How Pd and Pt are accommodated in pentlandite (Fe,Ni)9S8, substitutions and/or inclusions?

The fast rise in demand for ‘critical’ metals (Pt, Pd, Os, Ag, Au etc.) may raise a potential obstacle to the widespread adoption of low-carbon energy technologies. Hence, the development of more efficient and sustainable processing technologies (e.g. extraction and leaching) for the exploitable deposits and mining tailings for the exhausted deposits is essential. Pentlandites contain the highest economical amount of Pd (and Pt) in a refractory form among all the major sulphides. Despite the large accumulated knowledge on Pd and Pt in pentlandite, no complete spectroscopic studies have been performed to date. The incorporation mechanism is still highly disputable and most of the Pd-Pt-bearing pentlandite remains in the deposit’s tailings. Thus, the aim of the present project is to characterize the states of Pt and Pd in pentlandite to elucidate the role of pentlandite as a concentrator of refractory PGEs from three world-class deposits: Lac-des-Îles, Bushveld, and Norilsk 1.