The Jurema Mafic-Ultramafic Complex: discovery of a Fe-Ti ± V ± Co mineralized body at Betânia, State of Pernambuco, Brazil, Transversal Zone, Borborema Province

Abstract

The Transversal Zone of the Borborema Province (BP) stands out for the occurrence of mineralized mafic-ultramafic complexes and the so called Floresta Titaniferous District. This short paper deals with the discovery of a mafic-ultramafic complex, the Jurema Complex (CMUJ), and presents preliminary geological, geophysical and geochemical results. The discovery, located in Betânia, State of Pernambuco, is a consequence of integration of several remote sensor data conducted in the westernmost portion of the Alto Moxotó Terrane of the BP. The Jurema Mafic-Ultramafic Complex crops out as a 2.5 x 0.6 km ellipsoidal, zoned/stratiform mafic-ultramafic intrusion with possible concealed lateral extension of at least 6 km to ESE, according to geophysical modelling. From core to rim, the intrusion shows igneous zoning of metaperidotite, cumulatic metapyroxenite, garnet-metagabbro and metahornblendite. Massive Fe-Ti oxide occurrences were found dispersed all over the complex. Fe-Ti oxide mineralization is composed of polygonal massive clusters of martitized magnetite and ilmenite occurring in similar modal proportions. First analyses performed using portable X-ray fluorescence yielded Fe (52.89-52.02%), Ti (10.65-9.80%), V (0.36-0.33%) and Co (0.38-0.29%) contents. The discovery and the preliminary characterization of the CMUJ expand the prospective area of the Floresta Titaniferous District into a kilometric-scale linear belt.