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Platinum-group element mineralization in an As-rich magmatic sulphide system, Talnotry, southwest Scotland

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 July 2018

M. R. Power ,
D. Pirrie ,
J. Jedwab  and
C. J. Stanley
M. R. Power*
Affiliation:
Camborne School of Mines, University of Exeter, Redruth, Cornwall TR15 3SE, UK
D. Pirrie
Affiliation:
Camborne School of Mines, University of Exeter, Redruth, Cornwall TR15 3SE, UK
J. Jedwab
Affiliation:
Laboratoire de Géochimie et de Mineralogie, CP160/02 - Université Libre de Bruxelles, 50 Avenue Roosevelt, B-1050 Bruxelles, Belgium
C. J. Stanley
Affiliation:
Department of Mineralogy, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK
*
*E-mail:
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Abstract

Arsenic-rich magmatic sulphide mineralization is hosted by a diorite intrusion at Talnotry, southwest Scotland. A relatively abundant and diverse platinum-group mineral assemblage is present and is dominated by sperrylite, irarsite and electrum with subordinate merenskyite, michenerite and froodite. Early euhedral gersdorffite is enriched with respect to Rh, Ir and Pt and in some cases contains exsolved blebs of irarsite or euhedral grains of sperrylite. Sperrylite is also enclosed within silicates and sulphides indicating that it crystallized directly from an As-rich sulphide liquid. Pyrrhotite-chalcopyrite mineral assemblages are consistent with the fractional crystallization of monosulphide solid solution and are overlain by PGE-, Ni- and As-rich mineral assemblages indicative of crystallization from a NiAs liquid. Late-stage, cross-cutting, electrum-bearing chalcopyrite veins are consistent with the crystallization of Cu- and Au-rich intermediate solid solution. The chemistry, mineralogy and lithological relationships of the diorite suggest that it may be an appinite and as such is potentially analogous to the Au-rich lamprophyre dykes present within southwest Scotland.

Keywords

platinum-group mineralsmagmatic sulphidegersdorffiteappiniteTalnotryScotland
Type
Research Article
Information
Mineralogical Magazine , Volume 68 , Issue 2 , April 2004 , pp. 395 - 411
Copyright
Copyright © The Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland 2004

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