Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gvvz8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T08:31:33.108Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Origin of placer laurite from Borneo: Se and As contents, and S isotopic compositions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 July 2018

K. H. Hattori ,
L. J. Cabri ,
B. Johanson  and
M. L. Zientek
K. H. Hattori*
Affiliation:
University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
L. J. Cabri
Affiliation:
99 Fifth Avenue, Suite 122, Ottawa, Canada
B. Johanson
Affiliation:
Geological Survey of Finland, Espoo, Finland
M. L. Zientek
Affiliation:
US Geological Survey, Spokane, USA
*
*E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

We examined grains of the platinum-group mineral, laurite (RuS2), from the type locality, Pontyn River, Tanah Laut, Borneo, and from the Tambanio River, southeast Borneo. The grains show a variety of morphologies, including euhedral grains with conchoidal fractures and pits, and spherical grains with no crystal faces, probably because of abrasion. Inclusions are rare, but one grain contains Ca-Al amphibole inclusions, and another contains an inclusion of chalcopyrite+bornite+pentlandite+heazlewoodite (Ni3S2) that is considered to have formed by a two-stage process of exsolution and crystallization from a once homogeneous Fe-Cu-Ni sulphide melt.

All grains examined are solid solutions of Ru and Os with Ir (2.71 –11.76 wt.%) and Pd (0.31–0.66 wt.%). Their compositions are similar to laurite from ophiolitic rocks. The compositions show broad negative correlations between Os and Ir, between As and Ir, and between As (0.4 –0.74 wt.%) and Se (140 to 240 ppm). Laurite with higher Os contains more Se and less Ir and As. The negative correlations between Se and As may be attributed to their occupancy of the S site, but the compositional variations of Os, Ir and As probably reflect the compositional variation of rocks where the crystals grew.

Ratios of S/Se in laurite show a narrow spread from 1380 to 2300, which are similar to ratios for sulphides from the refractory sub-arc mantle. Sulphur isotopic compositions of laurite are independent of chemical compositions and morphologies and are similar to the chondritic value of 0%. The data suggest that S in laurite has not undergone redox changes and originated from the refractory mantle. The data support the formation of laurite in the residual mantle or in a magma generated from such a refractory mantle, followed by erosion after the obduction of the host ultramafic rocks.

Keywords

PGMnuggetalluvial placerplacer depositelectron-microprobestable-isotopesosmiumSEM dataKalimantantrace-element geochemistry
Type
Research Article
Information
Mineralogical Magazine , Volume 68 , Issue 2 , April 2004 , pp. 353 - 368
Copyright
Copyright © The Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland 2004

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Ahmed, A.H. and Arai, S. (2003) Platinum-group minerals in podiform chromitites of the Oman ophiolite. The Canadian Mineralogist, 41, 597–616.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Andrews, D. and Brenan, J.M. (2002) Phase equilibrium constraints on the magmatic origin of laurite +Ru-Os-Is alloy. The Canadian Mineralogist, 40, 1705–1716.Google Scholar
Augustithis, S.S. (1965) Mineralogical and geochemical studies of the platiniferous dunite-birbirite-pyroxenite complex of Yubdo, Birbir W. Ethiopia. Chemie der Erde, 24, 159–196.Google Scholar
Barker, J.C. and Lamal, K. (1989) Offshore extension of platiniferous bedrock and associated sedimentation of the Goodnews Bay ultramafic complex, Alaska. Marine Mining, 8, 365–390 Bethke, P.M. and Barton, P.B. Jr. (1971) Distribution of some minor elements between coexisting sulfide minerals. Economic Geology, 66, 140–163.Google Scholar
Bird, J.M., Meibom, A., Frei, R. and Nägler, T.F. (1999) Osmium and lead isotopes of rare OsIrRu minerals derivation from the core-mantle boundary region? Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 170, 83–92.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bowles, J.F.W. (1986) The development of platinumgroup minerals in laterites. Economic Geology, 81, 1278–1285.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bowles, J.F.W. (1988) Further studies of the development of platinum-group minerals in the laterites of the Freetown layered complex, Sierra Leone. Pp. 273–280 in: Geo-Platinum ‘87 (Prichard, H.M., Potts, P.J., J.Bowles, F.W. and Cribb, S.J., editors). Elsevier Applied Science, New York.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bowles, J.F.W, Atkin, D., Lambert, J.L.M., Deans, T. and Phillips, R. (1983) The chemistry, reflectance, and cell size of the erlichmanite (OsS2)– laurite (RuS2) series. Mineralogical Magazin e, 47, 465–471.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bowles, J.F.W., Lyon, I.C., Saxton, J.M. and Vaughan, D.J. (2000) The origin of platinum group minerals from the Freetown intrusion, Sierra Leone, inferred from osmium isotope systemat ics. Economic Geology, 95, 539–548.Google Scholar
Burgath, K.-P. (1988) Platinum-group minerals in ophiolitic chromitites and alluvial placer deposits, Meratus-Bobaris area, southeast Kalimantan. Pp. 383–403 in: Geo-Platinum ‘87 (Prichard, H.M., Potts, P.J., J.Bowles, F.W. and Cribb, S.J., editors). Elsevier Applied Science, New York.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Burgath, K.P. and Mohr, M. (1986) Chromitites and platinum-group minerals in the Meratus-Bobaris ophiolite zone, south-east Borneo. Pp. 333–349 in: Metallogeny of Basic and Ultrabasic Rocks (Gallagher, M.J., Ixer, R.A., Neary, C.R. and Prichard, H.M., editors). The Institution of Mining and Metallurgy, London.Google Scholar
Cabri, L.J. and Laflamme, J.H.G. (1988) Mineralogical study of the platinum-group element distribution and associated minerals from three stratigraphic layers, Bird River Sill, Manitoba. CANMET Report CM 88-1E, 52 pp.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cabri, L.J. and Harris, D.C. (1975) Zoning in Os-Ir alloys and the relation of the geological and tectonic environment of the source rocks to the bulk Pd:Pt+Ir+Os ratio for placers. The Canadian Mineralogist, 13, 266–274.Google Scholar
Cabri, L.J., Harris, D.C. and Weiser, T.W. (1996) The mineralogy and distribution of platinum-group mineral (PGM) placer deposits of the world. Exploration and Mining Geology, 5, 73–167.Google Scholar
Cameron, E.M. and Hattori, K. (1987) Archaean gold mineralization and oxidized hydrothermalfluids. Economic Geology, 82, 1177–1191.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cousins, C.A. (1973) Notes on the geochemistry of the platinum-group elements. Transactions, Geological Society of South Africa, 76, 77–81.Google Scholar
Cousins, C.A. and Kinloch, E.D. (1976) Some observation on textures and inclusions in alluvial platinoids. Economic Geology, 71, 1377–1398 Fleet, M.E., Chryssoulis, S.L., MacLean, P.J., Davidson, R. and Weisener, C.G. (1993) Arsenian pyrite from gold deposits: Au and As distribution investigated by SIMS and EMP, and color staining and surface oxidation by XPS and LIMS. The Canadian Mineralogist, 31, 1–17.Google Scholar
Garuti, G. and Zaccarini, F. (1997) In-situ alteration of platinum-group minerals at low temperature: evidence from serpentinized and weathered chromitites of the Vourinos complex (Greece). The Canadian Mineralogist, 35, 611–626.Google Scholar
Garuti, G., Zaccarini, F., Moloshag, V. and Alimov, V. (1999 a) Platinum-group minerals as indicators of sulfur fugacity in ophiolitic upper mantle: An example from chromitites of the Ray-Iz ultramafic complex, Polar Urals, Russia. The Canadian Mineralogist, 37, 1099–1115.Google Scholar
Garuti, G., Zaccarini, F. and Economou-Eliopoulos, M. (1999 b) Paragenesis and composition of laurite from chromitites of Othrys (Greece). Implications for Os-Ru fractionation in ophiolitic upper mantle of the Balkan Peninsula. Mineralium Deposita, 34, 312–319.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Guillot, S., Hattori, K.H. and de Sigoyer, J. (2000) Mantle wedge serpentinization and exhumation of eclogites: Insights from eastern Ladakh, NW Himalaya. Geology, 28, 199–202.2.0.CO;2>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hamlyn, P.R. and Keays, R.R. (1986) Sulfur saturation and second-stage melts: Application to the Bushveld platinum metal deposits. Economic Geology, 81, 1431–1445.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hattori, K. and Cabri, L.J. (1992) Origin of platinum group mineral nuggets inferred from osmium-isotope study. The Canadian Mineralogist, 30, 289–301.Google Scholar
Hattori, K., Cabri, L.J. and Hart, S.R. (1991) Osmium isotope ratios of PGM nuggets associated with the Freetown Layered Complex, Sierra Leone, and their origin. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 109,10–18.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hattori, K. Burgath, K.-P. and Hart, S.R. (1992) Osisotope study of platinum-group minerals in chromitites in alpine-type ultramafic intrusions and the associated placers in Borneo. Mineralogical Magazine, 56, 156–164Google Scholar
Hattori, K.H., Arai, S. and Clarke, D.B. (2002) Selenium, tellurium, arsenic and antimony contents in primary mantle sulfides. //the Canadi an Mineralogist, 40, 637–650.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hoefs, J. (1997) Stable Isotope Geochemistry, 4th edition. Springer, New York, 201 pp.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Howard, J.H., III (1977) Geochemistry of selenium: formation of ferroselite and selenium behavior in the vicinity of oxidizing sulfide and uranium deposits. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 41, 1665–1678.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Johan, Z., Slansky, E. and Kelly, D.A. (2000) Platinum nuggets from the Kompiam area, Enga Province, Papua New Guinea: evidence for an Alaskan-type complex. Mineralogy and Petrology, 68, 159–176.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kingston, G.A. and El-Dosuky, B.T. (1982) A contribution on the platinum-group mineralogy of the Merensky Reef at the Rustenburg Platinum Mine. Economic Geology, 77, 1367–1384.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Leutwein, F. (1978) Selenium. Abundance in common sediments and sedimentary rock types. Pp. 34–K-1–34-K-4 in: Handbook of Geochemistry, vol. 2/3 (Wedepohl, K.H., editor). Springer-Verlag, Berlin.Google Scholar
Maier, W.D., Prichard, H.M., Barnes, S.J. and Fisher, P.C. (1999) Compositional variation of laurite at Union Section in the Western Bushveld Complex. South African Journal of Geology, 102, 286–292.Google Scholar
McDonough, W.F. and Sun, S.-S. (1995) The composition of the Earth. Chemical Geology, 120, 223–253.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Measures, C.I. and Burton, J.D. (1980) The vertical distribution and oxidation states of dissolved selenium in the Northeast Atlantic ocean and their relationship to Biological Processes. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 46, 385–396.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Meibom, A., Sleep, N.H., Chamberlain, C.P., Coleman, R.G., Frey, R., Hren, M.T. and Wooden, J.L. (2002) Re-Os isotopic evidence for long-lived heterogeneity and equilibration processes in the Earth's upper mantle. Nature, 419, 705–708.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Melcher, F., Grum, W., Simon, G., Thalhammer, T.V. and Stump, E.F. (1997) Petrogenesis of the ophiolitic giant chromite deposits of Kempirsai, Kazakhstan: a study of solid and fluid inclusions in chromite. Journal of Petrology, 38, 1419–1458.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ohnenstetter, D., Watkinson, D.H., Jones, P.C. and Talkington, R. (1986) Cryptic compositional variation in laurite and enclosing chromite from the Bird River Sill, Manitoba. Economic Geology, 81, 1159–1168.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ottemann, J. and Augustithis, S.S (1967) Geochemistry and origin of “platinum-nuggets” in lateritic covers from ultrabasic rocks and Birbirites of W. Ethiopia. Mineralium Deposita, 1, 269–277.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Peach, C.L., Mathez, E.A. and Keays, R.R. (1990) Sulfide melt-silicate melt distribution coefficients for noble metals and other chalcophile elements as deduced from MORB: Implications for partial melting. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 54, 3379–3389.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ripley, E.M., Lightfoot, P.C., Li, C. and Elswick, E.R. (2003) Sulfur isotopic studies of continentalflood basalts in the Noril’sk region: Implications for the assoiciation between lavas and ore-bearing intrusions. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 67, 2805–2817.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Robertson, A.H.F. (2002) Overview of the genesis and emplacement of Mesozoic ophiolites in the Eastern Mediterranean Tethyan region. Lithos, 65, 1–67.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Robinson, B.W., Ware, N.G. and Smith, D.G.W. (1998) Modern electron-microprobe trace-element analysis in mineralogy. Pp. 153–180 in: Modern Approaches to Ore and Environmental Mineralogy (Cabri, L.J. and Vaughan, D.J., editors). Mineralogical Association of Canada, Short Course Volume 27, Ottawa.Google Scholar
Schwellnus, J.S.I., Hiemstra, S.A. and Gasparrini, E. (1976) The Merensky reef at the Atok platinum mine and its environs. Economic Geology, 71, 249–260.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Simon, G., Huang, H., Penner-Hahn, J.E., Kesler, S.E. and Kao, L.S. (1999) Oxidation state of gold and arsenic in gold-bearing arsenian pyrite. American Mineralogist, 84, 1071–1079.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Slansky, E., Johan, Z., Ohnenstetter, M., Barron, L.M. and Suppel, D. (1991) Platinum mineralization in the Alaskan-type intrusive complexes near. Field N.S.W., Australia. Part 2. Platinum-group minerals in placer deposits at Field. Mineralogy and Petrology, 43,161–180.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stanton, R.L. (1972) Ore Petrology. McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York, 713 pp.Google Scholar
Stumpfi, E.F. (1974) The genesis of platinum deposits: Further thoughts. Minerals Science and Engineering, 6, 120–141.Google Scholar
Tarkian, M., Naidenova, E. and Zhelwask ova-Panayotova, M. (1991) Platinum-group minerals in chromitites from the Eastern Rhodope ultramafic complex, Bulgaria. Mineralogy and Petrology, 44, 73–87.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tarkian, M., Economou-Eliopoulos, M. and Eliopoulos, D.G. (1992) Platinum group minerals and tetraauricupride in ophiolitic rocks of Skyros Island, Greece. Mineralogy and Petrology, 47, 55–66.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Torres-Ruiz, J., Garuti, G., Gazzotti, M., Gervilla, F. and Hach-Ali, P.F. (1996) Platinum-group minerals in chromitites from the Ojen lherzolite massif (Serrania de Ronda, Betic, Cordillera, Southern Spain). Mineralogy and Petrology, 56, 25–50.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wöhler, F. (1866) Ueber ein neues Mineral von Borneo: Laurit. Königliche Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften zu Göttingen, Nachrichten, 155–160.Google Scholar
Yamamoto, M. (1976) Relationship between Se/S and sulfuristope ratios of hydrothermal sulfide minerals. Mineralium Deposita, 11, 197–209.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zientek, M.L. and Page, N.J. (1990) Consultancy services in platinum-group mineral exploration for the Directorate of Mineral Resources. Contract No. 569/PIO/ADB/1988, US Geological Survey Open-File Report 90-527, 326 pp.Google Scholar
Zientek, M.L., Pardiartom, B., Simandjuntak, H.R.W., Wikrama, A., Oscarson, R.L., Meier, A.L. and Carlson, R.R. (1992) Placer and lode platinum-group minerals in South Kalimantan, Indonesia; evidence for derivation from Alaskan-type ultramafic intrusions. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, 39, 405–417.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Supplementary material: PDF

Hattori et al. supplementary material

Two plates

Download Hattori et al. supplementary material(PDF)
PDF 2.5 MB