Petrological, mineralogical and geochemical constraints of PGE-Ni-Cu mineralization in the platreef and implications for mineral exploration

高原PGE-Ni-Cu矿化的岩石学、矿物学和地球化学约束及其对矿产勘探的意义

• 批准号: 514753-2017
• 负责人: Jugo, Pedro
• 金额: $ 6.64万
• 依托单位: Laurentian University of Sudbury
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Collaborative Research and Development Grants
• 财政年份: 2018
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2018-01-01 至 2019-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=654910
• 关键词: Petrological; mineralogical; geochemical; constraints; PGE

A continuous supply of metals is essential for economic development and growth because metals are the**backbone of industrialized societies. This project aims to improve our understanding of the genesis and**distribution of deposits containing primarily platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), and gold (Au) but also containing**significant amounts of rhodium (Rh), nickel (Ni), and copper (Cu). These metals have a wide range of**applications. For example, in addition to their value as investment instruments, Pt and Pd are essential elements**in catalytic processes and in high demand for pollution control in several sectors, including the automotive**industry.**The project provides a unique opportunity to characterize, in detail, one of the largest known Pt, Pd, Au**mineralizations worldwide: the Platreef (Bushveld Igneous Complex, South Africa). The project will address**two fundamental questions: (a) which processes controlled the spatial distribution and variations in the**thickness of the mineralization?; (b) what particular characteristics can be used as 'exploration vectors' to better**define the extent of known mineralization and find similar deposits elsewhere? (in South Africa and**worldwide, including Canada's unexplored north). Answers to these questions will make mineral exploration**more efficient, cost-effective, and more successful in finding new deposits.**The project is designed around the training of highly-qualified personnel and several graduate students (4**MSc and 2 PhD) will be directly involved in the project. In addition to the industrial partner, the project is**supported by two Canadian initiatives: the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarship Program and the**International Development Research Centre (IDRC). NSERC support contributes to fulfil the goals of the two**Canadian institutions in fostering research and collaboration with developing countries and building**technological capacity in universities of Commonwealth countries.

金属的持续供应对于经济发展和增长至关重要，因为金属是工业化社会的**骨干。该项目旨在提高我们对主要是铂（PT），钯（PD）和黄金（AU）的沉积物的起源和**分布的理解，但还包含**大量的Rhodium（rh），Nickel（Ni）和Copper（Cu）。这些金属具有广泛的**应用。例如，除了其作为投资工具的价值外，PT和PD是催化过程中的必要要素**，并且在包括汽车**行业在内的多个部门对污染控制的高需求中。该项目将解决**两个基本问题：（a）哪个过程控制了矿化厚度的空间分布和变化？ （b）哪些特定特征可以用作“探索矢量”，以更好地**定义已知矿化的程度并在其他地方找到类似的沉积物？ （在南非和全球**，包括加拿大未开发的北部）。这些问题的答案将使矿产探索**更有效，更具成本效益，并且在寻找新的存款方面更加成功。除工业合作伙伴外，该项目还得到加拿大两项倡议的支持：伊丽莎白二世女王钻石禧年奖学金计划和**国际发展研究中心（IDRC）。 NSERC的支持有助于实现加拿大机构的目标，以促进与发展中国家的研究和合作，并在英联邦大学的大学中建立**技术能力。