Precambrian atmospheric oxygen and banded iron formations: A delayed ocean model

Evidence and arguments increasingly in favor of free oxygen in the Earth's early atmosphere renew the constraints on the environmental significance of Precambrian banded iron formations. An early moist greenhouse atmosphere with a delay in, and gradual growth of, the world oceans offers a mechanism to provide a geochemically and mechanically segregated source of iron and silica for banded iron formation, while simultaneously ‘cannibalizing’ evidence for early Archean red beds. The model supports the high rates of weathering necessary to remove initially outgassed CO₂ quickly, favors continuity in early biogenic evolution, provides a mechanism for hydrogen and strontium isotope partitioning, and is consistent with iron oxide facies that are devoid of organic carbon or stromatolites that are not encrusted by iron oxide.     

微生物参与前寒武纪条带状铁建造沉积的研究进展

地球演化早期太古代和早元古代大规模的条带状铁建造(BIF)是目前世界上最重要的铁矿资源。已有的稳定同位素组成、分子化石以及岩石磁学性质等证据支持早期微生物广泛参与了BIF的形成。本文评述了微生物参与BIF形成过程中铁搬运和沉淀及其同位素分馏、生物标志物和岩石磁学证据。深入地研究BIF成矿中的微生物矿化贡献,有助于解释BIF形成机制,反演前寒武纪大气—海洋环境演化,以及理解地球早期生命的过程。     

浅谈前寒武纪条带状铁建造的沉积-变质成矿过程

条带状铁建造（BIF）是3.5~1.8Ga前陆架和洋盆的常见沉积物。前寒武纪条带状铁建造构成了世界上重要的铁矿资源。虽然它们成矿过程及其演化的许多方面的问题仍未解决,但人们普遍认为,它们沉积方式的长期变化与地球的环境和地球化学演化有关。条带状铁建造记录了前寒武纪古海洋、古环境、大气条件和细菌代谢条件以及铁的来源和沉积过程。大型BIF沉积与大火成岩省有成因联系,其铁的来源与火山物质加入的海底热液体系有关,或有陆缘岩石风化的无机物产物加入,越靠近陆缘,陆源碎屑物质加入的越多。然而,在太古宙到古元古代期间,BIF沉积的深水盆地中陆源物质的加入很少。那时的铁建造沉积在缺氧的海洋中,通过微生物的光合作用、无氧光合氧化和紫外光线辐射氧化等机制对溶解的二价铁进行氧化,从而形成三价铁氢氧化物和氧化物的沉积。大多数BIF大型矿床,自其在沉积环境中形成以来,它们在从太古宙直至中生代的漫长的地质历史演化过程中经历了铁矿的品位由低到高转化的复杂地质过程,一般经历了深部交代变质作用的除硅、除碳酸岩矿物的富集成矿和浅部风化富集成矿过程。许多BIF铁矿经历了从绿片岩相到角闪岩相变质作用,但到达的压力条件都不是很高,这或许与俯冲的高密度BIF铁矿难以折返的动力学机制有关。迄今为止,变质作用、尤其是高级变质作用对成矿过程的影响研究较少,是今后值得关注的领域。

     

Petrogenetic link between amphibolites and the banded iron formation of the Yishui region in the North China Craton: implications for Neoarchean plume tectonics

ABSTRACT

Amphibolites have a genetically close relationship with banded iron formations (BIFs) in the North China Craton (NCC). The Yishui amphibolites in the NCC occur interbedded with Algoma–type Yishui BIFs as related wall rocks. A reconstruction of the amphibolite protolith was conducted based on the results of petrologic, mineralogic, and geochemical analyses. The Yishui amphibolites consist of actinolite, ferrohornblende, albite, orthoclase, biotite, quartz, magnetite with minor pyrite, titanite, and ilmenite. Their chemical compositions are mainly SiO₂, Fe₂O₃^T, CaO, and Al₂O₃ with subordinate TiO₂, MgO, Na₂O, K₂O, P₂O₅, and MnO. The chondrite–normalized rare earth element diagram, characterized by enriched light rare earth elements (La/Yb_CN = 19.51–24.05) with insignificant Eu and Ce anomalies, shows coherent trends. The primitive mantle–normalized multi–element spider diagram is enriched in large ion lithophile elements, high field strength elements, and light rare earth elements which are related to a mantle source. The results of this study, combined with previous literature data, indicate that the Yishui amphibolite protoliths had intraplate alkaline basalt affinities and were derived from an ocean island basalt–type mantle source with no contamination. The results also suggest that the basalts were primarily the product of small amounts of partial melting. Based on the results, it is considered that a mantle plume model is the most appropriate tectonic model as it better explains the amphibolite geochemical signature. Furthermore, this model can provide crucial information regarding the Archaean NCC tectonic evolution and can demonstrate the temporal and spatial relationships between the BIFs and wall rocks.     

Major Precambrian events and mineralization in the North China Craton: Preface

This special issue of Ore Geology Reviews assembles a set of thirteen papers, which provide new insights on the major Precambrian events and mineralization in the North China Craton (NCC). These contributions cover a detailed evaluation of the major metallogenic systems including the BIF, Cu, REE, Mo and graphite deposits in the NCC.     

Growth and reworking of the early Precambrian continental crust in the North China Craton: Constraints from zircon Hf isotopes

We synthesize more than 2600 Hf isotope data on the Archean-Paleoproterozoic zircons from the North China Craton (NCC). Recalculation of the data based on single stage and two-stage Hf model ages of the Eastern Block of the NCC shows peak ages of 3902 ± 13 Ma and 3978 ± 18 Ma, respectively, and also small peaks at 3.5–4.0 Ga. The majority of zircon ε_Hf(t) values are positive, suggesting the possibility of the crust and the mantle differentiation at ca. 3.9–4.0 Ga in the Eastern Block of the NCC. Most magmatic zircons from the whole of NCC have their Hf model age range of 2.4–2.9 Ga, and the single stage model ages is cluster at 2698 ± 4 Ma, whereas the two-stage model ages concentrate at 2714 ± 5 Ma, implying that the protoliths were juvenile crustal rocks. The most prominent peak at 2.7 Ga indicates that this period marks the most important stage of the crust-mantle differentiation and crust formation of the NCC. The widespread 2.5 Ga rocks in the NCC and the absence of the 2.5 Ga peaks in Hf model ages are consistent with the partial melting and reworking of the juvenile rocks at 2.5 Ga. Furthermore, the 2.5–1.7 Ga zircon Hf isotope features are also related to the reworking of the crustal rocks. Our results from the integration of a large database suggest that the Eastern Block and the Trans-North China Orogen have undergone similar crust-mantle differentiation and magmatism, leading to the conclusion that the essential cratonization of the North China took place at the end of Neoarchean.     

鞍山-本溪地区条带状铁建造的铁同位素与稀土元素特征及其对成矿物质来源的指示

通过Fe同位素、稀土元素与主量元素相结合的方法,对辽宁省鞍山-本溪地区新太古代条带状铁建造(BIF)的成矿物质来源提出了有效制约.BIF的化学成分主要由TFe2O3和SiO2组成,并且具有较低的Al2O3和TiO2含量,表明该地区BIF型贫铁矿是由极少碎屑物质加入的化学沉积岩.稀土元素的总量较低,经页岩标准化后的稀土元素配分模式呈现轻稀土亏损、重稀土富集的特征,具有明显的Eu、Y、La正异常,这些特征表明该地区BIF是古海洋的化学沉积岩,同时具有明显的火山热液贡献特征.用多接收电感耦合等离子体质谱仪(MCICP-MS)测定Fe同位素的结果表明,相对于标准IRMM-014,所测样品均显示Fe的重同位素富集,且Fe同位素组成与Eu异常存在明显的正相关关系,表明该地区BIF中铁的来源与海底火山热液活动密切相关,首次从成矿元素Fe本身为条带状铁建造的成矿物质来源提供了直接的证据.     

A review on the Huoqiu banded iron formation (BIF), southeast margin of the North China Craton: Genesis of iron deposits and implications for exploration

The Huoqiu iron ore field in northwest Anhui Province is located in the North China Craton (NCC). As a large banded iron formation (BIF) iron ore field, ore bodies occur in a middle-high grade of Neoarchean metamorphic formation, forming a banded silicon–iron series from north to south. The main ore bodies can be divided into two sub-belts from bottom to upper layers, i.e. the A + B ore belt consisting of leptynite–schist–magnetite–quartz formation, and the D ore belt consisting of schist–marble–hematite–quartz formation. Based on a dataset from geological settings, geophysical and geochemical exploration, ore-forming conditions and structural analysis of the iron deposit, we discuss structural types, sedimentary environments, deep tectonic and ore-controlling factors as well as characteristics and distribution of this colossal BIF ore field in the Huoqiu region.Using LA-ICP-MS techniques, we obtained the oldest U–Pb age of ca. 2.7 Ga for plagioclase amphibolite as its original rock, and 1.8 Ga for magmatic granite in the Huoqiu Group. The Hf isotopes of zircon were also determined, resulting in the oldest Hf model age of 3.5 Ga.Geochemical data indicate that the protolithes of amphibolites belong to a series of subalkaline rocks with enrichments of large ion lithophile elements and depletions of high field strength elements, which are typical volcanic arc rocks. The amphibolites have low K₂O concentrations with low ratios of Ti/V (22.7 to 25.9 averaging 24.5), similar to island arc tholeiite. This suggests that the iron deposit and BIF are of the Superior type in the Huoqiu region.     

华北克拉通早前寒武纪基性火山作用与地壳增生

大量的年代学资料表明,华北克拉通在早前寒武纪阶段有两个主要的基性火山活动时期,一期发生在2.7Ga左右,另一期发生在2.5Ga左右,代表了两期强烈的地壳增生事件。太古宙末期基性火山岩的分布、地球化学特征、基性火山岩与其他岩石的关系和组合特征表明,华北克拉通在新太古代时期,在陆块之间基性火山岩的喷溢使地壳面积增大并把原本分离的小陆块拼合到一起,造成地壳的增生。在陆块内部,地壳的增生主要通过地幔柱的方式进行,在较均匀的地壳部分主要通过基性岩浆的垫托方式使地壳增厚,部分岩浆侵位到地壳较浅部位,甚至溢出地表。这两种地壳增生方式是相辅相成的,它们的联合作用形成了太古宙末的华北古大陆。     

华北和圣弗朗西斯科克拉通前寒武纪地质对比

一些学者提出华北克拉通在新元古代早期之前与圣弗朗西斯科克拉通（圣弗朗西斯科-刚果克拉通）相邻,但缺少证据;本文总结两个古陆地质记录,为评价这一古构造格局模型提供线索。两个古陆陆壳生长的峰期均为～2.7 Ga前;不同之处是,华北古陆经历了显著的～2.5 Ga前的陆壳生长和改造,而圣弗朗西斯科克拉通则似乎没有。华北古陆2.4～2.2 Ga期间发育少量变质火山-沉积岩系和花岗岩,～2.1 Ga前后广泛发育裂谷火山-沉积建造及侵入岩,2.0～1.9 Ga发育超高温变质作用和类似弧岩浆活动,导致两个克拉通（东、西华北克拉通）拼合形成统一的华北古陆;同一时期,圣弗朗西斯科克拉通南、北缘发育2.4～2.0 Ga岩浆作用,指示长期处于大陆边缘弧或者岛弧背景,～2.0 Ga还发育超高温变质作用。两个古陆都发育～2.0 Ga前类似大陆边缘弧特点的岩浆活动,只是圣弗朗西斯科克拉通时代稍早。1.8 Ga以来,两个古陆均发育多期岩墙群,部分基本同期,如～1.78 Ga岩墙群、～1.7 Ga岩墙群和～0.92 Ga岩墙群等;不同的是,华北古陆发育约1.3～1.2 Ga岩床/墙群,而圣弗朗西斯克拉通发育～1.5 Ga岩墙群。1.8～0.8 Ga,两个古陆上都断续发育（火山）-沉积建造：1.8～1.6 Ga以及1.4～1.2 Ga,两者的沉积建造同样以石英砂岩等碎屑岩为主,碳酸盐岩较少;1.2～1.0 Ga前,两者的记录均较少,或暂不能确定;1.0～0.8 Ga,两者均发育碎屑岩和碳酸盐岩;1.6～1.4 Ga,华北古陆发育碳酸盐岩建造,而圣弗朗西斯科克拉通则发育碎屑岩建造。华北古陆新元古界地层中碎屑锆石常显示～1.5 Ga的峰值,该期岩浆岩鲜少报道于华北古陆,但却见于圣弗朗西斯科克拉通。两个陆块都发育太古宙-古元古代条带状铁建造铁矿、古元古代石墨矿、中新元古代沉积-喷流型铅锌矿等。不过,华北古陆发育的古元古代硼矿、菱镁矿,中元古代碳酸岩型稀土矿等在圣弗朗西斯科不发育;而后者发育的绿岩带型相关金矿、镍矿、祖母绿宝石矿等,华北似乎不发育。另外,0.7～0.5 Ga,圣弗朗西斯科克拉通周边广泛发育泛非期造山带,而华北古陆并没有这一事件的明确记录;显生宙,圣弗朗西斯科克拉通相对稳定,中生代与刚果克拉通分离;但华北古陆内部经历强烈的构造-岩浆活动（峰期在中生代）。华北与圣弗朗西斯科克拉通前寒武纪是否相邻还需进一步地质对比和古地磁工作,尤其应关注约2.0～1.9 Ga岩浆-变质（造山）事件、约1.8～1.7 Ga岩浆-沉积（裂谷）事件以及约0.9 Ga岩浆-沉积（裂谷）事件。从地质记录的相似性角度来看,华北东南缘与圣弗朗西斯科南缘的地质记录相似性最大,可延续性最强,最可能相邻。     

华北克拉通前寒武纪BIF铁矿研究:进展与问题

研究表明,BIF铁矿在华北克拉通的分布具有一定规律性.大规模BIF铁矿主要发育在绿岩带分布区的鞍山-本溪、冀东、霍邱-舞阳、五台、鲁西和固阳等地;华北克拉通时代最古老的BIF形成于古太古代,最年轻BIF形成于古元古代早期,但BIF铁矿的峰期为新太古代晚期(2.52 ～2.56Ga);BIF铁矿类型可划分为阿尔戈马型和苏比利尔湖型两类,但华北以晚太古代绿岩带中的阿尔戈马型为主,仅吕梁的古元古代袁家村铁矿具典型苏比利尔湖型铁矿特征.根据BIF在绿岩带序列中的产出部位和岩石组合关系,可将华北BIF划分为:1)斜长角闪岩(夹角闪斜长片麻岩)-磁铁石英岩组合;2)斜长角闪岩-黑云变粒岩-云母石英片岩-磁铁石英岩组合;3)黑云变粒岩(夹黑云石英片岩)-磁铁石英岩组合;4)黑云变粒岩-绢云绿泥片岩-黑云石英片岩-磁铁石英岩组合;5)斜长角闪岩(片麻岩)-大理岩-磁铁石英岩组合等5种类型.华北克拉通BIF形成时代与早前寒武纪岩浆活动的时间基本一致(2.5～2.6Ga),但与华北克拉通陆壳增生的峰期(2.7～2.9Ga)有一定偏差,其原因可能与新太古代晚期华北克拉通构造-热事件十分强烈有关.华北克拉通新太古代BIF大多形成于岛弧环境,但局部地区(如固阳)BIF铁矿可能形成于深部有地幔柱叠加的岛弧环境.华北克拉通BIF富矿主要有三种类型:原始沉积、受后期构造-热液叠加改造和古风化壳等,但总体不发育富铁矿,国外发育的风化壳型富铁在我国甚为少见.本文认为在探讨BIF铁矿类型时,需要从绿岩带发育序列进行综合判别.阿尔戈马型铁矿一般产于克拉通基底(绿岩带)环境,苏比利尔湖型铁矿一般形成于稳定克拉通上的海相沉积盆地或被动大陆边缘.华北克拉通BIF铁矿地球化学研究结果表明,BIF铁矿无Ce负异常且Fe同位素为正值,从而暗示铁矿沉淀的环境为低氧或缺氧环境,而铕正异常可能指示BIFs为热水沉积成因,其机制可能为海水对流循环从新生镁铁质-超镁铁质洋壳中淋滤出F(e)和Si等元素,在海底排泄沉淀成矿,而条带状构造的形成可能归咎于成矿流体的脉动式喷溢.但对于BIF铁矿的物质来源、成矿条件和机制、富铁矿成因、华北克拉通不发育苏比利尔湖型铁矿的原因等方面,仍需深入研究.     

Boron in chert and Precambrian siliceous iron formations

In order to assess the importance of siliceous sediments as a sink for oceanic B and to determine the effect of diagenesis on the mobilization of B, samples were analysed from chert nodules, bedded cherts, and siliceous banded iron formations from a variety of sedimentary environments and geologic ages. Boron analyses on bulk samples were made by prompt gamma neutron activation analysis. The distribution of B in rocks was mapped using α-track methods.Nodular Phanerozoic cherts typically contain 50–150 ppm B, and bedded cherts somewhat less. The B is initially concentrated in tests of silica-secreting organisms, but some is lost in early diagenesis as silica progressively recrystallises to quartz.Banded iron formation silica of Archean and Proterozoic age usually contains < 2 ppm B. This conforms with the view that such silica is not of biogenic origin but, since many iron formations are undoubtedly of marine origin, raises the question whether Precambrian oceans were impoverished in B. Analyses of Precambrian marine argillaceous sediments, averaging 70 ppm B, do not resolve this question.     

Lithochemical typification of Early Precambrian ferruginous-siliceous formations in the East European Craton

The first comparative paleolithochemical characteristics of Early Precambrian ferruginous-siliceous formations of the East European Craton confined to four stratigraphic levels—Lower Archean, Upper Archean (Lopian), Lower Karelian, and Upper Karelian—are presented. Using the MINLITH method and software package for lithochemical calculations, the possible primary composition of metasedimentary rocks is reconstructed and paleogeographic settings of sedimentation are suggested. It is shown that different age formations represented initially lithogenetic groups with different compositions and quantitative relationships between the major types of sedimentary rocks with gradual transitions and genetic affinity. They accumulated in paleotectonic and facies settings that were specific for each stage of iron ore sedimentation, resulting in the development of four genetic (Bug, Algoma, Okolovo, and Lake Superior) types of ferruginous-siliceous formations.     

华北克拉通南部早前寒武纪基底形成与演化

简要总结了华北克拉通南部鲁山地区、小秦岭地区、登封及中条山地区的早前寒武纪地质事件序列及其地质意义,并对各地区地质特征和变质演化特点进行对比。结合前人研究工作,初步探讨了华北克拉通南部早前寒武纪基底的演化特点、陆壳形成的主要时期和华北南部基底的构造区划等问题,提出几点认识:1)华北克拉通南部鲁山、中条山、小秦岭等地区均有2.7~2.9Ga岩石记录,以英云闪长质-奥长花岗质-花岗闪长质(TTG)岩石为主,它们共同构成华北南缘的古老结晶基底,并经历了新太古代晚期~2.5Ga构造-热事件,标志着华北克拉通南部在新太古代末期可能已经形成统一基底;2)华北克拉通南部主要的陆壳形成时期为中太古代晚期-新太古代,与全球其他主要克拉通一致,而古元古代早-中期则以地壳再循环为主;3)综合地质、地球化学等特点,将华北南部鲁山-小秦岭地区和中条山等地区划归为"南部古陆块",并提出该陆块呈现为一个大型的倾伏向斜构造,可能在新太古代晚期已经形成,其枢纽向南东倾斜。"南部古陆块"在新太古代末期与其它微陆块拼合,并发生了变质作用和陆壳的活化与再循环,共同指示新太古代晚期华北克拉通统一基底的形成。     

华北克拉通中部造山带早前寒武纪变质演化历史评述

根据变质作用程度不同,华北中部造山带早前寒武纪基底可以进一步分为高级区和花岗-绿岩带。前者变质程度可达高角闪岩相-麻粒岩相,包括太华、吕梁、阜平、恒山、怀安、宣化等杂岩,花岗-绿岩带的变质程度较低,多为绿片岩相-角闪岩相,包括登封、赞皇、五台等杂岩。已有变质演化研究表明,高级区恒山、怀安和宣化杂岩中的麻粒岩和(或)退变榴辉岩记录的峰期变质压力最高,恒山杂岩、阜平杂岩和宣化杂岩中的麻粒岩记录的峰期变质温度最高;花岗-绿岩带中的赞皇杂岩和五台杂岩出露高压斜长角闪岩和高压变泥质岩。中部带各变质杂岩中可识别出早期进变质、峰期、峰后快速降压和晚期冷却等变质阶段,拥有顺时针近等温降压型的变质作用P-T轨迹,与华北克拉通中部的俯冲碰撞有关。大量变质年代学数据显示,中部带各变质杂岩中至少记录了~1.85Ga、~1.95Ga和~2.5Ga三组变质年龄,其中,~1.85Ga的变质年龄占据了主导地位,大致与区域片麻理形成的时间一致,代表变质高峰期时代;~1.95Ga的变质年龄代表了峰期前的某个进变质片段;~2.5Ga的变质年龄则指示了更早一期的变质事件,推测与古老陆块~2.5Ga所遭受的大量幔源岩浆的侵入和底垫作用有关。然而,变质年龄与变质阶段的对应关系尚不明确。     

Ancient geochemical cycling in the Earth as inferred from Fe isotope studies of banded iron formations from the Transvaal Craton

Variations in the isotopic composition of Fe in Late Archean to Early Proterozoic Banded Iron Formations (BIFs) from the Transvaal Supergroup, South Africa, span nearly the entire range yet measured on Earth, from –2.5 to +1.0‰ in ⁵⁶Fe/⁵⁴Fe ratios relative to the bulk Earth. With a current state-of-the-art precision of ±0.05‰ for the ⁵⁶Fe/⁵⁴Fe ratio, this range is 70 times analytical error, demonstrating that significant Fe isotope variations can be preserved in ancient rocks. Significant variation in Fe isotope compositions of rocks and minerals appears to be restricted to chemically precipitated sediments, and the range measured for BIFs stands in marked contrast to the isotopic homogeneity of igneous rocks, which have δ⁵⁶Fe=0.00±0.05‰, as well as the majority of modern loess, aerosols, riverine loads, marine sediments, and Proterozoic shales. The Fe isotope compositions of hematite, magnetite, Fe carbonate, and pyrite measured in BIFs appears to reflect a combination of (1) mineral-specific equilibrium isotope fractionation, (2) variations in the isotope compositions of the fluids from which they were precipitated, and (3) the effects of metabolic processing of Fe by bacteria. For minerals that may have been in isotopic equilibrium during initial precipitation or early diagenesis, the relative order of δ⁵⁶Fe values appears to decrease in the order magnetite > siderite > ankerite, similar to that estimated from spectroscopic data, although the measured isotopic differences are much smaller than those predicted at low temperature. In combination with on-going experimental determinations of equilibrium Fe isotope fractionation factors, the data for BIF minerals place additional constraints on the equilibrium Fe isotope fractionation factors for the system Fe(III)–Fe(II)–hematite–magnetite–Fe carbonate. δ⁵⁶Fe values for pyrite are the lowest yet measured for natural minerals, and stand in marked contrast to the high δ⁵⁶Fe values that are predicted from spectroscopic data. Some samples contain hematite and magnetite and have positive δ⁵⁶Fe values; these seem best explained through production of high ⁵⁶Fe/⁵⁴Fe reservoirs by photosynthetic Fe oxidation. It is not yet clear if the low δ⁵⁶Fe values measured for some oxides, as well as Fe carbonates, reflect biologic processes, or inorganic precipitation from low-δ⁵⁶Fe ferrous-Fe-rich fluids. However, the present results demonstrate the great potential for Fe isotopes in tracing the geochemical cycling of Fe, and highlight the need for an extensive experimental program for determining equilibrium Fe isotope fractionation factors for minerals and fluids that are pertinent to sedimentary environments.     

华北地幔橄榄岩锂同位素研究进展

作为非传统稳定同位素的代表,Li同位素已被广泛应用于示踪与熔体和流体相关的地质过程。地幔橄榄岩高度不均一的Li含量和Li同位素组成特征是熔/流体与地幔橄榄岩相互作用过程中同位素分馏作用及温度下降过程中Li在矿物之间扩散分馏的结果,同位素扩散现象通常被矿物颗粒边部的组成特征所记录。由于Li在橄榄石中的扩散速度比在辉石中慢,所以大颗粒橄榄石核部的Li含量和同位素组成更能反映岩石圈地幔的组成,而辉石的组成特征更多地记录了后期的过程。大量地幔捕虏体的锂同位素组成特征研究表明,华北克拉通岩石圈地幔经历了蚀变洋壳在俯冲过程中、残留俯冲板片在深部地幔、以及上涌的软流圈所释放的不同组成的熔/流体的改造过程。由于改造作用的多阶段性和改造程度的不同,华北克拉通东部与中部地幔橄榄岩的组成特征具有系统性的差异。Li同位素与其他地球化学指标的联合示踪是未来地幔地球化学研究的发展趋势。

     

Tectonic Evolution of an Early Precambrian High-Pressure Granulite Belt in the North China Craton

A large-scale high-pressure granulite belt (HPGB), more than 700 km long, is recognized within the metamorphic basement of the North China craton. In the regional tectonic framework, the Hengshan-Chengde HPGB is located in the central collision belt between the western block and eastern block, and represents the deep crustal structural level. The typical high-pressure granulite (HPG) outcrops are distributed in the Hengshan and Chengde areas. HPGs commonly occur as mafic xenoliths within ductile shear zones, and underwent multipile deformations. To the south, the Hengshan-Chengde HPGB is juxtaposed with the Wutai greenstone belt by several strike-slip shear zones. Preliminary isotopic age dating indicates that HPGs from North China were mainly generated at the end of the Neoarchaean, assocaited with tectonic assembly of the western and eastern blocks.     

The composition and genesis of the Mesoarchean Dagushan banded iron formation (BIF) in the Anshan area of the North China Craton

The Dagushan BIF-hosted iron deposit in the Anshan–Benxi area of the North China Craton (NCC) has two types of iron ore: quartz–magnetite BIF (Fe₂O₃^T < 57 wt.%) and high-grade iron ore (Fe₂O₃^T > 90 wt.%). Chlorite-quartz schist and amphogneiss border the iron orebodies and are locally present as interlayers with BIFs; chlorite-quartz schist and BIFs are enclosed by amphogneiss in some locations. The quartz–magnetite BIFs are enriched in HREEs (heavy rare earth elements) with positive La, Eu and Y anomalies, indicating their precipitation from marine seawater with a high-temperature hydrothermal component. Moreover, these BIFs have low concentrations of Al₂O₃, TiO₂ and HFSEs (high field strength elements, e.g., Zr, Hf and Ta), suggesting that terrigenous detrital materials contributed insignificantly to the chemical precipitation. The high-grade iron ores exhibit similar geochemical signatures to the quartz–magnetite BIFs (e.g., REE patterns and Y/Ho ratios), implying that they have identical sources of iron. However, these ores have different REE (rare earth element) contents and Eu/Eu* values, and the magnetites contained within them exhibit diverse REE contents and trace element concentrations, indicating that the ores underwent differing formation conditions, and the high-grade ores are most likely the reformed product of the original BIFs.The chlorite-quartz schist and amphogneiss are characterized by high SiO₂ and Al₂O₃ contents and exhibit variable abundances of REEs, enrichment in LREEs (light rare earth elements), negative anomalies in HFSEs (e.g., Nb, Ta, P and Ti) and positive anomalies in LILEs (large ion lithophile elements, e.g., Rb, Ba, U and K). A protolith reconstruction indicates that the protoliths of the chlorite-quartz schist are felsic volcanic rocks. SIMS and LA-ICP-MS zircon U–Pb dating indicate that this schist formed at approximately 3110 to 3101 Ma, which could represent the maximum deposition age of the Dagushan BIF. However, two groups of zircons from the amphogneiss are identified: 3104 to 3089 Ma zircons that are most likely derived from the chlorite-quartz schist and 2997 to 2995 Ma zircons, which are interpreted to represent the time of protolith crystallization. Thus, the Dagushan BIF most likely formed before 2997 to 2995 Ma. The ~ 3.1 Ga zircons yield ε_Hf(t) values of − 8.07 to 5.46, whereas the ~ 3.0 Ga zircons yield ε_Hf(t) values of − 3.96 to 2.09. These geochemical features suggest that the primitive magmas were derived from the depleted mantle with significant contributions of ancient crust.