The Bom Sucesso alluvium, Serro, Minas Gerais, Brazil: detrital vs. in situ formation of Pt-Pd nuggets

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Bernd Lehmann
• Subject Area: Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry
• Term: from 2007 to 2010
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 42820425

The formation of platinum-palladium nuggets is little understood (supergene versus hydrothermal versus magmatic). Córrego Bom Sucesso, situated in the mining district of Serro in Minas Gerais, Brazil, is well known for its historic Pt-Pd nuggets, as well as for alluvial gold and diamond occurrences. There is very little geological information available on this famous area which holds promise to better understand the formation of Pt-Pd nuggets. The source of the platinum-group metals is also unknown, similar to the in situ jacutinga-style gold-palladium mineralisation in Brazil, and will be constrained by osmium isotope data.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: South Africa
• Participating Person: Dr. Alexandre Cabral