Downdip Development of the Ni-Cu-PGE-Bearing Mafic to Ultramafic Uitkomst Complex, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa

The about 2055-Ma-old mafic to ultramafic Uitkomst Complex in the Mpumalanga Province of South Africa hosts the low-grade-large-tonnage Ni-Cu-PGE deposit, Nkomati. The complex is regarded to represent a satellite to the Bushveld Complex and a feeder to an eroded magmatic reservoir in the southeast. Aeromagnetic surveys and previous drilling indicated an overall northwestern-downdip extension of the complex, but the question is to what extent and in which expression can the complete intrusion be found under cover in the northwest? Answering this, a mineralogical, geochemical and geochronological investigation of a borehole intersection of the whole complex at Little Mamre was carried out, using petrography, XRF, EPMA and LA-ICP-MS U–Pb analyses of zircons for age determination. Although the total thickness of the rock units is larger than to the southeast, emplacement, litho- and mineral chemistry trends, expression of alteration mineralogy and style of sulphide mineralisation are similar. The amount of sulphide mineralisation is on average less than in the southeast. The upper ultramafic unit contains, more frequently, pegmatoidal sections, and the Chromitiferous Harzburgite unit has less massive chromitite layers than the southeastern parts of the complex, whereas the gabbro(-norite) units contain more interstitial liquid with late-stage minerals. The findings confirm that the anvil-shaped intrusion in cross section continues with increased thickness towards northwest at a shallow dip; although approaching the deeper part of the igneous reservoir, mineral compositions are partially more evolved. The overall mineralogical consistency downdip supports a situation of multiple magma replenishment along a flat-lying, northwest–southeast trending conduit, resulting in an evolved cumulus mineral assemblage in the upper part.

Gold and tin mineralisation in the ultramafic-hosted Cheoeum vent field, Central Indian Ridge

The Cheoeum vent field (CVF) is the first example of an inactive ultramafic-hosted seafloor massive sulphide (SMS) deposit identified in the middle part of the Central Indian Ridge. Here, we report on the detailed mineralogy and geochemistry of ultramafic-hosted sulphide sample atop a chimney, together with a few small fragments. Hydrothermal chimneys are characterised by high concentrations of Au (up to 17.8 ppm) and Sn (up to 1720 ppm). The sulphide mineralisation in the CVF shows (1) early precipitation of anhedral sphalerite and pyrite–marcasite aggregates under relatively low-temperature (< 250 °C) fluid conditions; (2) intensive deposition of subhedral pyrrhotite, isocubanite, chalcopyrite, Fe-rich sphalerite (Sp-III), and electrum from high-temperature (250–365 °C) and reduced fluids in the main mineralisation stage; and (3) a seawater alteration stage distinguished by the mineral assemblage of marcasite pseudomorphs, altered isocubanite phase, covellite, amorphous silica, and Fe-oxyhydroxides. Electrum (< 2 μm in size) is the principal form of Au mineralisation and is mainly associated with the main mineralisation stage. The consistently high fineness of electrum (801 to 909‰) is indicative of the selective saturation of Au over Ag in the fluid during high-temperature mineralisation, which differs from the Au mineralisation associated with typical basaltic-hosted hydrothermal systems on mid-ocean ridges. Tin is mainly substituted in structures of sphalerite, isocubanite, and chalcopyrite as a solid solution, and not as mineral inclusions. The continuously ascending hydrothermal fluids enable the early formed Sn-bearing sulphide to be dissolved and reprecipitated, producing significantly Sn-enriched replacement boundaries between isocubanite and Sp-III. This study suggests that Au–Sn mineralisation could be facilitated by the low redox potential of ultramafic-hosted hydrothermal systems such as in the CVF, which may be a common occurrence along slow-spreading mid-ocean ridges.

Contact-style magmatic sulphide mineralisation in the Labrador Trough, northern Quebec, Canada: implications for regional prospectivity

The Labrador Trough in northern Quebec is currently the focus of ongoing exploration for magmatic Ni-Cu-platinum group element (PGE) sulphide ores. This geological belt hosts voluminous basaltic sills and lavas of the Montagnais Sill Complex, which are locally emplaced among sulphidic metasedimentary country rocks. The recently discovered Idefix PGE-Cu prospect represents a stack of gabbroic sills that host stratiform patchy disseminated to net-textured sulphides (0.2–0.4 g/t PGE+Au) over a thickness of ∼20 m, for up to 7 km. In addition, globular sulphides occur at the base of the sill, adjacent to the metasedimentary floor rocks. Whole-rock and PGE geochemistry indicates that the sills share a common source and that the extracted magma underwent significant fractionation before emplacement in the upper crust. To develop the PGE-enriched ores, sulphide melt saturation was attained before final emplacement, peaking at R factors of ∼10 000. Globular sulphides entrained along the base of the sill ingested crustally derived arsenic and were ultimately preserved in the advancing chilled margin.

Spatial Distribution of the Hydrothermal Black Matrix Breccia and its Impact on the Irish-type Zn-Pb Mineralisation

&lt;p&gt;The Mississippian Waulsortian Formation of the Irish Midlands hosts a number of significant Zn-Pb mines including Lisheen, Galmoy and Silvermines. Consisting predominantly of sphalerite, galena and pyrite, the deposits are intimately associated with hydrothermal dolomite and dolomitic breccias, commonly referred to as &amp;#8220;Black Matrix Breccia&amp;#8221; (BMB). The hydrothermal dolomite and associated breccias form a predominantly tabular body that largely envelops the zone of sulphide mineralisation. A wide variety of mineralisation styles and textures are recognized, however the majority of the mineralisation resulted through replacement of this hydrothermal dolomite. Recent geochemical evidence indicates that the hydrothermal dolomite contains distinct geochemical signatures that may be useful in sulphide exploration within the Irish Midlands. To date, little work has been conducted on the spatial distribution and variability of this significant hydrothermal dolomite and the role it plays in ore genesis within the Irish Midlands. Through detailed petrographic characterisation, this study documents the distribution of the hydrothermal dolomite. This distribution helps constrain the origin of the massive Zn-Pb deposits and forms an important tool for future mineral exploration in the Irish Orefield.&lt;/p&gt;