Ultramafic rocks and their

geological environment

Geology of Sulawesi
Ade Kadarusman PhD

Senior Geologist Specialist

Exploration and Mine Development Department

PT INCO Tbk, Sorowako, South Sulawesi
 COMPOSITION OF
THE UPPER MANTLE
• The upper mantle is a
peridotitic metamorphic
complex dominated by
olivine with increasingly
lesser amount of
orthopyroxene,
clinopyroxene and an
aluminous phase
(plagioclase, spinel or
garnet depending on
pressure). Eclogite and
pyroxenite are omni
present.
 Ultramafic Rock the presence of essentially mafic
minerals without considering the silica content

Ultramafic rocks
classification
Rock classification for peridotites and pyroxenites
Classification according to Aluminuous phase content :
-plagioclase peridotite, spinel peridotite or garnet peridotite
Three principle sources of upper mantle
rock exposed in the Earth’s surface
• Orogenic peridotite massifs
packages of ultramafic rocks (m to km in scale) that were tectonically
emplaced onto continental crust or island arc during continental collision
- Layered intrusion (Mostly Pre-Cambrian Environment)
- Alpine type of Peridotites

• Oceanic peridotite
uplifted onto continental margin or island arc in ophiolite sequences

• Peridotitic xenoliths
cm to m scale samples carried in rapidly erupted host volcanics such as
alkali basalts and kimberlites
 The upper mantle beneath pre-Cambrian craton
peridotite as mantle xenoliths
• Peridotitic rocks were sampled by kimberlite-like rock from depth of 40 km minimum
as mantle xenoliths

Menzies &
Chazot, 1995
The upper mantle rock in continental collisions
-Orogenic Peridotite-
Deep subducted crustal rocks (to depth of at least 40 km) in continental
collision zone can uplift peridotitic rocks to the surface
The Origin of Ophiolites
MOR OP
SSZ SSZ
Origin of Ophiolites (oceanic crust on the land):
• Mid Oceanic Ridge (MOR)
• Supra Subduction Zone (SSZ)
• Oceanic Plateau / Seamounts (OP)

Worldwide Database showed that SSZ ophiolite is

common for:
-Ultramafic hosted chromite deposit
-Chromite and nickel sulphides hosted PGM
-Volcanic Massive Sulphides Deposit
 primitive mantle =
basalt/gabbro + peridotite
Key for laterites development : ultramafic rock on
the surface and equatorial locations
Ultramafic rocks
of oceanic origin
emplacement
onto continental
margins or
island arcs :
- Obduction
- Accretion

Accretion

Obduction
 Ultramafic rocks
(Upper Mantle Origin)

Expose on the Earth’s Surface

(oceanic or orogenic peridotite)

Equatorial Location Magmatism

Laterite Development Sulphides Mineralization

Nickel Sulphides
Nickel Laterite
 Geology of Sulawesi

See the animation

Eastern Indonesia :The World’s largest of ultramafic rock outcrops,
East Sulawesi Potential :the Batui
Thrust Development
Lakes area and Matano fault
Coastal Area and Mekongga Block
 Conclusions
• Unique geology and tectonic of Eastern
Indonesia exposed large distribution of
ultramafic rocks on the land
• Exposing ultramafic rocks in the surface,
means potential economic values not only
for Nickel laterite, but also for Nickel
sulphides, diamond, rare metal/PGE
SSZ
Supra Subduction