Platinum-group minerals in the Raglan Ni-Cu-(PGE) sulfide deposit, Cape Smith, Quebec, Canada

Sperrylite, sudburyite and merenskyite are the most common PGM in the Katiniq and Zone 2 orebodies of the Raglan block, their primary concentration being derived entirely from the magma. Textural features of the PGM and base-metal sulphides indicate that a large number of PGM have been modified by low-temperature alteration. The presence of PGM in carbonate veins and shear zones suggests the remobilization of Pd. Heavily faulted areas such as in Zone 2 are likely to contain more Pd antimonides and tellurides locked in carbonate or silicate gangue, resulting in perhaps 20 % (by area) of the PGM being unrecoverable because of their complete enclosure in gangue minerals. Only 17.5 % (by area) of the PGM in this study are certain to be recovered during froth flotation, owing to enclosure in chalcopyrite or pentlandite.