Light-rare earth element-rich minerals associated with platinum-group element mineralization in the Archean Boston Creek Flow, Ontario

Abstract

A variety of LREE-rich minerals are associated with late magmatic-stage platinum-group element (PGE) mineralization [Σ(PGE + Au) = 300 ppb) in unsheared clinopyroxenite and gabbro proximal to sheared amphibolite in the Boston Creek Flow (BCF) Al-depleted komatiitic basalt, Archean Abitibi greenstone belt, Ontario. The LREE-rich minerals are LREE-rich apatite (La2O3 + Ce2O3 ≥ 1.5 wt%), LREE-rich epidote (Ce, La: 12 wt% ΣREE), and bastnaesite [(Ce,La)(CO3)(F,OH)]. The LREE-rich apatite forms rare zones in altered apatite grains and discrete, multifaceted micrometric-sized grains. LREE-rich epidote forms large (up to 100 ,μm), compositionally zones grains in amphibolitized plagioclase. Bastnaesite forms areas marginal to and veinlets within the LREE-rich epidote and analyses are characterized by up to 0.4 wt% Cl. Compared to other unsheared rocks from the flow, the REE-rich mineral host rocks contain: intermediate REE contents (ΣREE = 38 to 71 ppm), Ba contents (up to 240 ppm), and U/Th values (0.3 to 7.2); variable Cl contents (21 to 60 ppm); and slightly elevated δ34S values (up to 3.3). In contrast, the sheared amphibolite is characterized by low contents of REE (ΣREE = 25 ppm), Cl (15 ppm), Ba (20 ppm), U (0.5 ppm), and Th (0.4 ppm), and a distinctive chondrite-normalized whole-rock REE pattern profile [(La/Sm)n = <2 and (Tb/Yb)n = < 1).