Reappraisal of the structure of the Western Iron Ore Group, Singhbhum craton, eastern India: Implications for the exploration of BIF-hosted iron ore deposits

The middle to late Archean Iron Ore Group rocks occurring along the western margin (the Western Iron Ore basin) of the Singhbhum Granite massif in the Singhbhum craton were deformed during Iron Ore orogeny and are disposed in a horseshoe-shaped synclinal structure in the eastern part of the Indian shield. The Western Iron Ore basin hosts almost all the major high-grade iron ore deposits of eastern India. Contrary to the established view, present analysis emphasizes that the horseshoe fold in reality is a synclinorium consisting of a syncline–anticline fold pair which were later cross-folded along an east–west axis.

Structural analysis in the eastern anticline of the ‘horseshoe synclinorium’ suggests that the BIF hosting the high-grade iron ore bodies are disposed in three linear NNE–SSW trending belts, each showing an open synclinal geometry. Later cross folding produced development of widespread dome and basin pattern at the sub-horizontal hinge zones of these synclinal fold belts. The major iron ore deposits in the eastern anticline at the present level of erosion are preferentially localized within shallow elongated basinal structures only. The axis of the adjoining western syncline was similarly uplifted as partial culminations where cross-folded against E–W anticlinal axes. But here, the BIF-iron ore bodies are preferentially localized within elongated domal structures in contrast to the basinal sites in the adjacent eastern anticline. Such an inference based on structural analysis could probably be utilized as a potential tool for all future explorations, reserve estimation and recovery of the iron ore deposits in the terrain.     

Solubility of FeO in (Mg,Fe)SiO3 perovskite and the post-perovskite phase transition

Phase relations in Mg_0.5Fe_0.5SiO₃ and Mg_0.25Fe_0.75SiO₃ were investigated in a pressure range from 72 to 123 GPa on the basis of synchrotron X-ray diffraction measurements in situ at high-pressure and -temperature in a laser-heated diamond-anvil cell (LHDAC). Results demonstrate that Mg_0.5Fe_0.5SiO₃ perovskite is formed as a single phase at 85–108 GPa and 1800–2330 K, indicating a high solubility of FeO in (Mg,Fe)SiO₃ perovskite at high pressures. Post-perovskite appears coexisting with perovskite in Mg_0.5Fe_0.5SiO₃ above 106 GPa at 1410 K, the condition very close to the post-perovskite phase transition boundary in pure MgSiO₃. The coexistence of perovskite and post-perovskite was observed to 123 GPa. In addition, post-perovskite was formed coexisting with perovskite also in Mg_0.25Fe_0.75SiO₃ bulk composition at 106–123 GPa. In contrast to earlier experimental and theoretical studies, these results show that incorporation of FeO stabilizes perovskite at higher pressures. This could be due to a larger ionic radius of Fe²⁺ ion, which is incompatible with a small Mg²⁺ site in the post-perovskite phase.     

辽宁弓长岭一矿区铁矿石品位分布的地质统计学研究

弓长岭铁矿地质条件复杂,使矿山生产长期受到制约。运用地质统计学的方法对该矿区的ＴＦｅ,ＦｅＯ品位分布规律进行了系统研究,确定了品位分布的结构模型,对今后矿山开发和生产提出了建议。     

Analytical perspective on trace element species of interest in exploration

Analysis of soil and sediment samples, using selective extraction methods to distinguish different phases, is of particular interest in exploration geochemistry to locate deeply buried mineral deposits. There are various mechanisms of binding labile elements in the secondary environment, including physical and chemical sorption, precipitation, chelation and complexation. Phases present in soils and sediments which are likely to scavenge ‘free' elements include amorphous Mn and Fe oxides, the humic and fulvic components of humus, and clays. This paper reviews these forms of trace elements and the methods in current use to quantify them. Examples of precision data, both for control and survey samples, are given with respect to trace elements dissolved from the ‘soluble organic' component of humus, Mn oxides and amorphous Fe oxides. The high sensitivity of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP–MS) is required to measure accurately and precisely a large suite of trace elements, especially where only small fractions of elements are dissolved by such leaches as the commercially available Enzyme and MMI (Mobile Metal Ion) extractions. The relative standard deviations (RSD) obtained for 33 elements (e.g. Ag, Cd, In, I) in the standard reference sample (SRM), TILL-2, are in the range 0.5–8% for the hydroxylamine hydrochloride (NH₂OH·HCl) leach designed to extract hydrous Fe and Mn oxides. The corresponding RSDs for elements in the reactive Mn oxide phase extracted by the Enzyme leach are in the range 3–19% except for some trace elements at levels close to detection limit (e.g. Cd, Bi). The RSDs obtained for field duplicates are inferior to those for analytical replicates (i.e. sample splits), probably a reflection of different concentrations of the host phase. In one soil survey, the Fe extracted by a 0.25 M NH₂OH·HCl leach ranged conservatively from 0.2 to 1.7% whereas the Mn extracted by the Enzyme leach varied extensively, from 0.3 to >999 ppm. In contrast, precision, at 1–7% RSD, for field duplicates was found to be comparable with that for both analytical duplicates and the SRM, LKSD-4, for elements associated with the humic and fulvic component of humus samples sieved to <177 μm.     

Change in the magnetic properties of bituminous coal intruded by an igneous dike, Dutch Creek Mine, Pitkin County, Colorado

Magnetization measurements have been made on natural coke–coal samples collected at various distances from a felsic porphyry dike in a coal seam in Dutch Creek Mine, Colorado to help characterize the nature and distribution of the iron-bearing phases. The magnetization passes through a maximum at the coke-to-coal transition about 31 cm from the dike contact. The magnetic measurements support the geochemical data indicating that magmatic fluids along with a high-temperature gas pulse moved into the coal bed. Interaction of the magmatic fluids with the coal diminished the reducing power of the thermal gas pulse from the dike to a point about 24 cm into the coal. The hot reducing gas penetrated further and produced a high temperature (400–525°C) zone (at about 31 cm) just ahead of the magmatic fluids. Metallic iron found in this zone is the principal cause of the observed high magnetization. Beyond this zone, the temperature was too low to alter the coal significantly.     

Using iron speciation in authigenic carbonates from hydrocarbon seeps to trace variable redox conditions

Seepage of hydrocarbon-rich fluids out of the marine sedimentary column is characterized by temporal changes of flow intensity and resultant spatially variable redox conditions. Authigenic carbonates at marine hydrocarbon seeps provide excellent geological and geochemical archives that serve to explore seepage dynamics over time. In this study, we investigated the potential of Mössbuaer spectroscopy and Fe contents of seep-related authigenic carbonates from the Congo Fan, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Black Sea for reconstructing past redox conditions and fluid seepage activity at cold seeps. The Fe speciation observed by Mössbauer spectroscopy and Fe contents suggest that (1) the Congo Fan carbonates precipitated in a sulfidic environment, (2) the formation conditions of seep carbonates were variable at the Gulf of Mexico seep site, ranging from oxic to suboxic and anoxic and even spanning into the methanogenic zone, and (3) the stratified water column of the Black Sea or suboxic condition resulted in low Fe contents of Black Sea carbonates. The study reveals that Fe speciation can provide constraints on the wide range of redox conditions that imprinted seep carbonates during the life span of seepage. Similarly, Mössbauer spectroscopy – particularly when used in combination with the analysis of redox-sensitive elements – is a promising tool to trace variable redox conditions in marine paleoenvironments other than seeps.     

Determination of picomolar iron in seawater by double Mg(OH)2 precipitation isotope dilution high-resolution ICPMS

A low-blank pre-concentration procedure is described for the analysis of picomolar iron (Fe) in seawater by isotope dilution high-resolution inductively coupled plasma mass-spectrometry (HR-ICPMS). The procedure uses a two-step Mg(OH)₂ co-precipitation procedure to extract Fe from a 50 ml seawater sample into a 100 μl 4% nitric acid (HNO₃) solution followed by HR-ICPMS measurement. The high pre-concentration ratio ( 500:1) achieved by the procedure minimizes the Fe blank due to ICPMS instrumental Fe background and results in a detection limit of  2 pM and a precision of  4% at the 50 pM Fe level. The measurement of a low-Fe seawater sample spiked with gravimetric Fe standard shows that the method can clearly distinguish 0.01 nM Fe from 0.02 nM Fe in seawater with high accuracy. The method is demonstrated by the analysis of dissolved Fe in the equatorial Pacific Ocean.     

广西新元古代BIF的铁同位素特征及其地质意义

通过分析广西三江地区新元古代条带状含铁建造的Fe同位素和主量元素组成,对海水的氧化还原状态提供了制约,为富禄期的地球处于间冰期提供了证据。相对于标准物质IRMM-014,新元古代含铁建造不同条带全岩样品的δ57Fe值变化范围1.60‰～2.20‰,平均值为1.85‰,表明BIF样品富集铁的重同位素。条带状含铁建造主要由Fe2O3和SiO2组成,但却具有较高的Al2O3含量。这表明条带状含铁建造样品不是纯净的化学沉积物,而是具有一定的碎屑物质输入。碎屑输入量的不同引起深色和浅色条带之间铁同位素组成存在着0.4‰的差别。剔除碎屑的影响,新元古代BIF从海水中沉淀的赤铁矿δ57Fe的平均值在2‰左右,略高于太古代条带状铁建造的Fe同位素组成,这表明当时海水的氧逸度可能比太古代还低。这说明在富禄期绝大部分海洋仍旧被冰盖覆盖,只在局部出现融化。因此,富禄期的地球可能出于冰期的相对温暖阶段,而不是间冰期。