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In order to gain further insights into the origin of platinum-group minerals (PGM) and the source of the highly siderophile elements (HSE: Os, Ir, Ru, Pt, Pd, Re) in the chromite deposits associated with the Urals ophiolitetype massifs, we carried out a mineralogical, HSE abundance, and Pt-Re-Os isotope study of chromitites and PGM from the Verkh-Neivinsk and Alapaevsk dunite-harzburgite massifs in the Middle Urals. The chromitites are characterized by negatively-sloped Bulk Silicate Earth (BSE)-normalized HSE patterns, consistent with the predominance of PGM of the Ir-group platinum-group elements (PGE), i.e., Os-Ru-Ir alloys and Ru–Os sulfides, over the PGM of the Pd-group PGE, i.e., stibiopalladinite and geversite. These two groups of PGM are interpreted to represent the primary and secondary mineral assemblages, respectively. The observed HSE patterns in the studied chromitites are typical of those formed in supra-subduction zone (SSZ) settings. The near-chondritic average initial γ187Os and μ186Os values in the chromitites and PGM of the Verkh-Neivinsk massif indicate that its HSE budget was derived from the convecting upper mantle source that evolved with time-integrated nearchondritic Re/Os and Pt/Os ratios. These features are also typical of the sources of most Archean and Proterozoic mafic-ultramafic rocks worldwide. In contrast to the Verkh-Neivinsk massif rocks, the Alapaevsk massif chromitites show radiogenic initial γ187Os values indicating evolution of the mantle source of these rocks with a supra-chondritic time-integrated Re/Os ratio. This long-term enrichment in Re relative to Os could be the result of interaction of the source peridotites with 187Os-enriched melts derived from ancient recycled oceanic crust.
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Distributions of Platinum Group Elements and Re-Os Isotope Systematics in Chromite from the Coobina Chromitite Deposit in Western Australia: Implications for Chromite as a Sulfide Mineralization Indicator
ABSTRACT The abundance of Ru in chromite has been suggested as an indicator of sulfide liquid saturation in komatiites. The komatiite magma-derived Archean Coobina intrusion is known to be barren in terms of sulfide mineralization. Therefore, the Coobina intrusion can serve as a useful case study to test the applicability of Ru abundance in chromite as a potential indicator for sulfide mineralization, as well as for better understanding the PGE-chromite association in general. The Coobina intrusion is a highly deformed layered intrusion interpreted to be a flared dike. It contains multiple massive chromitite seams that have been recently mined for metallurgical-grade chromite. In this study, 18 samples from chromitite seams throughout this intrusion are investigated for their whole-rock platinum group element (PGE) contents, which are compared to their chromite mineral chemistry (including PGE content), the platinum group mineral (PGM) mineralogy, and Re-Os isotope systematics. Each sample has a similar chromite major and minor element chemistry, but a unique trace element signature, even within the same seam. In general, there are higher concentrations of Ru (>300 ppb) within chromite in the southeast (toward the feeder dike) and lower concentrations (<50 ppb Ru) in the northwest. At a sample scale, Ru in the whole rock and Ru in solid solution in the chromite are inversely correlated, while Ir shows a positive correlation between the whole rock and chromite mineral chemistry, indicating differing partitioning behaviors within the iridium-group PGE (IPGE = Os, Ir, Ru). The inverse correlation between Ru in solid solution within chromite and Ru in whole-rock chromitite suggests that, for seams with high Ru in whole rock, Ru is occurring within separate PGM phases. This is supported by the observation that the samples with high whole-rock Ru also have a high number of visible metal alloy and/or PGM inclusions. Although these inclusions are not necessarily Ru-rich phases, their presence suggests that there is a preference for these samples to form nuggets, which may restrict Ru partitioning into the chromite crystal structure. We suggest that the low Ru values in the Coobina chromite are a result of transient sulfide saturation. The Re-Os isotopic composition of the Coobina chromitite is chondritic [γ187Os(3.189 Ga) = −0.63 ± 0.21] and is consistent with derivation of the Coobina parental magma from the convecting upper mantle source, providing evidence for the mantle origin of the Coobina PGE inventory. If using chromite as a detrital indicator mineral for magmatic sulfide exploration, it must be kept in mind that transient sulfide saturation within chromitite seams may give a false positive signature.
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- PAR ID:
- 10417905
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- The Canadian Mineralogist
- Volume:
- 60
- Issue:
- 6
- ISSN:
- 0008-4476
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 1045 to 1069
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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Accepted Manuscript1.0
- Journal Article:
- https://doi.org/10.3749/canmin.2200006
