Platinum-group elements in sulphide minerals, platinum-group minerals, and whole-rocks of the Merensky Reef (Bushveld Complex, South Africa): Implications for the formation of the reef

Journal of Petrology

Volumn 48, Issue 8, 2007, Pages 1569-1604

  Godel, Belinda ^a   Barnes, Sarah Jane ^a   Maier, Wolfgang D ^b  

^a UNIVERSITÉ DU QUÉBEC À CHICOUTIMI   (Canada)

^b UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA   (Australia)

Author keywords

Image analysis; Laser ablation ICP MS; Merensky Reef; Platinum group elements; Rustenburg Platinum Mine; Sulphide

Indexed keywords

BASE METAL; CHALCOPYRITE; CHROMITITE; IMAGE ANALYSIS; LITHOLOGY; PENTLANDITE; PLATINUM GROUP ELEMENT; REEF FORMATION;

AFRICA; BUSHVELD COMPLEX; MERENSKY REEF; SOUTH AFRICA; SOUTHERN AFRICA; SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA;

EID: 34547886120     PISSN: 00223530     EISSN: 14602415     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1093/petrology/egm030     Document Type: Article

References (71)

1. Arndt, N., Jenner, G., Ohnenstetter, M., Deloule, E. & Wilson, A. (2005). Trace elements in the Merensky Reef and adjacent norites, Bushveld Complex, South Africa. Mineralium Deposita 40(5), 550-575.
2. Ballhaus, C. & Ryan, C. G. (1995). Platinum-group elements in the Merensky reef. I. PGE in solid solution in base metal sulfides and the down-temperature equilibration history of Merensky ores. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology 122(3), 241-251.
3. Ballhaus, C. & Sylvester, P. (2000). Noble metal enrichment processes in the Merensky Reef, Bushveld Complex. Journal of Petrology 41 4), 545-561.
4. Barnes, S. J. (1993). Partitioning of the Platinum Group Elements and gold between silicate and sulfide magmas in the Munni-Munni Complex, Western Australia. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 57(6), 1277-1290.
5. Barnes, S.-J. & Lightfoot, P. C. (2005). Formation of magmatic nickel sulfide deposits and processes affecting their copper and Platinum Group Element contents. Economic Geology 100th Anniversary Volume, 179-213.
6. Barnes, S.-J. & Maier, W. D. (2002a). Platinum-group elements and microstructures of Normal Merensky Reef from Impala Platinum Mines, Bushveld Complex. Journal of Petrology 43(1), 103-128.
7. Barnes, S.-J. & Maier, W. D. (2002b). Platinum-Group Element distributions in the Rustenburg Layered Suite of the Bushveld Complex, South Africa. In: Cabri, L. J. (ed.) Geology, Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Mineral Benefication of Platinum Group Element. Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum, Special Volume 54 553-580.
8. Barnes, S.-J., van Achterbergh, E., Makovicky, E. & Li, C. (2001). Proton microprobe results for the partitioning of platinum-group elements between monosulphide solid solution and sulphide liquid. South African Journal of Geology 104(4), 275-286.
9. Barnes, S.-J., Cox, R. & Zientek, M. (2006). Platinum-group element, gold, silver and base metal distribution in compositionally zoned sulfide droplets from the Medvezky Creek Mine, Noril'sk, Russia. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology 152(2), 187-200.
10. Bédard, L. P. & Barnes, S. J. (2004). Improved Platinum-Group Element extraction by NiS fire assay from chromitite ore samples using a flux containing sodium metaphosphate. Geostandards and Geoanalytical Research 28(2), 311-316.
11. Blaine, F. A., Linnen, R. L., Holtz, F. & Brugmann, G. E. (2005). Platinum solubility in a haplobasaltic melt at 1250°C and 0.2 GPa: The effect of water content and oxygen fugacity. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 69(5), 1265-1273.
12. Borisov, A. & Palme, H. (1997). Experimental determination of the solubility of platinum in silicate melts. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 61(20), 4349-4357.
13. Boudreau, A. E. & McCallum, I. S. (1992). Infiltration metasomatism in layered intrusions - an example from the Stillwater Complex, Montana. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research 52(1-3), 171-183.
14. Boudreau, A. E. & Meurer, W. P. (1999). Chromatographic separation of the platinum-group elements, gold, base metals and sulfur during degassing of a compacting and solidifying igneous crystal pile. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology 134(2-3), 174-185.
15. Brenan, J. M. & Andrews, D. R. A. (2001). High-temperature stability of laurite and Ru-Ir-Os alloy and their role on PGE fractionation in mafic magmas. Canadian Mineralogist 39, 341-360.
16. Brenan, J. M., McDonough, W. F. & Ash, R. (2005). An experimental study of the solubility and partitioning of iridium, osmium and gold between olivine and silicate melt. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 237(3-4), 855-872.
17. Brügmann, G. E., Naldrett, A. J., Asif, M., Lightfoot, P. C., Gorbachev, N. S. & Fedorenko, V. A. (1993). Siderophile and chalcophile metals as tracers of the evolution of the Siberian Trap in the Noril'sk region, Russia. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 57(9), 2001-2018.
18. Cabri, L. J. (2002). The Platinum-Group Minerals. In: Cabri, L. J. (ed.) Geology, Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Mineral Benefication of Platinum Group Element. Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum, Special Volume 54, 13-129.
19. Campbell, I. H. & Naldrett, A. J. (1979). The influence of silicate silicate:sUlphide ratios on the geochemistry of magmatic sulphides. Economic Geology 74, 1503-1505.
20. Campbell, I. H., Naldrett, A. J. & Barnes, S. J. (1983). A model for the origin of the platinum-rich sulfide horizons in the Bushveld and Stillwater Complexes. Journal of Petrology 24(2), 133-165.
21. Capobianco, C. J. & Drake, M. J. (1990). Partitioning of ruthenium, rhodium, and palladium between spinel and silicate melt and implications for platinum group element fractionation trends. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 54(3), 869-874.
22. Capobianco, C. J., Hervig, R. L. & Drake, M. J. (1994). Experiments on crystal/liquid partitioning of Ru, Rh and Pd for magnetite and hematite solid solutions crystallized from silicate melt. Chemical Geology 113 (1-2), 23-43.
23. Cawthorn, R. G. (1999). The platinum and palladium resources of the Bushveld Complex. South African Journal of Science 95 11-12), 481.
24. Cawthorn, R. G. (2002). Platinum-Group Element deposits in the Bushveld Complex, South Africa. In: Cabri, L. J. (ed.) Geology, Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Mineral Benefication of Platinum Group Element. Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum, Special Volume 54 389-429.
25. Cawthorn, R. G., & Boerst, K. (2006). Origin of the pegmatitic pyroxenite in the Merensky Unit, Bushveld Complex, South Africa. Journal of Petrology 47, 1509-1530.
26. Davies, G. & Tredoux, M. (1985). The platinum-group element and gold contents of the marginal rocks and sills of the Bushveld Complex. Economic Geology 80, 838-848.
27. Eales, H. V. & Cawthorn, R. G. (1996). The Bushveld Complex. In: Cawthorn, R. G. (ed.) Layered Intrusions. Amsterdam: Elsevier, pp.181-230.
28. Ebel, D. S. & Naldrett, A. J. (1996). Fractional crystallisation of sulfide ore liquids at high temperature. Economic Geology 91 607-621.
29. Ebel, D. S. & Naldrett, A. J. (1997). Crystallization of sulfide liquids and the interpretation of ore composition. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 34(4), 352-365.
30. Fiorentini, M. L., Stone, W E., Beresford, S. W. & Barley, M. E. (2004). Platinum-group element alloy inclusions in chromites from Archaean mafic-ultramafic units: Evidence from the Abitibi and the Agnew-Wiluna Greenstone Belts. Mineralogy and Petrology 82(3-4), 341-355.
31. Fortenfant, S. S., Gunther, D., Dingwell, D. B. & Rubie, D. C. (2003). Temperature dependence of Pt and Rh solubilities in a haploba-saltic melt. Geochimica et Cosmochicnica Acta 67(1), 123-131.
32. Godel, B. & Barnes, S.-J. (2007). Platinum-group elements in sulfide minerals and whole rocks of the J-M reef (Stillwater Complex, U.S.A.): implication for the formation of the reef. Chemical Geology, doi:10.1016/j.chemgeo.2007.05.006.
33. Godel, B., Barnes, S.-J. & Maier, W. D. (2006). 3-D distribution of sulphide minerals in the Merensky Reef (Bushveld Complex, South Africa) and the J-M Reef (Stillwater Complex, USA) and their relationship to microstructures using X-ray computed tomography. Journal of Petrology 47, 1853-1872.
34. Hanley, J. J., Pettke, T., Mungall, J. E. & Spooner, E. T. C. (2005). The solubility of platinum and gold in NaCl brines at 1.5 kbar, 600 to 800°C: A laser ablation ICP-MS pilot study of synthetic fluid inclusions. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 69(10), 2593-2611.
35. Harmer, R. E. & Sharpe, M. R. (1985). Field relations and strontium isotope systematic of the marginal rocks of the eastern Bushveld Complex. Economic Geology 80, 813-837.
36. Hiemstra, S. A. (1979). The role of collectors in the formation of the platinum deposits in the Bushveld Complex. Canadian Mineralogist 17, 469-482.
37. Keays, R. R. & Campbell, I. H. (1981). Precious metals in the Jimberlana Intrusion, Western Australia: Implications for the genesis of platiniferous ores in layered intrusions. Economic Geology 76 1118-1141.
38. Kingston, G. A. & El-Dosuky, B. T. (1982). A contribution on the Platinum-Group mineralogy of the Merensky Reef at the Rustenburg Platinum Mine. Economic Geology 77(6), 1367-1384.
39. Kinloch, E. D. (1982). Regional trends in the Platinum-Group mineralogy of the Critical Zone of the Bushveld Complex, South Africa. Economic Geology 77(6), 1328-1347.
40. Kinloch, E. D. & Peyerl, W. (1990). Platinum-Group Minerals in various rock types of the Merensky Reef: Genetic implications. Economic Geology 85, 537-555.
41. Kullerud, G., Yund, R. A. & Moh, G. H. (1969). Phase relations in the Cu-Fe-S, Cu-Ni-S and Fe-Ni-S systems. Economic Geology, Monograph 4, 323-343.
42. Lee, C. A. & Parry, S. J. (1988). Platinum-Group Element geochemistry of the lower and middle group chromitites of the eastern Bushveld Complex. Economic Geology 83(6), 1127-1139.
43. Li, C. & Ripley, E. M. (2005). Empirical equations to predict the sulfur content of mafic magmas at sulfide saturation and applications to magmatic sulfide deposits. Mineralium Deposita 40, 218-230.
44. Li, C., Barnes, S.-J., Makovicky, E., Rose-Hansen, J. & Makovicky, M. (1996). Partitioning of Ni, Cu, Ir, Rh, Pt, and Pd between monosulfide solid solution and sulfide liquid: Effects of composition and temperature. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 60(7), 1231-1238.
45. Li, C., Ripley, E. M., Merino, E. & Maier, W. D. (2004). Replacement of base metal sulfides by actinolite, epidote, calcite, and magnetite in the UG2 and Merensky Reef of the Bushveld Complex, South Africa. Economic Geology 99(1), 173-184.
46. Loeb-Du Toit, A. (1986). The Impala Platinum Mines. In: Anhaeusser, C. R. & Maske, S. (eds) Mineral Deposits of Southern Africa, I and II Johannesburg: Geological Society of South Africa, pp. 1901-1106.
47. Lorand, J. P., Alard, O., Luguet, A. & Keays, R. R. (2003). Sulfur and selenium systematics of the subcontinental lithospheric mantle: inferences from the Massif Central xenolith suite (France). Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 67(21), 4137-4151.
48. Maier, W. D., Barnes, S. J., Gartz, V. & Andrews, G. (2003). Pt-Pd reefs in magnetites of the Stella layered intrusion, South Africa: A world of new exploration opportunities for platinum group elements. Geology 31(10), 885-888.
49. Mason, P. R. D. & Kraan, W. J. (2002). Attenuation of spectral interferences during laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) using an rf only collision and reaction. Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry 17(8), 858-867.
50. Mungall, J. E., Andrews, D. R. A., Cabri, L. J., Sylvester, P. J. & Tubrett, M. (2005). Partitioning of Cu, Ni, Au, and platinum-group elements between monosulfide solid solution and sulfide melt under controlled oxygen and sulfur fugacities. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 69(17), 4349-4360.
51. Naldrett, A. J. (ed.) (1989). Magmatic Sulfide Deposits. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 189 pp.
52. Naldrett, A. J. & Lehmann, J. (1988). Spinel non-stoichiometry as an explanation for Ni-, Cu-, and PGE-enriched sulphides in chromitites. In: Prichard, H. M., Potts, P. J., Bowles, J. F. W. & Cribb, S. J. (eds) Geo-Platinum 87. Amsterdam: Elsevier, pp. 113-143.
53. Naldrett, A. J., Gasparrini, E. C., Barnes, S. J., Von Gruenewaldt, G. & Sharpe, M. R. (1986). The Upper Critical Zone of the Bushveld Complex and the origin of Merensky-type ores. Economic Geology 81 5), 1105-1117.
54. Peregoedova, A., Barnes, S.-J. & Baker, D. R. (2004). The formation of Pt-Ir alloys and Cu-Pd-rich sulfide melts by partial desulforization of Fe-Ni-Cu sulfides: Results of experiments and implications for natural systems. Chemical Geology 208(1-4), 247-264.
55. Peregoedova, A., Barnes, S.J. & Baker, D. R. (2006). An experimental study of mass transfer of platinum-group elements, gold, nickel and copper in sulfur-dominated vapor at magmatic temperatures. Chemical Geology 235(1-2), 59-75.
56. Polovina, J. S., Hudson, D. M. & Jones, R. E. (2004). Petrographic and geochemical characteristics of postmagmatic hydrothermal alteration and mineralization in the J-M Reef, Stillwater Complex, Montana. Canadian Mineralogist 42, 261-277.
57. Prichard, H. M., Barnes, S.-J., Maier, W. D. & Fisher, P. C. (2004). Variations in the nature of the platinum-group minerals in a cross-section through the Merensky Reef at Impala Platinum: Implications for the mode of formation of the reef. Canadian Mineralogist 42 423-437.
58. Pruseth, K. L. & Palme, H. (2004). The solubility of Pt in liquid Fe-sulfides. Chemical Geology 208(1-4), 233-245.
59. Puchtel, I. S., Humayun, M., Campbell, A. J., Sproule, R. A. & Lesher, C. M. (2004). Platinum group element geochemistry of komatiites from the Alexo and Pyke Hill areas, Ontario, Canada. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 68(6), 1361-1383.
60. Righter, K., Campbell, A. J., Humayun, M. & Hervig, R. L. (2004). Partitioning of Ru, Rh, Pd, Re, Ir, and An between Cr-bearing spinel, olivine, pyroxene and silicate melts. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 68(4), 867-880.
61. Sattari, P, Brenan, J. M., Horn, I. & McDonough, W. F. (2002). Experimental constraints on the sulfide- and chromite-silicate melt partitioning behavior of rhenium and Platinum-Group Elements. Economic Geology 97(2), 385-398.
62. Steele, T. W., Levin, J. & Copelowitz, I. (1975). Preparation and certification of a reference sample of a precious metal ore. National Institute for Metallurgy Report, 1696-1975.
63. Tredoux, M., Lindsay, N. M., Davies, G. & McDonald, I. (1995). The fractionation of platinum-group elements in magmatic systems, with the suggestion of a novel causal mechanism. South African Journal of Geology 98, 157-167.
64. Vermaak, C. F. (1976). Merensky Reef - thoughts on its environment and genesis. Economic Geology 71(7), 1270-1298.
65. Vermaak, C. F. & Hendriks, L. P. (1976). Review of mineralogy of Merensky Reef, with specific reference to new data on precious metal mineralogy. Economic Geology 71(7), 1244-1269.
66. Viljoen, M. J. & Hieber, R. (1986). The Rustenburg section of the Rustenburg Platinum Mines Limited, with reference to the Merensky Reef. In: Anhaeusser, C. R. & Maske, S. (eds) Mineral Deposits of Southern Africa, II. Johannesburg: Geological Society of Southern Africa, pp. 1107-1034.
67. Viljoen, M. J., Theron, J., Underwood, B. M., Walters, J. & Peyerl, W. (1986). The Amandelbult section of Rustenburg Platinum Mines Limited, with reference to the Merensky Reef. In: Anhaeusser, C. R. & Maske, S. (eds) Mineral Deposits of Southern Africa, II. Johannesburg: Geological Society of Southern Africa, pp. 1041-1060.
68. Von Gruenewaldt, G. (1986). Platinum-group element-chromitite associations in the Bushveld Complex. Economic Geology 81, A third issue devoted to platinum deposits, 1067-1079.
69. Von Gruenewaldt, G. (1989). Contrasting platinum-group element concentration patterns in cumulates of the Bushveld Complex. Mineralium Deposita 24(3), 219-229.
70. Willmore, C. C., Boudreau, A. E. & Kruger, F. J. (2000). The halogen geochemistry of the Bushveld Complex, Republic of South Africa: implications for chalcophile element distribution in the lower and critical zones. Journal of Petrology 41(10), 1517-1539.
71. Zientek, M. L., Cooper, R. W., Corson, S. R. & Geraghty, E. P. (2002). Platinum-Group Element mineralization in the Stillwater Complex, Montana. In: Cabri, L. J. (ed.) Geology, Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Mineral Benefication of Platinum Group Element. Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum, Special Volume 54, 459-481.