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Cr-Ni-Cu+/-PGE deposits are known to occur in early Archaean mafic-ultramafic rocks. Early Archaean mafic-ultramafic rocks occur in the western Dharwar craton and range in size from small pods to schist belts. These mafic-ultramafic pods consist mainly of meta-peridotites, tremolite-actinolite schists, serpentinites, amphibolites and metabasalts. Spinifex, nodular and ocelli textures are also present. The rocks have been subjected to greenschist- and amphibolite-facies metamorphism. Geochemical studies were undertaken to evaluate the possible occurrence of economically important elements in the mafic-ultramafic enclaves around the major Arsikere-Tavarkere lineament and surrounding gneissic terrain adjoining local shear zones that occur as discontinuous pods between Arsikere and Chennagiri. Talc-serpentine and tremolite-actinolite schists contain chromite which is rimmed by ferrite-chromite. A notable feature of these mafic-ultramafic rocks is that they exhibit high MgO (22-40%), total Fe (8.34-10.01%), Ni and Cr (ca. 3 000, 2 800 ppm) contents, with some samples showing komatiitic affinity. The REE data show slightly fractionated patterns with enriched LREE (LREE/HREE ca. 5.0) and negative Eu anomalies. Pt and Pd values reach 6 500 and 191 ppb. The mafic-ultramafic rocks, especially those exhibiting high Cr contents and occurring near shear zones, are potential hosts for economic platinum-group element deposits., Cr-Ni-Cu+/-PGE deposits are known to occur in early Archaean mafic-ultramafic rocks. Early Archaean mafic-ultramafic rocks occur in the western Dharwar craton and range in size from small pods to schist belts. These mafic-ultramafic pods consist mainly of meta-peridotites, tremolite-actinolite schists, serpentinites, amphibolites and metabasalts. Spinifex, nodular and ocelli textures are also present. The rocks have been subjected to greenschist- and amphibolite-facies metamorphism. Geochemical studies were undertaken to evaluate the possible occurrence of economically important elements in the mafic-ultramafic enclaves around the major Arsikere-Tavarkere lineament and surrounding gneissic terrain adjoining local shear zones that occur as discontinuous pods between Arsikere and Chennagiri. Talc-serpentine and tremolite-actinolite schists contain chromite which is rimmed by ferrite-chromite. A notable feature of these mafic-ultramafic rocks is that they exhibit high MgO (22-40%), total Fe (8.34-10.01%), Ni and Cr (ca. 3 000, 2 800 ppm) contents, with some samples showing komatiitic affinity. The REE data show slightly fractionated patterns with enriched LREE (LREE/HREE ca. 5.0) and negative Eu anomalies. Pt and Pd values reach 6 500 and 191 ppb. The mafic-ultramafic rocks, especially those exhibiting high Cr contents and occurring near shear zones, are potential hosts for economic platinum-group element deposits.