Mineral parageneses of the sulphide ore deposits of Bergslagen metallogenic province: I. Ni-Cu deposits of southern Sweden

Abstract

The abandoned Ni-Cu ore deposits of southern Sweden are associated with Proterozoic mafic intrusions. Their mineralogy is similar to that of Sudbury-type deposits. The dominant primary sulphides are: pyrrhotite or pyrite, pentlandite, chalcopyrite and sphalerite. Pentlandite in ores with primary pyrite has a high Ni/Fe ratio and is associated with millerite and siegenite. Secondary minerals include pyrite after pyrrhotite, bravoite replacing secondary pyrite, violarite after pentlandite. There is strong evidence that the formation of the observed violarite took place on the mine dumps during the last 40 years.