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Pre-metamorphic folded chromite deposits of stratiform type in the early Precambrian of West Greenland

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Abstract

The low-grade chromite deposits at Fiskenaesset, West Greenland, occur in 0,5–20 m wide horizons in anorthosites which represent the main component of an original layered intrusion, the Fiskenaesset complex. An exposed length of 125 km of this has been mapped, forming conformable stratigraphic horizons in the early Precambrian gneiss basement. The pre-metamorphic chromite deposits have been affected by at least two major phases of folding and metamorphism, but magmatic features are still recognizable. Mineralogical data on the chromite are given together with the petrography of the chromitite. The primary magmatic and secondary metamorphic features of the Fiskenaesset deposits are described and discussed in relation with similar chromite deposits of stratiform type elsewhere in the world.

Zusammenfassung

Im Gebiet von Fiskenaesset, Westgrönland, treten 0,5–20 m mächtige Chromit-Bänder in anorthositischen Gesteinen auf. Die Anorthosite liegen in alt-präkambrischen Gneisen („basement“) und stellen den Hauptanteil des intrusiven Fiskenaesset-Komplexes dar. Dieser Komplex konnte bisher auf eine streichende Länge von 125 km nachgewiesen werden. Er liegt als konforme stratigraphische Einheit in den Gneisen. Der Komplex mit seinen schichtgebundenen Chromit-Vorkommen wurde während mehrerer Deformationsperioden stark beansprucht und dabei hochmetamorph überprägt. Anhand von mineralogischen und petrographischen Untersuchungen werden die primären, magmatischen Merkmale im Verhältnis zu den sekundären, metamorphen Merkmalen der Chromite besprochen. Es werden Vergleiche zu ähnlichen Chromit-Lagerstätten gezogen.

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Ghisler, M. Pre-metamorphic folded chromite deposits of stratiform type in the early Precambrian of West Greenland. Mineral. Deposita 5, 223–236 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00201989

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