Experimental simulation of phase relationships and zoning of magmatic nickel-copper sulfide Ores, Russia

The quasiequilibrium directed crystallization technique was used for experimental simulation of zoning characteristic of Cu-rich pyrrhotite-chalcopyrite and pyrrhotite-cubanite-mooihoekite-haycockite ores at the Oktyabr??sky deposit. Directed crystallization of samples I (Fe 32.55, Cu 10.70, Ni 5.40, S. 51.00, Pt = Pd = Rh = Ir= Au = Ag = 0.05 at %) and II (Fe 33.74, Cu 15.94, Ni 1.48, S. 48.75, Pt = Pd = 0.05 at %) was performed. These samples approximate average composition of the ore. Monosulfide (mms) and intermediate (iss) solid solutions progressively crystallized from the melt. The curves of ore element distribution in samples have been drawn. The partition coefficients (k) of ore elements between solid solutions and sulfide melt have been determined depending on melt composition. The paths of melt, mss, and iss compositions are supplemented by tie lines connecting compositions of equilibrium liquid and solid phases. The phase composition of samples after cooling was studied using an optical microscope, XRD, and microprobe. The zoning of sample I is described by the following sequence of phases: monoclinic pyrrhotite ?? hexagonal pyrrhotite + tetragonal chalcopyrite ?? tetragonal and cubic chalcopyrite + pentlandite + bornite. Crystallized sample II consists of four zones: (1) hexagonal pyrrhotite and isocubanite; (2) hexagonal pyrrhotite, cubanite, and pentlandite; (3) low-S pc-phase close to haycockite and pentlandite; and (4) mooihoekite, pentlandite, and bornite mixtures. This sequence corresponds to the secondary zoning, which reflects both the primary fractionation of components and the solid-phase reactions during cooling of the crystallized sample. The Rh, Ru, and Ir partition coefficients between mss and melt have been measured, and speciation of PGM in samples has been identified. The results obtained are compared with typical natural Cu-rich sulfide ore of the Oktyabr??sky deposit.