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Chalcophile and platinum-group element (PGE) concentrations in the sulfide minerals from the McCreedy East deposit, Sudbury, Canada, and the origin of PGE in pyrite

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Abstract

Magmatic sulfide deposits consist of pyrrhotite, pentlandite, chalcopyrite (± pyrite), and platinum-group minerals (PGM). Understanding the distribution of the chalcophile and platinum-group element (PGE) concentrations among the base metal sulfide phases and PGM is important both for the petrogenetic models of the ores and for the efficient extraction of the PGE. Typically, pyrrhotite and pentlandite host much of the PGE, except Pt which forms Pt minerals. Chalcopyrite does not host PGE and the role of pyrite has not been closely investigated. The Ni–Cu–PGE ores from the South Range of Sudbury are unusual in that sulfarsenide PGM, rather than pyrrhotite and pentlandite, are the main carrier of PGE, probably as the result of arsenic contribution to the sulfide liquid by the As-bearing metasedimentary footwall rocks. In comparison, the North Range deposits of Sudbury, such as the McCreedy East deposit, have As-poor granites in the footwall, and the ores commonly contain pyrite. Our results show that in the pyrrhotite-rich ores of the McCreedy East deposit Os, Ir, Ru, Rh (IPGE), and Re are concentrated in pyrrhotite, pentlandite, and surprisingly in pyrite. This indicates that sulfarsenides, which are not present in the ores, were not important in concentrating PGE in the North Range of Sudbury. Palladium is present in pentlandite and, together with Pt, form PGM such as (PtPd)(TeBi)2. Platinum is also found in pyrite. Two generations of pyrite are present. One pyrite is primary and locally exsolved from monosulfide solid solution (MSS) in small amounts (<2 wt.%) together with pyrrhotite and pentlandite. This pyrite is unexpectedly enriched in IPGE, As (± Pt) and the concentrations of these elements are oscillatory zoned. The other pyrite is secondary and formed by alteration of the MSS cumulates by late magmatic/hydrothermal fluids. This pyrite is unzoned and has inherited the low concentrations of IPGE and Re from the pyrrhotite and pentlandite that it has replaced.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the technical support from McCreedy East/Coleman Mine and the Exploration groups from Vale for their assistance and cooperation, D Savard for his support with whole rock and LA-ICP-MS analyses, M Choquette for his assistance with the EMP analyses and X-ray mapping, and J. Brenan of the University of Toronto for providing sulfide standards for LA-ICP-MS analyses. We greatly appreciate the detailed reviews of B. Godel and F. Melcher which improved this manuscript and the editorial handling of B. Lehmann and C. Li. This work was funded by the Canadian Research Chair in Magmatic Metallogeny and NSERC Discovery Grant.

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  1. Sciences de la Terre, Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, 555 bld. de l’Université, Saguenay, PQ, G7H 2B1, Canada

    Sarah A. S. Dare & Sarah-Jane Barnes

  2. School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, Cardiff University, Main Building, Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, UK

    Hazel M. Prichard & Peter C. Fisher

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  1. Sarah A. S. Dare
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  2. Sarah-Jane Barnes
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Correspondence to Sarah A. S. Dare.

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Editorial handling: C. Li

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Dare, S.A.S., Barnes, SJ., Prichard, H.M. et al. Chalcophile and platinum-group element (PGE) concentrations in the sulfide minerals from the McCreedy East deposit, Sudbury, Canada, and the origin of PGE in pyrite. Miner Deposita 46, 381–407 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00126-011-0336-9

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