U-Pb age and Hf-Nd-Sr-Cu-S isotope systematics of the Binyuda and Dyumtaley ore-bearing intrusions (Taimyr, Russia)

We present for the first time U-Pb age data and Hf-Nd-Sr-Cu-S isotope signatures for lithologies and associated sulphide ores from the Binyuda and Dyumtaley ultramafic-mafic intrusions located in the limits of the Taimyr Peninsula (Russian Arctic). Zircons are characterized by similar U-Pb ages (245.7 ± 12 Ma at Binyuda and 256.2 ± 0.89 Ma at Dyumtaley), indicating for their close temporal relationship with tholeiite-basalt magmatism of the Siberian Platform. Silicate materials show distinct Hf-Nd-Sr isotope signatures (εHf = -3.8 ± 1.3, ɛNd = -3.8±0.4 and87Sr/86Sri = 0.70588 ± 0.00013 at Binyuda and εHf = 9.5 ± 2.5, ɛNd = 4.2 ± 0.7 and87Sr/86Sri = 0.70474 ± 0.00020 at Dyumtaley). The determined Hf-Nd-Sr variability is interpreted to represent a primary source signature of the lithological units. An important role of the juvenile component is clearly pronounced for the Dyumtaley intrusion, whereas a major contribution from a subcontinental mantle or essentially crustal source is inferred for the Binyuda intrusion. These signatures clearly manifest deviation from those typical of the ore-bearing intrusions from the Noril’sk Province, characterized by protracted magmatic evolution with significant time span of zircon and baddeleyite U-Pb ages (from ca. 350 to 230 Ma), relatively constant εNd values (ca. +1 ± 0.5), highly heterogeneous εHf (from -2.3 to 16.3) and87Sr/86Sri (from 0.70552 to 0.70798). In terms of Cu-isotopes, the majority of the analyzed sulphide samples fall within a tight cluster of δ65Cu values (-0.66 ± 0.24‰ at Binyuda and 0.4 ± 0.1‰ at Dyumtaley), characteristic of the ores from the economic Ni-Cu-PGE deposits at Talnakh. In contrast, notable difference in δ34 S values typifies sulphide ores at Binyuda and Dyumtaley (1.5 ± 0.4 and 11.4 ± 0.6‰ respectively). We suggest that the Cu-S isotope characteristics of the sulphide ores reflect their primary signature rather than a result of mixed sources or magmatic fractionation of stable isotopes. However, the latter possibility cannot be ruled out for heavy S isotope composition of sulphide ore at Dyumtaley. Samples of the disseminated sulphide ore from the Dyumtaley intrusion approach δ34S-δ65Cu parameters of the economic ores at Talnakh (Noril’sk Province) and might be considered as the most prospective for targeting the massive Ni-Cu-PGE sulphide ores

Norilskite, (Pd,Ag)7Pb4, a new mineral from Noril'sk-Talnakh deposit, Russia

Norilskite, (Pd,Ag)7Pb4 is a new platinum-group mineral discovered in the Mayak mine of the Talnakh deposit, Russia. It forms anhedral grains in aggregates (up to ∼400 μm) with polarite, zvyagintsevite, Pd-rich tetra-auricupride, Pd-Pt bearing auricupride,Ag-Au alloys, (Pb,As,Sb) bearing atokite, mayakite, Bi-Pb-rich kotulskite and sperrylite in pentlandite, cubanite and talnakhite. Norilskite is brittle, has a metallic lustre and a grey streak. Values of VHN20 fall between 296 and 342 kg mm–2, with a mean valueof 310 kg mm–2, corresponding to a Mohs hardness of ∼4. In plane-polarized light, norilskite is orange-brownish pink, has moderate to strong bireflectance, orange-pink to greyish-pink pleochroism, and strong anisotropy; it exhibits no internal reflections. Reflectancevalues of norilskite in air (Ro, Re' in %) are: 51.1, 48.8 at 470 nm, 56.8, 52.2 at 546 nm, 59.9, 53.5 at 589 nm and 64.7, 55.5 at 650 nm. Sixteen electronmicroprobe analyses of natural norilskite gave an average composition: Pd 44.33, Ag 2.68, Bi 0.33 and Pb 52.34, total99.68 wt.%, corresponding to the empirical formula (Pd6.56Ag0.39)∑6.95(Pb3.97Bi0.03)∑4.00 based on 4 Pb + Bi atoms; the average of eight analyses on synthetic norilskite is: Pd 42.95, Ag 3.87 and Pb 53.51, total 100.33wt.%, corresponding to (Pd6.25Ag0.56)∑6.81Pb4.00. The mineral is trigonal, space group P3121, with a = 8.9656(4), c = 17.2801(8) Å, V = 1202.92(9) Å3 and Z = 6. The crystalstructure was solved and refined from the powder X-ray diffraction data of synthetic (Pd,Ag)7Pb4. Norilskite crystallizes in the Ni13Ga3Ge6 structure type, related to nickeline. The strongest lines in the powder X-ray diffraction patternof synthetic norilskite [d in Å (I) (hkl)] are: 3.2201(29)(023,203), 2.3130(91)(026,206), 2.2414(100)(220), 1.6098(28)(046,406), 1.3076(38)(246,462), 1.2942(18)(600), 1.2115(37)(22.12,12.13), 0.9626(44) (06.12,60.12). The mineral is named for the locality, the Noril'sk district in Russia.© The Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland 2017. The attached document is the authors’ preproof accepted version of the journal article, which is made available under a Creative Commons CC-BY-NC-ND license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/. You are advised to consult the publisher’s version if you wish to cite from it

Magnetite chemistry by LA-ICP-MS records sulfide fractional crystallization in massive nickel-copper-platinum group element ores from the Norilsk-Talnakh Mining District (Siberia, Russia): Implications for trace element partitioning into magnetite

Mineralogical and chemical zonations observed in massive sulfide ores from Ni-Cu-platinum group element (PGE) deposits are commonly ascribed to the fractional crystallization of monosulfide solid solution (MSS) and intermediate solid solution (ISS) from sulfide liquid. Recent studies of classic examples of zoned orebodies at Sudbury and Voisey’s Bay (Canada) demonstrated that the chemistry of magnetite crystallized from sulfide liquid was varying in response to sulfide fractional crystallization. Other classic examples of zoned Ni-Cu-PGE sulfide deposits occur in the Norilsk-Talnakh mining district (Russia), yet magnetite in these orebodies has received little attention. In this contribution, we document the chemistry of magnetite in samples from Norilsk-Talnakh, spanning the classic range of sulfide composition, from Cu poor (MSS) to Cu rich (ISS). Based on textural features and mineral associations, four types of magnetite with distinct chemical composition are identified: (1) MSS magnetite, (2) ISS magnetite, (3) reactional magnetite (at the sulfide-silicate interface), and (4) hydrothermal magnetite (resulting from sulfide-fluid interaction). Compositional variability in lithophile and chalcophile elements records sulfide fractional crystallization across MSS and ISS magnetites and sulfide interaction with silicate minerals (reactional magnetite) and fluids (hydrothermal magnetite). Estimated partition coefficients for magnetite in sulfide systems are unlike those in silicate systems. In sulfide systems, all lithophile elements are compatible and chalcophile elements tend to be incompatible with magnetite, but in silicate systems some lithophile elements are incompatible and chalcophile elements are compatible with magnetite. Finally, comparison with magnetite data from other Ni-Cu-PGE sulfide deposits pinpoints that the nature of parental silicate magma, degree of sulfide evolution, cocrystallizing phases, and alteration conditions influence magnetite composition