Phoscorite-Carbonatite Pipe Complexes A PROMISING NEW PLATINUM GROUP ELEMENT TARGET IN BRAZIL

Author(s)

Fontana, Juarez ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Polytech Sch, Min & Petr Engn Dept, LCT Technol Characterizat Lab, Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: PLATINUM METALS REVIEW; v. 50, n. 3, p. 134-142, JUL 2006.
• Web of Science Citations: 4

Abstract

The background to a project in Brazil is described that has found promising concentrations of platinum group elements (PGEs) in phoscorite-carbonatite complexes. Further geochemical and mineralogical research is underway to determine their potential as ore deposits. The well-established industrial demand and current level of prices for the platinum group metals have encouraged the exploration of geological environments other than the layered mafic-ultramafic intrusions that provide the bulk of platinum metals. Environments, such as the Ural-Alaskan Type Complexes (U-ATCs) and the associated placer deposits were for many years the only known sources of the PGEs. This paper attempts to show a connection between platiniferous dunite-pyroxenite pipes in the Ural Platinum Belt and those on the eastern margin of the Bushveld Complex, both being significant PGE producers in the past, and phoscorite-carbonatite pipe (PCP) complexes. PCP complexes may be a promising source of PGEs. Four Brazilian PCP complexes are sampled (Salitre, Tapira, Ipanema and Catalao) as well as the Phalaborwa PCP complex in South Africa. (AU)