Mineralogy of Chromitites of Mount Poklonnaya of the Karabash Massif, South Urals

Mineral composition of chromitites and host serpentinites from a quarry at Mt. Poklonnaya of the Karabash serpentinite massif is studied using optical and electron microscopy. Along with previously known native osmium and laurite, eight minerals of platinum group elements (MPG) are found. Among them...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Geology of ore deposits 2023-12, Vol.65 (Suppl 2), p.S244-S260
Main Authors: Popova, V. I., Belogub, E. V., Rassomakhin, M. A., Popov, V. A., Khvorov, P. V.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Arsenides
Barite
Brucite
Calcite
Calcium ferrous silicates
Carbonates
Chalcopyrite
Dolomite
Dolostone
Earth and Environmental Science
Earth Sciences
Electron microscopy
Galena
Garnierite
Iridium
Magnesium hydroxide
Magnetite
Massifs
Mineral composition
Mineral Resources
Mineralogy
Minerals
Nickel
Nickel ores
Osmium
Pentlandite
Platinum
Quarries
Sepiolite
Serpentinite
Serpentinization
Silicates
Citations: Items that this one cites
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Mineral composition of chromitites and host serpentinites from a quarry at Mt. Poklonnaya of the Karabash serpentinite massif is studied using optical and electron microscopy. Along with previously known native osmium and laurite, eight minerals of platinum group elements (MPG) are found. Among them are isoferroplatinum, irarsite, iridium, naldrettite, cuproiridsite, sperrylite, tolovkite, and erlichmannite. It is found that magnesioalumochromite is an early magmatic Cr-spinel, while magnesiochromite and ferrichromite are late magmatic. The earliest native iridium and native osmium are replaced by platinum-group-elements sulfides, arsenides and stibnides. Magnesiochromite is associated with native gold, Ni chalcohenides (gersdorffite, millerite, pentlandite, heaslewoodite) and chalcopyrite. The formation of Cr-magnetite, magnetite, native iron, native nickel, galena, and barite is related to serpentinization. Carbonates (calcite and dolomite), brucite, andradite, sepiolite and an unidentified Ca-silicate formed at the latest stage of serpentinization. Secondary Ni minerals (gaspeite, nepuite, “garnierite”) are most likely products of the latest mineral-forming process.
ISSN:1075-7015
1555-6476
DOI:10.1134/S1075701523090052