Factor analysis of the sulphide phase in mafic-ultramafic rocks in Finland

Abstract

R-mode factor analysis is applied to the analytical data of the sulphide phase from 7 751 mafic-ultramafic rock samples from Finland. Four factors, i.e. S-Cu, Ni, Zn-Co and Cu factors are established, to which 95 % of the total variance observed in Ni, Co, Cu, Zn, S, Ni/S, Co/S, Cu/S, Zn/S and Ni/Co can be attributed. The distributions of the factor scores on the surface of two basic intrusives are presented. The normalised distributions of positive S-Cu and Ni factor scores in Finland are given and discussed with the emphasis on explorational applications.