Paul Ramdohr on inclusions in Pt nuggets

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jacques jedwab - 10 May 2004 14:11 GMT

The ore microscopist P. Ramdohr peppered his textbooks with remarks which
are frequently worth reproducing. Concerning the mineralogical vagaries of
PGM inclusions in Pt nuggets, he wrote: 'Practically every nugget of
different origin exhibits new, unexplained phenomena'. (The ore minerals
and their intergrowths. Engl. Transl., 2d ed. vol.1, p. 347, Pergamon
Press,1980).

Times have changed since then: nobody is anymore daring to write in a
scientific book that (s)he has observed a feature which is unexplained!...

J.J.

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Clyde Spencer - 10 May 2004 16:13 GMT

JJ,
Thanks for sharing the observation. I still find it fascinating that
ultramafic rocks are pretty predictable in their major composition, with
only a few minerals, as in Bowen's Reaction Series, making up their bulk
composition. Yet, PGMs are highly variable in their composition and size
even when coming from the same rock type. The regional variability is what
is particularly fascinating in what it suggests about mantle variability.
Nobody admits to not having an explanation for features because we know
everything now! :-)
Clyde

> The ore microscopist P. Ramdohr peppered his textbooks with remarks which
> are frequently worth reproducing. Concerning the mineralogical vagaries of
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> J.J.

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Natural Science Forum / Earth Science / Mineralogy / May 2004

Paul Ramdohr on inclusions in Pt nuggets