“Coaster” Brook Trout

Host rock: Peridotite

Minerals: 3.57% Ni 0.28 gpt Au

2.91 % Cu 0.73 gpt Pt

0.10% Co 0.47 gpt Pd

Expected yield: 300,000,000 lbs of Ni

250,000,000 lbs of Cu

How do sulfide deposits form?

Cu Ni

PtCo

Pd

Cu Ni

PtCo

PdS

S

S

Magma acquires sulfur from surrounding rock on the way toward the surface

Depletion of metals

Metals and sulfur settle out and form a sulfide deposit

Metals like to bond to liquid sulfur……..

Primary ore minerals:

Pentlandite: Ni6Fe3S8

Chalcopyrite: CuFeS2