The discovery of chromite in the Kangqiong area, middle-western segment of the Bangong Co-Nujiang River suture zone

There occurs a complete assemblage of ophiolites in the Kangqiong area along middle-western Bangong Co-Nujiang River suture zone. It is about 40 kilometers from Dongco ophiolite, and associated with ultramafic rocks along Bawuco, Misu, Ziruco and Sangri areas in the east. All of these areas constitute a part of middle-western Bangong Co-Nujiang River mafic-ultramafic rock zone extending for about 300 kilometers. Chromite orebodies produced at the edge of metamorphic peridotite rock were found in 2012, and it is the first time to confirm that there occurs chromite in this huge mafic-ultramafic rock zone. The chromite has good outcrops and belongs to two orebodies, and there probably exists much chromite at the depth of the outcrops. The orebodies are dominated by metallurgical-grade chromium ore, the Cr2O3 content of ore samples is up to 59.11%, and the ore-bearing bodies consist mainly of FAI peridotite, together with a small amount of dunite. Preliminary studies suggest that the Kangqiong chromite is podiform chromite. The results achieved by the authors have an indicative significance for regional chromite exploration.