Abstract
The 3D-mineralogical technology was used to study a representative selection of grains of thiospineles from three groups of chromitite horizons (lower LG6, middle MG1/MG2 and upper UG2): 46 grains of malanite (4–42 μm) and 34 grains of cuprorhodsite (9–42 μm). Their microprobe analysis was performed (n = 61). The statistics for this selection of grains have resulted in the following formulas: for malanite, (Сu2+,Fe2+)(Pt3+Rh3+,Ir3+,Co3+,Ni3+Fe3+)2S4 and for cuprorhodsite, (Сu2+,Fe2+)(Rh3+,Pt3+,Ir3+,Fe3+)2S4. According to morphological properties and their relationship with platinum-group minerals (PGMs) and base metal sulfides, thiospinel can be attributed to the earliest primary PGMs in chromitites. The distribution of cuprorhodsite and malanite in chromitites was controlled by the Rayleigh fractionation of the primary sulfide melt in the process of formation of Bushveld chromitite horizons.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
