Potential of ophiolite complexes to host PGE deposits

Prichard, Hazel Margaret and Brough, Christopher Paul 2009. Potential of ophiolite complexes to host PGE deposits. Li, Chusi and Ripley, Edward M., eds. New Developments in Magmatic Ni-Cu and PGE Deposits, Beijing: Geological Publishing House, pp. 277-290.

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Abstract

All six PGE have been recorded as concentrated at parts per million (ppm) in a number of ophiolite complexes. Occurrences of PGE concentrations in ophiolites are common in podiform chromitite where Os, Ir and Ru may be concentrated to give negative slope chondrite normalised patterns. If sulphur saturation of the magma occurred during chromite crystallisation then Pt and Pd + Rh will also be concentrated in the chromitite giving positive chondrite normalised patterns. PGE-rich ophiolite complexes are those where there has been sufficient mantle melting, in a subduction zone, to extract the PGE at a critical melting interval. Too much melting will dilute this melt with PGEbarren melt and too little melting will not extract the PGE. The Scottish Shetland ophiolite is an example in which all 6 PGE have been concentrated in base metal sulphide-bearing podiform chromitite. It is proposed that if all the PGE are concentrated in podiform chromitite then they crystallised from one PGE-rich melt that was close to sulphur saturation. Exploration for PGE within ophiolites is likely to be enhanced by growing evidence that there is a link between chromite composition and PGE concentration.

Item Type:	Book Section
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Earth and Environmental Sciences
Subjects:	Q Science > QE Geology
Additional Information:	Chapter 10
Publisher:	Geological Publishing House
ISBN:	9787116061187
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	30 March 2016
Last Modified:	04 Feb 2018 01:04
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/12028

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