Results of U-Pb dating of zircon and baddeleyite from the Noril’sk-1 ultramafic-mafic intrusion (Russia)1

Abstract

Abstract We present for the first time the mineralogical and isotope-geochemical particularities of zircon and baddeleyite from various rocks of the economic ore-bearing Noril’sk-1 intrusion located in the northwestern part of the Siberian platform. The ultramafic-mafic Noril’sk-1 intrusion hosts one of the world’s major economic platinum-group-element (PGE)-Cu-Ni sulphide deposits. A detailed study of crystal morphology and internal structure identify four zircon populations, characterized by different U-Pb (SHRIMP-II) ages. The U-Pb ages of baddeleyite and the defined zircon populations cover a significant time span (from 290 ± 2.8 to 226.7 ± 0.9 Ma). The established U-Pb ages imply that crystallization of baddeleyite and zircon populations corresponds to several stages of protracted evolution of the ore-forming magmatic system (290 ± 2.8, 261.3 ± 1.6, 245.7 ± 1.1, 236.5 ± 1.8, and 226.7 ± 0.9 Ma, respectively) that served as the favorable factor for accumulation of magmas and ores of unique scales and concentrations.