Agoracom

Platinum-group minerals (PGM) have been identified as inclusions in chromite. The inclusions are small (<20 microns) and are commonly euhedral. The PGM inclusions are (Ru, Os, Ir) S₂, laurite, and (Os, Ir, Ru alloy), rutheniridosmine: Laurites contain up to 2.99 wt. % palladium. Arsenic content is negligible and no platinum or rhodium has been detected. One platinum-group element alloy contains 0.96 wt. % rhodium but neither platinum nor palladium has been detected. Laurite inclusions in chromite from the ultramafic zone record two compositional trends; first increasing and then decreasing Ru/(Ru+Os+Ir) up section. PGM inclusions and other solid inclusions occur as discrete phases in chromite and are part of the chromite precipitation event. Increasing oxygen fugacity by wall rock assimilation or new magma injection initiates chromite precipitation, locally increasing the sulphur content of the magma to convert PGE alloys to sulphides.