Ar-Ar Dating of Baimazhai Nickel-Copper-(PGE) Sulphide Deposit and Its Significance, Southeast Yunnan Province, China

The Baimazhai Ni-Cu- (PGE) sulphide deposit in southeast Yunnan Province is hosted in mafic-ultramafic intrusions associated with the Permian Emeishan large igneous province. The deposit, one of several in the province, exhibits field and petrographic features suggestive of post-magmatic modification. The mafic-ultramafic intrusions that host the Baimazhai sulphide ores show near-pervasive to pervasive hydrothermal alteration, with the sulphides be- ing spatially associated with hydrothermal minerals such as biotite, amphibole and chlorite. This intimate association suggests that the sulphide ores were subjected to deformational and hydrothermal redistribution and textural changes resulting in disseminated and brecciated ores. Geochemically the Baimazhai sulphide ores are enriched in Cu, Pd and Au which, according to published studies, reflects the action of hydrothermal fluids. Interestingly, Ar-Ar age data yielded plateau ages of about 160-170 Ma, which also supports the modification features of the sulfide ores.