Cu–Ni–PGE fertility of the Yoko-Dovyren layered massif (northern Transbaikalia, Russia): thermodynamic modeling of sulfide compositions in low mineralized dunite based on quantitative sulfide mineralogy

© 2016, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.
The geology and major types of sulfide mineralization in the Yoko-Dovyren layered massif (northern Transbaikalia, Russia) are presented. This study focuses on the structure, mineralogy, and geochemistry of poorly mineralized plagiodunite and dunite in the lower part of the intrusion. Assuming these rocks contain key information on the timing of sulfide immiscibility in the original cumulate pile, we apply a novel approach which combines estimates of the average sulfide compositions in each particular rock with thermodynamic modeling of the geochemistry of the original sulfide liquid. To approach the goal, an updated sulfide version of the COMAGMAT-5 model was used. Results of simulations of sulfide immiscibility in initially S-undersaturated olivine cumulates demonstrate a strong effect of the decreasing fraction of the silicate melt, due to crystallization of silicate and oxide minerals, on the composition of the intercumulus sulfide liquid. Comparison of the observed and modeled sulfide compositions indicates that the proposed modeling reproduces well the average concentrations of Cu, Cd, Ag, and Pd in natural sulfides. This suggests the sulfide control on the distribution of these elements in the rocks. Conversely, data for Pt and Au suggest that a significant portion of these elements could present in a native form, thus depleting the intercumulus sulfide melt at an early stage of crystallization.