Synchrotron XFM Data of Barnes 1134 (March 2009)

XANES analysis of chromite from komatiites - investigate speciation of multi-valent elements in chromite from komatiites, high temperature volcanic rocks which uniquely record melting processes in the mantle of the Archaean Earth, and which host economically important nickel sulfide ore deposits. Study will focus on chromite grains which have been shown by previous laser ablation analysis to contain anomalous concentrations (to 500 ppb) of ruthenium (a platinum group element) and also micronuggets of other PGEs. This study forms part of a three year industry funded research project on PGEs in komatiites, and is relevant to a current hot topic in Archaean geology, the water content of komatiite magmas.