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COTECTIC PRECIPITATION OF OLIVINE AND SULFIDE LIQUID FROM KOMATIITE MAGMA AND THE ORIGIN OF KOMATIITE-HOSTED DISSEMINATED NICKEL SULFIDE MINERALIZATION AT MOUNT KEITH AND YAKABINDIE, WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Stephen J. Barnes

CSIRO Exploration and Mining, Australian Resources Research Centre, 26 Dick Perry Ave., Kensington, Western Australia 6151, Australia

E-mail: Steve.barnes{at}csiro.au

An empirical equation for the relationship of sulfur solubility to silicate magma composition and temperature has been combined with numerical simulations of the fractional crystallization of olivine from komatiite magma to predict the relative proportions of olivine and sulfide liquid which should segregate at equilibrium from a fractionating komatiite. The predicted cotectic ratio of olivine to sulfide is higher and the S content of the cumulate assemblage lower by a factor of about three compared with the peak observed in type II (Mount Keith-type) dunite-hosted disseminated Ni sulfide deposits for the observed range of olivine compositions in the dunites. This implies that a purely "cotectic" precipitation model for this deposit type is incorrect, and that most of the sulfide liquid found in type II deposits is transported and mechanically deposited.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. J. Barnes, M. A. Wells, and M. R. Verrall Effects of Magmatic Processes, Serpentinization, and Talc-Carbonate Alteration on Sulfide Mineralogy and Ore Textures in the Black Swan Disseminated Nickel Sulfide Deposit, Yilgarn Craton Economic Geology, July 1, 2009; 104(4): 539 - 562. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. J. Barnes, M. L. Fiorentini, P. Austin, K. Gessner, R. M. Hough, and A. P. Squelch Three-dimensional morphology of magmatic sulfides sheds light on ore formation and sulfide melt migration Geology, August 1, 2008; 36(8): 655 - 658. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]