Crystallographic controlled exsolution and metal partitioning in magmatic sulfide deposits

Magmatic sulfide liquids are effective at concentrating a range of metals. Within magmatic sulfide systems pentlandite, an exsolution product of monosulfide solid solution (MSS), is the primary host of Ni, Co and significant concentrations of Pd. Over the last decade, LA-ICP-MS mapping has revealed non-uniform metal distributions and complexity to the metal patterns such as zonation and the linear alignment of elements. Whereas the compatibility and partitioning behavior of chalcophile elements during sulfide fractionation are well constrained, there is little knowledge on the crystallographic control exerted on metal distributions.