Chemical composition and osmium-isotope systematics of primary and secondary PGM assemblages from high-Mg chromitite of the Nurali lherzolite massif, the South Urals, Russia

K. N. Malitch*, E. V. Anikina, I. Yu Badanina, E. A. Belousova, E. V. Pushkarev, V. V. Khiller

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    11 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    The isotopic and geochemical characteristics of PGE mineralization in high-Mg chromitite from the banded dunite–wehrlite–clinopyroxenite complex of the Nurali lherzolite massif, the South Urals, Russia is characterized for the first time. Electron microprobe analysis and LA MC-ICP-MS mass spectrometry are used for studying Cr-spinel and platinum-group minerals (PGM). Two processes synchronously develop in high-Mg chromitite subject to metamorphism: (1) the replacement of Mg–Al-rich Cr-spinel, orthopyroxene, and diopside by chromite, Cr-amphibole, chlorite, and garnet; (2) the formation of a secondary mineral assemblage consisting of finely dispersed ruthenium or Ru-hexaferrum aggregate and silicate–oxide or silicate matter on the location of primary Ru–Os-sulfides of the laurite–erlichmanite solid solution series. Similar variations of Os-isotopic composition in both primary and secondary PGM assemblages are evidence for the high stability of the Os isotope system in PGM and for the possibility of using model 187Os/188Os ages in geodynamic reconstructions.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)1-19
    Number of pages19
    JournalGeology of Ore Deposits
    Volume58
    Issue number1
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2016

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