PGE Geochemistry and Mineralogy of Dunite, Chromitite, and Laterite Samples from the Acoje Ophiolite Block, Philippines

Abstract: Ni-laterites have the potential to become unconventional ore deposits for platinum group elements (PGE). This study was conducted to determine enrichment trends of PGE as a result of the Ni-laterization process. 6 samples were selected by mine workers from the protolith, saprolite, and limonite horizons of the Ni-laterite profile from the Acoje ophiolite block, Luzon, Philippines, and sent to Luleå University of Technology (LTU). 2 samples representing the protolith are described as dunite having undergone serpentinization, 1 sample is a massive chromitite from the saprolite layer of the laterite profile, 1 sample is a massive chromitite from the limonite layer of the laterite profile, and 2 samples are limonitic soils. Total PGE contents of the investigated Acoje samples range from 161-1180 ppb with the highest contents of PGE occurring in the limonite hosted chromitite, and the lowest contents in the saprolite hosted chromitite. C1 chondrite-normalized patterns reveal distinct trends of the PGE in the different sample types: dunite samples have a positive trend from Ir-Pd, the chromitite samples have a negative trend from Ru-Pd with a negative Ir anomaly and the limonite samples have a strong positive trend from Ir-Pd. Rare earth elements (REE) chondrite-normalized patterns of the samples show a negative Ce anomaly in the limonite while the dunite and saprolite-hosted chromitite have negative Eu anomalies. Cr# (Cr/[Al+Cr]) and Mg# (Mg/[Fe2++Mg]) were analyzed using automated mineralogy and produced Cr# values ranging from 0.67 – 0.77 and Mg# values from 0.46 – 0.59.  17 platinum group minerals (PGM) were identified from the Acoje samples: 9 from the dunite, 1 from the saprolite-hosted chromitite, 6 from the limonite-hosted chromitite and 1 from the limonite. Laurite ((Ru,Os)S2) was identified in samples A-02 and A-07 and is the only primary mineral identified. Secondary PGM, thought to have formed due to alteration processes during serpentinization, were identified as alloys composed of: Cu-Pd, Cu-Pt, Pt-Ni-Cu, Pt-Fe, Ir-Ni-(Pt,Fe), and Cu-Pt-Au-(Pd-Ag). PGM are small, measuring consistently <10 µm in diameter. Laurite occurs as inclusions in unfractured chromite. PGM alloys in the dunite samples occur along the boundary of sulfide minerals or within serpentine. PGM identified in the limonite-hosted chromitite occur along interstitial fractures within chromitite or in a Fe-Al oxide matrix within pore spaces.