Ultramafic rocks and their geological environment

Geology of Sulawesi
Ade Kadarusman PhD
Senior Geologist Specialist

Exploration and Mine Development Department PT INCO Tbk, Sorowako, South Sulawesi

COMPOSITION OF THE UPPER MANTLE

The upper mantle is a peridotitic metamorphic complex dominated by olivine with increasingly lesser amount of orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene and an aluminous phase (plagioclase, spinel or garnet depending on pressure). Eclogite and pyroxenite are omni present.

 Ultramafic Rock the presence of essentially mafic minerals without considering the silica content

Ultramafic rocks classification

Rock classification for peridotites and pyroxenites
Classification according to Aluminuous phase content : -plagioclase peridotite, spinel peridotite or garnet peridotite

Three principle sources of upper mantle rock exposed in the Earths surface
Orogenic peridotite massifs
packages of ultramafic rocks (m to km in scale) that were tectonically emplaced onto continental crust or island arc during continental collision - Layered intrusion (Mostly Pre-Cambrian Environment) - Alpine type of Peridotites

Oceanic peridotite
uplifted onto continental margin or island arc in ophiolite sequences

Peridotitic xenoliths
cm to m scale samples carried in rapidly erupted host volcanics such as alkali basalts and kimberlites

The upper mantle beneath pre-Cambrian craton

peridotite as mantle xenoliths
Peridotitic rocks were sampled by kimberlite-like rock from depth of 40 km minimum as mantle xenoliths

Menzies & Chazot, 1995

The upper mantle rock in continental collisions -Orogenic PeridotiteDeep subducted crustal rocks (to depth of at least 40 km) in continental collision zone can uplift peridotitic rocks to the surface

The Origin of Ophiolites

MOR SSZ OP SSZ

Origin of Ophiolites (oceanic crust on the land):

Mid Oceanic Ridge (MOR) Supra Subduction Zone (SSZ) Oceanic Plateau / Seamounts (OP)

Worldwide Database showed that SSZ ophiolite is common for: -Ultramafic hosted chromite deposit -Chromite and nickel sulphides hosted PGM -Volcanic Massive Sulphides Deposit

primitive mantle = basalt/gabbro + peridotite

Key for laterites development : ultramafic rock on the surface and equatorial locations

Ultramafic rocks of oceanic origin emplacement onto continental margins or island arcs : - Obduction - Accretion

Accretion

Obduction

Ultramafic rocks (Upper Mantle Origin)

Expose on the Earths Surface (oceanic or orogenic peridotite)

Equatorial Location

Magmatism

Laterite Development

Sulphides Mineralization

Nickel Laterite

Nickel Sulphides

Geology of Sulawesi

See the animation

Eastern Indonesia :The Worlds largest of ultramafic rock outcrops,

East Sulawesi Potential :the Batui Thrust Development

Lakes area and Matano fault

Coastal Area and Mekongga Block

Conclusions
Unique geology and tectonic of Eastern Indonesia exposed large distribution of ultramafic rocks on the land Exposing ultramafic rocks in the surface, means potential economic values not only for Nickel laterite, but also for Nickel sulphides, diamond, rare metal/PGE

SSZ

Supra Subduction