Geochemical Distribution of Platinum Metals, Gold and Silver in Intrusive Rocks of the Norilsk Region

The Norilsk ore district is one of the world leaders in the production of platinum metals. Long-term research focused on the detection of sulfide platinum-copper-nickel ores contributed to the accumulation of a large volume of scientific material on the geology and mineralization of the Norilsk area...

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Main Authors: Ludmila Canhimbue, Irina Talovina
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-05-01
Series:Minerals
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/13/6/719
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author Ludmila Canhimbue
Irina Talovina
author_facet Ludmila Canhimbue
Irina Talovina
author_sort Ludmila Canhimbue
collection DOAJ
description The Norilsk ore district is one of the world leaders in the production of platinum metals. Long-term research focused on the detection of sulfide platinum-copper-nickel ores contributed to the accumulation of a large volume of scientific material on the geology and mineralization of the Norilsk area. Despite this, the issue of the composition of the initial melt for ore-bearing intrusive complexes and its degree of enrichment with noble metals remains open. Intrusive rocks of the Norilsk region are rarely analyzed for their ratio of noble metals. However, the analysis and comparison of geochemical parameters of different types of intrusions allows us to draw important conclusions not only about the composition of the initial magmas of ore-bearing complexes, but also about the formation conditions of the intrusions. This study demonstrates the distribution of platinum metals, gold and silver in the main petrographic differentiates of the Kharaelakh, Talnakh, Vologochan intrusions and Kruglogorsk-type intrusion. The regularities and variations of the distribution of metals depend on the host rocks. There are two series of rocks in the inner structure of the ore-bearing intrusions: 1. Picritic and taxitic gabbro-dolerites enriched in PGE-Au-Ag mineralization which forms disseminated ores at intrusion bottoms (ore-bearing rocks). 2. Olivine-, olivine-bearing, olivine-free gabbro-dolerites and leucogabbro with poor sulfide mineralization at the upper part of the intrusions (ore-free rocks). There is a distinct correlation between PGE, Cu, S and to a lesser extent correlation with Ni in the first rock group, which is a characteristic of sulfide PGE-Cu-Ni deposits. In the second group, correlations are also revealed, but the correlation coefficients are lower. The main element controlling the distribution of platinum metals is copper. The taxitic gabbro-dolerites of the Talnakh intrusion are the most enriched by noble metals. According to noble metal patterns the rocks of the Kharaelakh intrusion show the highest degree of melting of the initial mantle material during the formation of parental magmas chambers. Despite some differences, the geochemical features of the studied rocks indicate the similar characteristics of the accumulation of gold, silver and platinum metals in the intrusions of the Talnakh, Kruglogorsk and Zubovsk types, which allow suggesting the close conditions for the formation of ore mineralization of these intrusions.
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spelling doaj.art-1b1b9e4a1d8949c1a595351c88cdde7c2023-11-18T11:44:37ZengMDPI AGMinerals2075-163X2023-05-0113671910.3390/min13060719Geochemical Distribution of Platinum Metals, Gold and Silver in Intrusive Rocks of the Norilsk RegionLudmila Canhimbue0Irina Talovina1Department of Historical and Dynamic Geology, Saint Petersburg Mining University, 119106 Saint Petersburg, RussiaDepartment of Historical and Dynamic Geology, Saint Petersburg Mining University, 119106 Saint Petersburg, RussiaThe Norilsk ore district is one of the world leaders in the production of platinum metals. Long-term research focused on the detection of sulfide platinum-copper-nickel ores contributed to the accumulation of a large volume of scientific material on the geology and mineralization of the Norilsk area. Despite this, the issue of the composition of the initial melt for ore-bearing intrusive complexes and its degree of enrichment with noble metals remains open. Intrusive rocks of the Norilsk region are rarely analyzed for their ratio of noble metals. However, the analysis and comparison of geochemical parameters of different types of intrusions allows us to draw important conclusions not only about the composition of the initial magmas of ore-bearing complexes, but also about the formation conditions of the intrusions. This study demonstrates the distribution of platinum metals, gold and silver in the main petrographic differentiates of the Kharaelakh, Talnakh, Vologochan intrusions and Kruglogorsk-type intrusion. The regularities and variations of the distribution of metals depend on the host rocks. There are two series of rocks in the inner structure of the ore-bearing intrusions: 1. Picritic and taxitic gabbro-dolerites enriched in PGE-Au-Ag mineralization which forms disseminated ores at intrusion bottoms (ore-bearing rocks). 2. Olivine-, olivine-bearing, olivine-free gabbro-dolerites and leucogabbro with poor sulfide mineralization at the upper part of the intrusions (ore-free rocks). There is a distinct correlation between PGE, Cu, S and to a lesser extent correlation with Ni in the first rock group, which is a characteristic of sulfide PGE-Cu-Ni deposits. In the second group, correlations are also revealed, but the correlation coefficients are lower. The main element controlling the distribution of platinum metals is copper. The taxitic gabbro-dolerites of the Talnakh intrusion are the most enriched by noble metals. According to noble metal patterns the rocks of the Kharaelakh intrusion show the highest degree of melting of the initial mantle material during the formation of parental magmas chambers. Despite some differences, the geochemical features of the studied rocks indicate the similar characteristics of the accumulation of gold, silver and platinum metals in the intrusions of the Talnakh, Kruglogorsk and Zubovsk types, which allow suggesting the close conditions for the formation of ore mineralization of these intrusions.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/13/6/719Norilsk regionPGE-Au-Ag mineralizationnoble metalsore-bearing intrusions
spellingShingle Ludmila Canhimbue
Irina Talovina
Geochemical Distribution of Platinum Metals, Gold and Silver in Intrusive Rocks of the Norilsk Region
Minerals
Norilsk region
PGE-Au-Ag mineralization
noble metals
ore-bearing intrusions
title Geochemical Distribution of Platinum Metals, Gold and Silver in Intrusive Rocks of the Norilsk Region
title_full Geochemical Distribution of Platinum Metals, Gold and Silver in Intrusive Rocks of the Norilsk Region
title_fullStr Geochemical Distribution of Platinum Metals, Gold and Silver in Intrusive Rocks of the Norilsk Region
title_full_unstemmed Geochemical Distribution of Platinum Metals, Gold and Silver in Intrusive Rocks of the Norilsk Region
title_short Geochemical Distribution of Platinum Metals, Gold and Silver in Intrusive Rocks of the Norilsk Region
title_sort geochemical distribution of platinum metals gold and silver in intrusive rocks of the norilsk region
topic Norilsk region
PGE-Au-Ag mineralization
noble metals
ore-bearing intrusions
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/13/6/719
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AT irinatalovina geochemicaldistributionofplatinummetalsgoldandsilverinintrusiverocksofthenorilskregion