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The origin of high-Cu/S sulfides by shallow-level degassing in the Skaergaard intrusion, East Greenland

Publication ,  Journal Article
Li, C; Boudreau, AE
Published in: Geology
December 1, 2017

The Skaergaard intrusion of East Greenland is characterized by unusually low sulfur (S) and high metal/S ratios. Explanations range from S lost during cooling to suggestions that low S was characteristic of the original magma. A nonequilibrium thermodynamic analysis of modal variations in the chilled margin and Lower Zone is consistent with a late stage reaction of chalcopyrite → magnetite ± bornite + Slost; the pre-reaction assemblage was dominated by chalcopyrite with a Cu:S mass ratio ~1:1, a ratio unusually low for an undegassed hotspot basalt. A comparison with other hotspot and flood basalt provinces suggests that these magmas can lose significant S to recirculating shallow-level degassed magma. It is concluded that degassing of the parent Skaergaard magma prior to solidification and continuous vapor loss during crystallization both contributed to the overall high metal/S ratios of the Skaergaard system.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Geology

DOI

EISSN

1943-2682

ISSN

0091-7613

Publication Date

December 1, 2017

Volume

45

Issue

12

Start / End Page

1075 / 1078

Related Subject Headings

  • Geochemistry & Geophysics
  • 37 Earth sciences
  • 04 Earth Sciences
 

Citation

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Li, C., & Boudreau, A. E. (2017). The origin of high-Cu/S sulfides by shallow-level degassing in the Skaergaard intrusion, East Greenland. Geology, 45(12), 1075–1078. https://doi.org/10.1130/G39540.1
Li, C., and A. E. Boudreau. “The origin of high-Cu/S sulfides by shallow-level degassing in the Skaergaard intrusion, East Greenland.” Geology 45, no. 12 (December 1, 2017): 1075–78. https://doi.org/10.1130/G39540.1.
Li, C., and A. E. Boudreau. “The origin of high-Cu/S sulfides by shallow-level degassing in the Skaergaard intrusion, East Greenland.” Geology, vol. 45, no. 12, Dec. 2017, pp. 1075–78. Scopus, doi:10.1130/G39540.1.

Published In

Geology

DOI

EISSN

1943-2682

ISSN

0091-7613

Publication Date

December 1, 2017

Volume

45

Issue

12

Start / End Page

1075 / 1078

Related Subject Headings

  • Geochemistry & Geophysics
  • 37 Earth sciences
  • 04 Earth Sciences