AN EVALUATION OF PROPOSED PLATINUM-GROUP ELEMENT CONTENTS IN THE PARENTAL MAGMAS OF THE BUSHVELD COMPLEX

Samples collected by the authors and representing three proposed paren tal magmas of the Bushveld complex were analyzed for their platinum gr oup element (PGE) contents by three different laboratories. Results di ffer strongly between laboratories, but imply that the parental magmas may have had flatter chondrite normalized patterns and an overall low er content than previously reported. It seems, however, that the Bushv eld magmas were enriched in PGE's relative to average mafic rocks. A c lear difference between the three magma types could not be substantiat ed. At present the PGE content of proposed parental melts of the Bushv eld complex must be considered to be insufficiently known to warrant a ny quantitative models.