TY - JOUR

T1 - First Evidence of the Volkovsky-type Cu–Pd Mineralization in Gabbro of Knyas’pa Massif (Northern Urals)

AU - Chayka, I. F.

AU - Stepanov, S. Yu.

AU - Izokh, A. E.

AU - Palamarchuk, R. S.

AU - Kozin, A. K.

AU - Nikolaeva, I. Yu.

N1 - Chayka, I.F., Stepanov, S.Y., Izokh, A.E. et al. First Evidence of the Volkovsky-type Cu–Pd Mineralization in Gabbro of Knyas’pa Massif (Northern Urals). Dokl. Earth Sc. 530, 38 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1028334X26601355 The study has been supported by the Russian Scientific Foundation (grant 24-77-00099).

PY - 2026/10/30

Y1 - 2026/10/30

N2 - Bornite–chalcopyrite magmatic sulfide ores with elevated Pd and Pt contents are of interest both as industrial sources of copper and precious metals and as natural laboratories for studying the behavior of chalcophile elements in oxidized magmatic systems that have undergone late-stage silicate–sulfide liquid immiscibility. One of the most renowned deposits of this type is the Volkovsky Cu–Pd–Ti–V–Fe–P deposit in the Middle Urals, which is hosted by the gabbro of the eponymous massif. Several smaller-scale occurrences, classified as the “Volkovsky-type,” have also been identified in the gabbroic rocks of other massifs within the Ural Platinum Belt. We have first discovered bornite–chalcopyrite mineralization in the amphibole gabbro and gabbronorites of the Tagil-Kytlym complex within the Knyas’pa Massif (Northern Urals). The characteristics of this mineralization, including its noble-metal assemblage, which comprises Pd tellurides, Pt chalcogenides, and Au–Ag intermetallic compounds, are largely identical to the Cu–Pd mineralization previously described in other Northern Uralian massifs. Although absence of apatite in the mineralized gabbroiс rocks of the Knyas’pa Massif, and association of Cu-sulfides with low‑Ti magnetite distinguishes this mineralization from the ores of the Volkovsky deposit, a segregation of massive titanomagnetite with accessory apatite does occur in one mineralized hand specimen. Concentrations of Cu and Pd in the studied samples are higher than those in analogous ores from other Northern Uralian massifs and are close to the grades of the Volkovsky deposit. In addition, dolerites crosscutting the gabbros contain hydrothermal chalcopyrite veinlets that host Pd and Pt minerals, including a mixed Pt–Pd oxide—a unique mineralogical finding. These veinlets are considered analogues of the sulfide veinlet mineralization documented in the endo- and exocontact zones of the ore-bearing gabbro at the Volkovsky massif. The obtained data suggests that gabbroic rocks of the Knyas’pa massif may host economically significant Volkovsky-type Cu–Pd mineralization.

AB - Bornite–chalcopyrite magmatic sulfide ores with elevated Pd and Pt contents are of interest both as industrial sources of copper and precious metals and as natural laboratories for studying the behavior of chalcophile elements in oxidized magmatic systems that have undergone late-stage silicate–sulfide liquid immiscibility. One of the most renowned deposits of this type is the Volkovsky Cu–Pd–Ti–V–Fe–P deposit in the Middle Urals, which is hosted by the gabbro of the eponymous massif. Several smaller-scale occurrences, classified as the “Volkovsky-type,” have also been identified in the gabbroic rocks of other massifs within the Ural Platinum Belt. We have first discovered bornite–chalcopyrite mineralization in the amphibole gabbro and gabbronorites of the Tagil-Kytlym complex within the Knyas’pa Massif (Northern Urals). The characteristics of this mineralization, including its noble-metal assemblage, which comprises Pd tellurides, Pt chalcogenides, and Au–Ag intermetallic compounds, are largely identical to the Cu–Pd mineralization previously described in other Northern Uralian massifs. Although absence of apatite in the mineralized gabbroiс rocks of the Knyas’pa Massif, and association of Cu-sulfides with low‑Ti magnetite distinguishes this mineralization from the ores of the Volkovsky deposit, a segregation of massive titanomagnetite with accessory apatite does occur in one mineralized hand specimen. Concentrations of Cu and Pd in the studied samples are higher than those in analogous ores from other Northern Uralian massifs and are close to the grades of the Volkovsky deposit. In addition, dolerites crosscutting the gabbros contain hydrothermal chalcopyrite veinlets that host Pd and Pt minerals, including a mixed Pt–Pd oxide—a unique mineralogical finding. These veinlets are considered analogues of the sulfide veinlet mineralization documented in the endo- and exocontact zones of the ore-bearing gabbro at the Volkovsky massif. The obtained data suggests that gabbroic rocks of the Knyas’pa massif may host economically significant Volkovsky-type Cu–Pd mineralization.

KW - Knyas’pa massif

KW - Ural

KW - Ural Platinum Belt

KW - Volkovsky-type deposits

KW - gabbro

KW - high-Cu magmatic ores

KW - magmatic sulfides

KW - Урал

KW - Уральский платиноносный пояс

KW - Княсьпинский массив

KW - габбро

KW - магматические сульфиды

KW - магматические руды с высоким содержанием меди

KW - месторождения Волковского типа

UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/adecb7f2-e6ff-398a-aa3d-20471496896a/

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105055258196

U2 - 10.1134/S1028334X26601355

DO - 10.1134/S1028334X26601355

M3 - Article

VL - 530

JO - Doklady Earth Sciences

JF - Doklady Earth Sciences

SN - 1028-334X

IS - 2

M1 - 38

ER -