Alteration of platinum-group minerals and dispersion of platinum-group elements during progressive weathering of the Aguablanca Ni-Cu deposit, SW Spain

Mineralium Deposita

Volumn 45, Issue 4, 2010, Pages 331-350

  Suárez, Saioa ^a,b   Prichard, Hazel M ^b   Velasco, Francisco ^a   Fisher, Peter C ^b   McDonald, Iain ^b  

^a UNIVERSITY OF THE BASQUE COUNTRY UPV EHU   (Spain)

^b CARDIFF UNIVERSITY   (United Kingdom)

Author keywords

Aguablanca; LA ICP MS; Ni Cu gossan; Platinum group elements; Platinum group minerals; Spain

Indexed keywords

COPPER; GOSSAN; INDUCTIVELY COUPLED PLASMA METHOD; IRON OXIDE; MASS SPECTROMETRY; MINERAL ALTERATION; MINERALOGY; MOBILIZATION; NICKEL; ORE DEPOSIT; PLATINUM GROUP ELEMENT; SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY; WEATHERING;

AGUABLANCA MINE; EXTREMADURA; SPAIN;

EID: 77953322926     PISSN: 00264598     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1007/s00126-009-0275-x     Document Type: Article

References (93)

1. Augé T (1985) Platinum-group-mineral inclusions in ophiolitic chromitite from the Vourinos Complex, Greece. Can Mineral 23(2): 163-171.
2. Augé T, Legendre O (1994) Platinum-group element oxides from the Pirogues ophiolitic mineralization, New Caledonia; origin and significance. Econ Geol 89(7): 1454-1468.
3. Augustithis SS (1965) Mineralogical and geochemical studies of the platiniferous dunite-birbirite-pyroxenite complex of Yubdo/Birbir, W. Ethiopia. Chem Erde 24: 159-196.
4. Bai W, Robinson PT, Fang Q, Yang J, Yan B, Zhang Z, Hu X, Zhou M, Malpas J (2000) The PGE and base-metal alloys in the podiform chromitites of the Luobusa Ophiolite, Southern Tibet. Can Mineral 38(3): 585-598.
5. Blain CF, Andrew RL (1977) Sulfide weathering and the evaluation of gossans in mineral exploration. Miner Sci Eng 9(3): 119-150.
6. Boudreau AE, Mathez EA, McCallum IS (1986) Halogen geochemistry of the stillwater and bushveld complexes: evidence for transport of the platinum-group elements by Cl-rich fluids. J Petrol 27(4): 967-986.
7. Bowles JFW (1986) The development of platinum-group minerals in laterites. Econ Geol 81(5): 1278-1285.
8. Bowles JFW (1988) Further studies of the development of platinum-group minerals in the laterites of the Freetown layered complex, Sierra Leone. In: Prichard HM, Potts PJ, Bowles JFW, Cribb SJ (eds) Geo-Platinum 87. Elsevier Applied Science, New York, pp 273-280.
9. Bowles JFW (1990) Platinum-iron alloys, their structural and magnetic characteristics in relation to hydrothermal and low-temperature genesis. Mineral Petrol 43(1): 37-47.
10. Bowles JFW (1995) The development of platinum-group minerals (PGM) in laterites: mineral morphology. Chron Rech Min 520: 55-63.
11. Brookins DG (1987) Platinoid element Eh-pH diagrams (25°C, 1 bar) in the systems M-O-H-S with geochemical applications. Chem Geol 64: 17-24.
12. Bull AJ, Mazzucchelli RH (1975) Application of discriminant analysis to the geochemical evaluation of gossans. In: Elliott IL, Fletcher WK (eds) Geochemical Exploration 1974. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 219-226.
13. Cabri LJ (ed) (1981) Platinum-group elements: mineralogy, geology, recovery. Can Inst Mining Metall Petroleum, Spec Vol 23.
14. Cabri LJ, Rowland JF, Gilles Laflamme JH, Stewart JM (1979) Keithconnite, telluropalladinite and other Pd-Pt tellurides from the stillwater complex, Montana. Can Min 17: 589-594.
15. Cabri LJ, Harris DC, Weiser TW (1996) Mineralogy and distribution of platinum-group minerals (PGM) from placer deposits of the world. Explor Min Geol 5(2): 73-167.
16. Casquet C (1980) Fenómenos de endomorfismo, metamorfismo y metasomatismo en los mármoles de la Rivera de Cala (Sierra Morena). PhD Thesis. Universidad Complutense, Madrid.
17. Casquet C, Galindo C, Tornos F, Velasco F (2001) The Aguablanca Cu-Ni ore deposit (Extremadura, Spain), a case of synorogenic orthomagmatic mineralization: isotope composition of magmas (Sr, Nd) and ore (S). Ore Geol Rev 18: 237-250.
18. Cochrane RHA (1973) A guide to the geochemistry of nickeliferous gossans and related rocks from the Eastern Goldfields. West Aust Geol Surv Annu Rep 1972: 69-75.
19. Cook SJ, Fletcher WK (1994) Platinum distribution in soil profiles of the Tulameen ultramafic complex, southern British Columbia. J Geochem Explor 51: 161-191.
20. Cornell RM, Schwertmann U (1996) The iron oxides. Structure, properties, reactions, occurrence and uses. VCH Verlagsgesellschaft, Weinheim.
21. Cotton FA, Wilkinson G (1988) Advanced inorganic chemistry, 5th edn. John Wiley & Sons Inc.
22. Cox R (1975) Geochemical soil surveys in exploration for nickel-copper sulphides at Pioneer, near Norseman, Western Australia. In: Elliott IL, Fletcher WK (eds) Geochemical exploration 1974. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 437-460.
23. Eguiluz L, Gil Ibarguchi JI, Abalos B, Apraiz A (2000) Superposed Variscan and Cadomian orogenic cycles in the Ossa-Morena Zone and related areas of the Iberian Massif. Geol Soc Am Bull 112: 1398-1413.
24. Evans DM, Buchanan DL, Hall GEM (1994) Dispersion of platinum, palladium and gold from the Main Sulphide Zone, Great Dyke, Zimbabwe. Appl Earth Sci (Trans Inst Min Metall) 103: 57-67.
25. Evstigneeva TL, Moh GH, Tarkian M (1995) Hydrothermal recrystallization of PGE- and Fe-Ni-sulfide assemblages. Neues Jahrb Miner-Abh 149: 273-277.
26. Feather CE (1976) Mineralogy of platinum-group minerals in the Witwatersrand, South Africa. Econ Geol 71(7): 1399-1428.
27. Fletcher WK, Cook SJ, Hall GEM, Scagel RK, Dunn CE (1995) Enrichment in platinum and associated elements in organic seepage soils of the Tulameen ultramafic complex, Southern British Columbia. J Geochem Explor 54(1): 39-47.
28. Fuchs WA, Rose AW (1974) The geochemical behavior of platinum and palladium in the weathering cycle in the stillwater complex, Montana. Econ Geol 69(3): 332-346.
29. Garrels RM, Christ CL (1965) Solutions, minerals, and equilibria. Harper & Row, Publishers, New York.
30. Garuti G, Zaccarini F (1997) In situ alteration of platinum-group minerals at low temperature; evidence from serpentinized and weathered chromitite of the Vourinos Complex, Greece. Can Mineral 35(3): 611-626.
31. Garuti G, Fershtater G, Bea F, Montero P, Pushkarev EV, Zaccarini F (1997) Platinum-group elements as petrological indicators in mafic-ultramafic complexes of the Central and Southern Urals: preliminary results. Tectonophysics 276: 181-194.
32. Holwell DA, McDonald I (2007) Distribution of PGE in the Platreef at Overysel, Northern Bushveld complex: a combined PGM and LA-ICP-MS study. Contrib Mineral Petrol 154: 171-190.
33. Hutchinson D, McDonald I (2008) Laser ablation ICP-MS study of platinum-group elements in sulphides from the Platreef at Turfspruit, northern limb of the Bushveld Complex, South Africa. Miner Deposita 43(6): 695-711.
34. ITGE (1990) Mapa Geológico de España a escala 1/50. 000 núm. 918 (Santa Olalla de Cala). Instituto Tecnológico Geominero de España, Madrid.
35. Ixer RA, Prichard HM (1989) The mineralogy and paragenesis of Pt, Pd, Au and Ag-bearing assemblages at Cliff, Shetland. Bull Geol Soc Finl 61: 40.
36. Jedwab J (1992) Platinum group minerals in ultrabasic rocks and nickeliferous veins from Zabargad Island (Egypt). C R Acad Sci Paris 314(II): 157-163.
37. Jedwab J (1995) Oxygenated platinum-group-elements and transition-metal (Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ce)-compounds in the supergene domain. Chron Rech Min 520: 47-53.
38. Jedwab J, Cassedanne J, Criddle AJ, du Ry P, Ghysens G, Meisser N, Piret P, Stanley CJ (1993) Rediscovery of palladinite PdO from Itabira (Minas Gerais, Brazil) and from Ruwe (Shaba, Zaire). Terra Abstracts, suppl to Terra Nova 5: p 22.
39. Kinloch ED, Peyerl W (1990) Platinum-group minerals in various rock types of the Merensky Reef; genetic implications. Econ Geol 85(3): 537-555.
40. Kunilov VY (1994) Geology of the Noril'sk region: the history of the discovery, prospecting, exploration and mining of the Noril'sk deposits. In: Naldrett AJ, Lightfoot PC (eds) Proceedings of the Sudbury-Noril'sk Symposium, Sudbury, Ontario. Geol Surv Spec Publ 5: pp 203-216.
41. Locmelis M, Melcher F, Oberthür T (2010) Platinum-group element distribution in the oxidized Main Sulfide Zone, Great Dyke, Zimbabwe. Miner Deposita 45: 93-109.
42. Loucks RR, McCallum ME (1980) Platinum-group minerals in the New Rambler copper-nickel deposit, Wyoming: a preliminary report. Proceeding, XIth IMA Meeting, 1978, Novosibirsk. In: Sidorenko AV (ed) Sulphosalts, platinum minerals and ore microcopy. Nauka Publishing House, Moscow, pp 200-218.
43. Lunar R, García Palomero F, Ortega L, Sierra J, Moreno T, Prichard HM (1997) Ni-Cu-(PGM) mineralization associated with mafic and ultamafic rocks: the recently discovered Aguablanca ore deposit, SW Spain. In: Papunen H (ed) Mineral deposits: research and esxploration. Where do they meet? Balkema, Rotterdam, pp 463-466.
44. Makovicky E (2002) Ternary and Quaternary Phase Systems with PGE. In: Cabri LJ (ed) The Geology, Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Mineral Beneficiation of Platinum-Group Elements. Can Inst Mining Metall Petroleum, Special Vol 54: pp 131-175.
45. Martín-Estévez JR, Ortega L, Lunar R, García-Palomero F (2000) Características texturales y geoquímicas de la pirita en la mineralización intramagmática de Ni-Cu-EGP de Aguablanca (Badajoz). Cuadernos del Laboratorio Xeológico de Laxe 25: 107-110.
46. Mathez EA (1989) Interactions involving fluids in the Stillwater and Bushveld complexes: observations from the rocks. In: Whitney JA, Naldrett AJ (eds) Ore deposition associated with magmas. Rev Econ Geol 4: 167-180.
47. Mathez EA, Peach CL (1989) The geochemistry of the platinum-group elements in mafic and ultramafic rocks. In: Whitney JA and Naldrett AJ (eds) Ore deposition associated with Magmas. Rev Econ Geol 4: 33-43.
48. McCallum ME, Loucks RR, Carlson RR, Cooley EF, Doerge TA (1976) Platinum metals associated with hydrothermal copper ores of the New Rambler Mine, Medicine Bow Mountains, Wyoming. Econ Geol 71(7): 1429-1450.
49. McDonald I (2005) Development of sulphide standards for the in-situ analysis of platinum-group elements by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). In: Tormanen TO and Alapieti TT (eds) 10th Int Platinum Symp, Ext Abs, pp 468-471.
50. McDonald I (2008) Platinum-group element and sulphide mineralogy from ultramafic complexes at Andriamena, Madagascar. Appl Earth Sci (Trans Inst Min Metall) 117(1): 1-10.
51. McDonald I, Ohnenstetter D, Ohnenstetter M, Vaughan DJ (1999a) Palladium oxides in ultramafic complexes near Lavatrafo, western Andriamena, Madagascar. Mineral Mag 63(3): 345-352.
52. McDonald I, Ohnenstetter D, Rowe JP, Tredoux M, Pattrick RAD, Vaughan DJ (1999b) Platinum precipitation in the Waterberg Deposit, Naboomspruit, South Africa. S Afr J Geol 102(3): 184-191.
53. Melcher F, Oberthür T, Lodziak J (2005) Modification of detrital platinum-group minerals from the Eastern Bushveld Complex, South Africa. Can Mineral 43(5): 1711-1734.
54. Milliotti CA, Stumpfl EF (1996) Ruthenium oxide, palladium iodade and platinum group element-bearing goethites from the Niquelandia Complex, and their significance. Congresso Brasileiro de Geologia- Magmatismo màfico-ultramàfico e depôsitos minerais associados, pp 172-175.
55. Mogessie A, Stumpfl EF, Weiblen PW (1991) The role of fluids in the formation of platinum-group minerals, Duluth Complex, Minnesota: mineralogical, textural and chemical evidence. Econ Geol 86: 1506-1518.
56. Moreno T, Prichard HM, Lunar R, Monterrubio S, Fisher P (1999) Formation of a secondary platinum-group mineral assemblage in chromitites from the Herbeira ultramafic massif in Cabo Ortegal, NW Spain. Eur J Mineral 11(2): 363-378.
57. Naldrett AJ, Cabri LJ (1976) Ultramafic and related mafic rocks; their classification and genesis with special reference to the concentration of nickel sulfides and platinum-group elements. Econ Geol 71(7): 1131-1158.
58. Naldrett AJ, Duke JM (1980) Platinum metals in magmatic sulfide ores. Science 208: 1417-1424.
59. Naldrett AJ, Asif M, Scandl E, Searcy T, Morrison GG, Binney WP, Moore C (1999) Platinum-group elements in the Sudbury ores; significance with respect to the origin of different ore zones and to the exploration for footwall orebodies. Econ Geol 94(2): 185-210.
60. Nickel EH (1979) Gossan mineralogy viewed in the context of solution chemistry. In: Glover JE and Smith RE (eds) Pathfinder and multielement geochemistry in mineral exploration: Geol Dept and Ext Serv. University of Western Australia.
61. Oberthür T, Melcher F (2005) Behavior of PGE and PGM in the supergene environment: a case study of persistence and redistribution in the Main Sulfide Zone of the Great Dyke, Zimbabwe. In: Mungall JE (ed) Exploration for Platinum-Group Element Deposits. Mineral Assoc Can, Short Course Vol 35: pp 97-111.
62. Oberthür T, Weiser TW, Gast L (2003) Geochemistry and mineralogy of platinum-group elements at Hartley Platinum Mine, Zimbabwe. Part 2: supergene redistribution in the oxidized Main Sulfide Zone of the Great Dyke, and alluvial platinum-group minerals. Miner Deposita 38(3): 344-355.
63. Orberger B, Friedrich G, Woermann E (1988) Platinum-group element mineralization in the ultramafic sequence of the Acoje ophiolite block, Zambales, Philippines. In: Prichard HM, Potts PJ, Bowles JFW, Cribb SJ (eds) Geo-Platinum 87. Elsevier Applied Science, New York, pp 361-380.
64. Ortega L, Lunar R, García-Palomero F, Moreno T, Prichard HM (2002) Características geológicas y mineralógicas del yacimiento de Ni-Cu-EGP de Aguablanca (Badajoz). Bol Soc Esp Mineral 25: 57-78.
65. Ortega L, Lunar R, García-Palomero F, Moreno T, Martín-Estévez JR, Prichard HM, Fisher PC (2004) The Aguablanca Ni-Cu-PGE deposit, southwestern Iberia: magmatic ore-forming processes and retrograde evolution. Can Mineral 42: 325-350.
66. Ottemann J, Augustithis SS (1967) Geochemistry and origin of "platinum-nuggets" in laterite covers from ultrabasic rocks and birbirites of W. Ethiopia. Miner Deposita 1(4): 269-277.
67. Piña R, Gervilla F, Ortega L, Lunar R (2008) Mineralogy and geochemistry of platinum group elements in the Aguablanca Ni-Cu deposit (SW Spain). Mineral Petrol 92: 259-282.
68. Prichard HM, Lord RA (1994) Evidence for the mobility of PGE in the secondary environment in the Shetland ophiolite complex. Appl Earth Sci (Trans Inst Min Metall) 103: 79-86.
69. Prichard HM, Ixer RA, Lord RA, Maynard J, Williams N (1994) Assemblages of platinum-group minerals and sulfides in silicate lithologies and chromite-rich rocks within the Shetland ophiolite. Can Mineral 32(2): 271-294.
70. Prichard HM, Sá JHS, Fisher PC (2001) Platinum-group mineral assemblages and chromite composition in the altered and deformed Bacuri Complex, Amapa, Northeastern Brazil. Can Mineral 39(2): 377-396.
71. Prichard HM, Economou-Eliopoulos M, Fisher PC (2008a) Contrasting platinum-group mineral assemblages from two different podiform chromitite localities in the Pindos ophiolite complex, Greece. Can Mineral 46: 329-341.
72. Prichard HM, Neary CR, Fisher PC, O'Hara MJ (2008b) PGE-rich podiform chromitites in the Al 'Ays ophiolite complex, Saudi Arabia: an example of critical mantle melting to extract and concentrate PGE. Econ Geol 103(7): 1507-1529.
73. Quesada C, Florido P, Gumiel P, Osborne J, Larrea F, Baeza L, Ortega C, Tornos F, Sigüenza J (1987) Mapa Geológico Minero de Extremadura. Junta de Extremadura, Dirección General Industria, Energía y Minas.
74. Rio Narcea Recursos SA (2009) Technical report on the Aguablanca Ni-Cu Deposit, Extremadura Region, Spain. Report Number: 08511150292. Lunding Mining Corporation Web. (http://lundinmining. com/s/AguaBlanca. asp) Accessed 2 November 2009.
75. Sá JHS, Barnes SJ, Prichard HM, Fisher PC (2005) The distribution of base metals and platinum-group elements in magnetite and its host rocks in the Rio Jaracé intrusion, northeastern Brazil. Econ Geol 100: 333-348.
76. Salpéteur I, Martel-Jantin B, Rakotomanana D (1995) Pt and Pd mobility in ferralitic soils of the West Andriamena area (Magadascar). Evidence of a supergene origin of some Pt and Pd minerals. Chron Rech Min 520: 27-45.
77. Seabrook CL, Prichard HM, Fisher PC (2004) Platinum-group minerals in the Raglan Ni-Cu-(PGE) deposit, Cape Smith, Quebec, Canada. Can Mineral 42: 485-497.
78. Smith RE (ed) (1982) Geochemical exploration in deeply weathered terrain. CISRO Institute of Energy and Earth Resources. Division of Mineralogy, W Australia.
79. Suárez S, Velasco F, Yusta I (2005) Caracterización química y mineralógica de suelos en el yacimiento magmático Ni-Cu de Aguablanca, Badajoz (España). Macla 3: 201-202.
80. Thornber MR (1985) Supergene alteration of sulphides: VII. Distribution of elements during the gossan-forming process. Chem Geol 53(3-4): 279-301.
81. Tornos F, Casquet C, Galindo C, Velasco F, Canales A (2001) A new style of Ni-Cu mineralization related to magmatic breccia pipes in a transpressional magmatic arc, Aguablanca, Spain. Miner Deposita 36(7): 700-706.
82. Tornos F, Casquet C, Galindo C, Velasco F, Canales A (2002) The Aguablanca Ni-Cu orebody (Ossa Morena Zone, SW Spain): geologic and geochemical features. Bol Soc Esp Mineral 25: 99-116.
83. Tornos F, Galindo C, Casquet C, Rodríguez Pevida L, Martínez C, Martínez E, Velasco F, Iriondo A (2006) The Aguablanca Ni-(Cu) sulfide deposit, SW Spain: geologic and geochemical controls and the relationship with a midcrustal layered mafic complex. Miner Deposita 41: 737-769.
84. Traoré D, Beauvais A, Augé T, Chabaux T, Parisot C, Cathelineau M, Peiffert C, Colin F (2006) Platinum and palladium mobility in supergene environment: the residual origin of the Pirogues River mineralization, New Caledonia. J Geochem Explor 88: 350-354.
85. Travis GA, Keays RR, Davison RM (1976) Palladium and iridium in the evaluation of nickel gossans in Western Australia. Econ Geol 71(7): 1229-1243.
86. Velasco F (1976) Mineralogía y metalogenia de los skarns de Santa Olalla (Huelva). PhD Thesis. Universidad del País Vasco, Bilbao.
87. Weiser TW (1990) The quantitative proof of the existence of PGE oxides. International Platinum Symposium, 6th, Perth. Abs, p 52.
88. Weiser TW (2002) Platinum-Group Minerals (PGM) in Placer Deposits. In: Cabri LJ (ed) The geology, geochemistry, mineralogy and mineral beneficiation of platinum-group elements. Can Inst Mining Metall Petroleum, Special Vol 54: pp 721-756.
89. Westland AD (1981) Inorganic chemistry of the platinum-group elements. In: Cabri LJ (ed) Platinum-group elements: mineralogy, geology, recovery. Can Inst Mining Metall Petroleum, Spec Vol 23(chapter 2): pp 5-18.
90. Williams PA (1990) Oxide zone geochemistry. Ellis Horwood Limited, England.
91. Wilmshurst JR (1975) The weathering products of nickeliferous sulphides and their associated rocks in Western Australia. In: Elliott IL, Fletcher WK (eds) Geochemical exploration 1974. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 417-436.
92. Wood SA (2002) The aqueous geochemistry of the platinum-group elements with applications to ore deposits. In Cabri LJ (ed) The geology, geochemistry, mineralogy and mineral beneficiation of platinum-group elements. Can Inst Mining Metall Petroleum, Spec Vol 54: pp 211-249.
93. Wood SA, Mountain BW, Pan P (1992) The aqueous geochemistry of platinum, palladium and gold; recent experimental constraints and a re-evaluation of theoretical predictions. Can Mineral 30(4): 955-982.