Insights into ore genesis of Ni-Cu-PGE sulfide deposits of the Noril'sk Province (Russia): evidence from copper and sulfur isotopes

Kreshimir N. Malitch*, Rais M. Latypov, Inna Yu Badanina, Sergey F. Sluzhenikin

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

79 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Combined Cu-S isotope data for Ni-Cu-PGE sufides from the economic deposits hosted in the Noril'sk-1, Talnakh and Kharaelakh intrusions, from the subeconomic deposits in the Chernogorsk, Zub-Marksheider, and Vologochan intrusions, and from the non-economic occurrences in the Nizhny Talnakh intrusion in the Noril'sk Province (Russia), and the J-M Reef in the Stillwater Complex (USA), are presented for the first time.Most sulfide samples including the ores from the Talnakh intrusion and the Stillwater Complex have a restricted range of δ65Cu values from -1.1‰ to 0‰, whereas those from the Kharaelakh and Noril'sk-1 intrusions have more variable δ65Cu values of -2.3‰ to 1.0‰. Samples from the three economic deposits in the Noril'sk Province have distinct mean δ65Cu values of -1.56±0.27‰ for Kharaelakh, -0.55±0.41‰ for Talnakh and 0.23±0.28‰ for Noril'sk-1, consistent with those for carbonaceous chondrite and iron meteorites. The variation of δ65Cu values is interpreted to represent a primary signature of the ores, although a magmatic fractionation of Cu isotopes and/or assimilation from an external source cannot be ruled out, particularly in the case of the Kharaelakh ores.Collectively the eight investigated intrusions have an overall sulfur δ34S range from -0.7‰ to 13.8‰. Disseminated and massive ores of the same intrusion have similar δ34S values. The disseminated and massive ores of the Khraelakh intrusion have a mean δ34S value of 12.57±0.54‰ and 12.76±0.42‰, respectively, which are distinctly different from those of the disseminated (10.97±0.44‰) and massive ores (10.88±0.77‰) of the Talnakh intrusion. The different δ34S values of the intrusions may be attributed to sulfur fractionation in deep-seated magma chambers rather than at shallow levels or the present emplacement site. The mean δ34S value of the disseminated ores from the subeconomic Ni-Cu-PGE deposits and non-economic occurrences spans over 10.5‰, averaging 0.39‰ with a standard deviation of 1.55‰ for the highly contaminated Zub-Marksheider rocks, 6.38±1.89‰ for Nizhny Talnakh, 6.90±1.17‰ for Vologochan and 10.86±0.43‰ for Chernogorsk. Samples from the Zub-Marksheider intrusion have mantle-like S isotope signatures, consistent with a deep-seated origin. Although individual mineralized instrusions have a restricted range the overall trend they define of falling δ34S with rising δ65Cu values might be a useful indicator of the economic potential of Ni-Cu-PGE sulfide deposits.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)172-187
Number of pages16
JournalLithos
Volume204
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Sept 2014
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Contamination
  • Copper and sulfur isotopes
  • Deep seated origin
  • Ni-Cu-PGE sulfide deposits
  • Noril'sk Province
  • Russia

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