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Platinum mineralization in the Alaskan-type intrusive complexes near Fifield, New South Wales, Australia part 1. platinum-group minerals in clinopyroxenites of the Kelvin Grove prospect, owendale intrusion

Platin-Vererzung in intrusiven Komplexen des Alaska-Types bei Fif eld, New South. Wales, Australien Ted 1. Platingruppen-Minerale in Klinopyroxeniten des Kelvin Grove Prospektes, Owendale Intrusion

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Summary

Several Alaskan-type complexes intrude metasedimentary rocks of the Cambro-Ordovician Girilambone Group near Fifield, New South Wales, Australia. These intermediate to ultramafic circular intrusives, emplaced during the Devonian, are composed of monzodiorite, gabbro-norite, clinopyroxenite, hornblendite, peridotite and dunite. Several types of PGE mineralization associated with these complexes are known. A new type described here occurs within pegmatoid, biotite- and magnetite-poor clinopyroxenites (“P-units”) which form irregular lenses and vein-like bodies within biotite- and magnetite-rich, fine grained clinopyroxenites. The mineralized "P-units" are not enriched in base metal sulphides with respect to the surrounding barren clinopyroxenites.

The following PGM were identified: erlichmanite, isoferroplatinum, tetraferroplatinum, cooperite, cuprorhodsite, malanite, geversite, sperrylite, stumpflite, and several unidentified palladium antimonides. The early PGM (erlichmanite, (Pt-Fe) alloys, cooperite) were deposited from a fluid-rich system slightly before the end of clinopyroxene crystallization. The early mineralization stages are characterized by equilibrium crystallization whose order corresponds to the stability of PGE-sulphides as a function of temperature and fS2. Late PGMs are dominated by sperrylite-geversite solid solution resulting from the reaction of early PGM with a fluid phase. These minerals extensively replace cooperite and locally remobilize the PGE stock. Isoferroplatinum appears as a reaction product during this metasomatic replacement indicating a high iron activity in the fluid phase. The deposition of PtSb2 preceded that of PtAs2. Sperrylite and geversite are later than exsolution ilmenite lamellae in the interstitial Cr-rich magnetite.

Base metal sulphides are very rare, slightly later than PtAS2-PtSb2. Cobalt pentlandite and cobaltian pentlandite are the most common species, accompanied by pyrrhotite, pyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite and cobaltite. They are extensively replacing cooperite, but are in equilibrium with geversite-sperrylite.

The presence of the equilibrium association OsS2 + PtS implies a maximum temperature of 860°C, while the composition of cobalt-rich pentlandite indicates the highest stability limit of 670–710°C. Thus the temperature range of the formation of the Kelvin Grove mineralization can be estimated at about 850 to 650°C. The mineralization originated in a fluid-rich system which lowered the crystallization temperature of clinopyroxene. The precipitation of PGM is probably related to the appearance of a reducing fluid phase during final evolution stages of “P-units”, themselves emplaced in the most oxidized pyroxenites of the Owendale Complex.

Zusammenfassung

Intermediäre his ultrarnafische, konzentrisch gebaute Intrusionen des Alaska-Types intrudierten im Devon metasedimentare Gesteine der Karnbro-Ordovizischen Girilambone Gruppe in der Ndhe von Fifield, New South Wales, Australien. Sie bestehen aus Monzodioriten, Gabbro-Noriten, Klinopyroxeniten, Hornblenditen, Peridotiten und Duniten. Mit diesen sind verschiedene Typen von Platin-Vererzung assoziiert. Ein neuer Typ, der hier beschrieben wird, tritt in Pegmatoiden, Biotit und Magnetit-armen Klinopyroxeniten (“P-Einheiten”) auf, die unregelmäßige Linsen und gangförmige Körper innerhalb Biotit- und Magnetit-reicher, feinkörniger Klinopyroxenite bilden. Die mineralisierten "P-Einheiten" sind im Vergleich zu den sic umgebenden erzfreien Klinopyroxeniten nicht mit Buntmetall-Sulfiden angereichert.

Folgende PGM wurden bestimmt: Erlichmanit, Isoferroplatinum, Tetraferroplatinum, Cooperit, Cuprorhodsit, Malanit, Geversit, Sperrylit, Stumpflit, und einige Palladium-Antimonide bisher nicht bekannter Zusammensetzung. Die frühen PGM (Erlichmanit, (Pt-Fe) Legierung, Cooperit) wurden von einem fluid-reichen System kurz vor dem Ende der Klinopyroxen-Kristallisation abgesetzt. Die fruhen Vererzungsstadien sind durch Gleichgewichts-Kristallisation charakterisiert, deren Abfolge der Stabilität der PGE-Sulfide als einer Funktion von Temperatur und fS2 entspricht. Spdtere PGM werden von Sperrylit-Geversit Mischreihen dominiert, die aus der Reaktion früh gebildeter PGM mit einer fluiden Phase entstanden sind. Diese Minerale verdrangen Cooperit extensiv und rernobilisieren lokal das Reservoir an PGE. Isoferroplatin erscheint als ein Reaktionsprodukt während dieser Phase metasomatischer Verdrdngung; es weist auf hohe Eisenaktivität in der fluiden Phase hin. Der Absatz von PtSb2 erfolgte vor dem von PtAs2, Sperrylit und Geversit sind junger als Entmischungslamellen von Ilmenit im chromreichen Magnetit der Matrix.

Buntmetallsulfide sind außerordentlich selten, und etwas junger als PtAs2-PtSb2 gebildet. Kobalt-Pentlandit und Kobalt-führender Pentlandit sind die verbreitetsten Typen und werden von Pyrrhotit, Pyrit, Kupferkies, Zinkblende und Kobaltit begleitet. Sie verdrangen extensiv den Cooperit, sind aber im Gleichgewicht mit Geversit-Sperrylit.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. GIS BRGM-CNRS, Centre de Recherches sur la Synthèse et la Chimie des Mineŕaux, 1A, rue de la Feèrollerie, 45071, Orleans,Cedex 2, France

    Z. Johan &  M. Ohnenstetter

  2. Geological Survey of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

    E. Slansky,  L. M. Barron &  D. Suppel

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  1. Z. Johan
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  2. M. Ohnenstetter
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  3. E. Slansky
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  4. L. M. Barron
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  5. D. Suppel
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Johan, Z., Ohnenstetter, M., Slansky, E. et al. Platinum mineralization in the Alaskan-type intrusive complexes near Fifield, New South Wales, Australia part 1. platinum-group minerals in clinopyroxenites of the Kelvin Grove prospect, owendale intrusion. Mineralogy and Petrology 40, 289–309 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01164604

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