The Mordor Alkaline Igneous Complex,Central Australia: PGE-enriched disseminated sulfide layers in cumulates from a lamprophyric magma

The Mordor Alkaline Igneous Complex (MAIC) is a composite intrusion comprising a body of syenite and a funnel-shaped layered mafic–ultramafic intrusion of lamprophyric parentage, the Mordor Mafic–Ultramafic Intrusion or MMUI. The MMUI is highly unusual among intrusions of lamprophyric or potassic parentage in containing primary magmatic platinum-group element (PGE)-enriched sulfides. The MMUI sequence consists largely of phlogopite-rich pyroxenitic cumulates, with an inward dipping conformable layer of olivine-bearing cumulates divisible into a number of cyclic units. Stratiform-disseminated sulfide accumulations are of two types: disseminated layers at the base of cyclic units, with relatively high PGE tenors; and patchy PGE-poor disseminations within magnetite-bearing upper parts of cyclic units. Sulfide-enriched layers at cycle bases contain anomalous platinum group element contents with grades up to 1.5 g/t Pt+Pd+Au over 1-m intervals, returning to background values of low parts per billion (ppb) on a meter scale. They correspond to reversals in normal fractionation trends and are interpreted as the result of new magma influxes into a continuously replenished magma chamber. Basal layers have decoupled Cu and PGE peaks reflecting increasing PGE tenors up-section, due to increasing R factors during the replenishment episode, or progressive mixing of between resident PGE-poor magma and more PGE-enriched replenishing magma. The presence of PGE enriched sulfides in cumulates from a lamprophyric magma implies that low-degree partial melts do not necessarily leave sulfides and PGEs in the mantle restite during partial melting. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Platinum and palladium mobility in supergene environment: The residual origin of the Pirogues River mineralization, New Caledonia

Eluvial concentration of platinum-group minerals (PGM) has developed in the south of New Caledonia, from the weathering of a mafic and ultramafic cumulate. The platinum/palladium (Pt/Pd) ratio evolution from the bottom to the top of the weathering profile indicates a chemical mobilization of Pd in supergene environment. The examination by scanning electron microscopy of the residual PGM collected in the weathering profile and their chemical characterization by electronic microprobe show a preservation of the structure and chemical signature (in the core of the grains) of the fresh PGM. This clearly demonstrates that the PGM studied here are residual and are affected by dissolution process.     

Pressure fluctuations and the formation of the PGE-rich Merensky and chromitite reefs, Bushveld Complex

The Merensky Reef and the underlying Upper Group 2 chromitite layer, in the Critical Zone of the Bushveld Complex, host much of the world’s platinum-group element (PGE) mineralization. The genesis is still debated. A number of features of the Merensky Reef are not consistent with the hypotheses involving mixing of magmas. Uniform mixing between two magmas over an area of 150 by 300 km and a thickness of 3–30 km seems implausible. The Merensky Reef occurs at the interval where Main Zone magma is added, but the relative proportions of the PGE in the Merensky Reef are comparable to those of the Critical Zone magma. Mineral and isotopic evidence in certain profiles through the Merensky Unit suggest either mixing of minerals, not magmas, and in one case, the lack of any chemical evidence for the presence of the second magma. The absence of cumulus sulphides immediately above the Merensky Reef is not predicted by this model. An alternative model is proposed here that depends upon pressure changes, not chemical processes, to produce the mineralization in chromite-rich and sulphide-rich reefs. Magma was added at these levels, but did not mix. This addition caused a temporary increase in the pressure in the extant Critical Zone magma. Immiscible sulphide liquid and/or chromite formed. Sinking sulphide liquid and/or chromite scavenged PGE (as clusters, nanoparticles or platinum-group minerals) from the magma and accumulated at the floor. Rupturing of the roof resulted in a pressure decrease and a return to sulphur-undersaturation of the magma.     

金川铜镍硫化物矿床中铂族矿物的主要类型和产出特征:热液蚀变过程中铂族元素的富集机理

金川铜镍硫化物矿床是我国最主要的铂族元素(PGE)资源产地,其矿石受热液蚀变作用影响明显,并产出多种铂族矿物(PGM)。岩浆演化和热液蚀变过程中PGE的迁移富集机制和PGM的成因,一直是研究PGE地球化学行为非常关注的问题。本文对金川铜镍硫化物矿床中PGM的研究发现,其主要类型包括含PGE的硫砷化物(硫砷铱矿)和砷化物(砷铂矿),Pd的铋化物、碲化物和硒化物,以及少量其他铂族矿物。其中,硫砷铱矿可包裹于各种贱金属硫化物(镍黄铁矿、磁黄铁矿和黄铜矿)中,表明硫砷铱矿可能结晶于早期的含As硫化物熔体,随后被包裹于硫化物熔体冷凝分异产生的单硫化物固溶体(MSS)和中间硫化物固溶体(ISS)中。硫化物熔体中的As可能主要通过地壳混染作用加入幔源岩浆。大量铋钯矿(PdBi)呈微细乳滴状包裹于黄铜矿中,为晚期ISS冷凝形成黄铜矿过程中出溶的产物。少量铋钯矿(PdBi_2)呈不规则状充填于矿物裂隙,与次生磁铁矿脉紧密共生,并随矿石的蚀变程度增加,铋钯矿的化学成分由PdBi逐渐向PdBi_2转变,表明这部分铋钯矿为后期热液蚀变产物。铋碲钯矿和钯的硒化物则主要产出于镍黄铁矿裂隙且与次生磁铁矿紧密共生,指示明显的热液成因。钯的硒化物的出现表明,岩浆期后酸性、高盐度、高氧逸度的富Cl~-流体对金川铜镍硫化物矿床中Pd的迁移和富集起到了关键控制作用。     

The radio frequency dielectric properties of the stratified UG1–UG2 geological unit in the Bushveld Complex

A new measurement technique enables the complex dielectric properties of the geological strata comprising the UG1–UG2 (Upper Group 1–Upper Group 2) unit of the Bushveld Complex in South Africa to be determined with unprecedented detail at radio frequencies (RF). Results of non-destructive laboratory measurements of representative diamond drill core samples from the UG1–UG2 unit are presented at 25 MHz. These data establish that the UG1 and UG2 chromitite layers are embedded in rock strata (norite, pyroxenite and anorthosite) which are translucent in the HF spectral band, whereas the chromitite layers themselves exhibit significant velocity contrast, making them good radar reflectors. The data presented here is useful for calibration of the radar system, and for predicting the range and resolution performance of borehole radars operating in both the hanging and footwalls of the economically important platiniferous UG2 reef.     

高碳黑色页岩型铂族元素矿床性探讨

简析了高碳黑色页岩型铂族元素矿床（PGED）的研究现状，并根据矿床的特征初步将该类矿床划分为中层状黑色页岩，薄层状黑色页岩和高碳构造岩型3类；并从形成环境，成因等方面对PGED形成进行了剖析，强调了源区供给，有机迁移和热液叠加作用的差异是导臻形成不同类型黑色含碳页岩型铂族元素矿床的根源，指出了我国贵州－湖南高碳黑色页岩型铂族元素成矿性较差与层薄和叠加温度低有关。     

湘、黔下寒武统黑色岩系型Ni、Mo矿床中有机质与PGE成矿作用研究

湘、黔地区张家界、遵义一带分布有黑色岩系型Ni-Mo-PGE矿床,测试分析表明黑色页岩样品铂族元素含量特征参数∑PGE、Ln(Pd/Pt)、(Ru/Ir)×(Pd/Pt)、Ln[(Ru/Ir)×(Pd/Pt)]均与有机质含量特征参数有较好的相关性.趋势分析显示,铂族元素含量特征参数Ln[(Ru/Ir)×(Pd/Pt)]与总有机碳含量特征参数Ln(Corg)有很好的线性相关,线性相关公式为y=0.4762x-1.1316,相关系数R为0.7584,说明该参数为一稳定性参数,主要受有机质总量决定,集中反映了生物制约性.而与湖南张家界样品有机碳含量Ln(Corg)与铂族元素含量∑PGE同步正消长关系不一样,即贵州遵义地区铂族元素总量∑PGE与有机碳含量的相关性表现出的不一致的规律,可以解释为后生期的热事件(印支海西期,Rb-Sr等时线年龄277±37Ma)导致有机质干酪根的高成熟化、大量生过气(C>2%)和石墨化趋势,或者说是芳构化效应改变了源岩有机质而导致了有机质的损耗.     

Contrasting mineralogical and processing potential of two mineralization types in the platinum group element and Ni-bearing Kapalagulu Intrusion,western Tanzania

The Kapalagulu layered ultramafic and mafic intrusion is emplaced between the Paleoproterozoic Ubendian basement and overlying Neoproterozoic Itiaso Group metasedimentary rocks, located near the western shore of Lake Tanganyika. High-grade platinum group element (PGE) mineralization (1–6 g/t Pt + Pd + Au) is associated with chromitite and sulfide-bearing harzburgite within the southeastern extension of the intrusion, known as the Lubalisi Zone, which is covered by a layer of nickel-rich (0.2–2%Ni) laterite regolith that contains linear areas of PGE mineralization.In the Lubalisi Zone, the mineralization may be divided into several significant geometallurgical domains: (a) high-grade PGE mineralization (1–6 g/t Pt + Pd + Au) associated with stratiform PGE reefs and chromitite seams within a harzburgite unit; (b) high-grade PGE mineralization (up to 12 g/t Pt + Pd + Au) associated with small bodies and veins of nickel massive sulfide within harzburgite below PGE-bearing reefs and chromitite seams; (c) low-grade PGE mineralization (0.1–0.5 g/t Pt + Pd + Au) associated with a sulfide-mineralized harzburgite unit above the PGE-bearing reefs; (d) laterite style residual PGE mineralization (0.2–4 g/t Pt + Pd + Au) associated with chromite concentrations in the saprolite and overlying red clay horizons of the laterite regolith; and (e) supergene Ni associated with the saprock and overlying saprolite clay.Mineralogical study of three samples from the PGE reef consisting of high grade PGE chromitite and harzburgite indicate that this mineralization will give a good metallurgical response to conventional grinding and floatation due to the relatively coarse-grained nature of the PGM (P80 from ∼37 to 52 µm), association with base metal sulfides, and unaltered gangue minerals (Wilhelmij and Cabri, 2016). In contrast, mineralogical and metallurgical study of the Ni and PGE mineralized laterite indicate that it cannot be processed using conventional mineral processing techniques but that a hydrometallurgical route should be used to recover the base and precious metals. Because any process is very much deposit-controlled, significant metallurgical and geometallurgical testing of mineralized samples, as well as pilot plant testing, will be required to arrive at feasibility studies.     

新疆北山地区两个含铜镍镁铁—超镁铁质岩体铂族元素地球化学研究

对北山地区坡一和罗东含铜镍的镁铁-超镁铁质岩体铂族元素研究表明,两个岩体的铂族元素(PGE)总量较低,PPGE较IPGE富集,原始地幔标准化模式呈正斜率,均较原始地幔亏损,具Ir和Rh的弱负异常。较低的Pd/Ir比值表明岩石主要受岩浆作用控制,后期热液作用影响不明显。两个岩体的原生岩浆均为MgO 含量较高的PGE不亏损的拉斑玄武质岩浆,较高的Cu/Pd、Ti/Pd比值表明岩浆在演化过程中发生了硫化物的熔离。罗东岩体早期矿物相（橄榄石、铬铁矿）的分离结晶作用对岩浆中的硫达到饱和具有重要的贡献,而坡一岩体该作用对硫化物熔离的贡献不明显。坡一和罗东岩体的R值表明两岩体均具有达到中型Ni矿床的潜力。     

K/T界线铂族元素丰度异常与地外撞击事件

遍布全球的Ｋ／Ｔ界线粘土层不仅存在着铱的丰度异常,其它铂族元素的含量也异常高,并且基本上保持着类似与地外物质中的丰度分布模式,实验表明,在粘土层中铂族元素主要呈可交换离子相和难溶金属相的形式存在在,而在硫化物和硅酸盐相中的含量却很低,这与铂族元素来源于地外物体撞击的成因解释是一致的。