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

金属的持续供应对经济发展和增长至关重要，因为金属是工业化社会的支柱。该项目旨在提高我们对主要含有铂（Pt）、钯（Pd）和金（Au）但也含有 ** 大量铑（Rh）、镍（Ni）和铜（Cu）的矿床的成因和分布的理解。这些金属有着广泛的用途。例如，除了作为投资工具的价值外，铂和钯是催化工艺中的基本元素 **，在包括汽车 ** 行业 * 在内的几个行业中，对污染控制的需求很高。该项目提供了一个独特的机会来详细描述全球已知最大的Pt、Pd、Au** 矿化之一：Platreef（南非布什维尔德火成杂岩）。该项目将解决 ** 两个基本问题：（a）哪些过程控制了矿化的空间分布和 ** 厚度的变化？(b)什么样的特征可以作为“勘探矢量”，以更好地确定已知矿化的范围，并在其他地方找到类似的矿床？(in南非和 ** 世界各地，包括加拿大的未开发的北部）。这些问题的答案将使矿产勘探 ** 更有效率、更具成本效益，并更成功地找到新的矿藏。该项目是围绕高素质人才的培训和几个研究生（4** 硕士和2博士）将直接参与该项目。除了工业合作伙伴外，该项目还得到了两项加拿大倡议的支持：伊丽莎白二世女王钻禧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两个 ** 机构的目标，即促进研究和与发展中国家的合作，并在英联邦国家的大学中建立 ** 技术能力。

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.