9315986 Hart This project is to carry out osmium isotope studies of laurites from a number of well-characterized chromitites in an attempt to constrain the arguments regarding the source and accumulation processes of PGMs in the Bushveld Complex. The PI will look for systematic changes in 187/186 Os with stratigraphic level of the chromitites, he will evaluate along-strike changes in both the Merensky and UG-2 chromitites, and will investigate the variations in 187/186 Os in both the UG-2 and LG-6 chromitites in relation to defined hydrothermal alteration features. Currently more than 60 samples are in hand, with identified and marked laurites; these are derived from the active, on-going research projects of several South African collaborators.
