Platinum Group Minerals from Veresovka River Deluvial Placer, Veresovoborsky Dunite–Clinopyroxenite Massif (Middle Urals)

Abstract

For the first time data on platinum group minerals (PGM) from the deluvial placer of the Veresovka River are given; their root source are dunites of the northern part of the Veresovoborsky massif. Among minerals typical of this type of placers, Pt–Fe minerals, Os–Ir–(Ru) intermetallic compounds, kashinite, bowieite, laurite, erlichmanite, and Ir–Rh thiospinels have been identified. Irarsite, hollingworthite, zvyagintsevite, potarite, cooperite, ferhodsite, and some unnamed Pb–Те minerals were also revealed, which rare for platinum placers associated with zonal clinopyroxenite–dunite massifs, but are widely distributed in the studied placer. Xingzhongite was detected there for the first time in placers of the Ural Platinum Belt. The morphological features of all these minerals are characterized in detail, together with their chemical composition, determined by electron microprobe analysis. Their genetic relationships are characterized taking into account the aggregate data obtained. This comprehensive study of PGM individuals and aggregates is used as a basis to distinguish the parageneses in their association.