Timing of sulphide saturation and ore formation in the Sudbury Igneous Complex

Peter C. Lightfoot

doi:10.1071/ASEG2006ab095

ISSN: 2202-0586
E-ISSN:

oa Timing of sulphide saturation and ore formation in the Sudbury Igneous Complex
Authors Peter C. Lightfoot^a
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^a Principal Geologist, Inco Exploration, Highway 17 West, Copper Cliff, , Ontario, , Canada, POM 1N0 [email protected]
Publisher: Australian Society of Exploration Geophysicists
Source: ASEG Extended Abstracts, Volume 2006, Issue ASEG2006 - 18th Geophysical Conference, Dec 2006, p. 1 - 9
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1071/ASEG2006ab095
- Published online: 01 Dec 2006

Abstract

The Sudbury Igneous Complex (SIC) is widely believed to be the result of melt generation due to meteorite impact, and so models of Ni-Cu-PGE sulphide ore formation must be reconciled with this hypothesis. Moreover, the formation of the Ni and Cu sulphide ores is a product of sulphide saturation and segregation of immiscible sulphide melts, and like the ores at Noril’sk, those at Sudbury leave a fingerprint of the process in the comagmatic silicate rocks which are bereft of much of their Ni, Cu and PGE. At Sudbury, the thickest part of metal-depleted norite is located proximal to the largest known deposits, viz. the Creighton, Copper Cliff and Frood-Stobie Deposits. It is believed that the formation of the initial immiscible sulphide took place shortly after melt sheet formation, but well before any significant amount of silicate crystallization; sulphide saturation and segregation from the crustal melt sheet likely occurred under superheated conditions. The geological data provide important constraints on the sequence of events that formed the different orebodies in contact, footwall and offset dyke environments.

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References

Ames, D. Golightly, J.P., Lightfoot, P.C. and Gibson, H.L., 2002, Vitric Compositions in the Onaping Formation and Their Relationship to the Sudbury Igneous Complex, Sudbury Structure. Economic Geology 97: 1541-1562.
Farrow, C.E.G. and Lightfoot, P.C., 2002, Sudbury PGE revisited: towards an integrated model. CIM Special Volume 54: 273-297.
Golightly, J.P., 1994, The Sudbury Igneous Complex as an Impact Melt: Evolution and Ore Genesis: Proceedings of the Sudbury-Noril’sk Symposium, Special, v. 5, edited by P.C. Lightfoot and A.J. Naldrett, p. 105-118.
Grieve, R.A.F., Stüffler, D. and Deutsch, A., 1991, The Sudbury Structure: Controversial or misunderstood?: Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 96, pt. E5, 22, 753-22, 764.
Ivanov, B.A. and Deutsch, A., 1997, Sudbury impact event: cratering mechanics and thermal history: Large Meteorite Impacts and Planetary Evolution, LPI Contribution No 922, p. 26.
Keays, R.R. and Lightfoot, P.C., 2004, Formation of Ni-Cu-PGE sulphide mineralization in the Sudbury Impact Melt Sheet. Mineralogy and Petrology. Vol. 82. 217-258.
Lightfoot, P.C., Keays, R.R., Morrison, G.G., Bite, A. and Farrell, K., 1997a, Geologic and Geochemical Relationships between the Contact Sublayer, Inclusions, and the Main Mass of the Sudbury Igneous Complex: A Case Study of the Whistle Mine Embayment: Economic Geology 92, p. 647-673.
Lightfoot, P.C., Keays, R.R., Morrison, G.G., Bite, A. and Farrell, K., 1997b, Geochemical Relationships in the Sudbury Igneous Complex: Origin of the Main Mass and Offset Dikes: Economic Geology 92, p. 289-307.
Lightfoot, P.C., Keays, R.R. and Doherty, W., 2001, Chemical Evolution and Origin of Nickel Sulfide Mineralization in the Sudbury Igneous Complex, Ontario, Canada. Econ Geol. 96:1855-1875.
Marsh, B.D. and Zieg, M.J., 1999, Melt sheet madness: superheated emulsion differentiation: GAC-MAC Joint Annual Meeting Sudbury 1999, Abstracts Volume 24, p. 78.
Morrison, G.G., 1984, Morphological features of the Sudbury Structure in relation to an impact origin: The Geology and Ore Deposits of the Sudbury Structure. Edited by E.G. Pye, A.J. Naldrett and P.E. Giblin. Ontario Geological Survey Special Volume No. 1, p. 513-522.
Naldrett, A.J. and Hewins, R.H., 1984, The Main Mass of the Sudbury Igneous Complex, edited by E.G. Pye, A.J. Naldrett, and P.E. Giblin. The Geology and Ore Deposits of the Sudbury Structure, p. 235-251.
Pattison, E.F., 1979, The Sudbury sublayer: Its Characteristics and Relationships with the Main Mass of the Sudbury Irruptive; Canadian Mineralogist, v. 17, part 2, p. 257-274.
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Article Type: Research Article

Keyword(s): melt sheet; sequence of events; Sudbury Igneous Complex (SIC); sulphide saturation

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