The mineralogy and geochemistry of Ni-Cu-PGE sulfide ores and associated biotite from the Totten #2 mine, Worthington offset, Sudbury Igneous Complex, Canada

Abstract

The Sudbury Igneous Complex (SIC), Canada, contains a variety of sulfide ore deposits that represent a significant resource of nickel, copper, and platinum-group elements (PGE). Deposits hosted within the quartz diorite offsets are of distinct economic interest owing to their elevated base metal and PGE contents, therefore the detailed characterization of both mineralogical and geochemical features of these deposits is crucial to the exploration, and development of Sudbury ore. The Totten #2 mine located within the Worthington offset was studied in order to: (i) characterize the major/accessory minerals and paragenesis within the sulfide ores; (ii) identify the specific mineralogical domains of the chalcophile metals and their distribution; and (iii) investigate the potential of biotite chemistry as a pathfinder for Ni-Cu-PGE deposits. Key findings are presented and discussed with respect to their applications to exploration, ore processing, and our understanding of mafic to ultra-mafic Ni-Cu-PGE deposits.