Synchrotron XFM data for Barnes_14304 (March 2019)

The Ni-Cu-(PGE) deposits of the Norilsk area in Siberia are some of the world’s most valuable ores, and played a role in the greatest mass extinction in Earth history. A unique feature is the presence of low-S, high PGE mineralisation. Based on previous synchrotron experiments we have hypothesized that these unusual ores may have formed by “bubble-rafting” of sulfide droplets on gas bubbles, and that the high PGE/S could be related to loss of S to the vapour phase during degassing. We will test this model by imaging a remarkable new suite of samples from recent exploration drilling.