Pentlandite is an iron-nickel sulfide and one of the principal ore minerals of nickel in magmatic sulfide deposits. Its composition varies within the iron-nickel sulfide system and is commonly represented as (Fe,Ni)9S8. Pentlandite frequently occurs with pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite in magmatic Ni-Cu and Ni-Cu-PGE deposits, where mineral liberation and separation are important considerations in concentrating and recovering nickel.
These elements are often found is this element in the following Deposit Types:
Deposit Type: Magmatic Ni-Cu Sulfide - Nickel-copper sulfide deposits formed by segregation and concentration of sulfide liquids in mafic-ultramafic magmas.
Cobalt commonly occurs as a minor substituting element in pentlandite and is typically recovered as a byproduct from magmatic Ni-Cu sulfide ores.
Deposit Type: Magmatic Ni-Cu Sulfide - Nickel-copper sulfide deposits formed by segregation and concentration of sulfide liquids in mafic-ultramafic magmas.
Pentlandite is the principal nickel-bearing sulfide mineral in many magmatic Ni-Cu sulfide deposits.
Deposit Type: Magmatic Ni-Cu-PGE Sulfide - Magmatic sulfide deposits enriched in nickel, copper, and platinum-group elements (PGE) within mafic-ultramafic systems.
Pentlandite is part of the principal sulfide assemblage concentrated during processing; palladium may occur within major sulfides and/or in discrete PGE minerals.
Deposit Type: Magmatic Ni-Cu-PGE Sulfide - Magmatic sulfide deposits enriched in nickel, copper, and platinum-group elements (PGE) within mafic-ultramafic systems.
Pentlandite is part of the sulfide assemblage recovered to concentrate; platinum is commonly also present in discrete PGE minerals rather than being a major structural component of pentlandite.