A petrographic and geochemical characterization and the evaluation of the exploration potential for nickel sulfides in several mafic-ultramafic intrusive complexes in Newfoundland

On the island of Newfoundland a number of mafic- to ultramafic intrusions are exposed; most commonly in the Dunnage Zone. These intrusive suites occur in a variety of tectonic environments, and have variable relationships with their host rocks. Nickel is extracted from intrusive rocks of similar com...

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Main Author: Collins, Patrick G.
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: Memorial University of Newfoundland 2007
Subjects:
Online Access:https://research.library.mun.ca/6648/
https://research.library.mun.ca/6648/1/PatrickGCollins.pdf
https://research.library.mun.ca/6648/3/PatrickGCollins.pdf
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spelling ftmemorialuniv:oai:research.library.mun.ca:6648 2023-10-01T03:57:33+02:00 A petrographic and geochemical characterization and the evaluation of the exploration potential for nickel sulfides in several mafic-ultramafic intrusive complexes in Newfoundland Collins, Patrick G. 2007 application/pdf https://research.library.mun.ca/6648/ https://research.library.mun.ca/6648/1/PatrickGCollins.pdf https://research.library.mun.ca/6648/3/PatrickGCollins.pdf en eng Memorial University of Newfoundland https://research.library.mun.ca/6648/1/PatrickGCollins.pdf https://research.library.mun.ca/6648/3/PatrickGCollins.pdf Collins, Patrick G. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Collins=3APatrick_G=2E=3A=3A.html> (2007) A petrographic and geochemical characterization and the evaluation of the exploration potential for nickel sulfides in several mafic-ultramafic intrusive complexes in Newfoundland. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland. thesis_license Thesis NonPeerReviewed 2007 ftmemorialuniv 2023-09-03T06:45:57Z On the island of Newfoundland a number of mafic- to ultramafic intrusions are exposed; most commonly in the Dunnage Zone. These intrusive suites occur in a variety of tectonic environments, and have variable relationships with their host rocks. Nickel is extracted from intrusive rocks of similar compositions throughout the world. This thesis evaluates the potential of three intrusive complexes in Newfoundland to host economic Ni-Cu sulphide and/or platinum group element (PGE) mineralization. -- The Red Cross Lake Intrusive Suite (RCLIS), located in central Newfoundland, is a ca. 431 Ma layered, mafic- to ultramafic intrusion. The Steel Mountain Anorthosite (SMA), located east of Stephenville, in the Southern Long Range Mountains, is a ca. 1275 Ma massive-type anorthosite that hosts abundant Fe-Ti oxides and variable mafic zones. The Taylor Brook Gabbro Suite (TBGS), located southeast of western White Bay, is a ca. 430 Ma gabbroic suite. -- The RCLIS is divided into an Upper and Lower Series (US and LS respectively). The LS is comprised of predominantly gabbro and troctolite layers with minor dunite, olivine gabbro and serpentinite. The US had a gabbroic- to leucogabbroic protolith that is variably altered to pyroxene amphibole gabbro. Geochemical data indicate the RCLIS exhibits an intermediate to alkaline and sub-alkaline composition and is tholeiitic. The RCLIS evolved through fractional crystallization; it exhibits a progressive decrease in MgO and an increase in FeO+Ti0₂ from the LS to the US. Sulfides comprise at most only a few weight percent; the maximum values are from country rock samples. Magmatic sulfides in the LS locally exhibit a high Ni tenor. Plagioclase composition averages An 69 in the LS and An 54 in the US, whereas paragneiss xenolith samples average An 47. Olivine composition averages Fo 83 in the LS and Fo 56 for the US; xenoliths average Fo 36. LS olivine is locally Ni-depleted with respect to its Fo content. δ³⁴S ratios exhibit a range of 5.64‰, from -1.79‰ to +3.85‰. The heaviest ratio ... Thesis Newfoundland Memorial University of Newfoundland: Research Repository White Bay ENVELOPE(69.122,69.122,-48.912,-48.912)
institution Open Polar
collection Memorial University of Newfoundland: Research Repository
op_collection_id ftmemorialuniv
language English
description On the island of Newfoundland a number of mafic- to ultramafic intrusions are exposed; most commonly in the Dunnage Zone. These intrusive suites occur in a variety of tectonic environments, and have variable relationships with their host rocks. Nickel is extracted from intrusive rocks of similar compositions throughout the world. This thesis evaluates the potential of three intrusive complexes in Newfoundland to host economic Ni-Cu sulphide and/or platinum group element (PGE) mineralization. -- The Red Cross Lake Intrusive Suite (RCLIS), located in central Newfoundland, is a ca. 431 Ma layered, mafic- to ultramafic intrusion. The Steel Mountain Anorthosite (SMA), located east of Stephenville, in the Southern Long Range Mountains, is a ca. 1275 Ma massive-type anorthosite that hosts abundant Fe-Ti oxides and variable mafic zones. The Taylor Brook Gabbro Suite (TBGS), located southeast of western White Bay, is a ca. 430 Ma gabbroic suite. -- The RCLIS is divided into an Upper and Lower Series (US and LS respectively). The LS is comprised of predominantly gabbro and troctolite layers with minor dunite, olivine gabbro and serpentinite. The US had a gabbroic- to leucogabbroic protolith that is variably altered to pyroxene amphibole gabbro. Geochemical data indicate the RCLIS exhibits an intermediate to alkaline and sub-alkaline composition and is tholeiitic. The RCLIS evolved through fractional crystallization; it exhibits a progressive decrease in MgO and an increase in FeO+Ti0₂ from the LS to the US. Sulfides comprise at most only a few weight percent; the maximum values are from country rock samples. Magmatic sulfides in the LS locally exhibit a high Ni tenor. Plagioclase composition averages An 69 in the LS and An 54 in the US, whereas paragneiss xenolith samples average An 47. Olivine composition averages Fo 83 in the LS and Fo 56 for the US; xenoliths average Fo 36. LS olivine is locally Ni-depleted with respect to its Fo content. δ³⁴S ratios exhibit a range of 5.64‰, from -1.79‰ to +3.85‰. The heaviest ratio ...
format Thesis
author Collins, Patrick G.
spellingShingle Collins, Patrick G.
A petrographic and geochemical characterization and the evaluation of the exploration potential for nickel sulfides in several mafic-ultramafic intrusive complexes in Newfoundland
author_facet Collins, Patrick G.
author_sort Collins, Patrick G.
title A petrographic and geochemical characterization and the evaluation of the exploration potential for nickel sulfides in several mafic-ultramafic intrusive complexes in Newfoundland
title_short A petrographic and geochemical characterization and the evaluation of the exploration potential for nickel sulfides in several mafic-ultramafic intrusive complexes in Newfoundland
title_full A petrographic and geochemical characterization and the evaluation of the exploration potential for nickel sulfides in several mafic-ultramafic intrusive complexes in Newfoundland
title_fullStr A petrographic and geochemical characterization and the evaluation of the exploration potential for nickel sulfides in several mafic-ultramafic intrusive complexes in Newfoundland
title_full_unstemmed A petrographic and geochemical characterization and the evaluation of the exploration potential for nickel sulfides in several mafic-ultramafic intrusive complexes in Newfoundland
title_sort petrographic and geochemical characterization and the evaluation of the exploration potential for nickel sulfides in several mafic-ultramafic intrusive complexes in newfoundland
publisher Memorial University of Newfoundland
publishDate 2007
url https://research.library.mun.ca/6648/
https://research.library.mun.ca/6648/1/PatrickGCollins.pdf
https://research.library.mun.ca/6648/3/PatrickGCollins.pdf
long_lat ENVELOPE(69.122,69.122,-48.912,-48.912)
geographic White Bay
geographic_facet White Bay
genre Newfoundland
genre_facet Newfoundland
op_relation https://research.library.mun.ca/6648/1/PatrickGCollins.pdf
https://research.library.mun.ca/6648/3/PatrickGCollins.pdf
Collins, Patrick G. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Collins=3APatrick_G=2E=3A=3A.html> (2007) A petrographic and geochemical characterization and the evaluation of the exploration potential for nickel sulfides in several mafic-ultramafic intrusive complexes in Newfoundland. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.
op_rights thesis_license
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