Geology and sulphide geochemistry of the Ni-Cu-Co mineralisation of the Espedalen Complex, Norway: Constraints for the distribution of magmatic sulphides within a variably deformed anorthosite suite

Abstract

The Espedalen Complex is located in the eastern portion of the Jotun–Valdres Nappe Complex, south-central Norway and comprises three main suites (jotunite-charnockite-augengneiss; main anorthosite–ultramafite–norite; and gabbronorite suites) formed between 1520 and 1500 Ma. The anorthosite-ultramafite-norite suite hosts Ni-Cu-Co mineralisations grouped as: i) ‘primary sulphides’ referring to undeformed occurrences with magmatic textures; ii) ‘deformed sulphides’ which include dismembered ore bodies; and iii) ‘remobilised sulphides’ which comprise thin sulphide veinlets indicating remobilisation. The ‘primary sulphides’ characterise the deposits of Dalen, Megrund, Trona, Veslegruva and Melgard, whereas the ‘deformed sulphides’ characterise the deposits of Stormyra, Storgruva, Andreasberg, Niccoline, Gråhøa, Jørstad and Grimstjønna. The largest mineralisations are the Dalen and Stormyra deposits, which host 5.3 Mt @ 0.29% Ni, 0.12% Cu and 0.02% Co, and 1.01 Mt @ 1.09% Ni, 0.48% Cu and 0.04% Co, respectively. This study provides the first systematic characterisation of the different Ni-Cu-Co mineralisations from the Espedalen Complex.Primary sulphides are typically hosted by medium-grained poikilitic olivine-orthopyroxenite, whereas deformed sulphides are hosted within shear zones, commonly within anorthosites. Primary and deformed occurrences comprise disseminated, net-textured and massive sulphides. The disseminated and semi-massive to massive sulphide ores from different localities comprise pyrrhotite and pentlandite with minor chalcopyrite. Post-magmatic sulphide alteration and recrystallisation (notably at Stormyra Deposit) are marked by variable (5 to 30%) development of pyrite, which replaces pyrrhotite-dominated masses. The remobilised sulphide assemblages are associated with retrograde silicates (e.g., chlorite and talc). Overall, primary and deformed sulphides can be divided into three main compositional groups based on metal tenors and the concentration of platinum-group elements (PGE): (i) Stormyra, Andreasberg (both deformed) and Megrund (primary) have the highest Ni and Cu tenors (7 to 8.5% and 3 to 3.5%, respectively) and no IPGE (Ir-group PGE) depletion relative to PPGE (Pt-group PGE); (ii) Dalen, Trona, Melgard (primary), Jørstad, Gråhøa and Grimstjønna (deformed) are similar regarding PGE distribution but have lower Ni and Cu tenors (4 to 5.5% and 1.6 to 3%, respectively); and (iii) Niccoline, Storgruva (deformed) and Veslegruva (primary) have comparable Ni and Cu tenors to group (ii), but are IPGE-depleted relative to PPGE (i.e. fractionated PGE distribution). The tenors vary from 0.3 to 2% Ni and 0.25 to 1.5% Cu in remobilised sulphides. Variations in metal tenors are interpreted to reflect a combination of different, but invariably PGE-depleted, parental magmas and variable R-factor regimes (R-factor varying from 350 to 700) during ore formation. The parental magmas can be modelled as the product of 15% mantle melting followed by approximately 2% crystallisation with sulphide removal, which lead to a PGE-depleted nature. Redistribution of sulphides during deformation of the Espedalen Complex seems to have taken place at large and small scales. Large-scale tectonic displacement has no major geochemical impact, whereas local remobilisation yielded sulphide veinlets with low metal tenors. We support that assessing if other geological domains, previously assigned to the Jotun-Valdres Nappe, are correlated or not with the Espedalen Complex is essential for further expanding this prospective area as these terrains could represent potential targets for Ni-Cu-Co deposits.