Intrusions of the Kabanga nickel deposits

What is it about?

The nickel sulphide deposits at Kabanga, northwestern Tanzania, are situated within small, elongated mafic intrusions containing mainly olivine and pyroxene cumulate rocks. The olivine, pyroxene, as well as sulphides, formed from relatively magnesium-rich basaltic magma, which had been contaminated with siliceous crustal material at some stage in its ascent from the mantle. It is this contamination that probably led to the high abundance of sulphides at Kabanga.

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Why is it important?

The mapping and drilling of the nickel mineralization led to the realization that it is contained in "chonoliths": small, irregular tube-like or blade-shaped intrusions of olivine-orthopyroxene dominated ultramafic rock. This type of intrusion is favourable for physical and chemical concentration of nickel-copper-platinum bearing sulphides. This is a very important observation with applications to regional exploration of the whole belt.

Perspectives