西澳大利亚州铁矿分布规律及矿床成因分析

西澳大利亚州铁矿资源主要分布在北部皮尔巴拉和南部的伊尔岗两个太古宙克拉通。皮尔巴拉克拉通BIF型铁矿在汤姆普赖斯山、恰那和布鲁克曼的矿石矿物组合为假象赤铁矿一微板状赤铁矿,马拉曼巴的为赤铁矿一针铁矿,CID型铁矿在罗布河和杨迪矿石类型主要为褐铁矿;伊尔岗克拉通BIF型铁矿在库里阿诺的矿石矿物组合为针铁矿一假象赤铁,比温和曼迪尕的为磁铁矿±假象赤铁矿和针铁矿±赤铁矿。BIF型铁矿为浅生一变质成矿,而CID型铁矿则是先前形成的BIF经侵蚀、搬运、沉积和埋藏作用形成。     

Marra Mamba Iron Formation stratigraphy in the eastern Chichester Range,Western Australia

The Marra Mamba Iron Formation is the basal member of the Hamersley Group in Western Australia and is host to major iron‐ore deposits in its upper Mt Newman Member. Previous studies have suggested that the Marra Mamba Iron Formation in the eastern Chichester Range was deposited in an isolated basin behind a barrier reef and was greatly reduced in thickness. New drilling covering a large part of the Chichester Range shows that only the lower part of the Nammuldi Member, the lowest unit of the Marra Mamba Iron Formation, remains over most of the range. However, 15 m of the Mt Newman Member, the complete MacLeod Member and the upper part of the Nammuldi Member were drilled in small north‐south synclines preserved near Mulga Downs homestead. This drilling shows that the Marra Mamba Iron Formation is similar in all respects to other occurrences in the Hamersley Province. There is no evidence of facies change or reduced thickness and therefore no evidence for a northern limit to the deposition of the Hamersley Group. Apart from the small synclines near Mulga Downs homestead, the Fortescue River alluvial deposits abutting the Chichester Range are underlain by the Roy Hill Shale Member of the Jeerinah Formation.     

Mineralogy and geochemistry of banded iron formation and iron ores from eastern India with implications on their genesis

The geological complexities of banded iron formation (BIF) and associated iron ores of Jilling-Langalata iron ore deposits, Singhbhum-North Orissa Craton, belonging to Iron Ore Group (IOG) eastern India have been studied in detail along with the geochemical evaluation of different iron ores. The geochemical and mineralogical characterization suggests that the massive, hard laminated, soft laminated ore and blue dust had a genetic lineage from BIFs aided with certain input from hydrothermal activity. The PAAS normalized REE pattern of Jilling BIF striking positive Eu anomaly, resembling those of modern hydrothermal solutions from mid-oceanic ridge (MOR). Major part of the iron could have been added to the bottom sea water by hydrothermal solutions derived from hydrothermally active anoxic marine environments. The ubiquitous presence of intercalated tuffaceous shales indicates the volcanic signature in BIF. Mineralogical studies reveal that magnetite was the principal iron oxide mineral, whose depositional history is preserved in BHJ, where it remains in the form of martite and the platy hematite is mainly the product of martite. The different types of iron ores are intricately related with the BHJ. Removal of silica from BIF and successive precipitation of iron by hydrothermal fluids of possible meteoric origin resulted in the formation of martite-goethite ore. The hard laminated ore has been formed in the second phase of supergene processes, where the deep burial upgrades the hydrous iron oxides to hematite. The massive ore is syngenetic in origin with BHJ. Soft laminated ores and biscuity ores were formed where further precipitation of iron was partial or absent.     

Gold Mineralization in Banded Iron Formation in the Amalia Greenstone Belt,South Africa: A Mineralogical and Sulfur Isotope Study

The Blue Dot gold deposit, located in the Archean Amalia greenstone belt of South Africa, is hosted in an oxide (± carbonate) facies banded iron formation (BIF). It consists of three stratabound orebodies; Goudplaats, Abelskop, and Bothmasrust. The orebodies are flanked by quartz‐chlorite‐ferroan dolomite‐albite schist in the hanging wall and mafic (volcanic) schists in the footwall. Alteration minerals associated with the main hydrothermal stage in the BIF are dominated by quartz, ankerite‐dolomite series, siderite, chlorite, muscovite, sericite, hematite, pyrite, and minor amounts of chalcopyrite and arsenopyrite. This study investigates the characteristics of gold mineralization in the Amalia BIF based on ore textures, mineral‐chemical data and sulfur isotope analysis. Gold mineralization of the Blue Dot deposit is associated with quartz‐carbonate veins that crosscut the BIF layering. In contrast to previous works, petrographic evidence suggests that the gold mineralization is not solely attributed to replacement reactions between ore fluid and the magnetite or hematite in the host BIF because coarse hydrothermal pyrite grains do not show mutual replacement textures of the oxide minerals. Rather, the parallel‐bedded and generally chert‐hosted pyrites are in sharp contact with re‐crystallized euhedral to subhedral magnetite ± hematite grains, and the nature of their coexistence suggests that pyrite (and gold) precipitation was contemporaneous with magnetite–hematite re‐crystallization. The Fe/(Fe+Mg) ratio of the dolomite–ankerite series and chlorite decreased from veins through mineralized BIF and non‐mineralized BIF, in contrast to most Archean BIF‐hosted gold deposits. This is interpreted to be due to the effect of a high sulfur activity and increase in fO₂ in a H₂S‐dominant fluid during progressive fluid‐rock interaction. High sulfur activity of the hydrothermal fluid fixed pyrite in the BIF by consuming Fe²⁺ released into the chert layers and leaving the co‐precipitating carbonates and chlorites with less available ferrous iron content. Alternatively, the occurrence of hematite in the alteration assemblage of the host BIF caused a structural limitation in the assignment of Fe³⁺ in chlorite which favored the incorporation of magnesium (rather than ferric iron) in chlorite under increasing fO₂ conditions, and is consistent with deposits hosted in hematite‐bearing rocks. The combined effects of reduction in sulfur contents due to sulfide precipitation and increasing fO₂ during progressive fluid‐rock interactions are likely to be the principal factors to have caused gold deposition. Arsenopyrite–pyrite geothermometry indicated a temperature range of 300–350°C for the associated gold mineralization. The estimated δ³⁴S_ΣS (= +1.8 to +2.5‰) and low base metal contents of the sulfide ore mineralogy are consistent with sulfides that have been sourced from magma or derived by the dissolution of magmatic sulfides from volcanic rocks during fluid migration.     

BIF-hosted iron mineral system: A review

The BIF-hosted iron ore system represents the world's largest and highest grade iron ore districts and deposits. BIF, the precursor to low- and high-grade BIF hosted iron ore, consists of Archean and Paleoproterozoic Algoma-type BIF (e.g., Serra Norte iron ore district in the Carajás Mineral Province), Proterozoic Lake Superior-type BIF (e.g., deposits in the Hamersley Province and craton), and Neoproterozoic Rapitan-type BIF (e.g., the Urucum iron ore district).The BIF-hosted iron ore system is structurally controlled, mostly via km-scale normal and strike-slips fault systems, which allow large volumes of ascending and descending hydrothermal fluids to circulate during Archean or Proterozoic deformation or early extensional events. Structures are also (passively) accessed via downward flowing supergene fluids during Cenozoic times.At the depositional site the transformation of BIF to low- and high-grade iron ore is controlled by: (1) structural permeability, (2) hypogene alteration caused by ascending deep fluids (largely magmatic or basinal brines), and descending ancient meteoric water, and (3) supergene enrichment via weathering processes. Hematite- and magnetite-based iron ores include a combination of microplaty hematite–martite, microplaty hematite with little or no goethite, martite–goethite, granoblastic hematite, specular hematite and magnetite, magnetite–martite, magnetite-specular hematite and magnetite–amphibole, respectively. Goethite ores with variable amounts of hematite and magnetite are mainly encountered in the weathering zone.In most large deposits, three major hypogene and one supergene ore stages are observed: (1) silica leaching and formation of magnetite and locally carbonate, (2) oxidation of magnetite to hematite (martitisation), further dissolution of quartz and formation of carbonate, (3) further martitisation, replacement of Fe silicates by hematite, new microplaty hematite and specular hematite formation and dissolution of carbonates, and (4) replacement of magnetite and any remaining carbonate by goethite and magnetite and formation of fibrous quartz and clay minerals.Hypogene alteration of BIF and surrounding country rocks is characterised by: (1) changes in the oxide mineralogy and textures, (2) development of distinct vertical and lateral distal, intermediate and proximal alteration zones defined by distinct oxide–silicate–carbonate assemblages, and (3) mass negative reactions such as de-silicification and de-carbonatisation, which significantly increase the porosity of high-grade iron ore, or lead to volume reduction by textural collapse or layer-compaction. Supergene alteration, up to depths of 200 m, is characterised by leaching of hypogene silica and carbonates, and dissolution precipitation of the iron oxyhydroxides.Carbonates in ore stages 2 and 3 are sourced from external fluids with respect to BIF. In the case of basin-related deposits, carbon is interpreted to be derived from deposits underlying carbonate sequences, whereas in the case of greenstone belt deposits carbonate is interpreted to be of magmatic origin. There is only limited mass balance analyses conducted, but those provide evidence for variable mobilization of Fe and depletion of SiO₂. In the high-grade ore zone a volume reduction of up to 25% is observed.Mass balance calculations for proximal alteration zones in mafic wall rocks relative to least altered examples at Beebyn display enrichment in LOI, F, MgO, Ni, Fe₂O_3total, C, Zn, Cr and P₂O₅ and depletions of CaO, S, K₂O, Rb, Ba, Sr and Na₂O. The Y/Ho and Sm/Yb ratios of mineralised BIF at Windarling and Koolyanobbing reflect distinct carbonate generations derived from substantial fluid–rock reactions between hydrothermal fluids and igneous country rocks, and a chemical carbonate-inheritance preserved in supergene goethite.Hypogene and supergene fluids are paramount for the formation of high-grade BIF-hosted iron ore because of the enormous amount of: (1) warm (100–200 °C) silica-undersaturated alkaline fluids necessary to dissolve quartz in BIF, (2) oxidized fluids that cause the oxidation of magnetite to hematite, (3) weakly acid (with moderate CO₂ content) to alkaline fluids that are necessary to form widespread metasomatic carbonate, (4) carbonate-undersaturated fluids that dissolve the diagenetic and metasomatic carbonates, and (5) oxidized fluids to form hematite species in the hypogene- and supergene-enriched zone and hydroxides in the supergene zone.Four discrete end-member models for Archean and Proterozoic hypogene and supergene-only BIF hosted iron ore are proposed: (1) granite–greenstone belt hosted, strike-slip fault zone controlled Carajás-type model, sourced by early magmatic (± metamorphic) fluids and ancient “warm” meteoric water; (2) sedimentary basin, normal fault zone controlled Hamersley-type model, sourced by early basinal (± evaporitic) brines and ancient “warm” meteoric water. A variation of the latter is the metamorphosed basin model, where BIF (ore) is significantly metamorphosed and deformed during distinct orogenic events (e.g., deposits in the Quadrilátero Ferrífero and Simandou Range). It is during the orogenic event that the upgrade of BIF to medium- and high-grade hypogene iron took place; (3) sedimentary basin hosted, early graben structure controlled Urucum-type model, where glaciomarine BIF and subsequent diagenesis to very low-grade metamorphism is responsible for variable gangue leaching and hematite mineralisation. All of these hypogene iron ore models do not preclude a stage of supergene modification, including iron hydroxide mineralisation, phosphorous, and additional gangue leaching during substantial weathering in ancient or Recent times; and (4) supergene enriched BIF Capanema-type model, which comprises goethitic iron ore deposits with no evidence for deep hypogene roots. A variation of this model is ancient supergene iron ores of the Sishen-type, where blocks of BIF slumped into underlying karstic carbonate units and subsequently experienced Fe upgrade during deep lateritic weathering.     

Genesis modelling for the Hamersley BIF-hosted iron ores of Western Australia: a critical review

Enrichment iron ore of the Hamersley Province, currently estimated at a resource of over 40 billion tonnes (Gt), mainly consists of BIF (banded iron-formation)-hosted bedded iron deposits (BID) and channel iron deposits (CID), with only minor detrital iron deposits (DID). The Hamersley BID comprises two major ore types: the dominant supergene martite–goethite (M-G) ores (Mesozoic–Paleocene) and the premium martite–microplaty hematite ores (M-mplH; ca 2.0 Ga) with their various subtypes. The supergene M-G ores are not common outside Australia, whereas the M-mplH ores are the principal worldwide resource. There are two current dominant genetic models for the Hamersley BID. In the earlier 1980–1985 model, supergene M-G ores formed in the Paleoproterozoic well below normal atmospheric access, driven by seasonal oxidising electrochemical reactions in the vadose zone of the parent BIF (cathode) linked through conducting magnetite horizons to the deep reacting zone (anode). Proterozoic regional metamorphism/diagenesis at ～80–100°C of these M-G ores formed mplH from the matrix goethite in the local hydrothermal environment of its own exhaled water to produce M-mplH ores with residual goethite. Following general exposure by erosion in the Cretaceous–Paleocene when a major second phase of M-G ores formed, ground water leaching of residual goethite from the metamorphosed Proterozoic ores resulted in the mainly goethite-free M-mplH ores of Mt Whaleback and Mt Tom Price. Residual goethite is common in the Paraburdoo M-mplH-goethite ores where erratic remnants of Paleoproterozoic cover indicate more recent exposure.

Deep unweathered BIF alteration residuals in two small areas of the Mt Tom Price M-mplH deposits have been used since 1999 for new hypogene–supergene modelling of the M-mplH ores. These models involve a major Paleoproterozoic hydrothermal stage in which alkaline solutions from the underlying Wittenoom Formation dolomite traversed the Southern Batter Fault to leach matrix silica from the BIF, adding siderite and apatite to produce a magnetite–siderite–apatite ‘protore.’ A later heated meteoric solution stage oxidised siderite to mplH + ankerite and magnetite to martite. Weathering finally removed residual carbonates and apatite leaving the high-grade porous M-mplH ore. Further concepts for the Mt Tom Price North and the Southern Ridge Deposits involving acid solutions followed, but these have been modified to return essentially to the earlier hypogene–supergene model. Textural data from erratic ‘metasomatic BIF’ zones associated with the above deposits are unlike those of the typical martite–microplaty hematite ore bodies. The destiny of the massive volumes of dissolved silica gangue and the absence of massive silica aureoles has not been explained. Petrographic and other evidence indicate the Mt Tom Price metasomatism is a localised post-ore phenomenon. Exothermic oxidation reactions in the associated pyrite-rich black shales during post-ore removal by groundwater of remnant goethite in the ores may have resulted in this very localised and erratic hydrothermal alteration of BIF and its immediately associated pre-existing ore.     

Characterization of Banded Iron Formations by Two-Dimensional XRF Imaging and XANES Analyses

Abstract: Synchrotron radiation-induced X–ray fluorescence (SR–XRF) and conventional X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyses were applied to determine the distributions of iron, manganese, calcium, titanium, and silicon, and chemical forms of iron and trace manganese in three banded iron formation (BIF) samples. The XRF imagings on the weathered and altered BIF from the Cleaverville Formation (3. 3–3. 1 Gyr), Western Australia, showed redistributions of iron, calcium, and manganese with the disappearance of the primary bandings, while, in contrast, titanium preserved its primary depositional distribution. The XRF imagings on the BIF from the Hamersley Group (2. 5 Gyr), Western Australia, showed that manganese and titanium distribute originally at boundary region between the iron-rich mesoband and the silica-rich mesoband. The X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure (XANES) analysis revealed that the chemical forms of manganese and iron well represent the rhythmic change of the bandings.     

Cobalt‐Bearing Grunerite in the Metamorphosed Banded Iron Formation in Orissa,India

Banded iron formation (BIF) comprising high grade iron ore are exposed in Gorumahisani‐Sulaipat‐Badampahar belt in the east of North Orissa Craton, India. The ores are multiply deformed and metamorphosed to amphibolite facies. The mineral assemblage in the BIF comprises grunerite, magnetite/martite/goethite and quartz. Relict carbonate phases are sometimes noticed within thick iron mesobands. Grunerite crystals exhibit needles to fibrous lamellae and platy form or often sheaf‐like aggregates in linear and radial arrangement. Accicular grunerite also occur within intergranular space of magnetite/martite. Grunerite needles/accicules show higher reflectivity in chert mesoband and matching reflectance with that of adjacent magnetite/martite in iron mesoband. Some grunerite lamellae sinter into micron size magnetite platelets. This grunerite has high ferrous oxide and cobalt oxide content but is low in Mg‐ and Mn‐oxide compared to the ones, reported from BIFs, of Western Australia, Nigeria, France, USA and Quebec. The protolith of this BIF is considered to be carbonate containing sediments, with high concentrations of Fe and Si but lower contents of cobalt and chromium ± Mg, Mn and Ni. During submarine weathering quartz, sheet silicate (greenalite) and Fe‐Co‐Cr (Mg‐Mn‐Ni)‐carbonate solid solution were formed. At the outset of the regional metamorphic episode grunerite, euhedral magnetite and recrystalized quartz were developed. Magnetite was grown at the expense of carbonate and later martitized under post‐metamorphic conditions. With the increasing grade of metamorphism greenalite transformed to grunerite.     

山西吕梁袁家村条带状铁建造沉积相与沉积环境分析

山西吕梁作为华北克拉通上条带状铁建造(BIF)的重要产区之一,位于华北中央构造带中。袁家村BIF分布于吕梁岚县袁家村一带,极有可能是华北克拉通内最为典型的Superior型BIF。与华北克拉通其他大多数BIF相比,袁家村BIF具有明显的差异性,其中包括它的形成时代(2.3~2.1Ga)、铁建造类型和低级变质程度(低绿片岩相)等。因此,研究袁家村BIF具有特殊的研究意义,可为探讨大氧化事件之后古海洋氧化还原状态以及国内Superior型BIF的成因提供研究基础。袁家村BIF产于吕梁群袁家村组变沉积岩系的下部,前人根据上覆和下伏含火山岩地层的时代,推测袁家村组的形成时代为2.3~2.1Ga。BIF整体产状陡倾,沿北北东-北东东向呈L形带状分布。依据原生矿物的共生组合及产出特征,可将BIF沉积相划分为氧化物相(60%)、硅酸盐相(30%)和碳酸盐相(10%)。氧化物相是本区BIF最主要的沉积相,主要矿物为赤铁矿、磁铁矿和石英,从而可进一步划分为赤铁矿(24%)和磁铁矿(36%)亚相;硅酸盐相BIF以大量硅酸盐矿物出现为特征,散布于研究区,主要矿物组成除了石英和磁铁矿之外,还有铁黑硬绿泥石、绿泥石、铁滑石、镁铁闪石和阳起石等。在与碳酸盐相BIF构成过渡相的BIF中,还可发现大量的铁白云石。而碳酸盐相主要矿物为菱铁矿、铁白云石和石英等,主要发育于研究区的南部。依据含铁岩系构造格局特点复原获得了原始沉积相分布略图,沉积相主要呈南北向延展,自东向西显示出相变规律,西边为碳酸盐相,东边为氧化物相,其间是过渡的硅酸盐相。通过袁家村BIF的岩相学和含铁矿物化学成分的研究,可大致推测原始沉积的矿物组成为无定形硅胶、水铁矿、与铁蛇纹石和黑硬绿泥石组成类似的铁硅酸盐凝胶、富Al的粘土碎屑和含铁、镁、钙的碳酸盐软泥。这些沉积物在随后的成岩期和绿片岩相的区域变质作用下发生矿物之间的相互转变。BIF中主要含铁矿物的PO-P-Eh 2CO2和pH相关图解说明除了赤铁矿之外,其他矿物均是在较低氧逸度环境中形成的,且所有矿物共存的水体系为中性到弱碱性。袁家村BIF氧化物相中发育豆粒、内碎屑结构和板状交错层理等原始沉积构造,指示氧化相部分是在相对高能的浅水环境下沉积的。但BIF大部分应该形成于浪基面以下(200m)较为深水的环境中,沉淀可能同时发生于上部氧化和下部还原的水体之中,由于还原弱酸性的深部富铁海水在海侵的过程中上升到浅部相对氧化和弱碱性的浅水环境中,因为Eh、pH及氧逸度等物化条件的骤然变化,最终导致铁质的沉淀和沉积相自上而下的变化。     

Opaque mineralogy and magnetic properties of selected banded iron‐formations,Hamersley Basin,Western Australia

The oxide mineralogy and rock magnetic properties of unmineralised banded iron‐formations in selected portions of four drillholes in the Hamersley Basin, Western Australia are reviewed. In all four drillholes, petrographic studies indicate that primary euhedral to subhedral hematite is partially replaced by magnetite as a result of subsolidus reduction. All drillholes show partial recrystallisation of the secondary magnetite, suggesting that early subsolidus reduction was probably a regional event occurring during prograde metamorphism. Incomplete replacement of primary hematite by magnetite within and between sedimentary band structures indicates that equilibration in the magnetite stability field was not reached even at the mesoband scale. Subsequent subsolidus oxidation of magnetite and the formation of a second‐generation hematite are documented in only two of the drillholes. Goethite‐filled veins and thick selvages of goethite around some veins reflect movement of circulating oxidising fluids. The absence of goethite and second‐generation hematite in two of the drillholes indicates that subsolidus oxidation is not a regional event, but very much localised. Rapid changes in down‐hole susceptibility measurements correlate directly with detailed petrographic results as susceptibility readings change with the hematite/magnetite ratio on a mesoband scale. Acquisition of the main remanence correlates with the formation of hematite as the primary oxide phase followed by partial replacement by magnetite as a result of subsolidus reduction, supporting regional models requiring pre‐folding remanence. The strong orientation of the primary hematite parent parallel to band structures in the banded iron‐formations has influenced the direction of crystallisation remanent magnetisation during subsolidus reduction to the magnetite daughter. The strong planar alignment has also produced a planar magnetic fabric and marked anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility. A natural remanent magnetisation overprint and reduction in anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility are only recorded in samples that have undergone subsolidus oxidation and the recognition of localised post‐metamorphic oxidation overprinting can also explain ore deposit models requiring post‐folding remanence. The relative timing of and between oxidising fluid events is not known, but both petrographic and rock magnetic evidence to date suggests that there was at least one and probably two post‐folding oxidising events in the area of study.     

Primary Mineral Information and Depositional Models of Relevant Mineral Facies of the Early Precambrian BIF—A Preliminary Review

The primary mineral compositions of BIF are regarded as ferric oxyhydroxide or iron silicate nanoparticles (mainly greenalite and stilpnomelane ) whichcan transform into minerals like hematite, magnetite and siderite. On the basis of predominant iron minerals, three distinctive sedimentary facies are recognized in BIF: oxide facies, silicate facies and carbonate facies. Marked by the Great Oxidation Event (GOE, 2.4~2.2 Ga), sedimentary facies can be divided into two models: “anoxic and reducing” model and “stratified ocean” model. The ancient ocean was anoxic and reducing before GOE, and under this circumstance, BIF was distributed from the distal to proximal zones transforming from hematite facies through magnetite facies to carbonate facies, such as West Rand Group BIF (2.96~2.78 Ga) and Kuruman BIF (~2.46 Ga) in south Africa. However, the ancient ocean was a stratified ocean during and after GOE, which means that shallow seawater was oxidizing while deeper seawater was reducing, leading to an opposite sedimentary facies distribution compared to the former one: BIF was distributed from the distal to proximal zones transforming from carbonate facies through magnetite facies to hematite facies, such as Yuanjiacun BIF in China (~2.3 Ga) and Sokoman iron formation in Canada (~1.88 Ga). Overall, BIF is an unrepeatable formation in geological history, which can only form in specific sedimentary environment. The key point to speculate the paleo-ocean environment, namely the problems to be solved at the moment, is to identify and derive the primary mineral compositions, to make sure the genetic mechanism of sedimentary facies especially silicate facies, to restrict the sedimentary conditions and to study microbial activities contacting with BIF.     

Algoma-type banded iron formation (BIF), Abitibi Greenstone belt,Quebec, Canada

A typical Algoma-type banded iron formation (BIF) occurs in Orvilliers, Montgolfier, and Aloigny townships in the Abitibi Greenstone belt, Quebec, Canada. The BIF is composed of millimeter to decimeter thick beds of alternating fine-grained, dark gray to black, well laminated, magnetite-rich (and/or hematite) beds and quartz–feldspar metasedimentary (graywacke) beds. The BIF is well defined by magnetic anomalies. These BIF layers are commonly associated with decimeter to meter thick horizons of metasedimentary rocks and mafic to intermediate volcanic rocks, which are locally crosscut by dikes of felsic or mafic intrusive rocks and, as well, narrow dikes of lamprophyre. The upper and lower contacts of the BIF are gradational with the adjacent graywacke. All geological units in the area are metamorphosed to the greenschist facies of regional metamorphism. Magnetite is mainly associated with subordinate amounts of hematite, quartz, Na-rich plagioclase, and muscovite. The fine-grained magnetite content is composed of 77% to 89% of the principal iron oxide minerals present. The magnetite occurs as disseminated idiomorphic to sub-idiomorphic small crystals, which average 20 μm ± 5 μm in size. Hematite is the second most abundant iron oxide mineral. Although less abundant, red jasper occurs in cherty horizons with strongly folded fragments and within fault zones. This particular Algoma-type iron formation stratigraphically extends more than 36 km along strike. It dips sub-vertically with a true width from 120 m to 600 m. The origin of the BIF is closely linked to regionally extensive submarine hydrothermal activity associated with the emplacement of volcanic and related subvolcanic rocks in an Archean greenstone belt.     

Micro-scale tracing of Fe and Si isotope signatures in banded iron formation using femtosecond laser ablation

We have detected micrometre-scale differences in Fe and Si stable isotope ratios between coexisting minerals and between layers of banded iron formation (BIF) using an UV femtosecond laser ablation system connected to a MC-ICP-MS. In the magnetite–carbonate–chert BIF from the Archean Old Wanderer Formation in the Shurugwi Greenstone Belt (Zimbabwe), magnetite shows neither intra- nor inter-layer trends giving overall uniform δ⁵⁶Fe values of 0.9‰, but exhibits intra-crystal zonation. Bulk iron carbonates are also relatively uniform at near-zero values, however, their individual δ⁵⁶Fe value is highly composition-dependent: both siderite and ankerite and mixtures between both are present, and δ⁵⁶Fe end member values are 0.4‰ for siderite and −0.7‰ for ankerite. The data suggest either an early diagenetic origin of magnetite and iron carbonates by the reaction of organic matter with ferric oxyhydroxides catalysed by Fe(III)-reducing bacteria; or more likely an abiotic reaction of organic carbon and Fe(III) during low-grade metamorphism. Si isotope composition of the Old Wanderer BIF also shows significant variations with δ³⁰Si values that range between −1.0‰ and −2.6‰ for bulk layers. These isotope compositions suggest rapid precipitation of the silicate phases from hydrothermal-rich waters. Interestingly, Fe and Si isotope compositions of bulk layers are covariant and are interpreted as largely primary signatures. Moreover, the changes of Fe and Si isotope signatures between bulk layers directly reflect the upwelling dynamics of hydrothermal-rich water which govern the rates of Fe and Si precipitation and therefore also the development of layering. During periods of low hydrothermal activity, precipitation of only small amounts of ferric oxyhydroxide was followed by complete reduction with organic carbon during diagenesis resulting in carbonate–chert layers. During periods of intensive hydrothermal activity, precipitation rates of ferric oxyhydroxide were high, and subsequent diagenesis triggered only partial reduction, forming magnetite–carbonate–chert layers. We are confident that our micro-analytical technique is able to detect both the solute flux history into the sedimentary BIF precursor, and the BIF’s diagenetic history from the comparison between coexisting minerals and their predicted fractionation factors.     

High-grade iron ore at Windarling, Yilgarn Craton: a product of syn-orogenic deformation, hypogene hydrothermal alteration and supergene modification in an Archean BIF-basalt lithostratigraphy

Banded iron formation (BIF)-hosted iron ore deposits in the Windarling Range are located in the lower greenstone succession of the Marda–Diemals greenstone belt, Southern Cross domain, Yilgarn Craton and constitute a total hematite–martite–goethite ore resource of minimum 52 Mt at 60 wt.% Fe (0.07 P). Banded iron formation is interlayered with high-Mg basalts at Windarling and precipitated during episodes of volcanic quiescence. Trace element content and the rare earth element (REE) ratios Y/Ho (42 to 45), Sm/Yb (1.5), together with positive La and Gd anomalies in ‘least-altered’ hematite–magnetite–metachert–BIF indicate the precipitation from Archean seawater that was fertilised by hydrothermal vent fluids with a basaltic HREE-Y signature. Hypogene iron ore in sub-greenschist facies metamorphosed BIF formed during three distinct stages: ore stage 1 was a syn- to post-metamorphic, syn-D₁, Fe–Ca–Mg–Ni–Co–P–REE metasomatism that produced local Ni–REE-rich Fe–dolomite–magnetite alteration in BIF. Hydrothermal alteration was induced by hot fluid flow controlled by brittle–ductile reactivation of BIF-basalt margins and crosscutting D₁ faults. The Ni–Co-rich content of dolomite and a shift in REE ratios in carbonate-altered BIF towards Archean mafic rock signature (Y/Ho to 31 to 40, Sm/Yb to 1 to 2 and Gd/Gd* to 1.2 to 1.4) suggest that high-Mg basalts in the Windarling Range were the primary source of introduced metals. During ore stage 2, a syn-deformational and likely acidic and oxidised fluid flow along BIF-basalt margins and within D₁ faults leached carbonate and precipitated lepidoblastic and anhedral/granoblastic hematite. High-grade magnetite–hematite ore is formed during this stage. Ore stage 3 hydrothermal specular hematite (spcH)–Fe–dolomite–quartz alteration was controlled by a late-orogenic, brittle, compressional/transpressional stage (D₄; the regional-scale shear-zone-related D₃ is not preserved in Windarling). This minor event remobilised iron oxides, carbonate and quartz to form veins and breccia but did not generate significant volumes of iron ore. Ore stage 4 involved Mesozoic(?) to recent supergene oxidation and hydration in a weathering environment reaching down to depths of ～100 to maximum 200 m below surface. Supergene ore formation involved goethite replacement of dolomite and quartz as well as martitisation. Important ‘ground preparation’ for supergene modification and upgrade were mainly the formation of steep D₁ to D₄ structures, steep BIF/basalt margins and particularly the syn-D₁ to syn-D₂ carbonate alteration of BIF that is most susceptible to supergene dissolution. The Windarling deposits are structurally controlled, supergene-modified hydrothermal iron ore systems that share comparable physical, chemical and ore-forming characteristics to other iron ore deposits in the Yilgarn Craton (e.g. Koolyanobbing, Beebyn in the Weld Range, Mt. Gibson). However, the remarkable variety in pre-, syn- and post-deformational ore textures (relative to D₁ and D₂) has not been described elsewhere in the Yilgarn and are similar to the ore deposits in high-strain zones, such as of Brazil (Quadrilátero Ferrífero or Iron Quadrangle) and Nigeria. The overall similarity of alteration stages, i.e. the sequence of hydrothermal carbonate introduction and hypogene leaching, with other greenstone belt-hosted iron ore deposits supports the interpretation that syn-orogenic BIF alteration and upgrade was crucial in the formation of hypogene–supergene iron ore deposits in the Yilgarn Craton and possibly in other Archean/Paleoproterozoic greenstone belt settings worldwide.     

Hydrothermal origin for the 2 billion year old Mount Tom Price giant iron ore deposit, Hamersley Province, Western Australia

Giant iron-ore deposits, such as those in the Hamersley Province of northwestern Australia, may contain more than a billion tonnes of almost pure iron oxides and are the world's major source of iron. It is generally accepted that these deposits result from supergene oxidation of host banded iron formation (BIF), accompanied by leaching of silicate and carbonate minerals. New textural evidence however, shows that formation of iron ore at one of those deposits, Mount Tom Price, involved initial high temperature crystallisation of magnetite-siderite-iron silicate assemblages. This was followed by development of hematite- and ferroan dolomite-bearing assemblages with subsequent oxidation of magnetite, leaching of carbonates and silicates and crystallisation of further hematite. Preliminary fluid inclusion studies indicate both low and high salinity aqueous fluids as well as complex salt-rich inclusions with the range of fluid types most likely reflecting interaction of hydrothermal brines with descending meteoric fluids. Initial hematite crystallisation occurred at about 250 °C and high fluid pressures and continued as temperatures decreased. Although the largely hydrothermal origin for mineralisation at Mount Tom Price is in conflict with previously proposed supergene models, it remains consistent with interpretations that the biosphere contained significant oxygen at the time of mineralisation. Received: 16 February 1999 / Accepted: 14 May 1999     

应用电子探针研究蒙其古尔铀矿床含矿砂岩岩石学特征及铀矿物分布规律

国内外铁矿石价格对标基准多采用离岸价或到岸价,而非盈亏平衡运营成本,难以揭示我国铁矿石所面对的真实市场承压价格。为了厘清国际一线生产商的铁矿石盈亏平衡运营成本价格,本文对世界上最重要的条带状铁建造（BIF）矿产地——西澳哈默斯利盆地高品位赤铁矿矿床的矿化特征及代表性铁矿石产品展开系统研究,同时引入巴西铁四角地区的铁英岩型赤铁矿矿石作为对照,分析全球典型高品位赤铁矿矿石经济指标。结合前人研究成果,将西澳哈默斯利盆地与BIF相关的高品位赤铁矿的富集矿化类型划分为假象赤铁矿-针铁矿、微板状赤铁矿与河道沉积型赤铁矿,巴西铁四角主要为铁英岩型赤铁矿。上述各矿化类型对应的铁矿石产品的铁元素含量均高于56%;在杂质元素含量上,假象赤铁矿-针铁矿的磷含量高,微板状赤铁矿的磷、硫含量较高,河道沉积型赤铁矿的磷、硫含量较低,铁英岩型赤铁矿含锰。经定量估算,西澳力拓、必和必拓、FMG和巴西淡水河谷的铁矿石盈亏平衡运营成本价格分别为34.66、36.76、47.35、38.07美元/干吨,可为中国海外权益铁矿项目开发提供运营成本的参考。     

Fault geometry as evidence for inversion of a former rift basin in the Eastern Lachlan Orogen

Three major types of economic secondary iron ores occur in Western Australia, mainly in the banded iron-formation (BIF)-rich Hamersley Province of the Pilbara:

1. the dominant BIF-hosted bedded iron deposits (BID; ～40 billion tonnes (Bt); 58–65 wt% Fe); and the detrital ores, mainly in the three province-wide Cenozoic sequences that include coeval non-ore sediments:

2. Miocene channel iron deposits (CID; ～>15 Bt; 54–58 wt% Fe) of the Cenozoic Detritals 2 (CzD2); and

3. Eocene CzD1 and Pliocene CzD3 detrital iron deposits (DID; ～3.5 Bt; 40–60 wt% Fe).

Striking differences exist between the massive CID resources and the much smaller underlying and overlying DID. CID are essentially riverine alluvial ooidal rocks with abundant small fossil wood fragments and variable peloids, but with only extremely rare, recognisable lithic remnants. The original matrix is typically ramifying layered goethite. Eocene DID are mainly alluvial with only minor pisoids, whereas Pliocene–Quaternary DID are dominantly coarse colluvial gravels, with minor pisoids, both derived from and largely retaining the original textures of BID, hardcap or variably ferruginised surface BIF. The coluvial DID matrix is typically ferroan-aluminous soil, resulting in canga where replaced by goethite, which may be dehydrated to hematite in part by exposure. The Cenozoic deposits described in detail in this paper occur in two dominant geomorphological environments: the southern Marra Mamba to Brockman Iron Formation strike valleys (MBSV), containing all three Cenozoic sequences; and the much later northern Brockman IF plateau valleys (BPV) that include only the Miocene and Pliocene sequences. Minor basinal/deltaic alluvials occur in the Proterozoic. The Cenozoic detritals formed in different climatic regimes, with an extended dry period forming a prominent province-wide dehydrated carapace on the Eocene DID. The Miocene ‘optimum’ followed with its thick scrub-covered deep regolith that produced the fossil wood-rich CID, succeeded by the arid cool period of the Oakover limestone/calcrete. A major renewal of exposure and erosion in the Pliocene resulted in the extensive iron gravels of the Pliocene–Quaternary.     

Slumping in the Marra Mamba Supersequence Package in the southern Hamersley Province,Western Australia

Detailed mapping of the Hardey Syncline region at the Marra Mamba Supersequence Package closure, in the southwestern part of the Hamersley Province, has indicated that a hiatus in parts of the Jeerinah Formation was probably caused by submarine slumping during sedimentation. A similar hiatus at the base of the Jeerinah Formation farther west, noted on air photographs, is attributed to the same cause. Removal by slumping, and redeposition westwards, could account for olistostromes which were previously recorded in the Jeerinah Formation at Mt Edith and Mt de Courcey on the southern rim of the Wyloo Dome.     

Genesis of superimposed hypogene and supergene Fe orebodies in BIF at the Madoonga deposit, Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia

The Madoonga iron ore body hosted by banded iron formation (BIF) in the Weld Range greenstone belt of Western Australia is a blend of four genetically and compositionally distinct types of high-grade (>55 wt% Fe) iron ore that includes: (1) hypogene magnetite–talc veins, (2) hypogene specular hematite–quartz veins, (3) supergene goethite–hematite, and (4) supergene-modified, goethite–hematite-rich detrital ores. The spatial coincidence of these different ore types is a major factor controlling the overall size of the Madoonga ore body, but results in a compositionally heterogeneous ore deposit. Hypogene magnetite–talc veins that are up to 3 m thick and 50 m long formed within mylonite and shear zones located along the limbs of isoclinal, recumbent F₁ folds. Relative to least-altered BIF, the magnetite–talc veins are enriched in Fe₂O_3(total), P₂O₅, MgO, Sc, Ga, Al₂O₃, Cl, and Zr; and depleted in SiO₂ and MnO₂. Mafic igneous countryrocks located within 10 m of the northern contact of the mineralised BIF display the replacement of primary igneous amphibole and plagioclase, and metamorphic chlorite by hypogene ferroan chlorite, talc, and magnetite. Later-forming, hypogene specular hematite–quartz veins and their associated alteration halos partly replace magnetite–talc veins in BIF and formed during, to shortly after, the F₂-folding and tilting of the Weld Range tectono-stratigraphy. Supergene goethite–hematite ore zones that are up to 150 m wide, 400 m long, and extend to depths of 300 m replace least-altered BIF and existing hypogene alteration zones. The supergene ore zones formed as a result of the circulation of surface oxidised fluids through late NNW- to NNE-trending, subvertical brittle faults. Flat-lying, supergene goethite–hematite-altered, detrital sediments are concentrated in a paleo-topographic depression along the southern side of the main ENE-trending ridge at Madoonga. Iron ore deposits of the Weld Range greenstone belt record remarkably similar deformation histories, overprinting hypogene alteration events, and high-grade Fe ore types to other Fe ore deposits in the wider Yilgarn Craton (e.g. Koolyanobbing and Windarling deposits) despite these Fe camps being presently located more than 400 km apart and in different tectono-stratigraphic domains. Rather than the existence of a synchronous, Yilgarn-wide, Fe mineralisation event affecting BIF throughout the Yilgarn, it is more likely that these geographically isolated Fe ore districts experienced similar tectonic histories, whereby hypogene fluids were sourced from commonly available fluid reservoirs (e.g. metamorphic, magmatic, or both) and channelled along evolving structures during progressive deformation, resulting in several generations of Fe ore.     

Microplaty hematite ore in the Yilgarn Province of Western Australia: The geology and genesis of the Wiluna West iron ore deposits

The Wiluna West small (~ 130 Mt) high-grade bedded hematite ore deposits, consisting of anhedral hematite mesobands interbedded with porous layers of acicular hematite, show similar textural and mineralogical properties to the premium high-grade low-phosphorous direct-shipping ore from Pilbara sites such as Mt Tom Price, Mt Whaleback, etc., in the Hamersley Province and Goldsworthy, Shay Gap and Yarrie on the northern margin of the Pilbara craton. Both margins of the Pilbara Craton and the northern margin of the Yilgarn craton were subjected to sub-aerial erosion in the Paleoproterozoic era followed by marine transgressions but unlike the Hamersley Basin, the JFGB was covered by comparatively thin epeirogenic sediments and not subjected to Proterozoic deformation or burial metamorphism. The Joyner's Find greenstone belt (JFGB) in the Yilgarn region of Western Australia was exhumed by middle to late Cenozoic erosion of a cover of unmetamorphosed and relatively undeformed Paleoproterozoic epeirogenic sedimentary rocks that preserved the JFGB unaltered for nearly 2 Ga; thus providing a unique snapshot of the early Proterozoic environment.Acicular hematite, pseudomorphous after acicular iron silicate, is only found in iron ore and BIF that was exposed to subaerial deep-weathering in early Paleoproterozoic times (pre 2.2 Ga) and in the overlying unconformable Paleoproterozoic conglomerate derived from these rocks and is absent from unweathered rocks (Lascelles, 2002). High-grade ore and BIF weathered during later subaerial erosion cycles contain anhedral hematite and acicular pseudomorphous goethite. The acicular hematite was formed from goethite pseudomorphs of silicate minerals by dehydration in the vadose zone under extreme aridity during early Paleoproterozoic subaerial weathering.The principal high-grade hematite deposits at Wiluna West are interpreted as bedded ore bodies that formed from BIF by loss of chert bands during diagenesis and have been locally enriched to massive hematite by the introduction of hydrothermal specular hematite. No trace of chert bands are present in the deep saprolitic hematite and hematite–goethite ore in direct contrast to shallow supergene ore in which the trace of chert bands is clearly defined by goethite replacement, voids and detrital fill. Abundant hydrothermal microplaty hematite at Wiluna West is readily distinguished by its crystallinity.The genesis of the premium ore from the Pilbara Region has been much discussed in the literature and the discovery at Wiluna West provides a unique opportunity to compare the features that are common to both districts and to test genetic models.