The mineralogy and chemistry of the podiform chromite deposits in the serpentinites of the Limassol Forest,Cyprus

Podiform chromite deposits are characteristic of the ultramafic complexes of the ophiolites. In the Limassol Forest Plutonic Complex, one of the two plutonic complexes of Troodos ophiolite, Cyprus, the deposits are located dominantly at the periphery of the serpentinite body either close to the contact between the serpentinized harzburgite (Bastite Serpentinite) and a highly cataclastic olivine-rich peridotite (Shattered Serpentinite) or at the base of the latter. The chrome ore is in the form of small pods, lenses, veins and disseminated schlieren. Detailed microscopic studies showed that the massive chromite is highly cataclastic and extensively altered to an Fe-rich chrome spinel, the ferritchromite. The chemistry of the parent chromite and the ferritchromite has been studied by electron microprobe analysis of 47 samples. Based on the stratigraphic position, mode of occurrence and chemistry of the chromite deposits it is concluded that they are similar to the exploitable deposits of Troodos Plutonic Complex at Mount Olympus and evolved through cumulative process from a magma of tholeiite character. Pervasive deformation — both metamorphic and tectonic — and serpentinization of the host rock resulted in the brecciation and mobilization of the chromite segregations.