THE PLATINUM GROUP ELEMENT CHROMITE METALLOGENIC SERIES RELATED TO THE BUSHVELD COMPLEX IN SOUTH AFRICA: its inspiration to exploration for PGE in Southwest China

Multi-types of PGE mineralization have been proved to be associated with the Bushveld complex in South Africa, including the UG2 and Merensky reefs formed by crystallization and differentiation of the major magma body,the massive sulfide Cu-Ni-PGE deposits related to small intrusive bodies of later stage such as the Nkomati deposit,the hydrothermal sulfide-PGE deposits formed in contact zone such as the Potgietersrust deposit,as well as pipe-type PGE deposits such as the Mooihoek pipe and the Driekop pipe, shear zone-type of hydrothermal PGE deposits such as the Tweefontein hill deposit, and quartz vein-type PGE deposits such as the Naboomspruit deposit. Even these deposits show different modes of geological occurrences (within mafic-ultramafic rocks, at contact zone, or even in shear zone or quartz vein away from the main intrusive complex) and different types of ores (chromite-type, massive sulfide-type, silicate-type, or quartz vein-type), the enrichment or mineralization process of PGE was genetically related to the Bushveld mafic-ultramafic complex and resulted in a metallogenic series of PGE deposits, chromite deposits, massive sulfide Cu-Ni-PGE deposits, asbestos deposits, magnesite deposits and other kinds of deposits. This metallogenic series of PGE-Cu-Ni-Cr deposits were originated from the Proterozoic Bushveld mantle plume. It provides a good lesson to the exploration of new types of PGE deposits in Southwest China, where exist similar metallogenic series of PGE-Cu-Ni deposits formed on the western margin of the Yangtze platform and genetically related to the Emei mantle plume of Paleozoic. Besides the magma type PGE deposits at Jinbaoshan and Yangliuping, hydrothermal deposits have also been found recently in Yangliuping, Dayanzi and other areas.