The chemical and mineralogical variations in the nickel mineralization associated with the Kambalda Dome, Western Australia

Woolrich, Paul; Cowden, Alistair; Giorgetta, N. E.

doi:10.2113/gsecongeo.76.6.1629

Cited by 15 publications

(7 citation statements)

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“…Variation in f(O 2 ) is evaluated here as a hypothesis for the control of variation in Ni tenor observed within the Edwards lode. Woolrich et al (1981) have observed a correlation between Ni tenor and pyrite abundances among the various orebodies. This correlation was inferred to reflect magmatic oxidation, although metamorphic oxidation cannot be ruled out.…”

Section: Variations In Oxygen Fugacitymentioning

confidence: 89%

Origin of Variations in Nickel Tenor Along the Strike of the Edwards Lode Nickel Sulfide Orebody, Kambalda, Western Australia

Heath

Lahaye

Stone³

et al. 2001

The Canadian Mineralogist

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Nickel tenor (Ni concentration in 100% sulfides) varies from 12.5 to 14.5 wt% on the eastern flank, and from 16 to 18 wt% on the western flank of the Edwards lode orebody, Kambalda, Western Australia. The center of the orebody exhibits a large internal variation in tenor, from 9.6 to 18.7 wt% Ni. Tenor variation of this magnitude within a single orebody has not previously been documented at Kambalda. Three models were evaluated for the observed variation. (1) Variation in R factor. This model is supported by a higher nickel tenor within the matrix ores than the massive ores. Pyrolite-mantle-normalized abundances of the platinum-group elements (PGE) are consistent among massive, matrix and disseminated ores. This does not support an R-factor model for tenor variation, because sulfide liquid / silicate melt partition coefficients for the PGE are higher than for Ni (D PGE >> D Ni ). (2) Variations in oxygen fugacity f(O 2 ). The f(O 2 ) control on Ni tenor is not supported by geochemical or petrographic observations. The proportion of magnetite is relatively consistent within the orebody, demonstrating no correlation with Ni tenor.(3) Partial redistribution and sulfidation of the nickel ores during upper-greenschist-to lower-amphibolite-facies metamorphism. Evidence includes increased pentlandite abundance correlating with an increase in the abundance of secondary metasomatic pyrite. Some pentlandite grains demonstrate a genetic relationship with carbonate veining, indicating nickel mobility. The large variation in Ni tenor observed within the central domain of the Edwards lode orebody correlates with the ore surface that exhibits the greatest degree of metamorphic heterogeneity. A laser-ablation ICP-MS study of the PGE distribution within sulfides shows that the Ir-group PGE (IPGE) are homogeneously distributed, in contrast to the Pt-group PGE (PPGE). The distribution of Pd reflects the distribution of pentlandite, and the other PGE (Rh, Ru, Pt) and Au seem controlled by PGM and Au-bearing phases. The IPGE show a strong primary magmatic control with distance along the strike of the orebody. Nickel does not demonstrate a correlation with the IPGE, indicating that post-volcanism processes of remobilization partly control the distribution of Ni along strike. SOMMAIRELes teneurs en nickel (concentration en nickel sur 100% de sulfure) varient de 12.5 à 14.5% (poids) sur le flanc est, et de 16 à 18% sur le flanc ouest du gisement d'Edwards, à Kambalda, en Australie occidentale. Le centre du gisement montre des variations internes importantes des teneurs en nickel, depuis 9.6 jusqu'à 18.7%. De telles variations en teneur n'avaient jamais été 656 THE CANADIAN MINERALOGIST décrites auparavant à Kamblada. Trois modèles ont été testés pour évaluer les variations en teneur observées. (1) Variation du facteur R. Ce modèle est en accord avec les teneurs plus élevées des minerais en matrice par rapport aux minerais massifs. Les abondances en éléments du groupe du platine, EGP, normalisées par rapport à un manteau pyrolitique, son...

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Section: Variations In Oxygen Fugacitymentioning

confidence: 89%

Origin of Variations in Nickel Tenor Along the Strike of the Edwards Lode Nickel Sulfide Orebody, Kambalda, Western Australia

Heath

Lahaye

Stone³

et al. 2001

The Canadian Mineralogist

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“…These textures are developed in unusual settings whereby massive sulfide, formed as pools of immiscible sulfide liquid at the base of a lava tube or channel, has an earlier-differentiated komatiite flow as its substrate, rather than the more normal situation at Kambalda, where the mineralization occupies the basal flow of the stack and the underlying substrate is basalt. Examples of interspinifex ore in this setting have been reported from Fisher and Lunnon shoots, Kambalda (Gresham and Loftus-Hills, 1981;Woolrich et al, 1981;Groves et al, 1986), the Langmuir deposit in the Abitibi greenstone belt in Ontario (Green and Naldrett, 1981), and the subject area of this paper, Coronet shoot at Kambalda . Interspinifex ores have also been reported from within basal flows at Durkin, Kambalda, and Alexo, Ontario (Lesher, 1983;Houle et al, 2011).…”

Section: General Setting Of Interspinifex Oresmentioning

confidence: 90%

“…The contact between the massive sulfide and interspinifex zone is irregular. Interspinifex sulfides pinch and swell in thickness along the ore horizon as at both Fisher and Lunnon, where the interspinifex ore zone is up to about 30 cm thick (Woolrich et al, 1981;Groves et al, 1986).…”

Section: Geologic Setting Of Coronet "Cathedral" Localitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Interspinifex Ni Sulfide Ore from the Coronet Shoot, Kambalda: Characterization Using Microbeam X-Ray Fluorescence Mapping and 3-D X-Ray Computed Tomography

Barnes

Beresford

2016

Economic Geology

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Interspinifex ores are developed where pools of sulfide liquid overlie thermally eroded komatiite flows, such that sulfide occupies the space between spinifex olivine plates. Microbeam X-ray fluorescence mapping and 3-D X-ray computed tomography have been used to investigate microstructures and chemical zonation within interspinifex ores from Coronet shoot, Kambalda. Sulfide compositions in the interspinifex space match the composition of the overlying sulfide pool. Aluminous silicate, interpreted as displaced silicate melt, forms a film at the silicate-sulfide interface, locally developing dome-like plumes. The film and plumes are characterized by fine skeletal chromite that diminishes in abundance over about a decimeter downward into the interspinifex zone. These relationships are strong evidence for a primary magmatic origin for this ore type, driven by the strong tendency of dense, inviscid sulfide liquid to infiltrate and melt underlying rocks. Such infiltration-melting interfaces may be a common feature at the base of massive sulfide ores, taking different forms depending on the lithological and fracturing characteristics of the footwall rocks.

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“…Subsequent observations by Heath et al (2001) showed that, in addition to the Cr-rich spinel described by Frost and Groves (1989), primary magnetite is found in the matrix ore (1-9 wt%) and to a lesser extent in the massive ore (less than 1 wt%). Magnetite enrichment is more pronounced along the boundary between massiveand disseminated-ore types (Woolrich et al, 1981;Heath et al, 2001), which is explained by Naldrett (1969) as the result of fO 2 enhancement due to differences in the diffusion coefficients of O in mattes and silicate melt. These observa- Nagamori and Kameda (1965) 59 All b 1.05-2.6 9.4-12.0 1300 H extraction Kaiser and Elliott (1986) 71 None 1.62-2.98 8.33-9.56 1195 H extraction Somsiri and Gaskell (1995) 36 None 1.6-2.3 8.5-13.72 1300 IR analysers Blatov et al (1997) 25 All c 1.06-2.26 7.53-11.45 1300 Unknown Kress (1997) 15 2 1.24-3.05 8.5-13.72 1097-1348 EMP Brenan and Caciagli (2000) 6 3 2.06-4.0 8.1-10.1 1300 EMP Nagamori and Yazawa (2001) 12 None 2.65-3.48 9.6-12.0 1200 EMP Rose and Brenan (2001) 29 7 1.6-4 8-11.1 1300 EMP Andrews and Brenan (2002) 6 None 1.7-3 8.1-8.6 1300-1400 EMP Brenan and Rose (2002) 11 4 1.6-1.9 8.1-9.5 1300 EMP Mungall et al (2005) Nagamori and Yazawa, 2001;Kress, 1997, respectively), only the dataset of Nagamori and Kameda (1965) plots at consistently higher O concentration than other datasets, probably due to an analytical bias.…”

Section: Sudbury (Ontario Canada)mentioning

confidence: 96%

Oxygen solubility and speciation in sulphide-rich mattes

Fonseca

Campbell

O’Neill

et al. 2008

Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta

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Sulphide-rich liquids are common in magmatic environments forming over a wide range of temperature, pressure, fO 2 and fS 2 . They are economically important because they sequester valuable metals such as Cu, Ni, Au and Pt from silicate melts. The presence of accessory amounts of primary oxides associated with sulphide mineralisations is often ignored or unexplained. Experimental work has shown that large amounts of oxygen can dissolve into mattes at fO 2 typical of terrestrial environments. At the quartz-fayalite-magnetite fO 2 buffer, the molar fraction of O in the matte exceeds that of S, placing the composition of the matte to the magnetite side of the mss (monosulphide solid solution)-magnetite join in the Fe-S-O system. However, sulphides crystallise before magnetite in most sulphide mineralisations and are much more abundant. Moreover, the speciation of O in a matte is not well known. Here we report the results of an experimental study of the solubility of O in mattes as a function of fS 2 , fO 2 , temperature, and composition. We confirm previous observations that Ni and Cu have a negative effect on the solubility of O in mattes. We show evidence for the existence of FeSO as a structural constituent of mattes in the Fe-S-O system. We present a simple parameterisation of the amount of O dissolved in mattes under relevant geological conditions, and use this parameterisation to discuss mechanisms for the crystallisation of primary spinels associated with sulphides in the Kambalda massive sulphide deposit (Western Australia) and the Sudbury Igneous Complex (Ontario, Canada).

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The chemical and mineralogical variations in the nickel mineralization associated with the Kambalda Dome, Western Australia

Cited by 15 publications

References 0 publications

Origin of Variations in Nickel Tenor Along the Strike of the Edwards Lode Nickel Sulfide Orebody, Kambalda, Western Australia

Origin of Variations in Nickel Tenor Along the Strike of the Edwards Lode Nickel Sulfide Orebody, Kambalda, Western Australia

Interspinifex Ni Sulfide Ore from the Coronet Shoot, Kambalda: Characterization Using Microbeam X-Ray Fluorescence Mapping and 3-D X-Ray Computed Tomography

Oxygen solubility and speciation in sulphide-rich mattes

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