Ni-Cu-PGE-Cr-V bearing layered mafic-ultramafic intrusions of Russia—preface to a thematic issue

Abstract

Layered mafic-ultramafic intrusions host some of the world’s largest ore deposits, notably in the Bushveld Complex of South Africa, the Great Dyke of Zimbabwe, and the Stillwater Complex of Montana. More than 400 intrusions have so far been discovered globally, but many remain little studied. This thematic issue contains papers on several layered intrusions from Russia (and including data on some coeval Finnish intrusions) that were presented at the 12th International Platinum Symposium in Yekaterinburg, Russia, in August 2014. This conference served as a showcase of ongoing research on Russian mafic-ultramafic intrusions and their PGE-Ni-Cu-Cr-V mineralization. Most of the intrusions remain poorly known outside Russia yet have a long history of exploration and mining going back several decades. In the present issue, papers are presented on the ∼2.5 Ga Monchepluton, the 1.85–1.88 Ga Chineysky intrusion and the 728 Ma Yoko-Dovyren intrusion, which host important Cu-Ni, V-Ti, and PGE ore deposits mined in the past and/or presently.