PGE distribution in sulfide ores from ultramafic massifs of the central East Sayan Mountains, Southern Siberia, Russia

Abstract

Data on the composition of sulfide ores from ultramafic massifs in the central East Sayan Mountains and on the regularities of platinum group elements (PGE) in these ores are presented. It is found that the highest PGE contents are characteristic for net-textured and massive ores from the Zhelos massif: total PGE content there is up to 15 ppm, with Pd/Pt = 3–8, for Ni and Cu contents of 1.5–2.8 and 0.5–2.7 wt%, respectively. In the disseminated ores of the Zhelos massif, PGE contents vary from 1 to 7 ppm, at Ni and Cu contents varying in the ranges of 0.5–1.0 and 0.2–0.4 wt %, respectively. In the Tokty-Oi massif, disseminated ores are characterized by higher absolute PGE contents (1.6 to 3.3 ppm) at similar Ni content. PGE tenor of disseminated ores is higher compared to that of massive and net-textured ones. In the cross-sections of both massifs, net-textured and massive ores of an essentially pyrrhotine composition are found at the contact between ultramafic and host rocks. Total PGE in these ores is up to 12 ppm. The obtained data on sulfur isotopes indicate the common, well-homogenized sources, and close physical–chemical depositional conditions of all ore types.