Suitability of surficial media for Ni–Cu–PGE exploration in an established mining camp: a case study from the South Range of the Sudbury Igneous Complex, Canada

IF 1 4区地球科学 Q3 GEOCHEMISTRY & GEOPHYSICS

Geochemistry-Exploration Environment Analysis Pub Date : 2021-11-09 DOI:10.1144/geochem2021-051

S. Hashmi, M. Leybourne, S. Hamilton, D. Layton-Matthews, M. McClenaghan

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Abstract

A geochemical study over the southwestern part of the South Range of the Sudbury Igneous Complex was completed to assess the suitability of surficial media (humus, B-horizon soil and C-horizon soil) for delineating geochemical anomalies associated with Ni–Cu–PGE (platinum group element) mineralization. Another objective was to test whether Na pyrophosphate can eliminate the effects of anthropogenic contamination in humus. Results of this study suggest that the natural geochemical signature of humus is strongly overprinted by anthropogenic contamination. Despite no indication of underlying or nearby mineralization, metal concentrations in humus samples by aqua regia collected downwind from smelting operations are higher compared to background, including up to 13 times higher for Pt, 12 times higher for Cu and nine times higher for Ni. The high anthropogenic background masks the geogenic signal such that it is only apparent in humus samples collected in the vicinity of known Ni–Cu–PGE deposits. Results of this study also demonstrate that anthropogenically derived atmospheric fallout also influences the upper B-horizon soil; however, lower B-horizon soil (at >20 cm depth) and C-horizon soil (both developed in till) are not affected. Glacial dispersal from Ni–Cu–PGE mineralization is apparent in C-horizon till samples analysed in this study. Compared to the background concentrations, the unaffected C-horizon till samples collected immediately down-ice of the low-sulfide, high precious metal Vermilion Cu–Ni–PGE deposit are enriched over 20 times in Pt (203 ppb), Au (81 ppm) and Cu (963 ppm), and over 30 times in Ni (1283 ppm). Supplementary material: supplementary tables and figures are available at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.5691080

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在已建立的采矿营地中，表面介质对镍铜铂矿勘探的适用性:以加拿大萨德伯里火成岩杂岩南山脉为例

完成了对萨德伯里火成岩杂岩南岭西南部的地球化学研究，以评估表层介质（腐殖质、B层土壤和C层土壤）是否适合描绘与Ni–Cu–PGE（铂族元素）矿化相关的地球化学异常。另一个目的是测试焦磷酸钠是否可以消除腐殖质中人为污染的影响。这项研究的结果表明，腐殖质的自然地球化学特征被人为污染严重叠加。尽管没有潜在或附近矿化的迹象，但从冶炼作业顺风收集的王水腐殖质样品中的金属浓度比背景高，其中Pt高出13倍，Cu高出12倍，Ni高出9倍。高人为背景掩盖了地质信号，因此它仅在已知Ni–Cu–PGE矿床附近采集的腐殖质样本中明显。这项研究的结果还表明，人类成因的大气沉降物也会影响上层B层土壤；然而，较低的B层土壤（>20 cm深度）和C层土壤（均发育在耕作中）不受影响。在本研究分析样本之前，Ni–Cu–PGE矿化的冰川扩散在C层是明显的。与背景浓度相比，在低硫化物、高贵金属朱红色Cu–Ni–PGE矿床的冰下立即采集的未受影响的C层样品中，Pt（203 ppb），Au（81 ppm）和Cu（963 ppm），在Ni中超过30倍（1283 ppm）。补充材料：补充表格和数字可在https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.5691080

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来源期刊

Geochemistry-Exploration Environment Analysis 地学-地球化学与地球物理

CiteScore

3.60

自引率

16.70%

发文量

审稿时长

1 months

期刊介绍： Geochemistry: Exploration, Environment, Analysis (GEEA) is a co-owned journal of the Geological Society of London and the Association of Applied Geochemists (AAG). GEEA focuses on mineral exploration using geochemistry; related fields also covered include geoanalysis, the development of methods and techniques used to analyse geochemical materials such as rocks, soils, sediments, waters and vegetation, and environmental issues associated with mining and source apportionment. GEEA is well-known for its thematic sets on hot topics and regularly publishes papers from the biennial International Applied Geochemistry Symposium (IAGS). Papers that seek to integrate geological, geochemical and geophysical methods of exploration are particularly welcome, as are those that concern geochemical mapping and those that comprise case histories. Given the many links between exploration and environmental geochemistry, the journal encourages the exchange of concepts and data; in particular, to differentiate various sources of elements. GEEA publishes research articles; discussion papers; book reviews; editorial content and thematic sets.