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Chalcophile element (Ni, Cu, PGE, and Au) variations in the Tamarack magmatic sulfide deposit in the Midcontinent Rift System: implications for dynamic ore-forming processes

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Abstract

The Tamarack magmatic sulfide deposit is hosted by the Tamarack Intrusive Complex (1105.6 ± 1.2 Ma) in the Midcontinent Rift System. The most important sulfide mineralization in the Complex occurs in the northern part, which consists of two separate intrusive units: an early funnel-shaped layered peridotite body containing relatively fine-grained olivine (referred to as the FGO Intrusion) at the top, and a late gabbro-troctolite-peridotite dike-like body containing relatively coarse-grained olivine (referred to as the CGO Intrusion) at the bottom. Disseminated, net-textured, and massive sulfides occur in the base of the FGO Intrusion as well as in the upper part of the CGO Intrusion. The widest part of the CGO Intrusion also hosts a large semi-massive (net-textured) sulfide ore body locally surrounded by disseminated sulfide mineralization. Small massive sulfide veins occur in the footwall of the FGO Intrusion and in the wall rocks of the CGO dike. The sulfide mineralization is predominantly composed of pyrrhotite, pentlandite, and chalcopyrite, plus minor magnetite. Pyrrhotite containing the highest Ni and Co contents occurs in the FGO disseminated sulfides and in the CGO semi-massive sulfide ores, respectively. The most important platinum-group minerals associated with the base metal sulfides are sperrylite (PtAs2), sudburyite (PdSb), and michenerite (PdBiTe). Nickel shows a strong positive correlation with S in all types of sulfide mineralization, and Cu shows a strong positive correlation with S in the disseminated sulfide mineralization. At a given S content, the concentrations of Pt, Pd, and Au in the CGO disseminated sulfides are significantly higher than those in the FGO disseminated sulfides. The semi-massive sulfide ores are characterized by significantly higher IPGE (Ir, Os, Ru, and Rh) concentrations than most of the massive sulfide ores. With few exceptions, all of the various textural types of sulfide mineralization collectively show a good positive correlation between Pt and Pd, and between individual IPGE. At a given Pt or Pd content, however, the semi-massive sulfide ores have higher IPGE contents than the disseminated sulfide samples. Modeling results show that the variations in PGE tenors (metals in recalculated 100 % sulfide) in the Tamarack magmatic sulfide deposit are mainly controlled by variable R factors (magma/sulfide-liquid mass ratios) during sulfide-liquid segregation and subsequent monosulfide solid solution (MSS) fractionation during cooling. The initial contents of Ir, Pt, and Pd in the parental magma, estimated from the metal tenors of the disseminated sulfides, are 0.2, 2, and 1.8 ppb, respectively, which are ∼1/5 of the values for the PGE-undepleted primitive basalts of the Midcontinent Rift System. The variations of PGE tenors in the semi-massive and massive sulfide ores can be explained by MSS fractional crystallization from sulfide liquids. Extreme variations in the PGE contents of the massive sulfides may also in part reflect metal mobility during post-crystallization hydrothermal processes. The higher PGE tenors for the disseminated sulfides in the CGO dike relative to those in the FGO Intrusion are consistent with formation in a dynamic conduit where the early sulfide liquids left in the conduit by the FGO magma were subsequently upgraded by the subsequent surge of the CGO magma. The relatively low PGE tenors for the semi-massive and massive sulfides can be explained by lack of such an upgrading process for the sulfide due to their distal locations in a migrating conduit.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Rio Tinto and Kennecott Exploration for providing funding for research expenses and for providing access to drill cores and exploration files; David Simpson of Rio Tinto for help with various phases of the research; Rio Tinto geologists, technicians, and staff at the Tamarack site; and the staff at the Hibbing core library for assistance with sampling of Tamarack drill cores. Constructive reviews from Tony Naldrett, Jim Mungall, and Michael Lesher are greatly appreciated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geological Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA

    Valentina Taranovic, Edward M. Ripley & Chusi Li

  2. Rio Tinto Exploration (Kennecott Exploration), Duluth, MN, 55810, USA

    Dean Rossell

Authors
  1. Valentina Taranovic
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  2. Edward M. Ripley
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  3. Chusi Li
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  4. Dean Rossell
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Correspondence to Valentina Taranovic.

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Editorial handling: C.M. Lesher and G. Beaudoin

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Taranovic, V., Ripley, E.M., Li, C. et al. Chalcophile element (Ni, Cu, PGE, and Au) variations in the Tamarack magmatic sulfide deposit in the Midcontinent Rift System: implications for dynamic ore-forming processes. Miner Deposita 51, 937–951 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00126-016-0643-2

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