Precious Metal Minerals in the Ultrabasites of the Ariadnoe Massif (Sikhote-Alin Orogenic Belt)

The results of detailed mineralogical and geochemical studies of precious metals from ultrabasic rocks of the Ariadnoe massif (Sikhote-Alin orogenic belt) are presented. The presence of several varieties of gold with different ratios of Ag, Cu, and Hg has been revealed. Isoferroplatinum predominates among platinum minerals. The isotopic composition of ultrabasite sulfides corresponds to the mantle source, while basites are characterized by isotope–light sulfur, indicating the possibility of participation in the oreogenesis of crustal rocks. Isotope-carbon analysis of igneous rocks indicates that they contain derivatives of deep fluids and isotope-light biogenic matter of sedimentary rocks. The presented data show that mantle and crustal processes were involved in the formation of ore-bearing intrusions of ultrabasic–basic rocks. The association of ilmenite, gold, and platinum in ultrabasites and basites, a derivative of these processes, can serve as a search criterion for the detection of industrially promising sources of strategic metals.