ReOs isotope systematics of NiCu sulfide ores, Sudbury Igneous Complex, Ontario: Evidence for a major crustal component

Earth and Planetary Science Letters
By: , and 

Links

Abstract

Sudbury Igneous Complex sublayer ores from the Levack West, Falconbridge and Strathcona mines were analyzed for their Re and Os concentrations and Os isotopic compositions. The Re-Os isotope systematics of three ores from the different mines give isochron ages of1 840 ± 60 Ma, 1770 ± 60 Ma and 1780 ± 110 Ma, suggesting that the Re-Os system became closed at the time of, or soon after the 1850 ± 1 Ma crystallization age of the complex. The Os isotopic compositions of different portions of the complex at the time of crystallization varied considerably, with initial187Os/186Os1850 ranging from 4.64 at Levack West to 7.55 at Strathcona. These heterogeneities require that the Os, and probably also the other platinum-group elements contained in the ores, were derived from at least two sources. In addition, the high initial187Os/186Os ratios indicate that the Os was derived predominantly from ancient crust. Previous studies have suggested that the complex either crystallized from a mixture of mantle-derived basaltic melt and ancient continental crust, or was derived exclusively from the fusion of ancient continental crust resulting from a meteorite impact. Results of modelling suggest that if a contemporaneous mantle-derived basaltic melt was involved in the origin of the SIC, it likely contributed < 50% of the Os to all three ores. The large percentage of ancient crust involved in the production of the ores is most consistent with an interpretation of substantial crustal fusion resulting from meteorite impact.

    Publication type Article
    Publication Subtype Journal Article
    Title ReOs isotope systematics of NiCu sulfide ores, Sudbury Igneous Complex, Ontario: Evidence for a major crustal component
    Series title Earth and Planetary Science Letters
    DOI 10.1016/0012-821X(91)90182-H
    Volume 105
    Issue 4
    Year Published 1991
    Language English
    Publisher Elsevier
    Description 14 p.
    First page 416
    Last page 429
    Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
    Additional publication details