Pt, Pd and other trace elements in sulfides of the main sulfide zone, Great Dyke, Zimbabwe: A reconnaissance study

Greg Mcmahon, T Oberthur, L J Cabri, T W Weisner, G McMahon, P Muller

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    Three ore samples from the Main Sulfide Zone (MSZ) of the Great Dyke, in Zimbabwe, were investigated by a combination of mineralogical and micro-analytical techniques including optical microscopy, electron, proton, and ion microprobes. The sulfide mineralogy mainly comprises pyrrhotite + pentlandite + chalcopyrite +/- pyrite. Other opaque minerals present are rutile, ilmenite, chromite, loveringite, and rare platinum-group minerals (PGM), such as sperrylite, cooperite, moncheite, and merenskyite. The micro-analytical methods employed demonstrate the presence of variable concentrations of the platinum-group elements (PGE) in pyrrhotite, pentlandite, chalcopyrite, and pyrite. The following maximum values were obtained by PIXE analysis: 64 ppmw Pt and 35 ppmw Ru in pyrrhotite, 300 ppmw Pd and 182 ppmw Ph in pentlandite, Pd, Ru and Ph below MDL in chalcopyrite, and 233 ppmw Pt and 40 ppmw Ru in pyrite. SIMS analyses confirmed the presence of Pt in pentlandite (range
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)597-609
    Number of pages13
    JournalCanadian Mineralogist
    Volume35
    Publication statusPublished - 1997

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