Magmatic controls on the genesis of Ni–Cu±(PGE) sulphide mineralisation on Mars

Baumgartner, Raphael J.; Fiorentini, Marco L.; Baratoux, D.; Micklethwaite, Steven; Sener, A.K.; Lorand, Jean‐Pierre; McCuaig, T. Campbell

doi:10.1016/j.oregeorev.2014.10.004

Cited by 17 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 190 publications

(245 reference statements)

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“…Melts with compositions similar to Bathurst Inlet class rocks may have been particularly efficient carriers of sulfides and chalcophile elements, due to their high FeO* (up to 23 wt %), which correlates with both high SCSS and low viscosity [ Izawa et al ., ]. Melts with compositions similar to Jake_M and Bathurst Inlet may also have contributed to sulfide mineralization through assimilation of crustal S during emplacement in a manner analogous to some terrestrial magmatic sulfide deposits [ Burns and Fisher , ; Baumgartner et al ., ]. A further source of magmatic enrichment in Zn, Ge, and other chalcophile elements may be the Martian mantle source for these magmas.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Zinc and germanium in the sedimentary rocks of Gale Crater on Mars indicate hydrothermal enrichment followed by diagenetic fractionation

et al. 2017

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Zinc and germanium enrichments have been discovered in sedimentary rocks in Gale Crater, Mars, by the Alpha Particle X‐ray Spectrometer on the rover Curiosity. Concentrations of Zn (910 ± 840 ppm) and Ge (65 ± 58 ppm) are tens to hundreds of times greater than in Martian meteorites and estimates for average silicate Mars. Enrichments occur in diverse rocks including minimally to extensively altered basaltic and alkalic sedimentary rocks. The magnitude of the enrichments indicates hydrothermal fluids, but Curiosity has not discovered unambiguous hydrothermal mineral assemblages. We propose that Zn‐ and Ge‐rich hydrothermal deposits in the source region were dispersed in siliciclastic sediments during transport into the crater. Subsequent diagenetic mobilization and fractionation of Zn and Ge is evident in a Zn‐rich sandstone (Windjana; Zn ~4000 ppm, Ge ~85 ppm) and associated Cl‐rich vein (Stephen; Zn ~8000 ppm, Ge ~60 ppm), in Ge‐rich veins (Garden City; Zn ~2200 ppm, Ge ~650 ppm), and in silica‐rich alteration haloes leached of Zn (30–200 ppm). In moderately to highly altered silica‐rich rocks, Ge remained immobile relative to leached elements (Fe, Mn, Mg, and Ca), consistent with fluid interaction at pH ≪ 7. In contrast, crosscutting Ge‐rich veins at Garden City suggest aqueous mobilization as Ge‐F complexes at pH < 2.5. Multiple jarosite detections by the CheMin X‐ray diffractometer and variable Zn concentrations indicate diagenesis of lower Mount Sharp bedrock under acidic conditions. The enrichment and fractionation of Zn and Ge constrains fluid events affecting Gale sediments and can aid in unraveling fluid histories as Curiosity's traverse continues.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Zinc and germanium in the sedimentary rocks of Gale Crater on Mars indicate hydrothermal enrichment followed by diagenetic fractionation

et al. 2017

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“…These characteristics were explained by the early segregation of sulfides during melt genesis or ascent (Baumgartner et al. ; Righter et al. ), and such a process could indeed account for the absence of detectable Ru in chromite from Dhofar 019.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Dhofar 019 specimen requires particular attention in this respect as it shows anomalously low total PGE concentrations (Brandon et al 2012) and a pronounced depletion in Ni (Taylor et al 2002). These characteristics were explained by the early segregation of sulfides during melt genesis or ascent (Baumgartner et al 2015;Righter et al 2015), and such a process could indeed account for the absence of detectable Ru in chromite from Dhofar 019. The same arguments hold true for the absence of Ru in ulv€ ospinel, which formed late in the crystallization sequences from evolved melt components possibly saturated in sulfide.…”

Section: Olivine-phyric Shergottitesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The variability of ruthenium in chromite from chassignite and olivine‐phyric shergottite meteorites: New insights into the behavior of PGE and sulfur in Martian magmatic systems

Baumgartner

Fiorentini

Baratoux

et al. 2016

Meteorit & Planetary Scien

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The Martian meteorites comprise mantle‐derived mafic to ultramafic rocks that formed in shallow intrusions and/or lava flows. This study reports the first in situ platinum‐group element data on chromite and ulvöspinel from a series of dunitic chassignites and olivine‐phyric shergottites, determined using laser‐ablation ICP‐MS. As recent studies have shown that Ru has strongly contrasting affinities for coexisting sulfide and spinel phases, the precise in situ analysis of this element in spinel can provide important insights into the sulfide saturation history of Martian mantle‐derived melts. The new data reveal distinctive differences between the two meteorite groups. Chromite from the chassignites Northwest Africa 2737 (NWA 2737) and Chassigny contained detectable concentrations of Ru (up to ~160 ppb Ru) in solid solution, whereas chromite and ulvöspinel from the olivine‐phyric shergottites Yamato‐980459 (Y‐980459), Tissint, and Dhofar 019 displayed Ru concentrations consistently below detection limit (<42 ppb). The relatively elevated Ru signatures of chromite from the chassignites suggest a Ru‐rich (~1–4 ppb) parental melt for this meteorite group, which presumably did not experience segregation of immiscible sulfide liquids over the interval of mantle melting, melt ascent, and chromite crystallization. The relatively Ru‐depleted signature of chromite and ulvöspinel from the olivine‐phyric shergottites may be the consequence of relatively lower Ru contents (<1 ppb) in the parental melts, and/or the presence of sulfides during the crystallization of the spinel phases. The results of this study illustrate the significance of platinum‐group element in situ analysis on spinel phases to decipher the sulfide saturation history of magmatic systems.

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“…The possibility of maficultramafic layered intrusions occurring on Mars is also discussed and on this specific topic, it may of interest to read the paper by Baumgartner et al (2015), speculating on the possible occurrence of Ni-Cu-PGE mineralisation on Mars. The volcanoes and general magmatic record of planet Venus, the highly visible "coronae" with radiating graben structures, the Artemis, Beta-Atla-Themis regions, all being good examples of products of mantle plumes in a one-plate planet, as is also the case for Mars.…”

Section: Contents Lists Available At Sciencedirectmentioning

confidence: 99%

Book review

Pirajno

2015

Ore Geology Reviews

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Magmatic controls on the genesis of Ni–Cu±(PGE) sulphide mineralisation on Mars

Cited by 17 publications

References 190 publications

Zinc and germanium in the sedimentary rocks of Gale Crater on Mars indicate hydrothermal enrichment followed by diagenetic fractionation

Zinc and germanium in the sedimentary rocks of Gale Crater on Mars indicate hydrothermal enrichment followed by diagenetic fractionation

The variability of ruthenium in chromite from chassignite and olivine‐phyric shergottite meteorites: New insights into the behavior of PGE and sulfur in Martian magmatic systems

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