铂族元素的地球化学行为及全球主要铂族金属矿床类型

全球铂族金属矿床主要有6种类型,分别为：（1）镁铁质-超镁铁质层状岩体铂族金属矿床;（2）镁铁质-超镁铁质Cu-Ni硫化物矿床伴生的铂族金属矿床;（3）Urals杂岩体型铂族金属矿床;（4）蛇绿岩型铂族金属矿床;（5）与热液相关的铂族金属矿床;(6）外生型铂族金属矿床。除第4类型外其他类型的铂族矿床都具有经济意义。铂族金属矿床的形成主要与幔源岩浆性质及岩浆演化过程密切相关。大规模的幔源岩浆活动及在岩浆演化过程中具有产生硫饱和的条件是形成铂族金属矿床的有利条件,同时岩浆期后的热液作用能使铂族元素迁移并在特定条件下富集,对铂族金属矿床的形成有利。镁铁质-超镁铁质层状侵入体形成铂族金属矿床的有利条件是岩浆分异作用强,并且具有能产生高R因子的环境;镁铁质-超镁铁质Cu-Ni硫化物矿床中形成铂族金属矿床的有利条件是硫化物熔体的结晶分异作用;Urals型杂岩体中,由于岩浆在早期演化过程中硫的不饱和,形成的主要铂族矿物为Pt-Fe、Pt-Ir合金,且主要与铬铁矿共生,在岩浆演化硫饱和阶段可形成富Pd的铂族矿物,且与Cu-Fe-V-Ti-P金属共生;蛇绿岩型杂岩体中,主要形成的铂族矿物为含Ir- 、Os- 、Pt- 的合金或少量硫化物矿物,且主要赋存于铬铁矿中。     

试论与布什维尔德杂岩体有关的铂族元素-铬铁矿矿床成矿系列及其对中国西南部的意义

布什维尔德杂岩体中铂族元素成矿作用具有多样性的特点,既有主岩体岩浆结晶分异形成的UG2和Merensky层,有晚期小岩体结晶分异产生的块状铜镍硫化物矿石中伴生的铂族元素矿床（如Nkomati）,也有岩体侵入过程中产于接触带的热液成因硫化物-铂族元素矿床（如Potgietersrust）,以及岩筒型矿床（如Mooihoek和Driekop）、剪切带热液型硫化物矿床（如TweefonteinHill）和石英脉型铂族元素矿床.这些矿床虽然产出部位不同（矿体可以分布在岩体内部也可以出现在接触带甚至远离岩体）,矿石类型也不同（有的是铬铁矿型,有的是硫化物型,有的是硅酸盐型,甚至还有石英脉型）,但铂族元素的富集都与布什维尔德基性超基性岩杂岩体密切有关,实际上构成一个完整的由布什维尔德地幔柱形成的矿床成矿系列。类似的矿床成矿系列在深受峨眉地幔柱影响的我国西南部地区也存在,这对于在我国寻找多种类型的铂族元素矿床无疑具有重要的启示意义.除了金宝山和杨柳坪等地的岩浆型铂矿外,近年来在杨柳坪、大岩子等地也先后发现了热液型铂族元素矿床.     

云南东川奚家坪玄武岩的铂族元素地球化学

为了研究云南东川奚家坪地区玄武岩的铂族元素地球化学特征,本文以奚家坪微量元素和铂族元素的实验数据为基础,首先分析了微量元素和PGE的组成特征及变化趋势,然后以此为依据进行了奚家坪玄武岩部分熔融、硫饱和程度及其对硫化物PGE矿床成矿作用的讨论.最后认为奚家坪玄武岩形成于较低程度的地幔部分熔融(熔融程度约10％),玄武岩中PGE的含量偏低是因为在结晶分异过程中Pd,Pt和Ir进入硫化物矿物相中,随硫化物分异离开了熔体,分异的硫化物可能在岩浆通道附近形成富集PGE的矿床.     

地幔部分熔融程度对东天山镁铁质-超镁铁质岩铂族元素矿化的约束——以图拉尔根和香山铜镍矿为例

东天山二叠纪镁铁质-超镁铁质岩带发育一系列的Ni-Cu硫化物矿床,但铂族元素(PGE)在这些矿化的岩体中没有明显地富集,岩体中PGE含量普遍低于原始地幔标准值.岩体中PGE含量过低可能有两方面原因:(1)岩浆上升过程中硫化物过早熔离,带走了岩浆中的大部分PGE;(2)原始地幔部分熔融程度较低,大部分PGE仍然保存在残留原始地幔中,导致部分熔融岩浆中PGE元素含量很低.本文模拟计算了原始地幔发生5%～20%部分熔融时产生岩浆中的PGE含量,与香山、图拉尔根为例与现有岩体中的PGE含量进行对比,结果显示PGE含量过低的原因可能是由于地幔部分熔融程度较低造成的,并推测本区的原始岩浆来自上地幔10%～20%的部分熔融.在通道系统内硫化物富集的部位可形成较好的(Pt Pd)矿化.图拉尔根矿区Pd-Ni图显示在岩浆演化早期没有发生过硫化物的熔离作用,熔离的硫化物也没有经历结晶分异作用.     

铂族元素矿床的主要类型、成矿作用及研究展望

铂族元素(PGE)矿床的研究在过去几十年取得了重要的进展.它可以赋存于不同的岩石类型、形成于不同的时代.内生PGE矿床与不同的岩浆类型及热液活动有关.由于铂族元素特殊的化学性质,比较稳定且难熔于普通的酸、碱等,故铂族元素成矿具有特殊性.PGE矿床可划分为岩浆型、热液型、火山块状硫化物型(VMS)和外生型四大类型.岩浆型又可分为铜镍硫化物型、铬铁矿型和磁铁矿型,热液型主要有斑岩型和夕卡岩型,外生型包括黑色页岩型和砂铂矿型.本文讨论了各岩浆演化过程中:(i)硅酸盐和氧化物的分异,(ii)富Fe矿物(橄榄石、辉石、磁铁矿、铬铁矿)的分异,(iii)岩浆的混染,(iv)不同成分、硫不饱和的岩浆的混合等,都可以导致岩浆中硫达到饱和,一旦形成不混熔硫化物熔体,硫化物富集,将形成有经济价值的PGE矿床.同时,成矿还受温度、Ni和Cu含量、体系中其它组分和硫逸度的控制.岩浆后期的热液蚀变会改变PGE的含量和品位,但典型的铂矿床一般没有遭受热液蚀变作用的显著影响.本文指出了铂族元素矿床研究存在的主要问题.如PGE矿床的物质来源、PGE演化过程中的分配规律、铂族元素矿物(PGM)的赋存状态,并对以后的发展前景做了展望,指出西藏(蛇绿岩套铬铁矿亚类和俯冲增生弧斑岩型Cu-Au矿)和新疆(碰撞后二叠纪岩浆Cu-Nj硫化物型和黑色页岩型)是我国寻找PGE矿床的最有利地区.     

东天山黄山东铜镍矿床铂族元素地球化学特征及其意义

黄山东岩体位于东天山北部的土墩—黄山—镜儿泉—图拉尔根镁铁—超镁铁质岩带中段,受康古尔塔格—黄山深大断裂控制,是由二辉橄榄岩、橄榄辉长岩、辉长苏长岩和辉长闪长岩组成的复式岩体。黄山东铜镍硫化物矿床镁铁质岩石和矿石中的铂族元素(PGE)含量很低,其中IPGE(Os, Ir, Ru, Rh)与PPGE(Pt, Pd)含量相近,PPGE略高于IPGE。岩石平均2×10-9,矿石平均86×10-9。在矿石中,PGE含量与硫含量呈正相关关系。在原始地幔标准化图解上,岩石和矿石具有相似的分配模式,PPGE和IPGE之间分异很弱。Ni/Cu—Pd/Ir关系图以及岩石地球化学资料显示,形成黄山东岩体的原始岩浆为MgO含量较高的PGE不亏损的拉斑玄武质岩浆。岩浆在上升的过程中发生过早期硫化物深部熔离,带走了岩浆中大部分的PGE,可能是造成黄山东矿床母岩浆中PGE明显亏损的主要原因。矿石低的Pd/Ir比值（为4.22～17.24,平均值为849）及高的Ir含量（为2.04×10-9～21.45×10-9,平均值为8.79×10-9）显示黄山东矿床成矿过程中后期热液作用不明显。铂族元素地球化学特征和岩石地球化学资料显示了地壳物质的混染以及橄榄石、辉石等矿物的分离结晶是引起该矿床硫饱和并发生硫化物熔离作用而成矿的主要因素。     

云南中旬地区烂泥塘低温热液型Cu-Au矿床铂族元素(PGE)地球化学特征

采用ICP-MS分析方法研究烂泥塘浅成低温热液型Cu-Au矿床中黄铜矿铂族元素(PGE),结果显示黄铜矿的∑PCE较低,其值为5.46×109～19.0×10-9.原始地幔标准化PGE配分模式呈Ru、Pd相对于Ir、Pt富集的趋势.Pd/Ir、Ru/Ir、Pt/Ru、Pd/Pt比值分别变化在2.35～21.9、15.6～42.3、0.02～0.20和4.83～21.8之间.除Pt/Ru比值低于原始地幔外,其他比值均高于原始地幔,这表明黄铜矿的Ir、Ru、Pt和Pd之间发生了分异.黄铜矿中相对高的Ru和Pd含量可能是热液流体对早期矿化斑岩选择淋滤的结果.     

新疆喀拉通克铜镍硫化物矿床铂族矿物特征、成因及其形成过程

通过矿相学和电子探针研究发现,新疆喀拉通克矿床铂族矿物以Pt、Pd、Ni的碲化物、铋化物固溶体系列矿物为主,矿物分布不均匀,主要分布在块状矿石的磁黄铁矿、镍黄铁矿、黄铜矿等硫化物中,粒径多为3～5μm。矿物组合和相图分析显示,多数铂族矿物为岩浆熔离成因,个别矿物颗粒可能为热液叠加成矿的产物。岩浆中S不饱和时,PGE可能形成铂铑合金,局部氧逸度升高导致铬铁矿、磁铁矿等氧化物结晶,合金被早期结晶的硅酸盐矿物和氧化物包裹。硫化物熔离大量的PGE进入硫化物熔体,伴随硫化物熔体的分异,部分铂族矿物被包裹在单硫化物固溶体中;高温条件下结晶的Pd(+Pt,Ni)-Bi-Te固溶体系列矿物不稳定,随着温度的降低,Pd(+Pt,Ni)-Bi-Te固溶体出溶形成上述铂族矿物组合,MSS裂解铂族矿物被排出,岩浆热液可能形成少量具热液成因特征的铂族矿物。     

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。     

滇西金宝山富铂钯岩体岩浆源区研究：铂族元素和Sr-Nd同位素约束

金宝山杂岩体位于扬子板块西缘,毗邻哀牢山造山带北段,岩体中蕴含丰富的铂钯资源,是峨眉山大火成岩省(ELIP)中大型岩浆型铂族元素矿床。岩体的主要组成为辉石橄榄岩,矿体以似层状、透镜状产出于辉石橄榄岩中。地幔是镍矿床和铂族元素矿床最重要的源区,因而对Ni、Cu及PGE等元素行为的研究,是剖析岩浆型Ni-Cu-PGE矿床源区特征的一个重要研究方向。该研究获得金宝山岩体中辉橄岩铂族元素及Sr-Nd同位素数据,结合前人对ELIP中不同类型岩石系列PGE成分研究及Ni、Cu、PGE等元素在岩浆和硫化物中的分配系数,半定量模拟得到金宝山原始岩浆的形成源于地幔中高度部分熔融(25%~40%)形成的富PGE岩浆(含12.8×10-9 Pd,9.8×10-9 Pt,0.6×10-9 Rh和0.7×10-9 Ir),其铂族元素成分与ELIP苦橄岩成分相当,并且岩浆在演化的过程中遭受了10%~20%地壳混染作用。利用批式部分熔融公式及各铂族元素在硅酸盐矿物和熔体之间的分配系数反演计算得到产生金宝山熔体的地幔约含有5.3×10-9 Pd,7.5×10-9 Pt,0.75×10-9 Rh和1.5×10-9 Ir,相比原始地幔而言并没有表现出明显富集PGE的特征。这表明地幔中高度部分熔融+大量岩浆与硫化物的充分反应是形成大型岩浆型铂族元素矿床的一种可具备的条件。     

Controls on disseminated PGE–Cu–Ni sulfide mineralization within the Rietfontein deposit,Eastern Limb,Bushveld Complex,South Africa: Implications for the formation of contact-type magmatic sulfide deposits

The Rietfontein platinum group element (PGE)–Cu–Ni sulfide deposit of the Eastern Limb of the Bushveld Complex hosts disseminated contact-style mineralization that is similar to other economic magmatic sulfide deposits in marginal settings within the complex. The mineralization at Rietfontein consists of disseminated PGE-bearing base metal sulfides that are preferentially located at the contact between a distinct package of marginal norites overlain by a thick heterogeneous unit dominated by gabbronorites with lesser norites and ultramafic rocks. Down-hole composite data and metal scatterplots indicate that the PGE correlate well with Ni, Cu and S and that only minor metal remobilization has taken place within the basal norite sequence. Plots of (Nb/Th)_PM vs. (Th/Yb)_PM indicate that the melts that formed the Rietfontein intrusive sequence were strongly crustally contaminated prior to emplacement at Rietfontein, whereas inverse relationships between PGE tenors and S/Se ratios indicate that these magmas assimilated crustal S, causing S-saturation and the formation of immiscible sulfides under high R-factor conditions that generated high PGE tenor sulfides. Reverse zoning of cumulus minerals at Rietfontein suggests that fresh primitive melts were introduced to a partially fractionated staging chamber. The introduction of new magmas into the chamber caused overpressure and the forced evacuation of the contents of the chamber, leading to the emplacement of the existing magmas within the staging chamber at Rietfontein in two separate pulses. The first pulse of magma contained late-formed cumulus phases, including low Mg# orthopyroxene and plagioclase, was emplaced between footwall unreactive and S-poor Pretoria Group quartzites and a hangingwall sequence of Rooiberg Group felsites, and was rapidly chilled to form the basal norite sequence at Rietfontein. The second pulse of magma contained early formed cumulus phases, including olivine, chromite, and high Mg# orthopyroxene, and was emplaced above the chilled norite sequence as a crystal mush to form gabbronorites and ultramafic rocks. This second pulse of magma also contained PGE-bearing base metal sulfides that accumulated at the contact between this second batch of magma and the already chilled basal norite sequence. The formation of Platreef-type mineralization outside of the Northern Limb of the Bushveld Complex confirms there are a number of areas within the Bushveld Complex that are prospective for this style of mineralization.     

南非布什维尔德岩浆型Cu-Ni-PGE硫化物矿床成因探讨

南非布什维尔德杂岩体(BIC)是世界上最大的镁铁质层状侵入体(东西长450km,南北宽250km),也是世界上单个蕴藏铂族金属( PGE)、铬铁矿和钒钛磁铁矿的最重要矿床,其中PGE储量为65 473 t,含有全球75％的PGE,是全球最大的PGE矿床.沿着Rustenburg镁铁质-超镁铁质层状岩套(RLS,厚度7～...     

Petrogenesis of contact-style PGE mineralization in the northern lobe of the Bushveld Complex: comparison of data from the farms Rooipoort,Townlands, Drenthe and Nonnenwerth

In the present study, we document the nature of contact-style platinum-group element (PGE) mineralization along >100 km of strike in the northern lobe of the Bushveld Complex. New data from the farm Rooipoort are compared to existing data from the farms Townlands, Drenthe, and Nonnenwerth. The data indicate that the nature of the contact-style mineralization shows considerable variation along strike. In the southernmost portion of the northern Bushveld, on Rooipoort and adjoining farms, the mineralized sequence reaches a thickness of 700 m. Varied-textured gabbronorites are the most common rock type. Anorthosites and pyroxenites are less common. Chromitite stringers and xenoliths of calcsilicate and shale are largely confined to the lower part of the sequence. Layering is locally prominent and shows considerable lateral continuity. Disseminated sulfides may reach ca. 3 modal % and tend to be concentrated in chromitites and melanorites. Geochemistry indicates that the rocks can be correlated with the Upper Critical Zone. This model is supported by the fact that, in a down-dip direction, the mineralized rocks transform into the UG2-Merensky Reef interval. Between Townlands and Drenthe, the contact-mineralized sequence is thinner (up to ca. 400 m) than in the South. Chromitite stringers occur only sporadically, but ultramafic rocks (pyroxenites, serpentinites, and peridotites) are common. Xenoliths of calcsilicate, shale, and iron formation are abundant indicating significant assimilation of the floor rocks. Sulfides may locally form decimeter- to meter-sized massive lenses. PGE grades tend to be higher than elsewhere in the northern Bushveld. The compositions of the rocks show both Upper Critical Zone and Main Zone characteristics. At Nonnenwerth, the mineralized interval is up to ca. 400 m thick. It consists largely of varied-textured gabbronorites, with minor amounts of igneous ultramafic rocks and locally abundant and large xenoliths of calcsilicate. Layering is mostly weakly defined and discontinuous. Disseminated sulfides (<ca. 3 modal %) occur throughout much of the sequence. Geochemistry indicates that the rocks crystallized mainly from tholeiitic magma and thus have a Main Zone signature. The implication of our findings is that contact-style PGE mineralization in the northern lobe of the Bushveld Complex cannot be correlated with specific stratigraphic units or magma types, but that it formed in response to several different processes. At all localities, the magmas were contaminated with the floor rocks. Contamination with shale led to the addition of external sulfur to the magma, whereas contamination with dolomite may have oxidized the magma and lowered its sulfur solubility. In addition to contamination, some of the magmas, notably those of Upper Critical Zone lineage present at the south-central localities, contained entrained sulfides, which precipitated during cooling and crystallization.     

Trace Element and Platinum Group Element Distributions and the Genesis of the Merensky Reef, Western Bushveld Complex, South Africa

The Merensky Reef of the Bushveld Complex is one of the world'slargest resources of platinum group elements (PGE); however,mechanisms for its formation remain poorly understood, and manycontradictory theories have been proposed. We present precisecompositional data [major elements, trace elements, and platinumgroup elements (PGE)] for 370 samples from four borehole coresections of the Merensky Reef in one area of the western BushveldComplex. Trace element patterns (incompatible elements and rareearth elements) exhibit systematic variations, including small-scalecyclic changes indicative of the presence of cumulus crystalsand intercumulus liquid derived from different magmas. Ratiosof highly incompatible elements for the different sections areintermediate to those of the proposed parental magmas (CriticalZone and Main Zone types) that gave rise to the Bushveld Complex.Mingling, but not complete mixing of different magmas is suggestedto have occurred during the formation of the Merensky Reef.The trace element patterns are indicative of transient associationsbetween distinct magma layers. The porosity of the cumulatesis shown to affect significantly the distribution of sulphidesand PGE. A genetic link is made between the thickness of theMerensky pyroxenite, the total PGE and sulphide content, petrologicaland textural features, and the trace element signatures in thesections studied. The rare earth elements reveal the importantrole of plagioclase in the formation of the Merensky pyroxenite,and the distribution of sulphide. KEY WORDS: Merensky Reef; platinum group elements; trace elements     

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.     

An overview of the geology of the Transvaal Sequence and Bushveld Complex,South Africa

The Late Archaean-Early Proterozoic Transvaal Sequence is preserved within the Transvaal, Kanye and Griqualand West basins, with the 2050 Ma Bushveld Complex intrusive into the upper portion of the succession within the Transvaal basin. Both Transvaal and Bushveld rocks are extensively mineralized, the former containing large deposits of iron, manganese, asbestos, andalusite, gold, fluorine, lead, zinc and tin ores, and the latter some of the World's major occurrences of PGE, chromium and vanadium ores. Transvaal sedimentation began with thin, predominantly clastic sedimentary rocks (Black Reef-Vryburg Formations) which grade up into a thick package of carbonate rocks and BIF (Chuniespoort-Ghaap-Taupone Groups). These lithologies reflect a carbonate-BIF platform sequence which covered much of the Kaapvaal craton, in reaction to thermal subsidence above Ventersdorp-aged rift-related fault systems. An erosional hiatus was followed by deposition of the clastic sedimentary rocks and volcanics of the Pretoria-Postmasburg-Segwagwa Groups within the three basins, under largely closed-basin conditions. An uppermost predominantly volcanic succession (Rooiberg Group-Loskop Formation) is restricted to the Transvaal basin. A common continental rift setting is thought to have controlled Pretoria Group sedimentation, Rooiberg volcanism and the intrusion of the mafic rocks of the Rustenburg Layered Suite of the Bushveld Complex. The dipping sheets of the Rustenburg magmas cut across the upper Pretoria Group stratigraphy and lifted up the Rooiberg lithologies to form the roof to the complex. Subsequent granitic rocks of the Lebowa and Rashoop Suites of the Bushveld Complex intruded both upper Rustenburg rocks and the Rooiberg felsites.     

New insights into precious metal enrichment on the Isle of Rum,Scotland

The Rum Layered Suite (NW Scotland) is generally regarded as one of a handful of classic examples of open‐system layered mafic‐ultramafic intrusions, or ‘fossilized’ basaltic magma chambers, world‐wide. The eastern portion of the Rum intrusion is constructed of sixteen repeated, coupled, peridotite–troctolite units. Each major cyclic unit has been linked to a major magma replenishment event, with repeated settling out of ‘crops’ of olivine and plagioclase crystals to form the cumulate rocks. However, there are variations in the lithological succession that complicate this oversimplified model, including the presence of chromitite (>60 vol. percent Cr‐spinel) seams. The ～2 mm thick chromitite seams host significant platinum‐group element (PGE) enrichment (e.g. ～2 ppm Pt) and likely formed in situ, i.e. at the crystal mush–magma interface. Given that the bulk of the world's exploited PGE come from a layered intrusion that bears remarkable structural and lithological similarities to Rum, the Bushveld Complex (South Africa), comparisons between these intrusions raise intriguing implications for precious metal mineralization in layered intrusions.     

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.     

Intrusive origin for Upper Group (UG1, UG2) stratiform chromitite seams in the Dwars River area, Bushveld Complex, South Africa

Detailed geological mapping, core logging and petrographic analysis are supplemented with geochemical data to evaluate the petrogenesis of the Upper Group (UG1, UG2) stratiform chromitite seams in the Dwars River area, Bushveld Complex. Seven important and widespread features of UG1 and UG2 chromitite are addressed: (1) chromitite seams are dissociated from specific silicate successions and enclosed in Cr-rich silicates with a common genetic origin, (2) chromitite seams cut structures and textures in host silicates, have vein-like structures and host xenoliths, (3) chromitite seams are braided, (4) chromite grain distributions suggest flow segregation, (5) silicates in chromitite seams have modal proportions, forms and compositions different from those in binding silicate rocks, (6) PGE distributions in UG2 chromitite suggest flow segregation, and (7) chromitite seams are bound by coarse-grained silicates possibly formed through contact heating and/or de-volatization. These features are integrated into a model whereby UG chromitite seams developed from the intrusion of chromite crystal slurries. This model proposes that chromite grains first accumulated within structural traps of the Bushveld conduits, and that these accumulations were then re-mobilized with silicate melt (± sulfides and/or fluids?) to spread laterally as chromite crystal slurries within the layered ultramafic-mafic cumulates of the Bushveld Complex.