Sudbury is a Cu-Ni deposit rich in sulfide and accompanied by cobalt and platinum group metals, and has been paying attention to the exploration and development of such mineralization in the past. Of course, this is also the main mineralization that accounts for the vast majority of its platinum group metal resources. However, Lonmin Company, which is listed in London and mainly mines and smelts platinum in South Africa, recently signed a cooperation agreement with Canadian Inco Company to explore some mines of Inco in sudbury Basin, in order to find high-grade nickel, copper, cobalt and platinum group metal deposits with low sulfur content, which are mainly rich in sulfide. Recently, this kind of platinum group metal mineralization was discovered in sudbury, including the joint project of Lonmin and Wallbridge Mining Company in the stratum near the famous nickel-copper deposit in sudbury. Lonmin believes that the prospect of this undeveloped platinum group metal deposit in sudbury Basin is very promising.
The output and grade of platinum group metals in Norilsk, Russia have never been officially announced in the past. The west estimated that its output in 2002 was 650,000 ounces of platinum, 2.7 million ounces of palladium and 60,000 ounces of rhodium, and the average grade of platinum group metals was 10 ~ 1 1g/ ton. The ore also contains 1.8% nickel and 3% copper. Recently, Russian first announced that the platinum output in the first half of 2005 was 355,000 ounces, and the palladium output was 6,543.8+0.48 million ounces (including the output in polar regions and kola peninsula). It is estimated that the annual output of platinum is 730,000 ounces and palladium is 3.08 million ounces.
Platinum group metals are mainly produced in Bushveld complex in South Africa. There are three known platinum group metal deposits (Merens base, UG2 ferrochromium and Platreef) in this complex. The deposits are mainly distributed in the east wing and west wing of the arc complex, and the main pay beds are the previously discovered Melunsky bottom (related to a small amount of nickel-copper sulfide) and the later discovered UG2 ferrochrome containing platinum group metals. These two seams are located in the complex, far from the bottom of the complex. The exploration and mining of platinum group metals are traditionally concentrated in the east wing and the west wing. The north wing of the complex is generally north-south, and the platinum group metal mineralization occurs at the bottom of the complex, that is, Platreef (disseminated, reticulated and massive), which is related to nickel-copper sulfide, with a large thickness and few production mines, but there are many exploration work at present.
Pan Palladium has a Grass Valley project in the north wing, with about 29 million tons of reserves, more than 6.5438+200,000 ounces of platinum group metals, as well as nickel and copper. There is Aurora project in the north, with 50.4 million tons of ore, platinum group metals 1. 19g/ ton, copper 0.2 1% and nickel 0.07%, which are still being drilled. The total estimated resources of three of the four mines in Afriore Project are 65,438+0.65,438+0.88 billion tons, including 65,438+0.39 g/ton of platinum+palladium+gold, 0.05% of nickel and 0.08% of copper (65,438+0 g of platinum+palladium+gold) Mineralization occurs in pyroxenite. In the 3.6km long section, the resources are 654.38+83 million tons, including platinum 2 g/t, palladium 2. 1 g/t, rhodium 0. 1 g/t, gold 0.3g/t, nickel 0.24% and copper 0.1t. According to the drilling results of Anooraq Resources Company in Drenthe and Witrivier deposit in Boikgantsho(Reitfontein) mining area in the north wing, the estimated resources are 65438+7666 million tons, including 0.57 g/ton platinum, 0.69 g/ton palladium, 0.09 g/ton gold, 0. 13% nickel and 0.003%. The estimated resources are104.08 million tons, including platinum 0.52g/ton, palladium 0.63g/ton, gold 0.09g/ton, nickel 0./kloc-0.4% and copper 0.09%. Among them, the drilling strike of Drenthe deposit has been controlled at 4.5 kilometers long, and most of the mineralization occurs in coarse-grained pyroxene at the bottom of the complex. Compared with Merens base and UG2 layer, the grade is lower, but the thickness is larger. The resource of the deposit is 99.4 million tons, including platinum+palladium+gold 1.3 1g/ ton, nickel 0. 16% and copper 0. 1%. The ore body is 9 ~ 45 meters thick (generally greater than 10 ~ 20 meters) and can be mined in the open pit.
Cluff Company is exploring the Sheba's Ridge deposit in the east wing of Bushveld complex, 20km southwest of Groblersdal. Platreef at the bottom of the complex is also mineralized, with a total thickness of about 80 meters, which is divided into two zones, the lower one is a high-grade zone and the upper one is a low-grade zone. After extensive drilling in the past two years, it was reported in May 2005 that the proven resources were 409 million tons, including 0. 18% of nickel, 0.07% of copper and 0.74 g/ton of platinum+palladium+gold. The estimated resources are 31.300 million tons, including 0. 18% of nickel, 0.07% of copper and 0.80g/ton of platinum+palladium+gold. The estimated resources are 53 million tons, including 0. 17% of nickel, 0.05% of copper and 0.7 1g/ ton of platinum+palladium+gold. The total mineral resources are 775 million tons, including 590 tons of platinum+palladium+gold, 65.438 million tons of nickel and 530,000 tons of copper. The reserve is 2.965438 billion tons, containing 0.20% nickel, 0.08% copper and 0.90g/ ton platinum+palladium+gold. The ore body is gently inclined and plate-shaped, and can be mined in open pit 18 years. The annual output is 23,700 tons of nickel, 0/2,000 tons of copper/kloc, 94,000 ounces of platinum, 274,000 ounces of palladium, 5,000 ounces of rhodium and 215,000 ounces of gold. The project is 30 kilometers away from the company's Blue Ridge project. The feasibility study of the project was completed in 2003, and the confirmed and estimated resources added by platinum group metal gold were 5.4 million ounces. In the Blue Ridge West Project, 4.3 g/ton of platinum group metal gold was drilled into UG2 chromium-rich layer. In Xiebaling Mine, three mineralized outcrops were also found, with strike length of 6 ~ 9 km and average dip angle of 20. About150m above Platreef, a major celestial body with a large thickness, there is a line called Platchro (UG2 type? ), the grade of platinum group metals is high, but it changes greatly. 80 meters above it is a Melunsky-style seam. The platinum project of Mount Everest in the south of the east wing of Bushveld complex is UG2 deposit. In June 2004, it was reported that there were 45.8 million tons of resources, including 3.56 g/ton of platinum+palladium+rhodium+gold. It is planned to produce concentrate in 2006, with an annual output of 225,000 ounces of platinum group metals. There is also the two rivers project in the east wing. The resource of UG2 layer is 40 million tons, the average platinum group metal is 4. 18g/ ton, and the ratio of platinum to palladium is 5∶3. Merens also has grass-roots mineralization. In the east wing, there is also the Greater Messina Platinum Project (about 250km north of Johannesburg), which is divided into three parts. * * * The resources of platinum group metals are determined to be 5.35 million ounces, and the estimated resources are 108 1000 ounces and 5.64 million ounces. Among them, the direction of Dwaalkop section is 6 kilometers long and the depth is 1 1,000 meters. It is determined and estimated that the resource is 6.48110,000 tons, and the average gold grade of platinum group metals is 4.38 g/ton (i.e. 285 tons), including 27.93 million tons from Melunsky with the grade of 3.7 1 g/ton. UG2 layer is 36.68 million tons, with a grade of 4.88g/ ton.
The feasibility study of the Leeuwkop platinum group metal deposit in the west wing of Bushveld complex has been completed, in which the estimated resources of UG2 layer are 47 million tons, including 3. 1 g/ton of platinum, 1.5% g/ton of palladium, 0.5 g/ton of rhodium and less than 0. 1 g/ton of gold. The estimated resources are 654.38+65 million tons, including platinum 4.9g/ ton, palladium 2.9g/ ton, rhodium 0.4g/ ton and gold less than 0. 1g/ ton. Merens estimated that the resources are 654.38+38 million tons, including platinum 2. 1g/ ton, palladium/kloc-0. 1g/ ton, rhodium 0.1g/ton and gold 0.3g/ ton. It is planned to mine only UG2 layer first, because its grade is stable and its thickness is large. There are other projects in the west wing.
Spitzkop platinum group metal deposit in Mpu Malanga province has been proved to be a high-grade near-surface gently inclined deposit. Taking 3g/ton of platinum group metal as the cut-off grade, UG2 layer encircles 37.46 million tons of resources, including 3.49g/ton of platinum, 2.20g/ton of palladium, 0.65g/ton of rhodium, 0.03g/ton of ruthenium/kloc-0 and 0.35g of iridium. The estimated grass-roots resources in Merens are 47.38 million tons, including platinum 1.3g/ ton, palladium 0.7g/ ton, rhodium 0.07g/ ton, ruthenium 0. 15g/ ton, iridium 0.03g/ ton and gold 0. 18g/ ton.
In the Bushveld complex, in addition to the layered mineralization mentioned above, a small amount of platinum group metals are mineralized in the dunite cone. In addition, there is a recent project to treat chromite tailings from Kroondal mine in Bushveld complex to produce platinum group metals. In 2006, 20,000 tons of tailings were treated every month (the average grade of platinum group metals was 4 g/ton) and 28,000 ounces of platinum group metals were produced.
In addition to Bushveld complex in South Africa, there is also a Stella layered igneous complex in Kraaipan greenstone belt of Northwest Province, 330 km west of Johannesburg, in which Kalahari platinum group metal mine manager 12 km, and 7 deposits have been proved (with a total strike length of 8 km). There are several seams, some of which are of high grade (7 ~ 8m thick, containing about 3.6g/ ton of platinum group metals). 3.4 million ounces of platinum+palladium+rhodium have been delineated for drilling, including 6,543.8+0.4 million ounces of high grade, which can be mined in the open pit and produced in the well later, and drilling will continue.
In 2003, the feasibility study of Ngezi project in Zimbabwe was carried out, and the reserves of platinum group metals increased greatly. The proven and approximate reserves are 325.6 million tons, including platinum1.65g/ton, palladium1.35g/ton, rhodium 0.14g/ton and gold 0.22g/ton.
In 2004, the platinum group metal project in York, Sierra Leone traced a platinum group metal ore-bearing horizon with a length of 8.5 kilometers and a thickness of 2 meters, and another parallel ore-bearing horizon was found 2 kilometers east of it (tracing 1.2 kilometers).
In the Kimberly area in northern Western Australia, the Geological Survey of Western Australia found the platinum group metal deposits in Pan Dun basic-ultrabasic rocks in 1962. Rock mass area10× 2.5km2 and thickness1.7km.. It is located in the active zone about 65,438+000 kilometers from the south to the west of the famous argyle diamond deposit, and its age is over 6,543.80+08 billion years. Since 2000, Pan Dun Project has started drilling again. There are three main ore-bearing zones, with chromite zone (high grade) and dunite zone (low grade) at the top and middle. In 2004, the resources were100000 tons (mainly at the level of measurement and estimation), including platinum 2.5 1g/ ton, palladium 2.9 1g/ ton, gold 0.40g/ ton, nickel 0.30% and copper 0.09%. The total resources of platinum group metals can reach 4.5 million ounces. At present, it cannot be exploited economically. There is also Munni Munni basic-ultrabasic intrusive platinum group metal deposit in Western Australia, with a platinum group metal reserve of 857,000 ounces.
The Pedra Branca platinum group metal project in Ceara, Brazil is still under exploration, and some exploration areas have been drilled to confirm the continuous important mineralization.
It was reported in August, 2003 that the Ile Lake palladium deposit in northern Ontario, Canada was found standing under the pit, with proven and approximate reserves of 39 million tons, including palladium1.89g/ton, platinum 0.2 1 g/ton, gold 0.1.5g/ton and copper 0. In addition, the resource amount13.7 million tons has been determined and estimated, including palladium10.7/g/ton, platinum 0.2 1g/ ton, gold 0. 14g/ ton, copper 0.07% and copper 0.07%. The high-grade zone of the deposit is considered as the enrichment zone of magmatic hydrothermal solution. The platinum group metal project in Marathon, Ontario has proven resources of 8 million tons, including palladium1.37g/ton, platinum 0.33g/ton, gold 0. 1 1 ton, and copper 0.39%. Estimated resources150,000 tons, including palladium 1.38g/ ton, platinum 0.35g/ ton, gold 0. 12g/ ton and copper 0.39%. The estimated resources are 8.4 million tons, including palladium1.46g/ton, platinum 0.37g/ton, gold 0.12g/ton and copper 0.38%. After several years of drilling, the platinum group metal project in the valley near sudbury in this province has been proved and estimated to be 25.4 million tons by mid-2004, including 0.98 g/ton of palladium, 0.34 g/ton of platinum, 0.06 g/ton of gold, 0.02% of nickel and 0. 10% of copper. The estimated resources are 3.6 million tons, including 0.76g/ton of palladium, 0.28g/ton of platinum, 0.05g/ton of gold, 0.02% of nickel and 0.09% of copper. The deposit is considered as "contact type" mineralization, which occurs at the bottom of layered intrusive rocks and contains many xenoliths from surrounding rocks. It is considered that magma and surrounding rock fragments are polluted (H2O and SiO2 _ 2 may increase), forming breccia and pegmatite, which leads to sulfide saturation.
It has recently been reported that the resources of platinum group metals and gold mineralization in Skergarde layered rock mass in Greenland are152 million tons, including platinum 0.6 1g/ ton, palladium 0.04g/ ton and gold 0.2 1g/ ton.
Platinum group metals are mineralized in the Federov Pansky(Pana) layered mafic rock mass in kola peninsula, Russia. The site is located about 200 ~ 300 kilometers southeast of the Baken nickel-copper mine area, and the existing East Panski and other projects are under construction. 1940, when the geological mapping of this area was completed, it was reported that there were platinum group elements in this rock mass. 1986 ~ 199 1 year, the Soviet national exploration team reported that nickel contained an abnormal amount of platinum group metals. 1993, BHP Billiton began to participate in the joint project, when it was learned that there was a "northern seam" containing platinum group metals. 1995, platinum group metals were found in copper-nickel mineralization at the bottom. 1993 ~ 1999 exploration work includes geology, geophysical and geochemical exploration and 8500m core drilling. The grade of platinum group metal is several grams/ton (4.2 1 ~ 4.34g/ ton), gold is 0. 1 ~ 0.5g/ ton and copper is 0.66. The total thickness of rock mass exceeds 4000m. Mineralization is divided into three layers: bottom layer, north layer (middle and lower part) and south layer (upper part). At present, some projects have also reported three horizons. The main exploration object is the bottom layer, which is mostly found in sulfide-bearing gabbro (partly pegmatite), and some people think it is "contact type". The drilling results show that the mineralization thickness is greater than1~10m, and the palladium+platinum+gold content is greater than1~10g/ton. It is reported that there are 1600 tons of platinum group metal resources in the east of this intrusion. It is reported that a 350-ton platinum group metal deposit has been discovered.
The main deposit of "Platinum Project in Arctic Region" in Lapland, northern Finland, occurs in Moji-ultrabasic rocks in Polti. Ahmavaara and Kong Di Arvi deposits (both called Suhanko Project) are the main exploration targets. Regional moraine geochemical exploration, local induced polarization survey and ground magnetic survey were used. Mineralization mainly occurs at the bottom of intrusive body (some people think it is also "contact type"). Another layer of platinum group metal was also found in the intrusion. In July, 2003, the amount of resources was 65438+567 million tons, including palladium 1.84 g/ton, platinum 0.46 g/ton, gold 0. 13 g/ton, copper 0.20% and nickel 0.09%. However, after further extensive drilling and modeling in 2004, the grade was reduced from the original.
In addition to the main types of platinum group metal deposits mentioned above, the platinum group metal deposits related to the intrusive complex of basic-ultrabasic rocks in the central orogenic belt (mainly dunite) have also attracted people's attention. The Ni-Cu-Co platinum group metal deposit in Aguablanca, Spain, has been put into production, which is considered as positive magmatic mineralization during or after orogeny. At present, the metallogenic prospect of some similar rock bodies in its location has also attracted attention. Alaska, USA and Urals, Russia are typical areas of this kind of platinum group metal primary deposits and related sand deposits, so this kind of intrusions and deposits are also called Alaska-Urals type. Some American companies have noticed that there are a series of intrusive rocks and extrusive rocks more than 400 kilometers south of alaska range, and many nickel, copper, platinum group metals and gold mines are known, so they plan to look for platinum group metals in this area. There is a joint exploration project for platinum group metals in Kitchiken North Union Bay. The Urals region has also been exploring platinum group metals. In Korjak, kamchatka peninsula, it is reported that about 45 tons of platinum have been produced in the last decade, mainly from placer mines, including natural platinum blocks weighing 65,438+0.2 kg. Primary platinum mineralization occurs in pure peridotite. It is said that this area has not been mined in the past because it is a military zone.