Economic Geology

Vol. 70, 1975, pp. 183-201

The DumontSerpentinite'A Modelfor Controlof Nickel-

iferousOpaqueMineralAssemblages by Alteration
Reactions in Ultramafic Rocks

O. R. ECKSTRAND

Abstract

Various distinctive nickel-rich minerals are commonly encountered in barren and

weakly mineralized ultramafic rocks. The minerals include awaruite, heazlewoodite,
pentlanditc,millerite, and violarite but few, if any, iron sulfides. Using the Dumont
ultramaficbody in northern Quebecas an example, it is demonstratedthat certain as-
semblagesof theseopaquemineralstend to be spatiallyassociatedwith particular types
of alteration, namely, serpentinizationand talc-carbonatealteration. An analysis of
nickeliferousopaquemineral assemblageson the one hand and alteration reactions on
the other leads to a general model in which the former are controlled by the latter
through Fe-related redox mechanisms. The model predicts that incipient serpentiniza-
tion which generatesH2 should be accompaniedby reduced assemblagescharacterized
by low-sulfur minerals such as awaruite and heazlewoodite,while carbonate alteration
which generatesO, should be accompaniedby oxidized assemblagescharacterizedby
high-sulfur minerals such as millerite. The general applicability of the model was
testedby compilingbulk mineral assemblages from many locales,as reportedby numer-
ous investigators;the results showeda gratifying confirmationof the model.
Extension of the model to considerhigher sulfur contentswas explored in order to
explain the commonassemblages found in conventionalnickel deposits. These sulfide-
rich occurrences,in contrastto the barren or weakly mineralized ultramafic rocks, con-
sist mainly of iron sulfides(pyrrhotite+_pyrite) in addition to pentlandite,and lack
awaruite and heazlewoodite. The difference in assemblagescan be explained by the
model. Becauseof greater sulfidecontentand hencehigher sulfur, (1) the sulfideas-
semblagesare self-bufferedwith respectto oxygenand sulfur, thereforeremaininglargely
unaffectedby alterationreactions;and (2) the assemblages are requiredby compatabili-
ties at high S: Ni ratios to includeiron sulfides.
An important consequence of the model is that serpentinization,by converting some
silicate nickel into a sulfideform, may be economicallysignificantin the case of low-
grade deposits.

Introduction assemblagesby alteration reactions in ultramafic

SaoRTr.¾after discoveryin 1970 of the Dumont rocks is advanced. The model is testedby reference
low-gradenickel depositin a serpentinized ultra- to publisheddocumentationof similar occurrences.
maficbody,a studyof its opaquemineralswasbegun, Finally, the modelis extendedto higher sulfidecon-
with two objectivesin mind. The first objective tents in an attempt to explain the marked contrast
was to clarify the mineralogyand texture becauseit between the mineralogy of conventionalnickel sul-
wasrealizedthat metallurgical fide oresand that of weakly mineralizedand barren
recoverywouldbe a ultramafic rocks.
major factor in assessing economicviability of the
deposit.The second objectivewasan understanding Opaque Mineral Assemblagesand Alteration in
of the genesisof this sparselydisseminated, low-
the Dumont Ultramafic Body
grademineralization, in particular,its presentmin-
eralogyand its relationshipto conventional nickel The Dumont ultramaficbody is locatedin north-
sulfidedeposits.Early progressreportsconcerning western Quebec, 60 km northeast of the towns of
bothobjectives
havebeenpresented
previously
(Eck- Rouyn-Noranda, in Launay and Trecessontown-
strand,1971,1972). ships. It lies within the Abitibi orogenicbelt, which
The presentpaperconcernsitself mainly with the is part if the Superior Province of Archean age.
genetic aspect. Data for the Dumont depositare The ultramaficbody(Fig. 1) is a sill-likelens7 km
presented,largely in summaryform. On this basis long and almost1 km wide, dippingsteeplyto the
a geneticmodel for the control of opaquemineral northeast,and is enclosed
by volcanicrocks (desig-
183
184 O. R. ECKSTRAND

78o26 '

Fro.1. Planof Dumontserpentinite,

northwestern
Quebec,showing contact,
defined
mainlybyground magnetic
survey;
andalteration
zones.Thediamond drill holes,
steeplyinclined
to thesouth,
areshown in oblique
up-dip
projection
to the
plane
of thesurface,
withsampled
sitesindicated.SeetextandFigure2 foradditional
explanation.Adapted
in partfrom
informationsuppliedby Dumont Nickel Corporation.

i1 30Ore.
IOO0 ft

Surface
Overburden _

/- v v v v

v v v

v v

v v

-•,:• Partly
serpenfinized
(0to75%
relict
olivlne)
Ultramafic body
•-• Completely
serpentinized
•\\•\?\•
Talc
carbonate
alteration
Zones
ofdisseminated
magmatic
sulphide
blabs
Andesitic volcanic
wallrocks

Fro.2. Idealizedverticalsection
of theDumontultramafic
body,showing
zonesof
magmaticsulfidesand alteration.Adaptedin part from information
supplied
by
Dumont Nickel Corporation.
 THE DUMONT SERPENTINITE
ß /
! !
ß •r
Fro. 3. Photomicrographof partly serpentinizeddunite
with intercumulus sulfide-oxide "blebs." Olivine is gray,
serpentine is dark gray. Plane polarized reflected light.
Bar scale -- 1 mm.
Fro. 4. Photomicrograph of an intercumulus sulfide-
oxide bleb, showing a typical geometric intergrowth of mag-
netite (dark gray) and pentlandire (light gray), and an
irregular grain of awaruite (white). Plane polarized re-
flected light. Bar scale=0.1 mm.
Fro. 5. Photomicrograph of partly serpentinized dunite.
Serpentine is dark gray; olivine is gray; chromite is light
gray, forming equant euhedra, about 0.05 mm across. The
185
natedas andesites by Weeks,1935), metamorphosed
to greenschistfacies. It hasbeendrilledextensively
by Dumont Nickel Corporationto explorethe eco-
nomic potential of its low-grade nickel content.
Locationsof drill core samplesused in this study
are shownin Figure 1. The followingfindingsare
results of a more extensivestudy of the Dumont
ultramaficbody, but only the data essentialto the
concernsof this paper are reported here.
The original rock type of the ultramafic body,
basedon chemicalanalyses • and well-preserved relict
textures, is mainly dunire, grading to olivine-rich
peridotitetoward both margins. The dunite con-
sistedof 1 to 5 mm (average 2 ram) tightly packed
adcumulate olivinegrains,whilethe marginalperido-
tite contained,in addition,larger oikocrystsof clino-
pyroxene. Weak concentrations (up to 2 or 3 per-
cent) of disseminatedl-ram sulfide "blebs" occur
in severalsubparallelzoneswithin the serpentinized
dunite (Fig. 2), raising the nickel content from
background levelsof 0.2 to 0.3 percentto 0.4 to 0.7
percent. These "blebs" are rounded and occupy
sites interstitial to adjacent olivine grains, clearly
representingmagmaticintercumulussulfidedroplets
(Fig. 3).
Pervasive alteration has formed three distinctive
zoneswithin the body (Figs. 1 and 2). The least
alteredis a corezoneof partially serpentinized
dunite.
This is surroundedby a zone that is totally'serpen-
tinized and which makes up most of the body.
Finally,'thereis a marginalzoneof talc-carbonate
alteration present locally. This zonal pattern of
alteration• is the normal one commonlyobservedin
many ultramaficrocks,as for example,in the Middle
River Range, British Columbia (Little, 1949), at
Timmins, Ontario (Naldrett, 1966a), in Vermont
(Chidester, 1962), and at Burro Mountain, Cali-
fornia (Loney et al., 1971).
Nickelilerousopaquemineral assemblages
The nickel originally containedin silicate form
constitutes most of the total nickel in the Dumont
and other ultramafic bodies. As will be noted in the
following,this nickel is at least in part converted
into opaquemineralsby serpentinization.Conse-
x To be reported in a future publication.
• Throughout this paper, the term "alteration" as applied
to ultramafic rocks is meant to include both serpentinization
and carbonatizationunlessthe context clearly indicatesother-
wise. The term "carbonatization" as here applied to ultra-
mafic rocks means the generation of carbonate or talc-
carbonate.
tiny bright particles are finely disseminated pentlandite and
awaruite. Note that they occur only within serpentine, not
in fresh olivine. See text for further discussion. Reflected
light. Bar scale-- 0.5 mm.
186 O. R. ECKSTRAND

quently,silicatenickelis obviouslyof great impor- The nickeliferousopaquemineralshave basically

tance in consideringnickeliferousopaque mineral two modes of occurrence. The first is the dissemi-
assemblages. However, detailed considerationof nated intercumulus blebs mentioned in the Intro-
silicate nickel is omitted here because it is not es- duction. Their shapeand positionwith respectto
sentialto the presentargument,and becauseits com- olivine as shownin Figure 3 strongly suggestsan
positionalramifications can more convenientlybe intercumulus magmatic origin. Microscopic ex-
analyzedin connectionwith Figure 14, under the aminationof theseblebs,however,revealsthat they
heading"Opaquemineralassemblages in nickelsul- are not madeup of sulfidealonebut consistof an
fide ores." aggregateof two or threephases(Fig. 4): magnetite,
The principal nickeliferousopaqueminerals in a sulfide(pentlanditeor heazlewoodite but virtually
the Dumontultramaficbodyincludemagnetite,which no iron sulfide),and in many instances, awaruite.
is the most abundant,then pentlanditeand heazle- This contrastssharplywith the mineralogyof mas-
woodite, then awaruite which is common but occurs sive magmaticnickel ores which generally consist
only in minor amounts, and finally millerite, in mainly of pyrrhotite,with lesserpentlandite,pyrite,
trace amounts. Chromite is also widespread,but it and magnetite. Furthermore, the Dumont blebs
is clearly a relict magmaticmineral whose sole in- have a magnetite:sulfide(plus minor awaruite)
volvement in postmagmaticreactionsis to serve ratio of about 1:0.5 to 1: 1.5. The same ratio cal-
passivelyas a nucleusto secondary overgrowthsof culatedfrom databy Ewersand Hudson(1972) for
magnetite;consequently, it will not be considered the Kambaldaores, which are probablytypical of
further. Trace amounts of a few other minerals, magmatic nickel ores, is about 1:50 for massive
including native copper, valleriite, and cobaltian ore and 1: 8 for matrix ore. In spiteof thesediffer-
pentlandite, are also present. However, detailed encesin mineralogy,the Ni/(Ni + Fe) ratios of
consideration of thesemineralsis beyondthe scope the blebs are quite similar to those of other ultra-
of this paperwhichwill dwell principallyon the mafic-affiliatednickel deposits,as illustratedby the
mineralphasesof the Fe-Ni-S-O system. following calculatedvalues:

Deposit •laterial Ni/(Ni q- Fe) Source

Dumont; sulfide blebs 0.25 to 0.35 Calculated from visually estimated pro-
portions and electron probe-measured
compositionsof contained opaque
minerals.
Katiniq, New Quebec; sulfide ore 0.20 Calculated from data by Wilson et al.,
1969.
Thompson, •Ianitoba; sulfide ore 0.18 Calculated from data by Boldt and
Queneau, 1967.

On the basis of the precedingobservations,the number of possibleequations,the following is one

Dumont blebsare thoughtto have originallycon- which roughly approximatesthe observedpropor-
sisted of an intercumulus sulfide-oxide melt which tionsof products'
underwentcrystallizationand isochemical(?)sub-
solidusreactions. This would have given rise first 8FeS q- Fe4.sNi4.sSs+ 8.8802
to monosulfide solidsolution,thenprobablyfollowed po q- pn
at lower temperatureby the commonlyobservedas- = 2.22Fe304 + Fes.,Nia..•S8+ «FeNia + 4S=
semblagepyrrhotite and pentlandite,with minor = mg + pn + aw
magnetite,and possiblypyrite, all within the con-
fines of the originallyliquid blebs. However, the The internal texture of the blebs (Fig. 4) is
Dumont blebs have undergonea further transfor- mainlya geometricintergrowthof sulfideand mag-
mation to the assemblagemagnetite, nickel sulfide netite, with the latter apparently replacing the
(pentlanditeor heazlewoodite),and in some cases formeralongcleavageplanes. Awaruite formssmall
awaruite. This transformationappearsto have in- irregular, subsequentmasses. This consistenttex-
volved destructionof some sulfide and generation tural habit of minerals in the blebs is considered to
of some magnetite,but still essentiallywithin the support an interpretation of equilibrium of these
confines of the blebs. From this is inferred a loss minerals.
of sulfur and addition of oxygen. Of an infinite A mode of magmatic sulfur that is recognized
 THE D UMONT SERPENTINITE 187

elsewhere,but appearsto be insignificantin the Du- eralsmay representequilibriumassemblages. Docu-

mont body,is sulfur in solutionin the intercumulus mentationof coexistingopaquemineralswas there-
silicateliquid. Wilson et al. (1969) attribute fine- fore undertakenin order to test the hypothesisthat
grained sulfidesin interolivineareas to this origin. equilibriumwas approached.Another reasonfor
However, this interpretationseemsinapplicableto suchdocumentation was the preliminaryindication
the Dumont body becauseof the apparentlack of that certainmineralsappearedto be zonallydistri-
interolivinesilicatematerialin the typicallyadcumu- buted;pentlanditeand awaruite,for instance,seemed
late texture. restrictedto centralportionsof the serpentinite.
The second mode of occurrence of nickeliferous The resultsof this documentation are presentedin
opaquemineralsis as finely disseminated grainsdis- slightlyidealizedform in Figure6. The positioning
persedthroughoutthe serpentinite. They range in of the assemblages in the sectionis with respectto
size from one or less to greater than 100 microns. the three alteration zones. The term "assemblage"
The mineralspresentare essentially the sameas in is usedhere to expressthe author'sinferencethat a
the blebs. They are distributedmostabundantlyin certain collectionof coexistingmineralsrepresentsa
fracturesand along boundariesof pseudomorphic "frozen-in" equilibrium, achievedunder some pre-
olivine grains, and more sparselyas dispersions vious set of conditions. Criteria for such equilib-
through olivine pseudomorphs(Fig. 5). Signifi- rium are that the minerals occur within the same
cantly, they are not found in fresh olivine grains. polishedsection,though not necessarilyin contact;
The nickeliferous opaquemineralsappearto be by- that there are no textural indicationsof disequilib-
products of serpentinization,an interpretation in rium; and that the assemblagesare generally con-
agreementwith earlier conclusions of Nickel (1959) sistent with those documented elsewhere in similar
and Chamberlain (1966) for similarly dispersed rocks, as for example, by GrateroI and Naldrett
particles. Furthermore, the nickel contained in (1971), Harris and Nickel (1972), and Misra and
these opaquemineralsmust have been derived in Fleet (1973). These studiesstronglysupportcom-
situ from the olivinein whosepseudomorphs they positionalequilibrationof many of the sulfidesin
occur, becausethe nickel content of the rock remains the Fe-Ni-S system.
approximately constantat about0.20 to 0.30 percent In actualfact, equilibriumhas not beenunequi-
whetherserpentinization of the dunireis partial or vocallydemonstrated, and this fact shouldbe kept
total. in mind. It is possible,for instance,that sulfides
The presentmineralogyof nickeliferousopaques equilibratedto lower temperaturesthan did the
of the blebtype as well as the fine disseminated type silicates. However, no definite indicationsof dis-
probablyoriginatedduring serpentinization.This equilibriumwere recognized,and for purposesof
interpretationis supportedby the followingevidence: the subsequent analysisthe assumption of equilibrium
is found to be workable and useful.
1. The two modesof opaquemineralshave es-
sentiallythe samemineralogy. Analysisof f02 and rS2 in Fe-Ni-S-O assernbla#es
2. Both modes appear to have been derived as
The assemblages that have been documentedare
pseudomorphicreplacements,i.e., the bleb mode
from the sulfide-oxide intercumulus melt, and the essentially phases in the systemFe-Ni-S-O. The
fine disseminatedmode as part of the serpentine textural and mineralogical evidencepresentedearlier
pseudomorphs after olivine. Becausethe fine mode suggests that there has been migration of both
is believedto result from serpentinization,
the bleb oxygen and sulfur in the generationof theseassem-
blages. Nickel and iron, on the other hand, need
mode also probably resultsfrom serpentinization.
3. Formation of the fine disseminated sulfides re- not have migratedmore than an olivine grain diame-
ter or so. Therefore, it would seem desirable to
quiresintroductionof sulfur during surpentinization.
In contrastto this the blebsappearto have lost some attempt an analysisof the assemblages in terms of
of their sulfur. Consequently, it seemslogicalthat the fugacitiesof oxygen and sulfur. By so doing,
bothfeaturesmay be explainedby migrationof sul- chemicalgradients of these componentswould be
fur from the blebs to the fine disseminated sulfides demonstrated,if present, and the possiblecauses
during serpentinization. The evidence regarding of suchgradientscould be investigated.
sulfur migration is not dear as to the distance Thermodynamicdata are insufficientlyknown for
traveled, whether it is limited to centimeters or a quantitativeanalysis. Consequently, the analysis
could be as much as tens or hundreds of meters. attempted here is of the chemographic and mainly
qualitativetype. The startingpoint is a compila-
Becausethe presentopaquemineralogyas a whole tionof the naturallyoccurringmineralcompatibilities
appearsto have originatedduring the processof within the Fe-Ni-S-O system. Coexistingminerals
serpentinization,it was anticipatedthat the min- of the Fe-Ni-S subsystemobservedin this study
 188 O. R. ECKSTRAND

ii 300m
t000
ft
ii

Surface

Overburden

Magnetite
+pentlandlie
+owaruite
a.Magnetite
+heazlewoodite
owaruite
b.Magnetite
+ ñheazlewoodite
c. Magnetite + pentlandite -+heazlewoodite

Magnetite
+pentlandire
+heazlewoodite_+
millerite
Magnet,te
+heazl
....d,te
+-
pentlandil'e
Pyrrhotite
+sphaler•te+
chalcopyr•te_•
pyr•te
FIG. 6. Idealizedverticalsectionof the Dumontultramaficbody,showingdistribution
of opaquemineralassemblages. Alterationzonesare indicatedby the samelegendas in
Figure 2. •

correspondto someof thosein naturallyoccurring 200øC. Extending these relationsinto the relevant
assemblagesthat have been documentedin a series part of the quaternary system Fe-Ni-S-O is a
of excellentcompilations
by Graterol and Naldrett simple matter? All phasesshown in the Fe-Ni-S
(1971), Harris and Nickel (1972), and Misra and subsystemare known to coexist with magnetite
Fleet (1973). The versionof this ternary system (Table 1), as depictedin Figure 8. Hematite, on
that will be usedhere (Fig. 7) is the interpretive the otherhand,is only with certaintyknownto co-
phasediagramgivenby MisraandFleet (1973,fig. exist with pyrite, and it seemslikely that hematite
7). Experimental workby Craig(1973) andMisra is incompatiblewith all phaseslying on the oxygen-
andFleetindicatesthatthe relationsshownin Figure poor side of the magnetite-pyrite-milleriteplane.
7 are valid within sometemperaturerangebelow The next stepis to constructa fO2 vs rS2 diagram
f.orthe Fe-Ni-S-O system(Fig. 9) that is consistent
70 or% S
with the compatabilitiesshown in Figure 8. The
methodsof constructionof such diagramsare ex-
plained in textbooks such as that of Garrels and
Christ (1965). Thermodynamicdata are available
for the Fe-S-O system,and thoseshownin Figure
9a are takenfromHolland(1959) for a temperature
of 127øC, which seemsreasonablefor the conditions
of sulfide equilibration under considerationhere.
This forms a basic skeletaldiagram on which to
superimposethe additional reaction boundariesre-
sultingfrom the introductionof Ni to the systemas
shownin Figure 9b. N.otethat small amountsof Ni
Fe Ni
8 In the subsequent
analysisthe following simplifications
Fro. 7. Interpretive low-temperaturephase diagram for have been made: godlevskite,polydymite,bravoite, vaesite,
the Fe-Ni-S system, after Misra and Fleet (1973). Mineral marcasite, smythite, and mackinawite have been omitted
names are abbreviated as follows: aw=awaruite, by= from further considerationbecausetheir compatibilitiesare
bravoite, gs -- godlevskite,hpo= hexagonal pyrrhotite, hz too poorly understood, and their inclusion does not seem
'- heazlewoodite,ml = millerite, mpo= monoclinic pyrrho- essentialto the present argument. Only the violarite of
tite, pm = polydymite, pn •- pentlandite, py = pyrite, tr = apparent "hydrothermal" origin is included; the obviously
troilite, vl: violarite, vs = vaesite. supergenetype is not.
 THE DUMONT SERPENTINITE 189

Fro. 8. Interpretive low-temperaturephasediagram for the systemFe-Ni-S-O, based

largely on Figure 7 but with additionof dashedtie lines from magnetiteand hematiteto
someof the coexistingFe-Ni-S phases,and deletion of gs, rs, and by. Abbreviationsof
mineral namesare as in Figure 7, with the following additions: mg--magnetite, hm:
hematite.

enteringthe FeS phasesand magnetitewill influence
the positionsand shapesof their stabilityfields,but
probablyonly slightly,and there is no attemptto
showthis in Figure9b. The only relevantthermo-
dynamicdata availablefor the nickel-richphasesin
the system are the reactions heazlewoodite-Ni7S6
and Ni7S6-milleriteat temperaturesabove 300øC
(Barton and Skinner,1967, fig. 7.21). Extrapola-
tion to 127øCsuggests a log fS• value of roughly
-25 for the reaction millerite-heazlewoodite. The
otherreactionboundaries are definedwith regardto
slopeby the proportionsof Os and S• involvedin
the reactionequations(seeAppendixA), but their
exact positionsare unkn.own,lacking quantitative
thermodynamic data. However,the relativeposi-
tionscan be determinedbecausethey must be con-
sistentwith the mineralcompatibilities
expressed in
Figure8. Consequently the topologyof the fO•-fS•
diagramfor the Fe-Ni-S-O systemis established as
shown in Figure 9b,c. Knowledge of assemblages
in this system,then, allows more precisedefinition
of relative fO• and fS• than is possibleusing as-
semblagesonly from the Fe-S-O system. For in-
stance, the assemblage magnetite-millerite must
representa very much higher fO• and fS• than mag-
netite-pentlandite-awaruite.Another exampleis that
at any given fS•, magnetite-heazlewoodite indicates
a greater fO• than magnetite-pentlandite,except
where all three minerals coexist.
Having establishedthe fO•.-fS• diagram,it is then
a simple matter to plot on it the sequenceof as-
semblages from the Dumont ultramaficbody. These
are shown by. numbers in Figure 9c. It is im-
mediately apparent that the assemblagesform a
seriestending to have low fO2 and fS• in the core
zone of the body, intermediatefO• and fS• through-
out mostof the remainderof the body,and high fO•
and fS• in the marginaltalc-carbonate
zone. Finally,
190 O. R. ECKSTRAND

TABLE 1. Compilation of Opaqueand NonopaqueMineral Assemblages

in Various Alteration Facies of Ultramafic
Rocks.(Namesin parentheses
indicatemineralswhoseinclusionin the statedassemblages
is reasonable
but not
entirely explicit in the original descriptions.Mineral nameshave been abbreviatedas follows:ank -- ankerite,
ant = antigorite, aw -- awaruite, br = brucite, cal = calcite, cbt = carbonate,chl = chlorite, dol = dolomite,
hm -- hematite, hz = heazlewoodite,liz = lizardite, mg -- magnetite, mgs = magnesite,mk = mackinawire,
ml -- millerite, ol = olivine, po = pyrrhotite, pn -- pentlandite,py = pyrite, qtz -- quartz,
sp = serpentine, vl = violarite.)

Opaque mineral Nonopaque

assemblages mineral assemblages Locality Reference

Talc-carbonate facies

hm ank-mgs Bert's Cove-Tilt Cove, Newfoundland Neale, 1957, p. 98

(ml-py) ' 'silica-carbonate" Eastern Metals mine, Quebec Pollack, 1959
(qtz-cal-dol)
hm talc-cbt-sp Iskwasum Lake, Manitoba Scoares, 1969, p. 93-94
(py-ml-pn-mg) (sp-talc-chl-mgs-dol) McWatters property, Ont. Nickel, 1971, p. 3
ml cal-chrome garnet Orford township, Quebec Ells, 1889; Fortier, 1946, p. 656
P¾ talc-cbt-chl Griffis Lake, Quebec Fahrig, 1962, p. 8
ml, (various Ni arsenides) (talc-cbt) Tilt cove, Newfoundland Papezik, 1964, p. 28-30
mg-ml(?)-vl qtz-mgs-chl-chromian Bale Verte, Newfoundland Soles, 1966
muscovite

mg-hm talc-mgs-sp Deloro township, Ontario Griffis, 1972, p. 67

mg-py mgs-talc-qtz Great Bend, Northwest Gander R., Soles, 1972
Newfoundland
mg-py-ml ant-talc-cbt Mr. Windarra, Western Australia Davidson, 1970, fig. 4, plate B
ml- (mg) sp-talc-mgs Mr. Windarra, Western Australia Watchman, 1971, p. 17, fig. 6
(py-mg) (qtz-ank-mgs) Mr. Vernon, Washington Hobbs and Pecora, 1941, p. 67
mg-py-ml-vl ant-mgs Black Swan, Western Australia Groves et al., 1974
mpopy-pn ant-mgs Black Swan, Western Australia Groves et al., 1974
hm mgs-talc ? qtz? Cobb-Takaka district, New Zealand Wellman, 1942
hm mgs-talc-qtz Deloro township, Ontario Buchanan, 1963; Bright and Lake, 1965
(mg-py) cbt-talc-qtz Middle River Range, B.C. Little, 1949

Serpentine facies
po-mg-pn sp Muskox intrusion, N.W.T. Chamberlain, 1967, fig. 30
po-pn-mg-mk sp Muskox intrusion, N.W.T. Chamberlain and Delabio, 1965, fig. 2A
mg-hz-pn ant Poschiavo, Selva-Quadrada de Quervain, 1963, fig. 15
aw-pn-mg ant Poschiavo, Selva-Quadrada de Quervain, 1963, fig. 11
hz-ml- (mg) ant Poschiavo, Selva-Quadrada de Quervain, 1963, fig. 7
aw-po-mg sp Brazil Krishnarao, 1964, fig. 3
aw-pn-mg sp Sampeyre, Italy Zucchetti, 1970, fig. 5
aw-pn-hz (-mg) sp Balangero, Italy Zucchetti, 1970, fig. 7
aw-po-mg sp Balangero, Italy Zucchetti, 1970, fig. 12
ml-hz-mg (sp) Porcupine district, Ontario Owens, 1968
ml-pn-mg (sp) Porcupine district, Ontario Owens, 1968
mg-hz sp National Asbestos mine, Quebec Chamberlain 1966, p. 520
mg-hz sp Beaver mine, Quebec Chamberlain 1966, p. 520
mg-hz sp Continental property, Quebec Chamberlain 1966, p. 520
mg-hz sp Normandie Mine, Quebec Chamberlain 1966, p. 520
mg-hz sp Jeffrey mine, Quebec Chamberlain 1966, p. 520
mg-aw sp Johnson property, Quebec Chamberlain 1966, p. 520
mg-aw sp Beaver mine,.Quebec Chamberlain 1966, p. 520
mg-aw sp Lac a la Truite property, Quebec Chamberlain 1966, p. 520
mg-aw sp British Canadian mine, Quebec Chamberlain 1966, p. 520
mg-aw sp Jeffrey mine, Quebec Chamberlain 1966, p. 520
mg-aw sp Leupoldsgrtin, West Germany Hahn-Weinheimer and Rost, 1961, fig. 5
mg-aw-hz sp Koti, Japan Kanehira et al., 1964, fig. 3
mg-hz-pn ant-chl Heazlewood River, Tasmania Williams, 1958, p. 279-284
mg-hz-pn ant Trial Harbour, Tasmania Williams, 1958, p. 286-287
mg-pn-aw sp Canari, Corsica Azais et al., 1968, p. 111
aw-pn-po-mg sp Mte. Maggiore, Corsica Azais et al., 1968, p. 101
ml-pn (-mg) sp Olmeta, Corsica Azais et al., 1968, p. 111
hz-pn (-mg) sp Olmeta, Corsica Azais et al., 1968, p. 113
hz-mg sp Nonza, Corsica Azais et al., 1968, p. 113
aw(-mg) sp Olmeta, Corsica Azais et al., 1968, p. 115
hz-pn-mg sp Waldheim, East Germany Ramdohr, 1967, fig. 8
pn-hz-mg sp Kraubath, Austria Ramdohr, 1967, fig. 9
hz-pn-mg sp Miles Ridge, Yukon Territory Papezik, 1955, p. 692
hz-aw-mg liz-clinochlore New Idria, California Hostcrier et al., 1966, table 1
aw-mg sp-br Nicolet mine, Quebec Previously unreported; sample courtesy
of G. Harron
py (-mg) sp North boundary, Deloro township, Ontario This report
 THE DUMONT SERPENTINITE 191

TAn• 1.-- (Continued)

Opaque mineral Nonopaque

assemblages mineral assemblages Locality Reference

Relict olivine facies

mg-native Fe ol, sp Muskox intrusion, Northwest Territories Chamberlain, 1967, fig. 21

mg-pn-aw-mk (ol, sp) Muskox intrusion, Northwest Territories Chamberlain et al., 1965, fig. 18
(aw-pn-mg) (ol, ant) Poschiavo, Selva-Quadrada de Quervain, 1963, p. 305
aw ol, (sp) Western Alps Zucchetti, 1970
aw (-mg) ol, sp Cap Corse, Corsica Azais et al., 1968, p. 67
aw-pn (-rag) ol, sp Mte. Maggiore, Corsica Azais et al., 1968, p. 72
pn-mg ol, sp Meria, Corsica Azais et al., 1968, p. 81
aw-mg ol, sp Bell Asbestos Mine, Quebec Nickel, 1959, fig. 6
aw-mg ol, liz-br Dun Mountain, New Zealand Hostetler et al., 1966, table 1
aw-mg ol, liz-br Hat Island, Washington Hostetler et al., 1966, table 1
mg-pn-hz ol, ant Acoje mine, Phillipines Picot, 1959, p. 330
pn-aw (-mg) ol, ant Olineta, Corsica Picot, 1959, p. 332

there is a drop in both fO2 and rS2 in passing opaqueand nonopaqueminerals,constituteequilib-

through the outer margin into the wall rock which rium assemblages.If thisis the case,thenthe opaque
containsthe assemblage pyrrhotite-sphalerite-chalco- and nonopaqueminerals are interdependenton each
pyrite. Although the samplingis not extensive, other throughchemicalexchangeto achieveequilib-
there can be little doubtconcerning the validity of rium. In fact, becausethe opaque minerals are
the pattern. The inferredfugacityprofilesof oxy- quantitativelyalmostnegligible,their particularmin-
gen and sulfur are shownin Figure 10. eral speciesmay be directly controlledby the re-
The fS: profile (Fig. 10c) takenby itself is diffi- actionsof the much more abundantnonopaquemin-
cult to rationalize. The lowestpart of the profile erals. To explorethis possibilityattentionwill now
occursin the core zone,exactlywheresulfidesare be focusedon the nonopaquealterationmineral as-
known to be most abundant, and where textural semblages.
evidence
in the blebssuggests
that, if anything,sul- .dlteration reactions
fur has been expelled. Furthermore, there is a
drop in fS: in passingoutwardfrom the marginal A voluminous literature has been devoted to the
zone to the wall rock. Consequently, it is not mechanismsand timing of the alteration processes
readilyapparentthat the gradients
in sulfurfugacity affecting ultramafic rocks. In this discussionthe
can be explainedby diffusiontransporteither from principal evidencethat will be consideredrelevant is
the core zone magmaticsulfide blebs,or from wall- the zonal nature of the alteration facies within the
rock sulfides. ultramaficbody. From the core to the margin, the
Passingonto consider the oxygenfugacity,similar sequenceof faciesis relict olivine, serpentine,and
difficulty
is encountered. The oxygenfugacity(Fig. talc-carbonate,a sequencewhich has been docu-
10b) has its highestvalue in the talc-carbonatezone mentedin many other ultramaficbodies. Basedon
rather than in the wall rock. Consequently the this zonationit is consideredthat alterationproceeds
gradient cannot be attributed to inward diffusion by transport inward from the wall rocks, along
from the wall rock. It is, of course,recognized that fractures and grain boundaries,of the two volatile
the fO: valuesinvolvedrepresentsuchvanishingly constituentsH20 and COe. The timing and detailed
small amountsof oxygenthat its diffusionis of no mechanismof this processis beyondthe scopeof
significance.The fOo.gradientsmay morerealistic- this paper, althoughit is consideredprobablethat
ally be viewed as fH:O/fH2 gradients,as in the the alterationtook place during low-graderegional
treatmentsby Nickel (1959) and Chamberlainet al. metamorphism in responseto a large-scaleredistribu-
(1965); andthediffusion involvedis mainlythatof tion of a COe-bearingaqueousphase.
hydrogen,in the oppositedirection. Nevertheless, Serpentinization is the mostcommontypeof alter-
it is usefulfor presentpurposesto retainthe con- ation of ultramafic rock and has affected most of the
ceptof fO2 gradients. This simplifiesthe inference Dumont ultramafic body. Details of the Dumont
of fugacitygradientssuchas the oneshownin Fig- serpentinemineralogyare not yet documentedbut
ure 10bfromtheassemblages asshownin Figure9c. appearnot to be essentialfor the presentpurpose,
A differentapproachto theproblemof explaining and only the broaderaspectsof serpentinization are
the gradientsof sulfurand oxygenfugacitiesis to consideredhere. At the incipientstageof alteration,
makeuseof a conclusionsuggested previously.This serpentineminerals pervasivelyinvade the dunite
is,namely,thatthetotalassemblages,includingboth along gra:.n boundaries and fractures in olivine
192 O. R. ECKSTR•IND

(a) (c)

hm
• hm
-- --30
po mg
po xx"7
' /,czx

x,
,,,
-65 -60

log fO 2 fo 2 --•

py+rnl
py+rnl
pn

(b) P•Y •nm,,

n

ml
-25 ,
hz

py pnhlZ
I

/
py
po mlgpn hz
I--I I /

mo
po pn hz
i i,-w

E
-3O E

pn+hz
QW
po pn OWhz

pt1 m?pn
awhz k
Fe
I
N;
po+ow Atomic % ratio

Key to composition
I r-i
nng oW hz bar dragrams
I r"l I
po

-65 -60 -55

log fO•

Fro. 9. fO2vs rs2diagram•(a) fO=vs rs=diagramfor the Fe-S-O system

at 127øC,afterHolland(1959). (b)
vs rs=diagramfor the Fe-Ni-S-O systemat about127øC. Reactionboundaries for the Fe-S-O subsystem are shownin
solidlines;othersfor whichthermodynamic datawere unavailableor unreliableare shownin dashedlines. See text for
furtherdiscussion.Note that althoughthe stabilityfield of purenativeiron is shown,the phasesintermediate in composi-
tion betweenit andawaruitehavenot beenconsidered in the presentanalysis. (c) ApproximatefO= v$ fS• diagramfor the
 THE D UMONT SERPENTINITE 193

grains. Serpentinizationproceedsuntil all the oli- Wallrocks

•.
Ultramof•c
^
body

vine is consumed. However, this stage of the pro-

cess is delicate, the adcumulate texture of olivine v v[ ' ' JSerpentlneJ
being faithfully preserved. Magnetite is a ubiqui- v v iiI I
tousby-product
.ofthisalteration
process
andtends ,• ,, Jil,,!,,,,•,!,',,,!l
: : :
to be concentratedalong the pseudomorphic olivine Opaque -'J • • • i• ]
Mineral •' •5)•hk-(4•le(_3)-)J(-•(2a,b,c)
grain boundariesand fractures,but is also found as Assemblages_.J .... !v , . ,
secondarygrowth rims on chromite grains and
sparselydusted through the olivine pseudomorphs.
Brucite occursas intimatemixtures with serpentine. ß

Except for the introductionof H20, the serpen-

tinizationprocessin the Dumont bodycan be viewed
as isochemical.Observedmineralogyis consistent
at least qualitativelywith the following equation, (b)
which is similar to thoseproposedby Chamberlain
et al. (1965), Hastetier et al. (1966), Ramdohr
(1967), Moody-Brown (1973), and others:
Reaction .4

30(Mg0.9Fe0.•)•SiO4q- 41H•O
olivine

= 15Mg3Si•O5(OH)4q-9Mg (OH)• q- 2Fe304q-2H• (c)

serpentine brucite magnetite
Not indicatedare small amountsof iron presentin
both serpentineand brucite. The important part of
this equationfor presentpurposesis the partial reac-
tion,
3"FeO" q- H•O = FeaO4 q-
olivine magnetite
which representsextraction of oxygen out of the
aqueousphasein order to form magnetite. Oxygen
is requiredfor the reactionbecauseof the conversion
of someFe'2 from olivine t.oFe'3 in magnetite. As
a consequence the aqueousphasebecomesenriched
in hydrogen,producinga highly reducingenviron-
ment. Independentevidenceof the generation of
hydrogenby this reactionis documented from several
natural occurrences. Stall (1953) and Thayer
(1966) report gas seepsrich in hydrogen,someof
them burning, issuingfrom peridotitcof the Zam-
balesComplex,Phillipines,whichThayer considered
to be undergoingactiveserpentinization.Significant
quantitiesof hydrogenhavebeenfoundin serpentinite
at Leupoldsgriinby Hahn-Weinheimer and Rost
(1961), in the Nischni-Tagilmassif in the Urals by
Betechtin (1961), and at the Oriental mine in Cali-
fornia by Covehey(1971). Consequently, it seems
someof the magnetite. The iron thus releasedap-
highlylikely that, in general,the oxygenrequired parentlyforms a smallamountof sideriticsolidsolu-
Fro. 10. Relationship among alteration, opaque mineral
assemblages,and inferred ranges of fOu and fSu. (a)
Diagrammatic sketch of the three alteration facies and wall
rock, and the distributionin them of observedopaquemin-
eral assemblages. The numbers refer to the assemblages
definedin Figure 6. (b) Sketch of the relative ranges of
fO• inferred from stability fields of the observed opaque
mineral assemblagesas shown in Figure 9c, in relation to
the lithologiesshownin Figure 10a. (c) Sketch of the rela-
tive ranges of fS•, inferred from Figure 9c.
to producemagnetiteis obtainedfrom decomposition
of H20, and this processis responsible
for producing
residualconcentrationsof hydrogenand a strongly
reducing environment.
The second alteration reaction involves the con-
version of serpentineto talc and magnesite. The
portion of the Dumont ultramariebody so affected
is small and the reaction incomplete. However, at
Timmins, Ontario (Naldrett, 1966a), and at the
Black Swan nickel deposit in Western Australia
(Groves et al., 1974), talc-carbonatealterationhas
been much more extensiveand complete,and the
reaction has been shown to involve destruction of

Fe-Ni-S-O systemunder conditionsof commonhypogeneequilibrationin altered ultramarie rocks, probablyless than 200øC.
Becausethis environmentalmost invariably containsmagnetite,the magnetitefield is shownoutlinedwith hachures. Within
it are indicatedthe stability fieldsof thosemineralsthat coexistwith magnetite. Assemblagesnoted in the Dumont ui•ra-
mafic body are shown by circled numberson the appropriate field or boundary. Note that assemblage5 does not contain
magnetite. See text for additional discussion.
194 O. R. ECKSTRAND

tion in magnesite.The bulk reactionmightbe repre- olivinein its path to serpentineplus magnetite(re-
sented thus' actionA) alongan advancing"front" (Fig. 11). As
Reaction B we have already seen,this reactionwhich involves
more than 90 percentof the rock is an oxygen-con-
18MgaSi2Os(OH)4q- FeaO4 q- 30CO•. sumingone,and produceda hydrogen-rich reducing
serpentine magnetite environmentat this serpentinizationfront (Fig. 1la).
Becauseof the smallamountof the components that
= 9MgaSi40•0(OH)•.q- 30(Mg0.pFe0.•)COa form opaqueminerals (e.g., Fe, Ni, S), they were
talc magnesite converted to assemblagesthat reflect the low fO2
+ 27H20 + «02 produced by the serpentinization
reaction(Fig. lib).
This is essentiallythe mechanismthat was proposed
The partial reactioninvolvingiron appearsto be as by Chamberlainin his studiesof opaquemineralsin
follows-
the Muskox intrusion (Chamberlainand Delabio,
FeaO4 q- 3CO2 = 3FeCOa q- 1965; Chamberlainet al., 1965; Chamberlain,1967).
magnetite (in magnesite) Thesepaperslaid out in elegantfashionthe relation-
The changeof oxidation state in iron from Fe+ato ship between the serpentinizationreaction, the re-
ducing environment produced,and the resulting
Fe+•'is one that releasesoxygen and producesan
opaquemineral assemblages.Ramdohr (1967) pub-
oxidizing environment. It is noteworthythat the
lisheda similarexplanation.
redox effect of talc-carbonate alterationis precisely
CO2 was probablycontainedin the sameaqueous
the oppositeto that of serpentinization,that is,
oxidizing in the former case and reducing in the
phase and, in a manner similar to H•O, migrated
latter. from the wall rocks into the ultramafic body, con-
Although there is little clear evidenceof it in the verting serpentineto talc plus magnesite(reaction
B) alonga secondadvancingfront (Fig. 11a). This
Dumont ultramaficbody, it seemsprobablethat in
reactioninvolvedmost of the rock and producedan
this case,too, somedestructionof magnetitewas in-
curred in the carbonatization reaction, and that an oxidizingenvironment.Again,because of their small
amount, the opaque mineral-forming constituents
oxidizingenvironmentwasproduced.
Volcanic
The Control of Opaque Mineral Assemblagesin Wallrocks

the Dumont Ultramafic Body: A Model

It is obvious that the two main alteration reactions It

we have just consideredare related to the opaque

mineral assemblagesdiscussedpreviously. In the
following discussiona model is presentedin which I,',,,, I'1
ll,i,
Ili!111i!llHl:i!111
the observedopaquemineral assemblages are con-
I I I I•1I: I I'1
sideredto be natural consequences of the alteration I

reactions. Many, or even most,parts of the model

have beenproposedpreviouslyby othersin various
forms for other occurrences. However, it is be-
lieved that the presentaccountmay presenta more
integrated model than has appeared elsewhereto (b)
date. Figure 11 is a summaryof the principalob-
servatmnsconcerningopaquemineral assemblages
and alteration, and also servesto illustrate the main
features of the model.
The H20 and CO2 involved in the alteration re-
actions are consideredto have originated from an
aqueousphasepervadingthe wall rocks. The initial Fro. 11. Relationshipamong alteration facies, alteration
oxygenfugacityof thisphasewouldhavebeendeter- reactions,opaquemineral assemblages, and oxygen fugacity
mined by reactionsin the wall rock that gave rise profile. (a) Diagrammaticsketchshowingthe sitesof reac-
tions A and B, at the "fronts" of serpentinizationand car-
to mineralassemblages of the greenschist
facies.The bonatization, respectively. (b) Sketch of the interpreted
few samplesexaminedcontainedpyrrhotiteor pyrite profile of fO•, a line drawn to pass smoothly through the
indicatingintermediatevaluesof fO•. fO.orangesinferred from opaquemineral assemblages.The
three sites at which the fO• profile is controlled by buffering
The H•O-rich aqueousphasemigrated from the mechanismsare indicated by large arrows. See text for
wall rocks into the ultramaficbody, convertingthe further discussion.
 THE DUMONT SERPENTINITE 195

were converted into an assemblagethat expresses, is taking place,and this reactionis bufferingboth
in this case,the hi#h foeproduced by carbonatiza- oxygenand sulfur fugacitiesto their lowestvalues.
tion (Fig. llb). To summarize,then, the fSe profile is essentiallya
The overalloxygenfugacityprofile is, therefore, functionof the foeprofile.
establishedby bufferingmechanismsat three sites Someinferencescan alsobe madeconcerningthe
alongthe sectionshownin Figure 11. First, within relative COe:I-IeO ratios along the sectionshown
the wall rock foeis controlledby the reactionsin- in Figure 11. First, the initial aqueousphaseprob-
volved in achievingexisting greenschistfaciesas- ably had a low COe:HeO ratio. This is suggested
semblages. The secondcontrol site is at the car- by the fact that the front of carbonatization lagsfar
bonatizationfront, where a high foewas generated. behind the front of serpentinization, resulting in a
front talc-carbonatezone which is small comparedto the
The third controlsite is at the serpentinization
where a low foewas generated. Oxygen fugacity serpentinezone. It can further be inferred that the
betweenthesethree sitesprobablysettledat inter- aqueousphase betweenthe two fronts had a still
mediatevalues,achievedthroughthe mechanismof lower COe content, having been depleted by the
diffusionof Hewithin the aqueousphase. In a sense, carbonatization reaction. The actual COe content at
it can be consideredthat the opaquemineralassem- the carbonatization front can be estimated from
blagesalongthe sectionsimplyact as indicatorsof experimentalwork by Johannes(1969, fig. 2) to
the foe The role is exactly that of the so-called be not more than a few mole percent,and the pres-
"indicator assemblages" describedby Barton and enceof brucitein the serpentinezone requiresstill
Skinner (1967• p. 246). lower values.
The role of sulfur and sulfides in these reactions
General Applicability of the Model
appearsto be entirely passive. Althougha detailed
consideration of sulfurmigrationis beyondthe scope It was obviouslydesirableto test whetherthe pro-
of this paper,it seemsevidentthat someredistribu- posedmodel relating opaquemineral assemblages to
tion of sulfurtook place. That whichwaslost from alterationfaciesis generallyapplicable. The zonal
magmaticblebsapparentlymigratedlocally to give distribution of alteration facies encountered in the
rise to finely dispersedsulfideparticles. Some sul- Dumont ultramaficbody is similar to that described
fur may have been introducedfrom the wall rocks in many other bodies. However, there are few
as dissolvedspeciesin the aqueousphase,but the descriptionsknown to the writer of zonal distribu-
sulfur fugacityprofile (Fig. 10c) doesnot reflect tionsof opaquemineralassemblages in alteredultra-
thismechanism. It appearsratherthat sulfurfugacity maficrocks. The only relevantdocumentation avail-
was determinedby the alterationreactions,in the able is description of bulk mineral assemblages,
following manner: The alteration reactions, as usually in isolated samples,from numerousinter-
alreadyseen,were quantitativelythe mostimportant nationally scatteredultramafic bodies. It was rea-
ones,and generatedeither Oeor He giving rise to soned,therefore, that if the model was generally
environmentsthat were highly oxidizing or highly valid, then opaquemineral assemblages reportedin
reducingrelativeto a "normal"environmentsuchas partly serpentinizedoilvine-bearingultramaficrock
that representedby pyrrhotite-pyrite-maguetite, for should reflect strongly reducing conditions (low
example. The resultingoxygen fugacity was im- foe); assemblages
in completely
serpentinized
ultra-
posed on the quantitativelyless important opaque mafic rock should indicate intermediate conditions
mineral assemblages.The foelevel, operatingon (intermediate foe); and assemblages in talc-car-
whatever sulfur content was present among the bonate-altered
ultramaficrock shouldshowstrongly
opaque mineral components,simultaneouslydeter- oxidizingconditions(high foe).
mined the final fSe. This mechanism is illustrated Consequently,descriptionsof bulk mineral assem-
by the following example: Pyrrhotite reacts with blageswere soughtin the literature. The resulting
oxygen to form pyrite plus magnetite(see Taylor, compilationof assemblages (not consideredcompre-
1971). The resultinghigher fSe is a direct side hensive) that were deemedsufficientlyexplicit with
effect of the higher foeproduced by addition of regard to coexistenceof minerals is presentedin
oxygen, and is independentof additionsor lossesof Table 1, which lists 66 occurrences. Descriptions
sulfur. Thus, in the presentmodelfSe is ultimately were excludedif assumptionof coexistenceof phases
determinedby the alteration reactions. This ex- could not be made, and if the amount of sulfide was
plainsthe apparentparadoxthat existsin the zones clearly much greater than that in the Dumont ultra-
of magmaticsulfide blebs. Here the sulfur content mafic body.
is highest,but the sulfur fugacity is lowest (see The compilationis summarizedin graphicalform
Figures 2 and 10c). The explanationis that this in Figure 12. It is quite clear from this figure that
is alsothe zonein whichthe serpentinization
reaction a well-definedpattern is present in the data, and
196 O. R. ECKSTRAND

vf
py+ml
py+ml
hz

pn+hz
ow

pn
po.ow

rng
Fe

f 02 --->
Fro. 12. fO2 vs fS• diagram summarizing the ranges of fO2 and rs2 of opaque mineral as-
semblagesencounteredin the three principal alteration facies of ultramafic rocks. Derived from
Table 1.

that pattern is consistentwith the one predictedby sulfidesare an importantand usuallydominantpart

the model. No assemblages-wereencounteredthat of the assemblages.It is naturallydesirableto know
clearly.contradictthe model. Particularlygratifying whether these differences can be reconciled with the
is the much better representationof talc-carbonate, proposedmodel. Consequently,a further develop-
high fO•. assemblages in the compilationthan there ment of the modelwas attemptedin order to explain
were in the Dumont ultramaficbody. Consequently, the specialcharacteristics
of nickel sulfideores.
there is strong,independentsupportfor the Dumont The most obviousdifferencebetweenweakly min-
model of opaque mineral assemblagecontrol by eralized ultramafic rocks and nickel sulfide ores is
alterationreactionsin barren and weaklymineralized the quantity .of sulfide. Thus, a desiredmodification
ultramafic rocks. It is concluded, therefore, that of the model would be to take into account the effect
the model may have broad generalapplicability. of greatersulfurcontents. This approachled to the
recognitionof two separatefactors,both related to
Opaque Mineral Assemblagesin
sulfur content,that influencethe characterof high-
Nickel Sulfide Ores
sulfur assemblages.
The proposedmodelhas concerneditself specific- The first is self-bufferingcapacity. As the amount
ally with barren and weakly mineralizedultramafic of sulfide in the rock increases,the effect of altera-
rocks. When nickel sulfide ores in such rock are tion reactionsdiminishes. Accordingto reactionA,
considered,mineral assemblages are quite different. 15 molesof olivine generateone mole of hydrogen.
The differences are of two kinds. First, the assem- This canproducea large fO2 effecton a smallamount
blages tend to be monotonouslyuniform, mainly of sulfide,but only a smallor undetectable fO2 effect
po + pn + cp q- py + mg, but also py + pn + ml+ on a large amount of sulfide. In other words, the
mg, which contrastsstronglywith the variety of as- large amount of sulfide effectivelybuffers its en-
semblagesobservedin the barren and weakly min- vironmentto its own fO2. This fO2 •s predetermined
eralized ultramafic rocks (Table 1). Second,iron by the original bulk compositionof the magmatic
 THE DUMONT SERPENTINITE 197

sulfidesif thereis no significant

metasomatism other
than I-I•.O and CO•.. Starting with crystallization
hematite
of the magma,fO•. will change,corresponding to the
isochemical, down-temperature solid state reactions
of sulfides,silicates,and oxides, but the eventual
fO•. value is a functionof the initial magmaticcom-
position. This self-bufferingcapacityappearsto be py+ml / I
the principalreasonthat nickelsulfideoresin ultra-
mafic host rocks tend to have a uniform opaque
mineralassemblage.
-
The limited diversity of assemblages that does
exist in nickel sulfide ores seems to be consistent
with the proposedmodel. Ores in the relict olivine
or serpentinefaciesof alterationtend to containthe
usual assemblage po + pn q- py + mg (intermediate pd hz
aw
fO•.). Examplesof this are the following:Kotalahti
and intrusionsnos. 3, 4, and 5 in Finland (H•ikli,
1963), GordonLake (Scoates,1972), and the Alexo
mine (Naldrett, 1966b). However some ores in py
talc-carbonate faciesof alterationcontainpy + ml +
mg assemblages (high fO•.), examplesbeingthe Mc- __ hz
Watters (Nickel, 1971) and Black Swan (Groves pn +ow

et al., 1974) deposits. These depositsseemthere- po

fore'to reflectthe influenceof high oxygenfugacity

producedby carbonatization. --

The secondfactor influencingthe characterof po+ow

high-sulfuropaquemineralassemblages is bulk com-

position. High sulfur:nickel ratios in the bulk
compositionrequire significantquantities of iron native Fe

sulfide. This effectis not easyto appreciatefrom S Ni

conventionalcompositiondiagramssuchas Figures atomic % ratio

7 and8, but it may be easilyseenin Figure 13. This Fro. 13. Diagram of S:Ni vs fO• for part of the Fe-Ni-
diagramexpresses the samecompatibilitiesthat are S-O system. The diagram is a projection from the Fe
shownin Figure 8 but depictsonly thosephasesor corner of the Fe-Ni-S system onto the S-Ni composition
axis of the assemblagescoexisting with magnetite, as a
assemblages that coexist with magnetite, expressed function of oxygen fugacity. The lower and upper limits of
in terms of S:Ni proportionsand oxygenfugacity. magnetite stability are hachured. Derived from Figures 8
and 9b. See text for further discussion.
It is readily apparentin this diagram that most of
the assemblagesencounteredin barren and weakly
mineralized ultramafic rocks lie on the righthand the components
in the ultramafic
silicat•s-Fe-Ni-S-
side, to the right of the pentlanditesolid solution O system. It must be stressedthat thesediagrams
field. For instance,all of the assemblagesin the are inadequate for a rigid analysisof phaseequilibria.
Dumont ultramaficbody (Fig. 6) lie in this region. However, they do appear to express the desired
The obvious effect of the increased sulfur content compositionalrelationshipswith sufficientaccuracy
found in the conventional nickel sulfide ores will be for present, semiquantitativepurposes. In Figure
to shift compositions toward higher S: Ni ratios,or 14a silicateslie at or near the Mg cornerand opaque
to the lefthandside of the diagram. To the left of mineralslie alongthe Ni-S side,which corresponds
the pentlandite field, all assemblagesinclude iron to the compositionalaxis of Figure 13. Figures
sulfides. Figure 13 then providesa semiquantitative 14b, 14c, and 14d are enlargementsof the Mg
explanationfor the ubiquitouspresenceof iron sul- corner which show detailedcompositionalrelation-
fides in nickel sulfide ores associated with ultramafic ships of the silicatesand their associatedtie lines.
host rocks, in contrast to their virtual absencein Dashedtie lines in Figures 14a through 14d show
weakly mineralizedultramafic rocks. a simplified magmatic assemblage,nickeliferous
Figure 14 is anothergraphicalmethodof portray- olivine and monosulfide solid solution,approximat-
ing the effectsof variable sulfur content. The dia- ing the mineralogyof a mineralizeddunite. Bulk
grams in Figure 14 are essentiallyempirical car- compositions "X" and "Y" representtwo different
toons which attempt to depict the more crucial of originalproportionsof olivine and magmaticsulfide.
198 O. R. ECKSTRAND

Spy

ø5•/øb
II //el
y y3s .•pn
pyrlte (d) / /•-.-,-r,,
ß/ ß
Monosulphide
solid solution
Mg . .aw
(a) (Mss) sp ol 0'5% • Ni

// //
' ii//
/ / I
/ /
/ /
I /
/ /
/I// Pentlandite
I//
/ /
/I//
I///
Millerite

Heazlewoodlte

mSS

Mg
Awaruite o,,y
sp ol 0.5% -->N•

Fro.14. Diagrams showingtherelationship

betweenbulkcompositionandbulkmineral assemblages
in thesulfide-ultra-
marie"system." (a) Highlysimplified
composition
diagramrepresentingultramafic
rockandassodatedopaque minerals
in
termsof Mg-Ni-S. Fe is implicitin thatmagnetite
coexists
withall phases shown(exceptmagmatic
olivineandmonosul-
fidesolidsolution).TheNi-Ssideofthediagram isthesame projection
frommagnetite asthecomposition
axisin Figure
13. Dashed tielinesrepresent
magmatic assemblages.
Solidtie linesrepresent
oneof thepossible
setsof alteration
assem-
blages.(b), (c), (d) Enlargedviews oftheMgcorner ofFigure14(a),showing threepossible
setsof assemblagesin
orderof increasingfO, Abbreviations of mineral
namesasin preceding figures
andtable.Points"x" and"y"aretwo
arbitrarybulkcompositions
representing
weaklyandmoderately
mineralized
dunitc.Seetextfor furtherdiscussion.

Solidtie linesshowalteration
assemblages consistingSilicate nickel
of serpentineanda varietyof opaque minerals(in- The role of silicate nickel is well illustrated in
cludingmagnetite). Figure 14a showsone par~
ticularset of alterationassemblages and Figures Figure 14. It wasconcluded previously on textural
14b,14c,and14dshowa sequence of setsof alteration grounds, and hasbeenshownalsoby others,that
assemblages
in orderof increasing
fO2. someof the nickeloriginallyin magmaticolivineis
The effectof variablesulfurcontenton opaque convertedduring serpentinization to opaquemin-
mineralassemblages may be appreciated by con- erals. It is also known that anotherpart of the
sideringbulk compositions "X" and "Y" which olivine'snickel enters into serpentine.Figures
representweaklyand moderatelymineralizeddunitc, 14bto 14d illustratethesetransformations graphi-
respectively.Upon alteration,weaklymineralized callyand showthat olivinewith 0.3 percentnickel
dunitc("X") yieldsa seriesof serpentine
andmag- is in terms of this diagramthe compositional
netite-bearing
nickel-richassemblages.These in- equivalent of a mixtureof serpentine with lessthan
cludepn-aw,pn-hz,andpn-mlin orderof increasing0.1 percent nickel and awaruite. These would be
fO2,but no iron sulfides.In contrast,
moderatelythe productsin the absenceof sulfur. When sulfur
well-mineralized
dunitc"Y" on alteration
yieldspo- (mss)ispresent, theopaque minerals resultingfrom
pn andpy-pn,relativelynickel-pooropaquemineral alteration of olivine would be various Ni and Ni-Fe
assemblages. These relations are in substantial sulfides,
the species
beingdependent on the amount
agreementwith thosededucedfrom Figure 13 and of sulfurpresent andthe fO2environment produced
x•ith relatedconclusions
of Ewers(1972) andHud- by alteration. For instance,underthe fO2 conditions
son (1973). of Figure 14c and the bulk composition
"X,"
 THE DUMONT SERPENTINITE 199

someof theolivine'snickelwouldappearas pentland- sufficiently reducingto producenative.iron,whereas

ire and heazlewoodite. At the fO,. of Figure 14b in general it is only reducing enough to generate
and bulk composition "Y," a part of the olivine's awaruite (cf. Fig. 9c).
nickelcontentwould again go into pentlandire,but Another interesting implication, deduced from
the composition of this pentlandirewouldbe different Figure 14, is that serpentineoccurring with min-
from that in the precedingassemblage. erals such as awaruite, heazlewoodite, or millerite
An important economicimplicationoœthe fore- could be expectedto have a higher nickel content
goingis that magmaticnickel sulfideores associated than serpentineassociated with pyrrhotiteor pyrite.
with serpentinized ultramarierocksshouldpotentially Similar implicationsthat could be explored are the
haveundergonean upgradingof their nickelsulfide nickel contentsof magnetite,talc, magnesite,and
content because of the conversion of some of the brucite.
silicate(olivine) nickelto sulfide(cf. Hudson,1973). Conclusions
This contribution to the nickel sulfide should be more
important in lower grades of ore, becausesilicate A model has been synthesizedto accountfor the
nickel constitutesa greater proportionof the total mineralogyand distributionof nickeliferous opaque
nickel content of such ores. However, this beneficial mineral assemblages
observedin the weakly min-
aspectof silicatenickel conversionto sulfidemay be eralized Dumont ultramarie body. These assem-
largelyoffsetby the grain size of the resultingsul- blagesare relatedto zonedalterationfaciesthrough
fide. As we have seen in the Dumont material, two reactions. The first reaction, at the "front" of
nickel sulfides derived from olivine tend to be ex- serpentinization,is the conversionof olivine to ser-
tremelyfinegrained(the finedisseminatedmode). It pentine and magnetite,which generatesreducing
is possiblethat in other depositssulfidesof this conditions(low fog) that give rise to opaquemin-
derivationmay be coarserin grain size. Conse- eral assemblages
characterizedby awaruiteor heazle-
quently,the economicimportanceof nickel silicate woodire. The second reaction, at the "front" of
conversionto sulfidewill dependon 1) grain size carbonatization,is the subsequentconversionof
of the resulting sulfides,and 2) developmentsin serpentine andmagnetiteto talc andmagnesite, which
metallurgicaltechniquesto deal with this type of producesoxidizingconditions(high fog) that re-
nickel mineralization. sult in assemblages characterizedby mineralssuch
as millerite. Both reactionsinvolvea changein the
Other Implications of the Model oxidationstateof iron causedby interactionof the
Only opaquemineralassemblages of the Fe-Ni-S- aqueous fluid with an iron-bearing mineralphase.
O systemhave been consideredhere. However, it This modelappearsto havegeneralapplicability
seemsquitelikely that a similaranalysiswith similar in barrenand weaklymineralizedultramarierocks;
conclusions could be carried out for the Cu-Fe-S-O confirmation of this is providedby a compilation of
systemin altered ultramaficrocks. It is known, for alteration facies and opaquemineral assemblages
instance,both in the Dumontbodyand other weakly from publisheddescriptions of numerousoccurrences.
mineralizedultramafic rocks (Chamberlain et al., The mineralogy of conventionalnickelsulfideores
1965; Ramdohr,1950) that native copperoccurs differs markedly from that of weakly mineralized
in the low fO,. opaquemineral assemblages or the ultramaficrocks. This canlargelybe explained by
relict olivine faciesof alteration. The expectation extending theproposed modelto considerthe higher
is that copper-bearing assemblages, like the nickel- sulfur contentsrepresented by conventionalnickel
bearingones,would reflectthe samefO,. controlby ores. The higher sulfur contentsproduce two
alteration reactions. separate,recognizableeffects. One is the self-buffer-
Graphiteis knownin serpentinizedultramarierocks ing capacityof greater sulfideconcentrations,
and
(Krishnarao, 1964; Ramdohr, 1967; Papunen, the otheris the changein assemblages
causedby
1970). On the basisof the proposed model,it seems higher sulfur:nickel ratio.
likely that a study of graphite distributionwould An importanteconomicconsequence
of the model
reveal 1) an fO,. control causedby alteration reac- is that serpentinization
shouldproducean upgrading
tions and 2) somekind of systematicrelationship of nickel content of the sulfides, most notable in
to carbonate distribution. weakly mineralized ultramafic bodies, so that a
Native iron occurs in the Muskox intrusion in greaterproportionof the totalnickelcontentmaybe
incipientlyserpentinizedolivine. Chamberlainet al. amenableto metallurgicalrecovery.
(1965) have attributedits origin to the reducing
Acknowledgments
environmentcreatedby serpentinization of olivine,
the same as for awaruite. However, it remains un- This paper is publishedwith the permissionof
clearwhy the serpentlnlzation
environment
is locally the Director,GeologicalSurvey of Canada. The
 200 O. R. ECKSTRAND

Windarra ultramaficsand zone of mineralization:Unpub.

work was carriedout as part of a G.S.C. projecton
the geologyof Canadiannickel deposits. Honors B.Sc. thesis,Adelaide University.
Eckstrand, O. R., 1971, The nickel potential of serpentinized
Gratitude
isexpressed
to Dumont
NickelCorpora- ultramafic rocks: CanadianMining Jour., v. 92, p. 40-45.
tion for permissionto sample diamond drill core -- 1972, Redox control of the formation of nickeliferous
and for supplyingcopiesof drill plans and sections. opaque mineral assemblagesin a serpentinite: Internal
Geol. Cong.,24th, Montreal 1972,sec.10, p. 25.
Electronprobework by G. Plant and X-ray deter- Ells, R. W., 1889, The mineral resourcesof the province of
minationsby G. Pringle were criticalin establishing Quebec: Canada Geol. Survey Ann. Rept. 1888-1889,pt.
K, p. 81-82.
mineral assemblages.It is a pleasureto acknowl-
Ewers, W. E., 1972, Nickel-iron exchange in pyrrhotite:
edgethe usefuldiscussion and constructivecriticisms Australasian Inst. Mining Metallurgy Proc., no. 241, p.
of A. J. Naldrett, D. Kretschmar,I. Barnes, and E. 19-25.
Froese,althoughthey are naturally absolvedof any -- and Hudson, D. R., 1972, An interpretive study of a
nickel-iron sulfide ore intersection,Lunnon Shoot, Kam-
responsibilityfor contentof this paper. balda,Western Australia: EcoN. G,sot..,v. 67, p. 1075-1091.
The conceptof a generalcontrol of opaquemin- Fahrig, W. F., 1962, Petrology and geochemistryof the
eral assemblagesin ultramafic rocks by alteration Griftis Lake ultrabasicsill of the central Labrador trough,
Quebec: CanadaGeol. Survey Bull. 77, 39 p.
reactionsas presentedin this paper is to a very im- Fortier, Y. O., 1946, Some observationson chromite: Am.
portant degreean outgrowthfrom ideasconcerning Jour. Sci., v. 244, p. 649-657.
serpentinizationexpressedby J. A. Chamberlain. Garrels, R. M., and Christ, C. L., 1965, Solutions,minerals,
and equilibria: New York, Harper and Row, 450 p.
Graterol, M., and Naldrett, A. J., 1971, The mineralogy of
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA the Marbridge No. 3 and No. 4 nickel-iron sulfide deposits
601 BOOTH STREET with some commentson low temperature equilibration in
OTTAWA,ONTARIO,CANADAKIA OE8 the Fe-Ni-S system: Ecoa. G,sot..,v. 66, p. 886-900.
Griffis, R., 1972, Genesisof a magnesitedeposit,Deloro twp.,
Ontario: Ecoa. G•.ot.., v. 67, p. 63-71.
REFERENCES Groves, D. I., Hudson, D. R., and Hack, T. B.C., 1974,
Modification of iron-nickel sulfidesduring serpentinization
Azais, H., Bouladon, J., Picot, P., and Sainfeld, P., 1968, and talc-carbonate alteration at Black Swan, Western
Le problemedu nickel dans les serpentinesde Corse: Bur. Australia; Ecoa. GEot..,v. 69, p. 1265-1281.
Recherchesg•ol. miniSres Bull., sec. II, no. 1, p. 55-115. Hahn-Weinheimer, P., and Rost, F., 1961, Akzessorische
Barton, P. B. Jr., and Skinner, B. J., 1967, Sul'fidemineral Mineralien und Elemente in Serpentinit yon Leupoldsgriin
stabilities,in Barnes, H. L. ed., Geochemistryof hydro- (Mfinchberger Gneismasse): Geochim. et Cosmochim.
thermal ore deposits: New York, Holt, Rinehart and Acta, v. 21, p. 165-181.
Winston, Inc., p. 236-333. H•.kli, A., 1963, Distribution of nickel between the silicate
Betechtin, A. G., 1961, Mikroskopische Untersuchungenan and sulphide phases in some basic intrusions in Finland:
Platinerzen aus dem Ural: Neues Jahrb. Mineralogie Abh., Comm.ggol.FinlandeBull., no. 209, 54 p.
v. 97, p. 1-34. Harris, D.C., and Nickel, E. H., 1972, Pentlandite com-
Boldt, J. R. Jr., and Queneau,P., eds., 1967, The winning positionsand associationsin some mineral deposits: Cana-
of nickel: its geology, mining and extractive metallurgy: dian Mineralogist, v. 11, p. 861-878.
Toronto, Longmans,487 p. Hobbs, S. W., and Pecora, W. T., 1941, Nickel-gold de-
Bright, N. F. H., and Lake, R. H., 1965, Examinationof positsnear Mt. Vernon, Skagit county, Washington: U.S.
magnesite concentratesfrom Canadian Magnesite Mines Geol. Survey Bull. 931-D, p. 57-78.
Ltd., Timmins, Ontario: Canada Dept. Mines Tech. Sur- Holland, H. D., 1959, Some applicationsof thermochemical
veys,Mines Br. Inv. Rept. IR65-61. data to problems of ore deposits. I. Stability relations
Buchanan, R. M., 1963, Mineralogical and petrographic among the oxides, sulfides, sulphates and carbonates of
examinationof magnesite-talcrock from Deloro township, ore and gangue metals: Ecoa. GEot..,v. 54,.p. 184-233.
Ontario: Canada Dept. Mines Tech. Surveys, Mines Br. Hostetler, P. B., Coleman, R. G., Mumpton, F. A., and
Test Rept. MPT 63-21. Evans, B. W., 1966, Brucite in alpine serpentinites: Am.
Chamberlain,J. A., 1966, Heazlewooditeand awaruite in Mineralogist,v. 51, p. 75-98.
serpentinitesof the Eastern Townships,Quebec: Canadian Hudson, D. R., 1973, Genesisof Archaean ultramafic-asso-
Mineralogist, v. 8, p. 519:-.522. ciated nickel-iron sulphidesat Nepean, Western Australia:
-- 1967,Sulfidesin the Muskox intrusion: CanadianJour. Australasian Inst. Mining Metallurgy Conf., Western
Earth Sci.,v. 4, p. 105-153. Australia, May 1973, Papers, p. 99-109.
-- and Delabio, • N., 1965, Mackinawite and railerlite Johannes, W., 1969, An experimental investigation of the
in the Muskox intrusion: Am. Mineralogist, v. 50, p. 682- system MgO-S[O•-H•O-CO•: Am. Jour. Sci., v. 267,
695. p. 1083-1104.
Chamberlain,J. A., McLeod, C. R., Traill, R. J., and La- Kanehira, K., Banno, S., and Hashimoto, M., 1964, Notes
chance,G. R., 1965, Native metals in the Muskox intru- on rock forming minerals (28); Finding of awaruite
sion: CanadianJour. Earth Sci., v. 2, p. 188-215. (native nickel-iron) from serpentinenear the city of Koti,
Chidester, A. H., 1962, Petrology and geochemistryof Sikoku: Geol. Soc. Japan Jour., v. 70, p. 272-277.
selectedtalc-bearingultramafic rocks and adjacentcountry Krishnarao, J. S. R., 1964, Native nickel-iron alloy, its
rocks in north-central Vermont: U.S. Geol. Survey Prof. mode of occurrence,distribution and origin: EcoN.
Paper 345, 207 p. v. 59, p. 443-448.
Coveney,R. M., 1971, Hydrogen and serpentinite---their Little, H. W., 1949, The ultrabasic rocks of Middle River
rolesin the localizationof gold ores at the Oriental mine, Range, B.C.: Am. Jour. Sc{., v. 247, p. p. 802-823.
Alleghany,California[abs.]: EcoN.Grot..,v. 66, p. 1265- Loney, R. A., Himmelberg, G. R., and Coleman, R. G., 1971,
1266. Structure and petrology of the Alpine-type peridotitc at
Craig, J. R., 1973,Pyrite-pentlandite
assemblages and other Burro Mountain, California, U.S.A.: Jour. Petrology, v.
low temperaturerelationsin the Fe-Ni-S system: Am. 12, p. 245-309.
Jour. Sci., v. 273-A (Cooper Volume), p. 496-510. Misra, IC C., and Fleet, M. E., 1973, The chemical com-
Davidson, J. E., 1970, A petrologicaland geochemical positionsof syntheticand natural pentlanditcassemblages:
study of three diamond-drillholes through the Mt. Ecom GZOL.,v. 68, p. 518-539.
 THE DUMONT SERPENTINITE 201

Moody-Brown, J. B., 1973,The MgO-SiO2-FeO-H20sys- Stoll, W. C., 1953, Natural fires in South Lawis River
tem at low temperaturesand pressuresunder buffered Valle7,Zambales, P.I.: PhillipineGeologist, v. 7, p. 167.
fugacityof oxygenconditions: Geol.Soc.AmericaAnn. Taylor, L. A., 1971,Oxidationof pyrrhotitesand the for-
Meetings, Dallas,1973,Abstracts
with Programs, p. 742. mation of anomalous pyrrhotite: Carnegie Inst• Washing-
alterationof some ton Year Book 70, p. 287-289.
Naldrett, A. J., 1966a,Talc-carbonate
serpentinizedultramaficrockssouthof Timmins,Ontario: Thayer, T. P., 1966, Serpentinizationconsideredas a con-
Jour. Petrology,v. 7, p. 489-499. stant-volume metasomaticprocess: Am. Mineralogist, v.
-- 1966b,The role of sulphurization
in genesisof iron- 51, p. 685-710.
nickel sulphidedepositsof the PorcupineDistrict, On- Watchman,A. L., 1971,A study of two geologicalsections
tario: Canadian Inst. Min. Metallurgy Trans., v. 69, p.and the petrology and geochemistryof the ultramafic
147-155. rocks--Mt. Windarra ore body, Western Australia: Un-
Neale,E. R. W., 1957,Ambiguous intrusiverelationship
of puN. Honors B. Sc. thesis, Adelaide University.
the Betts Cove-Tilt Cove serpentinitebelt, Nfld.: Geol. Weeks, L. J., 1935, Amos sheet, Abitibi county, Quebec:
Assoc. Canada Proc., v. 9, p. 95-110. Canada Geol. Survey Map 327A, scale 1 in. to 1 mi.
Nickel, E. H., 1959,The occurrence of nativenickel-iron Wellman, H. W., 1942,Talc-magnesiteand quartz-magnesite
in the serpentinerock of the EasternTownshipsof Quebec rock, Cobb-Takaka district; New Zealand Jour. Sci.
province:CanadianMineralogist,v. 6, p. 307-319. Technology,v. 24, no. 3B, p. 103B-127B.
1971, Nickel distributionin ore from the McWatters Williams, K. L., 1958, Nickel mineralization in western
mine,Langmuirtownship,Ontario: CanadaDept. Energy, Tasmania: Australasian Inst. Mining Metallurgy, Still-
Mines,Resources,Mines Br. Internal Rept. MS71-35. well Anniv. Vol., p. 263-302.
Owens,D., 1968,Mineralogicalexaminationof a sampleof Wilson, H. D. B., Kilburn, L. C., Graham, A. R., and
low grade nickel ore from the Porcupinedistrict of Ramlal, K., 1969, Geochemistryof some Canadiannickeli-
Ontario: Canada Dept. Energy, Mines, Resources,Mines ferous ultramafic intrusions, in Magmatic ore deposits,
Br. Inv. Rept. IR68-1. a symposium:Ecoa. G•.. Mo•. 4, p. 294-309.
Zuchetti,S., 1970,Ferro-nickel ed altri minerali nicheliferiin
Papezik, V. S., 1955, Heazlewooditefrom Miles Ridge, serpentiniti anche asbestifere delle Alpi occidentali: Soc.
Yukon Territory: Am. Mineralogist,v. 40, p. 692--693. Mineralog.petrolog.italiana Rend.,v. 26, no. 1, p. 377-397.
-- 1964,Nickel mineralsat Tilt Cove, Notre Dame Bay,
Newfoundland: Geol. Assoc. Canada Proc.. v. 15, p. 27-32.
Papunen,H., 1970,Sulphidemineralogyof the Kotalahtiand
Hitura nickel-copperores, Finland: Acad. Sci. Fennicae APPENDIX A
Annales,Ser.A, III, Geologica-Geographica 109,74 p.
Picot, P., 1959, Sur la pr6sencede minerais m6talliques Equations used in deriving the slopesof reaction
nickelif•resdansles serpentines:Soc.francaisemin6ralogie boundaries in Figure 9. Only those equations are
cristallographie Bull., v. 82, p. 329-334. shown which involve nickeliferous phases in the
Pollock, D. W., 1959, Sulfide paragenesisin the Eastern
Metals deposit,Montmagny county, Quebec: Ecoa. G•.o•.., Fe-Ni-S-O system, with exchange of oxygen and
v. 54, p. 234-247. sulfur. Ranges of compositionsof phasesare con-
de Quervain,F., 1963,Die Erzmineraliendes Serpentinsyon sidered in the equationsin order to appreciate the
Selva-Quadrada(Puschlav): Schweizer.min. pet. Mitt.,
v. 43, p. 295-312. range of possibleslopesof boundaries. However,
Ramdohr,P., 1950, Ober Josephinit,Awaruit, Souesit,ihre only average values of slopeswere consideredwar-
Eigenschaften,Entstehungund Paragenesis:Mineralog. ranted in the construction of Figure 9.
Mag., v. 29, p. 374-394.
1967,A widespreadmineral association,connectedwith
serpentinization;with notes on some new or insufficiently pn -- mg q- aw
defined minerals: Neues Jahrbuch Mineralogie Abh., v. Ni3Fe6Ss q- 10/302 = 5/3FeaO4 q- NiaFe q- 4S2
Ni4.sFet. sSs q- 202 = Fe3Ot q- }NiaFe + 4S2
107, p. 241-265.
Scoates,R. F. J., 1969, Summary of geologicalfield work-- pn = mg q- hz
ultramafic project: Manitoba Dept. Mines Nat. Resources, Ni•.sFe•.•S8 q- 302 = •FeaO4 q- i-NiaS2 +
Mines Br. Geol. Paper 4/69, p. 90-101. Ni0FeaS8 q- 202 : FeaO• q- 2NiaS2 + 2Si
1972, Ultramafic rocks and associatedcopper-nickel
sulfideores, Gordon Lake, Ontario: Unpub. Ph.D. thesis, pn = mg q- ml
University of Manitoba. Ni,Fe•S8 q- 8/302 -- •FeaO• q- 5NiS q-
Soles,J. A., 1966, Nickeliferousmagnesite-quartzrock from Ni6FeaSs q- 20•. = Fe304 q- 6NiS q- S2
Baie Verte. Newfoundland: Canada Dept. Mines Tech. aw = mg q- hz
Surveys, Mines Br. Inv. Rept. IR66-9. 3NiaFe q- 20•. q- 3S• = Fe304 q- 3NiaS•
-- 1972, Petrography of samplesof magnesiterock from
northwest Gander River, Newfoundland: Canada Dept. vl = mg q- ml
Energy, Mines, Resources,
Mines BranchInv. Rept. IR72- Ni•FeS• q- •O2
• = «FeaO• + 5NiS q- •S•
15. Ni,•FeS•t + ]0•. -- «FeaO•t + 2NiS q- S•