Abstract
The Nuasahi ultramafic–mafic complex, in Orissa, India, contains high concentrations of platinum-group elements (Pt up to 9.6 ppm, Pd up to 17.9 ppm) and Ag (up to 6.6 ppm) in a chromiferous sulfide-rich breccia zone. The plutonic complex occurs within an Archean belt of supracrustal rocks. The complex consists of an ultramafic unit in fault contact with and overlain by gabbros whose stratigraphic top is characterized by a zone of brecciation. Lode chromite deposits occur in the ultramafic suite and are currently being mined. Magnesiochromite compositions in the lodes are refractory and show little variation within the ultramafic suite (Cr 2 O 3 ~60%, Al 2 O 3 ~12%, MgO ~15%). Sudburyite, (Pd,Bi)Sb, members of the michenerite–testibiopalladite series, and irarsite–hollingworthite (IrAsS–RhAsS) are the common platinum-group minerals (PGM) in the chromite–sulfide assemblage of the breccia zone. Sudburyite is preferentially included within coarse-grained ferrian chromite, along with numerous inclusions of chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite, rutile, ilmenite and oriented lamellae of clinochlore. The distinctive noble-metal composition (high Pd, Pt and Ag with high Cu) and dominant Pd–Bi–Te–Sb-bearing PGM in the mineralized portion indicate its evolved nature. Mineralization developed by magmatic processes; a hybrid magma resulting from partial incorporation of serpentinized chromite-bearing ultramafic rocks and chromitite in the younger gabbroic magma was emplaced within the pre-existing breccia zone. The breccia zone developed during brittle deformation along a NNW-trending shear zone.
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