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Atmospheric mineral dust is a poorly constrained yet extremely important component of the climate system. Provenance studies from geologic dust archives are crucial to understand the drivers of the dust cycle over long time scales. Our multi-technique provenance analysis of a rare Paleogene (35–27 Ma) eolian dust sequence from Ulantatal, ∼400 km northwest of the Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP), shows that Paleogene dust transporting winds generally varied between northwesterly and westerly, the same as those in the late Neogene-Quaternary bipolar icehouse. We propose that, as today, westerly wind circulation patterns would have been modulated by an Arctic Oscillation (AO)-like situation, and that the warm Eocene favored a long-term negative phase of AO, leading to meridional westerly circulation and the dominance of a northwesterly dust transport pathway. After the Eocene-Oligocene transition (EOT), long-term positive phase of AO-like conditions initiated, leading to stronger and more zonal westerlies. The Siberian High (SH) also formed or strengthened at the EOT and started to control dust storm activity along the northwesterly transport pathway. We argue that increased Paleogene Northern Hemisphere (NH) ice volume was the ultimate driver of this modern-type dust transport regime in the Ulantatal region, possibly also controlling initial Ulantatal dust sequence formation via the development of the SH and modern-type eolian regime. The similarity between the Ulantatal and late Neogene northern CLP dust provenance signals suggests that the increased NH ice volume, via its control on the northwesterly dust transport, could have promoted increased loess formation also in the late Miocene.

Snow as an environmental memory is mostly known only in relation to substances from the air, such as dust or pollen in the ice sheets or glaciers. But earlier studies, among them from Russia and Canada, suggest that snow could also act as an environmental memory for gases from the ground (Taivalkoski et al. 2019). Hence, could snow even possibly be used as catchment media for signals from bedrock? This would require that elements as well as hydrocarbons are released from the bedrock, and migrated through the overlying transported cover, often glacial sediments, as ions or gases and are eventually captured by the snow. Of course, the expected element concentrations in snow are very low, especially for snow that exists for only one winter season. But snow as a sampling material would have the great advantage that the sampling and analytical methods have almost no impact on the environment. In order to investigate whether snow could be used as an environmental memory in relation to the geological subsurface, and thus also for the detection of mineralization, snow was sampled within the framework of the EU project NEXT (New Exploration Technologies, Grant Agreement...) with regard to two questions: 1) Are the measured concentrations evaluable with regard to environmental properties, i.e., can they be measured reliably enough at all? and 2) does the element composition in the snow change significantly with changes in the bedrock lithologies, independent of soil properties?

The idea of using snow in mineral exploration is due to the needs of environmentally friendly sampling methods for the ecologically sensitive northern areas. Not only the environmental issues, but the low costs of sampling and relieving permission issues encourage researchers to find new methods for mineral exploration. Surface geochemical methods, including sampling plants, topsoil horizons and snow can be considered in the areas where machinery is not allowed. Moreover, surface geochemical methods can provide the information of metal ions derived from the deep-seated mineralization below. The advantages of snow sampling are low volume of sample material, (comparably) light sample material and sampling equipment and therefore the option for low impact sampling campaign by skies or snowshoes. In the New Exploration Technologies (NEXT) project*, 165 snow samples together with 13 field duplicate snow samples for quality control, were collected in March-April winter 2019. The aim was to estimate with statistical methods the usage of snow as a sampling material for mineral exploration. The samples were collected on the Rajapalot Au-Co prospect in northern Finland, 60 km west from Rovaniemi, operated by Mawson Oy. Stratified random sampling method was used to calculate sampling locations with balanced number of points per soil type and geophysical parameter, but randomly distributedwithin the strata over the test area. The samples were analysed in the Research Laboratory of the Geological Survey of Finland using a Nu AttoM single collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SC-ICPMS) and returned analytical results for 52 elements at ppt level. Of the analysed elements Ba, Ca, Li, Mg, Mo, Rb, Sr and V passed the strict quality control and were used for the final data analysis. Prior to statistical methods, the geochemical data was transformed to log-ratio scores in order to ensure that results are independent of the selection of elements and to avoid spurious

The Raja Au-Co mineralization in the Paleoproterozoic Peräpohja belt in northern Finland is part of the wider Rompas-Rajapalot mineralized area with several known Au-Co occurrences. The area is characterized by distinct tourmaline occurrences, spatially associated with Au-Co mineralization. Four texturally distinct tourmaline types were identified although all analysed tourmalines belong to the alkali-group and are classified as dravite. δ ¹¹B values and fractionation modelling indicates that at least two distinct fluids were responsible for the tourmaline formation with initial end member δ¹¹B values of the fluids at −8‰ and −1‰. Possible sources for boron rich fluids are Svecofennian orogeny related (ca. < 1.9 Ga) metamorphic fluids and magmatic-hydrothermal fluids related to the late-orogenic ca. 1.78 Ga granitoids. Structural data from the quartz-tourmaline veins outlines a strong linear trend towards the Raja high-grade mineralization trend. This is interpreted as evidence for structural control of the Raja mineralization, which possibly is contained in shear-zones or within the hinge regions of local high degree folding. A distinctive rock unit with bright purple anhydrite layers and white gypsum veins has been intersected by drilling. While the sulfate-rich unit is unmineralized, the mineralogy and regional geological setting suggests an evaporitic origin. Anhydrite has δ³⁴S values in a narrow range from 8.1 to 9.8 ‰. Gypsum has slightly heavier δ³⁴S from 10.6 to 12.2 ‰. Together with isotope fractionation constraints, textural evidence suggests the authigenic formation of gypsum with SO₄²⁻ sourced from anhydrite. Significant similarities in textures and sulfur isotope values to well-known evaporite successions of the Onega basin, western Russia, further supports the presence of evaporitic strata within the Peräpohja belt.

Modern mineral exploration techniques for Europe are required to be sustainable, environmental friendly and social acceptable. Especially for the geochemical exploration of the ecologically sensitive areas of northern Europe this poses a challenge, because any heavy machinery or invasive methods might cause long-lasting damage to the natural systems. One way of reducing the impact of mineral exploration on the environment during early stages of the exploration is to use surface media, such as upper soil horizons, water, plants and snow. Of these options, snow has several advantages: Sampling and analysing snow is fast and low in costs, it has no impact on the environment, and it is (in winter time) ubiquitous, i.e. available independent of land cover and environment. In the “New Exploration Technologies (NEXT)” project, funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, 171 snow samples and 13 field duplicate snow samples for quality control, were collected in March-April 2019 to strengthen the idea of using snow as a sampling material for mineral exploration. The Rajapalot Au-Co prospect in northern Finland, 60 km west from Rovaniemi and operated by Mawson Oy, was selected as a test site. Stratified random sampling was used to create the uneven sampling net over the test area. The samples were analysed at GTK using a Nu AttoM single collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SC-ICPMS) which returned analytical results for 52 elements at the ppt level. Due to strict quality control, only Ba, Ca, Cr, Cs, Ga, Li, Mg, Rb, Sb, Sr, Tk, V and Zn passed and were used in the final data analysis. The preliminary results based on PCA show a strong dependency of snow composition on the soil type. That is, there is a difference if the snow sample was taken above mineral soil or organic soil. Thus, the soil type should be included in the models or the data analysis should be looked separately for different soil types. The linear model pre

The Otanmäki area in central Finland hosts two occurrences of Nb-Zr-REE mineralization, Katajakangas and Kontioaho, within a suite of ca. 2.04–2.06 Ga (A1-type) gneissic granites, syenite and monzonite-monzodiorite. They exhibit trace element characteristics and whole-rock εNd(2050 Ma) values (from +2.6 to -1.3) consistent with derivation by differentiation of mantle-derived mafic magmas with variable interaction with crustal material. The mineralization is localized in 0.1- to 1.4-m-thick dikes (Kataja-kangas) and a 30- to 50-m-thick sheet-like body (Kontioaho), containing allanite-(Ce), zircon, titanite, and Nb-REE-Th-U oxides. Their wall rocks are composed of ca. 2.06 Ga peraluminous monzogranite, which is genetically unrelated to the mineralized rock units, as evidenced by whole-rock chemical and Sm-Nd isotope data and zircon U-Pb geochronology. Instead, the mineralization is linked to the nearby peralkaline to metaluminous alkali feldspar granite magmatism dated at ca. 2.04–2.05 Ga. The development of REE-HFSE enrichment in the mineralized rock units required extensive crystallization of a peralkaline granite magma, producing residual metaluminous, high-silica melts enriched in REE-HFSE, Ca, and Fe relative to Na, K, and Al. The REE-HFSEand Ca enrichment was further promoted by volatile complexing with dissolved F-, CO₃²⁻ and SO₄²⁻. These highly evolved melts were parental to the mineralized dikes and the sheet-like intrusive body, which were emplaced into the monzogranite capping the intrusions of peralkaline granite.

Major and trace element compositions of iron oxides from Ni-Cu-PGE sulphide deposits hosted by mafic-ultramafic rocks in northern Fennoscandia (mainly Finland) have been analysed. Samples used were from the Ruossakero Ni-(Cu) deposit; Tulppio dunite and related Ni-PGE mineralisation; Hietaharju, Vaara, and Tainiovaara Ni-(Cu-PGE) deposits; and the Lomalampi PGE-(Ni-Cu) deposit. Reference samples from Ni-Cu-PGE sulphide deposits in Russia, China, and Finland, and a barren komatiite sequence fomr Finland were also studied. Magnetite and Cr-magnetite showed a wide range of trace element compositions as a result of the variation of silicate and sulphide melt compositions and their post-magmatic modification history. The Ni content in oxide showed a positive correlation with the Ni tenor of the sulphide phase in equilibrium with magnetite, regardless of whether the sulphide assemblage was magmatic or post-magmatic in origin. The massive sulphide samples contained an oxide phase varying in composition from Cr-magnetite to magnetite, indicating that Cr-magnetite can crystallise directly from sulphide liquid. The Mg concentration of magnetites in massive sulphide samples was lowest among the samples analysed, which can be regarded as a diagnostic feature of an oxide phase crystallised together with primitive Fe-rich monosulphide solid solution. The results show that magnetite geochemistry together with petrographical observations could be used as an indicator of potential Ni-(Cu-PGE) mineralisation., Major and trace element compositions of iron oxides from Ni-Cu-PGE sulphide deposits hosted by mafic-ultramafic rocks in northern Fennoscandia (mainly Finland) have been analysed. Samples used were from the Ruossakero Ni-(Cu) deposit; Tulppio dunite and related Ni-PGE mineralisation; Hietaharju, Vaara, and Tainiovaara Ni-(Cu-PGE) deposits; and the Lomalampi PGE-(Ni-Cu) deposit. Reference samples from Ni-Cu-PGE sulphide deposits in Russia, China, and Finland, and a barren komatiite sequence fomr Finland were also studied. Magnetite and Cr-magnetite showed a wide range of trace element compositions as a result of the variation of silicate and sulphide melt compositions and their post-magmatic modification history. The Ni content in oxide showed a positive correlation with the Ni tenor of the sulphide phase in equilibrium with magnetite, regardless of whether the sulphide assemblage was magmatic or post-magmatic in origin. The massive sulphide samples contained an oxide phase varying in composition from Cr-magnetite to magnetite, indicating that Cr-magnetite can crystallise directly from sulphide liquid. The Mg concentration of magnetites in massive sulphide samples was lowest among the samples analysed, which can be regarded as a diagnostic feature of an oxide phase crystallised together with primitive Fe-rich monosulphide solid solution. The results show that magnetite geochemistry together with petrographical observations could be used as an indicator of potential Ni-(Cu-PGE) mineralisation.

Using electron probe microanalyzer (EPMA) and laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), we analyzed major and trace element compositions of iron oxides from Ni-Cu-PGE sulfide deposits hosted by mafic-ultramafic rocks in northern Fennoscandia, mostly focusing on Finland. The main research targets were the Archean Ruossakero Ni-(Cu) deposit; Tulppio dunite and related Ni-PGE mineralization; Hietaharju, Vaara, and Tainiovaara Ni-(Cu-PGE) deposits; and Paleoproterozoic Lomalampi PGE-(Ni-Cu) deposit. In addition, some reference samples from the Pechenga (Russia), Jinchuan (China), and Kevitsa (Finland) Ni-Cu-PGE sulfide deposits, and a barren komatiite sequence in the Kovero area (Finland) were studied. Magnetite and Cr-magnetite show a wide range of trace element compositions as a result of the variation of silicate and sulfide melt compositions and their post-magmatic modification history. Most importantly, the Ni content in oxide shows a positive correlation with the Ni tenor of the sulfide phase in equilibrium with magnetite, regardless of whether the sulfide assemblage is magmatic or post-magmatic in origin. The massive sulfide samples contain an oxide phase varying in composition from Cr-magnetite to magnetite, indicating that Cr-magnetite can crystallize directly from sulfide liquid. The Mg concentration of magnetites in massive sulfide samples is lowest among the samples analyzed, and this can be regarded as a diagnostic feature of an oxide phase crystallized together with primitive Fe-rich MSS (monosulfide solid solution). Our results show that magnetite geochemistry, plotted in appropriate discrimination diagrams, together with petrographical observations could be used as an indicator of potential Ni-(Cu-PGE) mineralization.

The thick loess-palaeosol sequences in the Mangshan Loess Plateau (MLP; central China) along the south bank of the lower reach of the Yellow River provide high-resolution records of Quaternary climate change. In addition, substantial increases in grain-size and accumulation rate have been inferred in the upper part of the loess sequence, above palaeosol layer S2. This study investigates the sources of the long-term dust supply to the MLP and explores the mechanism behind the sudden increase in sediment delivery and coarsening of the loess deposits since S2 (∼240 ka) by using end member modelling of the loess grain-size dataset and single-grain zircon U-Pb dating. Our results indicate that the lower Yellow River floodplain, directly north of the MLP, served as a major dust supply for the plateau at least since the deposition of loess unit L9 and indirectly suggest that the integration of the Yellow River and the disappearance of the Sanmen palaeolake took place before L9 (∼900 ka). The sudden change in sedimentology of the Mangshan sequence above palaeosol unit S2 may result from an increased fluvial sediment flux being transported to the lower reaches of the Yellow River because of tectonic movements (initiated) in the Weihe Basin around 240 ka. Furthermore, sediment coarsening can be explained by the gradual southward migration of the lower Yellow River floodplain towards the MLP since the deposition of palaeosol S2. The migration is evidenced by the formation of an impressive scarp, and is likely caused by tectonic tilting of the floodplain area.

The Daqiao gold deposit is hosted in organic-rich Triassic pumpellyite-actinolite facies metamorphosed turbidites in the West Qinling orogen, central China. Gold mineralization is characterized by high-grade hydraulic breccias (B and C ores) that overprint an earlier tectonic breccia (A ore). A complex paragenesis is defined by four sulfide stages: S1 diagenetic preore pyrite (py), S2 hydrothermal early ore disseminated pyrite and marcasite (mc), S3 main ore pyrite and marcasite aggregates, and S4 late ore coarse-grained marcasite with minor pyrite and stibnite. However, multiple generations of pyrite and marcasite may develop within one individual stage. Ore-related hydrothermal alteration is dominated by intensive silicification, sulfidation, sericitization, and generally distal minor carbonatization. Laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) trace element analyses show that the stage S1 py1 from the shale interlayers within turbidites contains low gold contents (mean of 0.05 ppm) and other trace elements (Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Mo, Bi, and Pb), indicating an anoxic to euxinic sedimentary environment. Stage S2 contributed only minimally to the gold endowment with relatively low gold in various sulfides including py2 (mean of 0.09 ppm), py3 (0.84 ppm) to py4 (0.70 ppm), along with mc1 (0.02 ppm) and mc2 (0.14 ppm). Most of the gold was deposited in stage S3, which formed rapidly crystallized, irregular (e.g., framboids, colloform and cyclic zonation) cement-hosted py5a (mean of 27.35 ppm), py5b (9.71 ppm), and mc3 (5.94 ppm) during repeated hydraulic fracturing. Other trace elements (e.g., Ag, As, Sb, Hg, Tl, and W) are also significantly enriched in the main ore-stage pyrite and marcasite. Little or no gold is detected in the S4 py6 and mc4. Sulfur isotopes determined from in situ LA-multicollector (MC)-ICP-MS analyses of hydrothermal pyrite and marcasite from the Daqiao deposit vary significantly from –31.3 to 22.0 (d34S values) but fall mo

The Albany Fraser Orogen is located along the southern and southeastern margins of the Archean Yilgarn Craton. The orogen formed during reworking of the Yilgarn Craton, along with variable additions of juvenile mantle material, from at least 1810 Ma to 1140 Ma. The Fraser Zone is a 425 km long and 50 km wide geophysically distinct belt near the northwestern edge of the orogen, hosting abundant sills of predominantly metagabbroic non-cumulate rocks, but including larger cumulate bodies, all emplaced at c. 1300 Ma. The gabbroic rocks are interpreted to have crystallised from a basaltic magma that had ∼8.8% MgO, 185 ppm Ni, 51 ppm Cu, and extremely low contents of platinum-group elements (PGE, <1 ppb). Levels of high field-strength elements (HFSE) in the least enriched rocks indicate that the magma was derived from a mantle source more depleted than a MORB source. Isotope and trace element systematics suggest that the magma was contaminated (εNd 0 to −2 throughout, La/Nb around 3) with small (<10%) amounts of crust before and during ascent and emplacement. Larger bodies of cumulate rocks show evidence for additional contamination, at the emplacement level, with country-rock metasedimentary rocks or their anatectic melts. The area has been the focus of considerable exploration for Ni–Cu sulphides following the discovery of the Nova deposit in 2012 in an intrusion consisting of olivine gabbronoritic, noritic and peridotitic cumulates, interlayered with metasedimentary rocks belonging to the Snowys Dam Formation of the Arid Basin. Disseminated sulphides from a drillcore intersecting the structurally upper portion of the intrusion, above the main ore zone, have tenors of ∼3–6.3% Ni, 1.8–6% Cu and mostly <500 ppb PGE, suggesting derivation from magma with the same composition as the regional Fraser Zone metagabbroic sills, at R factors of ∼1500. However, the Nova rocks tend to have higher εSr (38–52) and more variable δ34S (−2 to +4) than the regional metagabbros (εSr 17–32

The Monts de Cristal Complex of Gabon consists of several igneous bodies interpreted to be remnants of a tectonically dismembered, >100 km long and 1–3 km wide, ultramafic–mafic intrusion emplaced at 2765–2775 Ma. It is the most significant mafic–ultramafic layered complex yet identified on the Congo Craton. The complex consists largely of orthopyroxenite cumulates, with less abundant olivine-orthopyroxenite and norite, and rare harzburgite and dunite. Mineral compositions (Fo ol 84, Mg# Opx 85, An plag 60–68, Cr/Fe chromite 1–1·45) and whole-rock data suggest that the parent magma was a low-Ti basalt containing approximately 10% MgO and 0·5% TiO2. Trace element and Rb–Sr and Sm–Nd isotope data indicate the presence of an enriched component, possibly derived from crustal contamination of a magma generated in the sub-lithospheric mantle. Most rocks show a highly unusual pattern of strong Pt enrichment (10–150 ppb) at low concentrations of Pd (1–15 ppb), Au (1–2 ppb), Cu (1–20 ppm), and S (<500 ppm), suggesting that unlike in most other PGE-rich intrusions globally, platinum in the Monts de Cristal Complex is not hosted in magmatic sulfides. Synchrotron X-ray fluorescence mapping has revealed the location of buried small Pt particles, most of which are associated with As. We propose that this constitutes some of the strongest evidence yet in support of magmatic crystallization of a Pt–As phase from S-undersaturated magma.