper presents concentrations of the platinum-group and chalcophile elements in the base metal sulfides (BMS) from the Jinchuan Ni–Cu sulfide deposit determined by laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Mass balance calculations reveal that pentlandite hosts a large proportion of Co, Ni and Pd (> 65%), and that pentlandite and pyrrhotite accommodate significant proportions of Re, Os, Ru, Rh, and Ag (~ 35–90%), whereas chalcopyrite contains a small amount of Ag (~ 10%) but negligible platinum-group elements. Iridium and Pt are not concentrated in the BMS and mostly occur in As-rich platinum-group minerals. The enrichments of Co, Ni, Re, Os, Ru, and Rh in pentlandite and pyrrhotite, and Cu in chalcopyrite are consistent with the fractionation of sulfide liquid and exsolution of pentlandite and pyrrhotite from the mono-sulfide solid solution (MSS). The Ir-bearing minerals exsolved from the MSS, depleting pentlandite and pyrrhotite in Ir, whereas sperrylite exsolved from the residual sulfide liquid on cooling. Diffusion of Pd from residual sulfide liquid into pentlandite during its exsolution from the MSS and crystallization of Pt-bearing minerals in the residual sulfide liquid resulted in the enrichment of Pd in pentlandite and decoupling between Pd and Pt in the Jinchuan net-textured and massive ores.     

Sulfide composition and phase relations in the Fe-Ni-Cu ore deposits of the Ivrea-Verbano basic complex (western Alps,Italy)

The bulk composition, mineralogy and mineral chemistry of base-metal sulfides have been investigated in the Fe-Ni-(Cu) ore deposits of the Ivrea-Verbano basic complex.The sulfide ores mostly display textural evidence of having been primarily deposited as an immiscible melt. Bulk compositions of the ores indicate that considerably low Ni/Fe and Ni/Co ratios are found in deposits developed close to metasedimentary country rocks, possibly as a result of mixing with sedimentary sulfur.Phase relations of primary sulfides indicate that early crystallization of the ore was dominated by a monosulfide solid solution (Mss) with a pyrrhotite composition, from which pentlandite and chalcopyrite were formed through subsolidus exsolution. Pentlandite from contaminated ores is typically enriched in Co. Troilite and hexagonal intermediate pyrrhotite intergrowths frequently occur due to low-temperature equilibration of metal-rich pyrrhotites, suggesting a low S fugacity of the original sulfide melt.The sulfides may be locally mobilized and redeposited along shear zones within the same host rock, giving rise to fairly massive ores having a typical cemented-breccia texture. Bulk composition and assemblages suggest that mobilization occurred at various temperatures during the cooling history of the ore, when sulfides were still in the molten state or at a lower temperature under the influence of abundant deuteric fluids. In this last case, growth of pyrite is seen as being possibly due to sulfurization and/or oxidation.     

吉林省红旗岭铜镍硫化物矿床矿石学特征

吉林省红旗岭地区目前正在开采的铜镍硫化物矿床共有5个,均属岩浆熔离型矿床.矿石矿物磁黄铁矿显微镜下可识别出3个同质多象变体:陨硫铁(tr)、六方磁黄铁矿(hpo)和单斜磁黄铁矿(pm).其基本结构主要为NiAs型,具有较高的Ni Cu Co含量,与相应的地幔包体成分相近.镍黄铁矿也有高温结晶型、低温出溶型和低温结晶型3种类型.电子探针微区成分分析显示了同种矿物的不同变种在成分上具有继承与关联性.在该矿床首次发现的辉砷镍矿的存在和黄铁矿的标形特征说明含S-As流体的交代作用在成岩后期普遍存在,为分析红旗岭铜镍硫化物矿床的成矿机制研究提供了矿物学信息.     

A laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry study of the distribution of chalcophile elements among sulfide phases in sedimentary and magmatic rocks of the Duluth Complex,Minnesota, USA

Nickel-copper sulfide deposits occur in the basal unit of the Partridge River Intrusion, Duluth Complex (Minnesota, USA). Many lines of evidence suggest that these sulfides are formed after assimilation of the proterozoic S-rich black shales, known as the Bedded Pyrrhotite Unit. In addition to S, black shales are enriched in Te, As, Bi, Sb and Sn (TABS) and the basaltic magma of the intrusion is contaminated by the partial melt of the black shales. The TABS are chalcophile and together with the platinum-group elements, Ni and Cu partitioned into the magmatic sulfide liquid that segregated from the Duluth magma. The TABS are important for the formation of platinum-group minerals (PGM) thus their role during crystallization of the base metal sulfide minerals could affect the distribution of the PGE. However, the concentrations of TABS in magmatic Ni-Cu-PGE deposits and their distribution among base metal sulfide minerals are poorly documented. In order to investigate whether the base metal sulfide minerals host TABS in magmatic Ni-Cu-PGE deposits, a petrographic and Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) study has been carried out on base metal sulfide and silicate phases of the Partridge River Intrusion, Duluth Complex.Petrographic observations showed that the proportions of the base metal sulfide minerals vary with rock type. The sulfide assemblage of the least metamorphosed Bedded Pyrrhotite Unit from outside the contact metamorphic aureole consists of pyrite with minor pyrrhotite plus chalcopyrite (<5%), whereas within the contact aureole the sulfide assemblage of the Bedded Pyrrhotite Unit rocks consists dominantly of pyrrhotite (>95%) with small amount of chalcopyrite (<2%). The sulfide mineral assemblage in the xenoliths of the Bedded Pyrrhotite Unit and in the mafic rocks of the basal unit contains two additional sulfides, pentlandite and cubanite.Our LA-ICP-MS study shows that sulfides of the Bedded Pyrrhotite Unit are rich in TABS; consistent with these S-rich black shales being the source of TABS that contaminated the mafic magma. Most of the TABS are associated with sulfides and platinum-group minerals in the rocks of the Bedded Pyrrhotite Unit from the contact aureole, the Bedded Pyrrhotite Unit xenoliths and the mafic rocks of the Duluth Complex. In addition to these phases the laser maps show that silicate phases, i.e., orthopyroxene and plagioclase contain Sn and Pb respectively. In contrast, in the least metamorphosed samples of the Bedded Pyrrhotite Unit from outside the contact aureole although the pyrite contains some TABS mass balance calculations indicates that most the TABS are contained in other phases. In these rocks, galena hosts significant amounts of Te, Bi, Sb, Sn and Ag and few very small grains of Sb-rich phases were also observed. The host phases for As were not established but possibly organic compounds may have contributed.     

Deformation,metamorphism, and mobilization of Ni–Cu–PGE sulfide ores at Garson Mine,Sudbury

The Garson Ni–Cu–platinum group element deposit is a deformed, overturned, low Ni tenor contact-type deposit along the contact between the Sudbury Igneous Complex (SIC) and stratigraphically underlying rocks of the Huronian Supergroup in the South Range of the 1.85-Ga Sudbury structure. The ore bodies are coincident with steeply south-dipping, north-over-south D₁ shear zones, which imbricated the SIC, its ore zones, and underlying Huronian rocks during mid-amphibolite facies metamorphism. The shear zones were reactivated as south-over-north, reverse shear zones during D₂ at mid-greenschist facies metamorphism. Syn-D₂ metamorphic titanite yields an age of 1,849?±?6 Ma, suggesting that D₁ and D₂ occurred immediately after crystallization of the SIC during the Penokean Orogeny. The ore bodies plunge steeply to the south parallel to colinear L₁ and L₂ mineral lineations, indicating that the geometry of the ore bodies are strongly controlled by D₁ and D₂. Sulfide mineralization consists of breccia ores, with minor disseminated sulfides hosted in norite, and syn-D₂ quartz–calcite–sulfide veins. Mobilization by ductile plastic flow was the dominant mechanism of sulfide/metal mobilization during D₁ and D₂, with additional minor hydrothermal mobilization of Cu, Fe, and Ni by hydrothermal fluids during D₂. Metamorphic pentlandite overgrows a S₁ ferrotschermakite foliation in D₁ deformed ore zones. Pentlandite was exsolved from recrystallized polygonal pyrrhotite grains after cessation of D₁, which resulted in randomly distributed large pentlandite grains and randomly oriented pentlandite loops along the grain boundaries of polygonal pyrrhotite within the breccia ore. It also overgrows a S₂ chlorite foliation in D₂ shear zones. Pyrrhotite recrystallized and was flattened during D₂ deformation of breccia ore along narrow shear zones. Exsolution of pentlandite loops along the grain boundaries of these flattened grains produced a pyrrhotite–pentlandite layering that is not observed in D₁ deformed ore zones. The overprinting of the two foliations by pentlandite and exsolution of pentlandite along the grain boundaries of flattened pyrrhotite grains suggest that the Garson ores reverted to a metamorphic monosulfide solid solution at temperatures ranging between 550 and 600 °C during D₁ and continued to deform as a monosulfide solid solution during D₂.     

Sulfide-associated mineral assemblages in the Bushveld Complex, South Africa: platinum-group element enrichment by vapor refining by chloride–carbonate fluids

The petrology of base metal sulfides and associated accessory minerals in rocks away from economically significant ore zones such as the Merensky Reef of the Bushveld Complex has previously received only scant attention, yet this information is critical in the evaluation of models for the formation of Bushveld-type platinum-group element (PGE) deposits. Trace sulfide minerals, primarily pyrite, pyrrhotite, pentlandite, and chalcopyrite are generally less than 100 microns in size, and occur as disseminated interstitial individual grains, as polyphase assemblages, and less commonly as inclusions in pyroxene, plagioclase, and olivine. Pyrite after pyrrhotite is commonly associated with low temperature greenschist alteration haloes around sulfide grains. Pyrrhotite hosted by Cr- and Ti-poor magnetite (Fe₃O₄) occurs in several samples from the Marginal to Lower Critical Zones below the platiniferous Merensky Reef. These grains occur with calcite that is in textural equilibrium with the igneous silicate minerals, occur with Cl-rich apatite, and are interpreted as resulting from high temperature sulfur loss during degassing of interstitial liquid. A quantitative model demonstrates how many of the first-order features of the Bushveld ore metal distribution could have developed by vapor refining of the crystal pile by chloride–carbonate-rich fluids during which sulfur and sulfide are continuously recycled, with sulfur moving from the interior of the crystal pile to the top during vapor degassing.     

热液脉型铅-锌-银矿床富铁闪锌矿中硫化物包裹体成因探讨

通过对热液脉型的铅－锌－银矿床（３个）和银矿床（１个）和闪锌矿中硫化物包囊体的特征研究表明,石英－硫化物阶段富铁闪锌矿（主矿物）的硫化物包裹体十分发育：沿生长带产出的乳滴状黄铜矿与主矿物为共同沉淀成因;沿穿切主矿物的黄铜矿或石英细脉两侧,和受粗粒黄铜矿溶蚀的富铁闪锌矿近接触部位发育的乳滴状黄铜矿为渗透－交代产物;沿解理（裂隙）或粒间、粒内产出的各种形态磁黄铁矿是充填－交代的结果;沿解理分布的脉状毒     

Platinum-group element, Gold, Silver and Base Metal distribution in compositionally zoned sulfide droplets from the Medvezky Creek Mine, Noril’sk, Russia

Concentrations of Ag, Au, Cd, Co, Re, Zn and Platinum-group elements (PGE) have been determined in sulfide minerals from zoned sulfide droplets of the Noril’sk 1 Medvezky Creek Mine. The aims of the study were; to establish whether these elements are located in the major sulfide minerals (pentlandite, pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite and cubanite), to establish whether the elements show a preference for a particular sulfide mineral and to investigate the model, which suggests that the zonation in the droplets is caused by the crystal fractionation of monosulfide solid solution (mss). Nickel, Cu, Ag, Re, Os, Ir, Ru, Rh and Pd, were found to be largely located in the major sulfide minerals. In contrast, less than 25% of the Au, Cd, Pt and Zn in the rock was found to be present in these sulfides. Osmium, Ir, Ru, Rh and Re were found to be concentrated in pyrrhotite and pentlandite. Palladium and Co was found to be concentrated in pentlandite. Silver, Cd and Zn concentrations are highest in chalcopyrite and cubanite. Gold and platinum showed no preference for any of the major sulfide minerals. The enrichment of Os, Ir, Ru, Rh and Re in pyrrhotite and pentlandite (exsolution products of mss) and the low levels of these elements in the cubanite and chalcopyrite (exsolution products of intermediate solid solution, iss) support the mss crystal fractionation model, because Os, Ir, Ru, Rh and Re are compatible with mss. The enrichment of Ag, Cd and Zn in chalcopyrite and cubanite also supports the mss fractionation model these minerals are derived from the fractionated liquid and these elements are incompatible with mss and thus should be enriched in the fractionated liquid. Gold and Pt do not partition into either iss or mss and become sufficiently enriched in the final fractionated liquid to crystallize among the iss and mss grains as tellurides, bismithides and alloys. During pentlandite exsolution Pd appears to have diffused from the Cu-rich portion of the droplet into pentlandite.     

Gold potential of massive sulfide ores in the Kamennoozero structural unit,Eastern Karelia

Two types of massive sulfide ores have been identified in the Kamennoozero segment of the green-stone belt: (1) hydrothermal volcanic-sedimentary strata-bound ores with massive, banded, and disseminated structures and (2) massive, brecciated, and stringer-disseminated Au-bearing base-metal ores, crosscutting the rocks of the Vozhmozero Group. The strata-bound, slightly metamorphosed orebodies are located at several levels along the contact between the Kamennoozero and Kumbuksa groups in the deep fault zones of the same names. These ores are composed of pyrite and pyrrhotite, small amounts of chalcopyrite and sphalerite, and distinguished by low grades of base metals and not higher than 0.06 g/t Au. In the Lebyazhino and Svetloozero areas, close to the sulfide Cu-Ni ore hosted in ultramafic rocks, the strata-bound bodies contain pentlandite and are enriched in Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, and up to 2.0–9.2 g/t Au. Brecciated and recrystallized pyrite ores contain up to 0.08–0.4% Sb and As, and up to 0.6–1 g/t Au in the Kumbuksa Fault Zone near Zolotye Porogi. The North Vozhma and Upper Vozhma base-metal massive sulfide occurrences, composed of pyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, pyrrhotite, galena, bornite, and chalcocite, are considered to be promising Au-bearing prospects. Some samples from the North Vozhma occurrence contain up to 1.2–2.8 g/t Au and up to 167 g/t Ag. A gold grade of up to 20 g/t has been detected in the Upper Vozhma occurrence. The potential gold resources of the North Vozhma occurrence are estimated at about 600 kg.     

Platinum-group element distribution in base-metal sulfides of the Merensky Reef from the eastern and western Bushveld Complex, South Africa

Base-metal sulfides in magmatic Ni-Cu-PGE deposits are important carriers of platinum-group elements (PGE). The distribution and concentrations of PGE in pentlandite, pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite, and pyrite were determined in samples from the mineralized portion of four Merensky Reef intersections from the eastern and western Bushveld Complex. Electron microprobe analysis was used for major elements, and in situ laser ablation inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) for trace elements (PGE, Ag, and Au). Whole rock trace element analyses were performed on representative samples to obtain mineralogical balances. In Merensky Reef samples from the western Bushveld, both Pt and Pd are mainly concentrated in the upper chromitite stringer and its immediate vicinity. Samples from the eastern Bushveld reveal more complex distribution patterns. In situ LA-ICP-MS analyses of PGE in sulfides reveal that pentlandite carries distinctly elevated PGE contents, whereas pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite only contain very low PGE concentrations. Pentlandite is the principal host of Pd and Rh in the ores. Palladium and Rh concentrations in pentlandite reach up to 700 and 130 ppm, respectively, in the samples from the eastern Bushveld, and up to 1,750 ppm Pd and up to 1,000 ppm Rh in samples from the western Bushveld. Only traces of Pt are present in the base-metal sulfides (BMS). Pyrrhotite contains significant though generally low amounts of Ru, Os, and Ir, but hardly any Pd or Rh. Chalcopyrite contains most of the Ag but carries only extremely low PGE concentrations. Mass balance calculations performed on the Merensky Reef samples reveal that in general, pentlandite in the feldspathic pyroxenite and the pegmatoidal feldspathic pyroxenite hosts up to 100 % of the Pd and Rh and smaller amounts (10–40 %) of the Os, Ir, and Ru. Chalcopyrite and pyrrhotite usually contain less than 10 % of the whole rock PGE. The remaining PGE concentrations, and especially most of the Pt (up to 100 %), are present in the form of discrete platinum-group minerals such as cooperite/braggite, sperrylite, moncheite, and isoferroplatinum. Distribution patterns of whole rock Cu, Ni, and S versus whole rock Pd and Pt show commonly distinct offsets. The general sequence of “offset patterns” of PGE and BMS maxima, in the order from bottom to top, is Pd in pentlandite?→?Pd in whole rock?→?(Cu, Ni, and S). The relationship is not that straightforward in general; some of the reef sequences studied only partially show similar trends or are more complex. In general, however, the highest Pd concentrations in pentlandite appear to be related to the earliest, volumetrically rather small sulfide liquids at the base of the Merensky Reef sequence. A possible explanation for the offset patterns may be Rayleigh fractionation.