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A reconnaissance study on the magmatic Cu-Ni-PGE sulphide potential of the Tete Complex, Mozambique

Centre for Research on Magmatic Ore Deposits, Department of Geology, University of Pretoria, retoria 0002, South Africa, e-mail: wdmaier{at}scientia.up.ac.za

Sarah-Jane Barnes

Sciences de la Terre, Université du Québec, Chicoutimi, G7H 2B1, Canada e-mail: sjbarnes{at}uqac.uquebec.ca

L.D. Ashwal

Department of Geology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, e-mail: lda{at}cosmos.wits.ac.za

C. Li

Department of Geological Sciences, University of Indiana, Bloomington, in 47405, USA e-mail: cli{at}indiana.edu

The Tete Complex of Mozambique is a composite mafic-ultramafic intrusion that consists largely of pyroxenites and gabbros, with lesser amounts of coarse-grained troctolitic and anorthositic rocks reminiscent of massif-type anorthosites. The Complex thus may have potential to host reef-type PGE ores and/or massive Ni-Cu sulphides analogous to those found in the gabbro-troctolite hosted Voisey’s Bay deposits. We analysed 8 isotopically and mineralogically well-characterized samples of anorthosite, leucotroctolite, clinopyroxenite, gabbro, olivine melagabbro, dolerite, and a pegmatitic orthopyroxenite for major and trace elements, including PGE. The samples show little evidence for significant crustal contamination and are mostly undepleted in PGE relative to Cu, and to a lesser degree, Ni. If the samples are representative of the intrusion, this may indicate that the Complex has limited potential to host economic Ni-Cu sulphide ores. The potential for reef-type PGE ores remains less clear, in view of the occurrence of such ores in seemingly uncontaminated intrusions elsewhere (e.g. the Great Dyke).

This article has been cited by other articles:

				W.D. Maier, S.-J. Barnes, L.D. Ashwal, and C. Li A reconnaissance study on the magmatic Cu-Ni-PGE sulphide potential of the Tete Complex, Mozambique South African Journal of Geology, December 1, 2001; 104(4): 355 - 363. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]