Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.14/174357
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- Title
- Mechanisms of platinum-group element fractionation in ultramafic melts and implications for the exploration for magmatic nickel sulphide deposits
- Related
- Australasian Digital Theses Program
- Publisher
- Australia : Macquarie University
- Date
- 2010
- Author/Creator
- Locmelis, Marek
- Description
- Thesis (PhD)--Macquarie University, Faculty of Science, Dept. of Earth and Planetary Sciences, The ARC National Key Centre for Geochemical Evolution and Metallogeny of Continents (GEMOC), 2010.
- Description
- Bibliography: p. 225-241.
- Description
- 1. Introduction -- 2. Komatiites, komatiitic basalts and ferro-picrites: petrogenesis and geochemistry -- 3. Localities and sample settings -- 4. Analytical methods -- 5. Petrography and mineral chemistry -- 6. Whole-rock chemistry -- 7. In-situ laser ablation ICP-MS analysis of ruthenium in chromite -- 8. Ruthenium in chromite from komatiites, komatiitic basalts, and ferro-picrites -- 9. Anomalous sulphur-poor platinum-group element mineralisation in komatiitic cumulates, Mount Clifford, Western Australia -- 10. The role of chromite, olivine and platinum-group minerals in the fractionation and concentration of platinum-group elements -- 11. Ruthenium content of chromite: implications for the exploration for magmatic nickel-sulphide deposits -- 12. Conclusions: the petrogenesis of komatiites and komatiite-derived melts - new insights from high accuracy and precision platinum-group element analysis.
- Description
- Platinum-group elements (PGE) are important as petrogenetic tracers, but owing to their low abundances and complex behaviour they are among the least understood elements in geochemistry. This study investigates the mechanisms of PGE fractionation in ultramafic systems (komatiites, komatiitic basalts, ferro-picrites) and focuses on the role of chromite. Samples from a range of occurrences have been analysed to assess potential controls on PGE behaviour, such as geochemical affinities (Munro-type and Karasjok-type), age (2.0 and 2.7 Ga), emplacement styles, metamorphic grade and nickel-sulphide mineralisation endowment and style. -- Data obtained by in-situ laser ablation ICP-MS analysis provide the first direct evidence that Ru can exist in solid solution in chromite with concentrations up to several hundred ppb. The data show that the behaviour of Ru is dominantly controlled by the sulphide-saturation state. In systems that did not equilibrate with a sulphide liquid, chromites have distinctly higher Ru concentrations than chromites from systems that interacted with a sulphur-source during crystallisation. Carius tube digestion isotope dilution ICP-MS analyses of chromite separates confirm the accuracy of the in-situ study and also show that Ir is weakly compatible in chromite. Anomalously high Pt and Pd concentrations in chromite separates reflect the presence of platinum-group minerals (PGM) and suggest that PGM are common accessory phases in komatiites. A study of the PGE-mineralogy shows that PGM in komatiites can be of magmatic and post-magmatic origin and that they often remain undetected due to grain sizes less than 5 urn. As a consequence, the presence of PGE minerals has to be taken into account when whole-rock PGE signatures are interpreted. -- The association of Ru-poor chromites with Ni mineralisation and Ru-rich chromites with barren systems provides a new tool for the exploration for nickel-sulphide deposits. This model applies to all magma types and is independent of the age, the geochemical affinity, and other sample characteristics.
- Description
- Mode of access: World Wide Web.
- Description
- 398 p. ill. (some col.), maps
- Subject Keyword
- Platinum group
- Subject Keyword
- Trace elements
- Subject Keyword
- Ore deposits
- Subject Keyword
- Magmatism
- Subject Keyword
- Intrusions (Geology)
- Subject Keyword
- Petrogenesis
- Subject Keyword
- Igneous rocks
- Subject Keyword
- Ultrabasic rocks
- Subject Keyword
- Sulphide minerals
- Subject Keyword
- Geochemistry
- Subject Keyword
- Mineralogical chemistry
- Subject Keyword
- Nickel sulphide
- Subject Keyword
- Ruthenium
- Subject Keyword
- Chromite -- Composition
- Resource Type
- Thesis PhD
- Organisation
- Macquarie University. Dept. of Earth and Planetary Sciences
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/1959.14/174357
- Identifier
- 1603100
- Language
- eng
- Rights
- Copyright disclaimer: http://www.copyright.mq.edu.au
- Rights
- Copyright Marek Locmelis 2010.
- Rights
- Complete version suppressed due to copyright restrictions. However, on receipt of a Document Supply Request, placed with Macquarie University Library by another library, we will consider supplying a copy of this thesis. For more information on Macquarie University’s Document Supply, please contact lib.interlib@mq.edu.au
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