Abstract
Research subject. World-class sulphide platinum-group-element (PGE)-Cu-Ni deposits occur within the Noril’sk-Talnakh region of northern Siberia, Russia. The signifcance of these deposits presents opportunities to determine the most effective approaches for the search of similar deposits using commercial PGE-Cu-Ni deposit examples. Materials and methods. Petrological and geochemical analysis of the ultramafc-mafc intrusions of the Noril’sk province ranks them into three types in terms of sulphide mineralization style and economic signifcance: 1) economic intrusions containing unique and large sulphide PGE-Cu-Ni deposits (Oktyabr’sk, Talnakh and Noril’sk-1); 2) subeconomic intrusions that contain small- to medium-sized Cu-Ni sulphide deposits, and medium-sized to large PGE deposits (Chernogorsk, Zub-Marksheider, Vologochan, etc.); 3) uneconomic intrusions that contain low-grade disseminated Cu-Ni ores with ≈0.2 wt % of Cu and Ni, and low Cr and PGE (Nizhny Talnakh, Zelyonaya Griva, etc.). Results and conclusions. Principal sources used in exploration for rich sulphide PGE-Cu-Ni ores include structural, magmatic, stratigraphic-lithological, geochemical, mineralogical, metamorphic and some others. Based on an analysis of isotope-geochemical data, new indicators for locating sulphide PGE-Cu-Ni mineralization are suggested. A restricted range of S-isotope values, and a negative trend for coupled S-Cu isotope compositions can be employed as useful guides to assess the economic potential of a PGE-Cu-Ni sulphide deposit. It is proposed that the Chernogorsk ultramafc-mafc intrusion of the Noril’sk province is the most promising target in a search for rich PGE-Cu-Ni ores. It is suggested that the previously known mineralogical-geochemical and novel isotope-geochemical characteristics of sulphide and silicate minerals are important indicators in assessing the potential ore content of ultramafc-mafc intrusions of the Noril’sk province.
Highlights
The ultramafic-mafic Noril’sk-type intrusions in the northern part of Siberia (Russia) host one of the world’s major economic platinum-group-element (PGE)-Cu-Ni sulphide deposits
Sulphide PGE-Cu-Ni deposits related to the Noril’sk-1, Talhakh and Kharaelakh mafic-ultramafic intrusions are located in the northwestern part of the Siberian Craton (Russia)
Major minerals Pyrrhotite, troilite, chalcopyrite, Troilite, pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite, cu- Pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite, magnepentlandite, cubanite, magnetite, banite, cobalt pentlandite (Со is up tite, ilmenite platinum group mineral (PGM) to 3.7 wt %)
Summary
The ultramafic-mafic Noril’sk-type intrusions in the northern part of Siberia (Russia) host one of the world’s major economic platinum-group-element (PGE)-Cu-Ni sulphide deposits. Since the discovery of economic sulphide PGECu-Ni deposits within the Noril’sk province (as in other ore districts globally), there has been a continuous search for reliable criteria and indicators for forecas ting these deposits (Map of prospective evaluation..., 1976, 1979; Lyakhnitskaya, Tuganova, 1977; Exploration criteria..., 1978; Malitch et al, 1987; Likhachev, 1986; Metallogenic map..., 1984, 1987; Principles and methods..., 1987; Stepanov, 1989; Dyuzhikov et al, 1988; Tuganova, 2000; Naldrett, 2004; Rad’ko, 2016, Malitch et al, 2018b, among others). In this article I attempt to review earlier known prediction criteria together with a novel set of key isotopic-geochemical indicators that can be used in exploration for sulphide PGE-Cu-Ni rich ores
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