Abstract:

Ni, Cu and PGE are very important in the study of origin and evolution of mantle derived magmas and the formation of the related magmatic sulfide deposits, because their geochemical natures are different from other trace elements. Ni, Os, Ir and Ru are compatible elements, and Cu and Pd are incompatible in sulfur undersaturated magmas. Thus, they may be differentiated during fractional crystallization of the sulfur undersaturated basaltic magma. In contrast, all of these metals will be concentrated in sulfide liquid while sulfur saturation is reached. Particularly, minor sulfide removal will result in PGEdepletion in the basaltic magma because PGE have very high sulfide liquid/silicate melt partition coefficients. Therefore, PGE are the most sensitive tracers for sulfide segregation. Ni, Cu and PGE are also very important in the studies of key factors of the formation of magmatic sulfide deposits, which resulted from the evolution of mantle derived magmas. They are also significant for revealing fractionation of sulfide melts because Ni, Cu and PGE have different sulfide solid solution/sulfide liquid partition coefficients. In this article, the significances of Ni, Cu and PGE in the studies of origin and evolution of mantle derived magmas and the formation of magmatic sulfide deposits are presented systemically, based on the introduction of natures of these elements.

Key words:

Key words: PGE; mantle derived magma; basalt; magmatic sulfide deposit; origin of magma; magma evolution; sulfide segregation