Trojan
Bindura-Shamva greenstone belt (near Bindura), Zimbabwe
Magmatic (Ni-Cu-PGE, carbonatites)Ni (Cu, Co)
- Type
- Komatiite-hosted magmatic Ni sulphides
Main nickel producer of Zimbabwe (1.03 Mt/yr of ore at 0.62 % Ni in 2002), type 1 deposit in serpentinite lenses (cumulate dunites and peridotites) of the Arcturus Formation (Upper Bulawayan Group, about 2.7 Ga), interleaved with strongly sheared silicified, carbonaceous and sulphidic metasediments. Disseminated (95 % of reserves, 0.6 % Ni), matrix (4 % Ni) and massive (10 % Ni) pyrrhotite-pentlandite ore; ore bodies parallel to the S0-S1 intersection lineation and reworked by deformation and metamorphism (up to 565 °C and 3.5 kbar). Δ33S of +0.58 to +1.12 ‰ in all samples: assimilated Archaean sedimentary sulphur later remobilised by hydrothermal fluids according to the authors; iron and nickel of magmatic origin. Indicative coordinates (town of Bindura).
δ34S in ‰ (per mil) Values of the same system
Standard : V-CDT
| Value | Range | n | Mineral or matrix | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.48 ± 1.37 ‰ | −0.1 / 2.7 ‰ | 6 | massive pyrrhotite-pentlandite ore (drill core 35-1-20) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 6 analyses, mixture of magmatic and sedimentary sulphur according to the authors. | Hofmann et al. (2014), Comparing orthomagmatic and hydrothermal mineralization models for… |
| 2.4 ‰ | 1 | net-textured ore in serpentinite (TM34.2) Single analysis. | Hofmann et al. (2014), Comparing orthomagmatic and hydrothermal mineralization models for… | |
| 2.9 ‰ | 1 | disseminated ore in serpentinite, pyrrhotite (TM37.9) Single analysis. | Hofmann et al. (2014), Comparing orthomagmatic and hydrothermal mineralization models for… | |
| 3.87 ± 0.32 ‰ | 3.5 / 4.1 ‰ | 3 | pyrrhotite in silicified metagreywacke and metashale (layer, nodule, veinlets) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 3 analyses, mostly secondary sulphides, remobilised within the metasediments. | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.97 ± 0.04 ‰ | 0.95 / 1.05 ‰ | 6 | massive pyrrhotite-pentlandite ore (drill core 35-1-20) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 6 analyses, positive and constant MIF-S: Archaean sedimentary sulphur processed through the atmosphere. | Hofmann et al. (2014), Comparing orthomagmatic and hydrothermal mineralization models for… |
| 1.12 ‰ | 1 | net-textured ore in serpentinite (TM34.2) Single analysis, highest Δ33S of the deposit. | Hofmann et al. (2014), Comparing orthomagmatic and hydrothermal mineralization models for… | |
| 1.01 ‰ | 1 | disseminated ore in serpentinite, pyrrhotite (TM37.9) Single analysis. | Hofmann et al. (2014), Comparing orthomagmatic and hydrothermal mineralization models for… | |
| 0.67 ± 0.14 ‰ | 0.58 / 0.84 ‰ | 3 | pyrrhotite in silicified metagreywacke and metashale (layer, nodule, veinlets) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 3 analyses, lower than in the ore: mixture of sulphur sources. | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| −0.07 ± 0.11 ‰ | −0.22 / 0.07 ‰ | 6 | massive pyrrhotite-pentlandite ore (drill core 35-1-20) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 6 analyses, narrow range: magmatic iron, sulphide-silicate fractionation below 0.2 ‰. | Hofmann et al. (2014), Comparing orthomagmatic and hydrothermal mineralization models for… |
| −0.28 ‰ | 1 | net-textured ore in serpentinite (TM34.2) Single analysis. | Hofmann et al. (2014), Comparing orthomagmatic and hydrothermal mineralization models for… | |
| −0.18 ‰ | 1 | disseminated ore in serpentinite, pyrrhotite (TM37.9) Single analysis. | Hofmann et al. (2014), Comparing orthomagmatic and hydrothermal mineralization models for… | |
| −1.43 ± 0.08 ‰ | −1.52 / −1.36 ‰ | 3 | pyrrhotite in silicified metagreywacke and metashale (layer, nodule, veinlets) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 3 analyses, light iron typical of Neoarchaean sedimentary sulphides. | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| −0.4 ± 0.02 ‰ | −0.43 / −0.38 ‰ | 4 | massive pyrrhotite-pentlandite ore (drill core 35-1-20) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 4 analyses, light nickel: high-temperature fractionation between sulphide and ultramafic magma. | Hofmann et al. (2014), Comparing orthomagmatic and hydrothermal mineralization models for… |
| −0.28 ‰ | 1 | net-textured ore in serpentinite (TM34.2) Single analysis. | Hofmann et al. (2014), Comparing orthomagmatic and hydrothermal mineralization models for… |
Deposits of the same type
- Mutoko (pegmatites) Zimbabwe
- Great Dyke (Main Sulfide Zone) Zimbabwe
- Bikita Zimbabwe
- Shangani Zimbabwe
- Kamativi Zimbabwe
- Bushveld, Platreef South Africa
- Zaaiplaats South Africa
- Bushveld, UG2 chromitite South Africa
Cite this page
IsoFind Atlas (2026). Trojan, isotope signatures. https://www.isofind.tech/isotopes/en/deposits/trojan/ (accessed 2026-10-14).
@misc{isofind2026trojanisotopesignatures,
title = {Trojan, isotope signatures},
author = {{IsoFind Atlas}},
year = {2026},
url = {https://www.isofind.tech/isotopes/en/deposits/trojan/},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14}
}Updated : 2026-10-14