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Platinum-group minerals and tetraauricupride in ophiolitic rocks of Skyros island, Greece

Minerale der Platingruppe und Tetraauricuprid in Ophiolithen der Insel Skyros, Griechenland

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Summary

In the serpentinizedophiolitic rocks from Skyros island, two distinct assemblages of base metal sulphides (BMS) and platinum-group minerals (PGM) occur. The first (early) generation is associated with chromitites which are enriched in platinum-group elements (PGE). The highest values were recorded in samples from Achladones (Ru 1210, Ir 780, Os 630, Rh 228, Pt 208, Pd 22; all values in ppb). Mineral inclusions in chromite consist of Ni-Fe sulphides and Os-rich laurite, and crystallized at high sulphur fugacity (fS2) during chromite formation. The second (late) generation is closely associated with Au-rich, PGE-poor magnetite ores which host a complex assemblage of inclusions consisting mainly of graphite, Cu-Fe- and pure Cu sulphides, sperrylite and tetraauricupride. Their accompanying hydrous silicates are Cl-bearing. It is assumed that this mineral assemblage was deposited by hydrothermal processes during serpentinization.

Zusammenfassung

In den serpentinisierten Ophiolithen der Insel Skyros wurden zwei unterschiedliche Bildungsgenerationen von Sulfiden (BMS) und Platinmineralen (PGM) festgestellt. Die erste (frühere) Generation ist an Chromitite gebunden, die hohe Gehalte an Elementen der Platingruppe (PGE) aufweisen. Die höchsten PGE-Kontzentrationen wurden in den Proben der Lokalität Achladones gefunden (Ru 1210, Ir 780, Os 630, Rh 228, Pt 208, Pd 22; alle Gehalte in ppb). Die Einschlüsse in Chromit bestehen aus Ni-Fe Sulfiden und Os-reichem Laurit. Diese Minerale kristallisierten bei hoher Schwefelfugazität (fS2) während der Bildung der Chromite. Die zweite (spätere) Generation ist eng assoziiert mit Au-reichen und PGE-armen Magnetiten. Sie führen eine komplexe Einschluß-Paragenese bestehend aus Graphit, Cu-Fe- und reinen Cu Sulfiden sowie Sperrylith und Tetraauricuprid. Die begleitenden Hydrosilikate sind Cl-haltig. Die Bildung dieser Mineralparagenese wird durch hydrothermale Prozesse während der Serpentinisierung erklärt.

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Tarkian, M., Economou-Eliopoulos, M. & Eliopoulos, D.G. Platinum-group minerals and tetraauricupride in ophiolitic rocks of Skyros island, Greece. Mineralogy and Petrology 47, 55–66 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01165297

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