ABSTRACT
The Nemeiben Lake ultramafic body is located in the center of
Saskatchewan, Canada, within the Churchill Province of the
Canadian Shield. The ultramafic rocks consist of serpentinites,
partly serpentinized and uralitized pyroxenite, and unaltered
pyroxenite. Associated sulphide mineralization is of disseminated,
net texture, and fracture filling types. The ore minerals present
are pyrrhotite, pentlandite, chalcopyrite, pyrite, marcasite,
violarite, bravoite and native copper. The sulphides are
considered to be initially of magmatic origin formed from a
sulphide melt separated at a late stage during crystallization of
the ultramafic rocks. Subsequent serpentinization has locally
redistributed the ores.
Serpentinization in the Nemeiben Lake ultramafic rocks was
accompanied by introduction-of water with no apparent changes of
SiO2 and MgO contents. A minor removal of CaO and possible
addition of sulfur during serpentinization is the only apparent
chemical change.
From investigation of co-existing clinopyroxenes, orthopyroxene
and olivine and the distribution of Mg and Fe between pyroxenes,
it appears that the Nemeiben Lake ultramafic body crystallized at
high temperature between 1100-1200 ºC and in a pressure range
between 5-9 Kb.
Peddada, A., 1972. Petrology of the Nemeiben Lake Ultramafic and
Associated Nickel-Sulphide Deposits.
Unpublished MSc. thesis, State University of New York at
Albany. 166pp., +xi.
University at Albany Science Library call number: SCIENCE
Oversize (*) QE 461 P43X
thesis (scanned text) - 13.4MB pdf file
Figure 2 - Geological
map of the Nemeiben Lake Ultramafic body, Saskatchewan
coloured geological outcrop map (scale 1:8400)
- 1MB pdf file
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