Distribution and texture of PGE-bearing phases in mantle peridotites

Abstract

Platinum-group elements are useful for better understanding of deep Earth processes including silicate and metal phases. However, the behavior of platinum-group elements in the mantle has not been well understood, because the distribution and origin of the host phases for platinum-group elements are not known. We discovered tiny platinum-group minerals from mantle peridotites with synchrotron radiation micro-XRF, and found that sulfur-bearing fluids play significant roles in formation of platinum-group minerals.