Shangani
Shangani greenstone belt (between Gweru and Bulawayo), Zimbabwe
Magmatic (Ni-Cu-PGE, carbonatites)Ni (Cu)
- Type
- Disseminated Ni sulphides in an ultramafic complex (type 2, low grade)
Shangani Mineralized Complex, intrusive into the Esmyangene Formation (Lower Bulawayan Group): massive and talcose serpentinites, carbonated talc schists, as folded lenses wrapped in sheared sulphidic black shales and cherts. Low-grade type 2 deposit (0.93 Mt/yr at 0.48 % Ni in 2002), with local massive sulphides at the base of the lobes (Main and Far West ore bodies). Massive ore with zero Δ33S (magmatic or homogenised sulphur), matrix and disseminated ores on a mixing line between magmatic and sedimentary sulphur (Δ33S about +0.7 ‰), carbonaceous shale pyrite at Δ33S +1.8 ‰. Indicative coordinates.
δ34S in ‰ (per mil) Values of the same system
Standard : V-CDT
| Value | Range | n | Mineral or matrix | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.45 ± 0.92 ‰ | 3.8 / 5.1 ‰ | 2 | pyrite (and pyrrhotite) nodules in carbonaceous shale of the Far West ore body Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 2 analyses. | Hofmann et al. (2014), Comparing orthomagmatic and hydrothermal mineralization models for… |
| 1.1 ± 0.28 ‰ | 0.9 / 1.3 ‰ | 2 | massive chalcopyrite ore of the Main ore body Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 2 analyses. | Hofmann et al. (2014), Comparing orthomagmatic and hydrothermal mineralization models for… |
| 0.9 ± 0.14 ‰ | 0.8 / 1 ‰ | 2 | net-textured pyrrhotite-pentlandite ore in serpentinite (MOB-2, MOB-2B) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 2 analyses. | Hofmann et al. (2014), Comparing orthomagmatic and hydrothermal mineralization models for… |
| 2.33 ± 0.42 ‰ | 2 / 2.8 ‰ | 3 | disseminated sulphides in talcose serpentinite (carbonate veins, pyrrhotite-pentlandite blebs) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 3 analyses. | Hofmann et al. (2014), Comparing orthomagmatic and hydrothermal mineralization models for… |
Δ33S in ‰ (per mil) Values of the same system
Standard : V-CDT
| Value | Range | n | Mineral or matrix | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.83 ± 0.01 ‰ | 1.83 / 1.84 ‰ | 2 | pyrite (and pyrrhotite) nodules in carbonaceous shale of the Far West ore body Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 2 analyses, sedimentary sulphur derived from photochemical elemental sulphur according to the authors. | Hofmann et al. (2014), Comparing orthomagmatic and hydrothermal mineralization models for… |
| 0.03 ‰ | 0.03 / 0.03 ‰ | 2 | massive chalcopyrite ore of the Main ore body Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 2 analyses, mass-dependent fractionation only: magmatic or homogenised sulphur. | Hofmann et al. (2014), Comparing orthomagmatic and hydrothermal mineralization models for… |
| 0.69 ± 0.01 ‰ | 0.68 / 0.69 ‰ | 2 | net-textured pyrrhotite-pentlandite ore in serpentinite (MOB-2, MOB-2B) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 2 analyses, on the mixing line between magmatic and sedimentary sulphur. | Hofmann et al. (2014), Comparing orthomagmatic and hydrothermal mineralization models for… |
| 0.71 ± 0.02 ‰ | 0.69 / 0.73 ‰ | 3 | disseminated sulphides in talcose serpentinite (carbonate veins, pyrrhotite-pentlandite blebs) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 3 analyses, magmatic and sedimentary sulphur remobilised hydrothermally. | Hofmann et al. (2014), Comparing orthomagmatic and hydrothermal mineralization models for… |
δ56Fe in ‰ (per mil) Values of the same system
Standard : IRMM-014
| Value | Range | n | Mineral or matrix | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| −0.83 ± 0.82 ‰ | −1.41 / −0.25 ‰ | 2 | pyrite (and pyrrhotite) nodules in carbonaceous shale of the Far West ore body Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 2 analyses, the low value (-1.41 ‰) reflects low-temperature fractionation during early diagenesis. | Hofmann et al. (2014), Comparing orthomagmatic and hydrothermal mineralization models for… |
| 0.26 ± 0.01 ‰ | 0.25 / 0.26 ‰ | 2 | massive chalcopyrite ore of the Main ore body Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 2 analyses, heavier than Trojan ore, probably a mineralogical effect (chalcopyrite). | Hofmann et al. (2014), Comparing orthomagmatic and hydrothermal mineralization models for… |
| 0.24 ± 0.48 ‰ | −0.1 / 0.58 ‰ | 2 | net-textured pyrrhotite-pentlandite ore in serpentinite (MOB-2, MOB-2B) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 2 analyses, +0.58 ‰: possible final stage of Rayleigh distillation according to the authors. | Hofmann et al. (2014), Comparing orthomagmatic and hydrothermal mineralization models for… |
| −0.24 ± 0.44 ‰ | −0.75 / 0.04 ‰ | 3 | disseminated sulphides in talcose serpentinite (carbonate veins, pyrrhotite-pentlandite blebs) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 3 analyses, -0.75 ‰: iron mobilised by hydrothermal alteration according to the authors. | Hofmann et al. (2014), Comparing orthomagmatic and hydrothermal mineralization models for… |
δ60Ni in ‰ (per mil) Values of the same system
Standard : NIST SRM 986
| Value | Range | n | Mineral or matrix | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| −0.47 ‰ | 1 | net-textured pyrrhotite-pentlandite ore in serpentinite (MOB-2) Single analysis, close to the Trojan ores. | Hofmann et al. (2014), Comparing orthomagmatic and hydrothermal mineralization models for… |
Deposits of the same type
- Great Dyke (Main Sulfide Zone) Zimbabwe
- Bikita Zimbabwe
- Kamativi Zimbabwe
- Trojan Zimbabwe
- Mutoko (pegmatites) Zimbabwe
- Zaaiplaats South Africa
- Bushveld, Platreef South Africa
- Bushveld, Merensky Reef South Africa
Cite this page
IsoFind Atlas (2026). Shangani, isotope signatures. https://www.isofind.tech/isotopes/en/deposits/shangani/ (accessed 2026-10-14).
@misc{isofind2026shanganiisotopesignatures,
title = {Shangani, isotope signatures},
author = {{IsoFind Atlas}},
year = {2026},
url = {https://www.isofind.tech/isotopes/en/deposits/shangani/},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14}
}Updated : 2026-10-14