Composition of iron oxides in Archean and Paleoproterozoic mafic-ultramafic hosted Ni-Cu-PGE deposits in northern Fennoscandia: application to mineral exploration

• Published in: Mineralium Deposita
• Main Authors: Moilanen, M., Hanski, E., Konnunaho, J., Törmänen, T., Yang, S.-H., Lahaye, Y., O’Brien, H., Illikainen, J.
• Other Authors: Academy of Finland, K.H. Renlund Foundation, Tauno Tönningin Säätiö
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Springer Science and Business Media LLC 2020
• Subjects: Geochemistry and Petrology; Geophysics; Economic Geology; Pechenga; Ruossakero; Tulppio; Vaara; Fennoscandia
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00126-020-00953-1; http://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00126-020-00953-1.pdf; http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00126-020-00953-1/fulltext.html

Abstract Using electron probe microanalyzer (EPMA) and laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), we analyzed major and trace element compositions of iron oxides from Ni-Cu-PGE sulfide deposits hosted by mafic-ultramafic rocks in northern Fennoscandia, mostly focusing on Finland. The main research targets were the Archean Ruossakero Ni-(Cu) deposit; Tulppio dunite and related Ni-PGE mineralization; Hietaharju, Vaara, and Tainiovaara Ni-(Cu-PGE) deposits; and Paleoproterozoic Lomalampi PGE-(Ni-Cu) deposit. In addition, some reference samples from the Pechenga (Russia), Jinchuan (China), and Kevitsa (Finland) Ni-Cu-PGE sulfide deposits, and a barren komatiite sequence in the Kovero area (Finland) were studied. Magnetite and Cr-magnetite show a wide range of trace element compositions as a result of the variation of silicate and sulfide melt compositions and their post-magmatic modification history. Most importantly, the Ni content in oxide shows a positive correlation with the Ni tenor of the sulfide phase in equilibrium with magnetite, regardless of whether the sulfide assemblage is magmatic or post-magmatic in origin. The massive sulfide samples contain an oxide phase varying in composition from Cr-magnetite to magnetite, indicating that Cr-magnetite can crystallize directly from sulfide liquid. The Mg concentration of magnetites in massive sulfide samples is lowest among the samples analyzed, and this can be regarded as a diagnostic feature of an oxide phase crystallized together with primitive Fe-rich MSS (monosulfide solid solution). Our results show that magnetite geochemistry, plotted in appropriate discrimination diagrams, together with petrographical observations could be used as an indicator of potential Ni-(Cu-PGE) mineralization.