Genesis of the channel iron deposits (CID) of the Pilbara region,Western Australia

Miocene fluvial goethite/hematite channel iron deposits (CID) are part of the Cenozoic Detritals 2 (CzD2), of the Western Australian Pilbara region. They range from gravelly mudstones through granular rocks to intraformational pebble, cobble and rare boulder conglomerates, as infill in numerous meandering palaeochannels in a mature surface that includes Precambrian granitoids, volcanics, metasediments, BIF and ferruginous Palaeogene valley fill. In the Hamersley Province of the Pilbara, the consolidated fine gravels and subordinate interbedded conglomerates, with their leached equivalents, are a major source of export iron ore. This granular ore typically comprises pedogenically derived pelletoids comprising hematite nuclei and goethite cortices (ooids and lesser pisoids), with abundant coarser goethitised wood/charcoal fragments and goethitic peloids, minor clay, and generally minimal porous goethitic matrix, with late-stage episodic solution and partial infill by secondary goethite, silica and siderite (now oxidised) in places. Clay horizons and non-ore polymictic basal and marginal conglomerates are also present. The accretionary pedogenic pelletoids were mostly derived from stripping of a mature ferruginous but apparently well-vegetated surface, developed in the Early to Middle Miocene on a wide variety of susceptible rock types including BIF, basic intrusives and sediments. This deep ferruginisation effectively destroyed most remnants of the original rock textures producing a unique surface, very different to those that produced the underlying CzD1 (Palaeogene) and the overlying CzD3 (Pliocene – Quaternary). The peloids were derived both intraformationally from fragmentation and reworking of desiccated goethite-rich muds, and from the regolith. Tiny wood/charcoal fragments replaced in soil by goethite, and dehydrated to hematite, formed nuclei for many pelletoids. Additionally, abundant small (≤10 mm) fragments of wood/charcoal, now goethite, were probably replaced in situ within the consolidating CID. This profusion of fossil wood, both as pelletoid nuclei and as discrete fragments, suggests major episodic wild fires in heavily vegetated catchments, a point supported by the abundance of kenomagnetite – maghemite developed from goethite in the pelletoids, but less commonly in the peloids. The matrix to the heterogeneous colluvial and intraformational components is essentially goethite, primarily derived from modified chemically precipitated iron hydroxyoxides, resulting from leaching of iron-rich soils in an organic environment, together with goethitic soil-derived alluvial material. Major variations in the granular ore CID after deposition have resulted from intermittent groundwater flow in the channels causing dissolution and reprecipitation of goethite and silica, particularly in the basal CID zones, with surface weathering of eroded exposures playing a role in masking some of these effects. However, significant variations in rock types in both the general CID and the granular ore CID have also resulted from the effects of varied provenance.     

A new sediment type of coated grain: Oolitic sinter

As a special sedimentary grain type, the coated grain (with an ooid model) has been known for two centuries due to its fascinating special fabric and genesis developments. The leading factors in forming the coated grain consist mainly of: (1) microorganism movement field; (2) chemical sedimentary effect; (3) hydrodynamic force environment and topography condition; (4) abundant core material supply; (5) embedding condition; and (6) humic acids condition in water medium. With the development of the coated grain genesis, the single factor theory cannot reasonably explain the exact formation of the surface sediment of coated grain. Here, we find a new way to study the coated grain on the basis of traditional research methods. The Wenquan area on the northeast edge of the Qiangtang Basin is one of the few areas where the coated grain is developing, and is a rare “natural laboratory” for the study of the coated grain and the thermal spring sediment. The oolitic sinter of the area has the triaxiality modality of pea polymer, and is obviously different from the karst travertine and the normal lacustrine ooid. We found that the hot spring water in the Wenquan area has higher partial pressure of CO₂ \(\left( {P_{CO_2 } } \right)\) and saturation index of the calcite (SI_c) than normal. Macrocosmically, the oolitic sinter is shaped like a pea, and its grains and gap fillings are light yellow. Microcosmically, the sinter grain forms six types of fundamental lamina, and those six types are developed to be four grain types with different combinations. The C-axis of the mineral grain of sinter cement (calcite) is normal to the lamina face, and grows on it with distinct generation formations. In short, the grain type of oolitic sinter is the oncoid, with the grain development caused by the factors such as the shallow water of strong hydrodynamic force, the special hydrochemistry condition, and the extensive algae activities (diatom).     

Linking early diagenesis and sedimentary facies to sequence stratigraphy on a prograding oolitic wedge: The Bathonian of western France (Aquitaine Basin)

To improve the understanding of the distribution of reservoir properties along carbonate platform margins, the connection between facies, sequence stratigraphy, and early diagenesis of discontinuities along the Bathonian prograding oolitic wedge of the northeastern Aquitaine platform was investigated. Eight facies are distributed along a 50 km-outcropping transect in (1) toe-of-slope, (2) infralittoral prograding oolitic wedge, (3) platform margin (shoal), (4) open marine platform interior, (5) foreshore, and (6) terrestrial settings. The transition from shallow platform to toe-of-slope facies is marked in the field by clinoforms hundred of meters long. Carbonate production was confined to the shallow platform but carbonates were exported basinward toward the breakpoint where they cascaded down a 20–25° slope. Ooid to intraclast grainstones to rudstones pass into alternating marl-limestone deposits at an estimated paleodepth of 40–75 m. Three sea-level falls of about 10 m caused the formation of discontinuities corresponding to sequence boundaries. Along these discontinuities, erosional marine hardgrounds formed in a high-hydrodynamic environment at a water depth of less than 10 m, displaying isopachous fibrous cements and meniscus-type cements. The cements pass landward into meniscus and microstalactitic forms along the same discontinuities, which are characteristic of subaerial exposure. During the deposition of transgressive systems tracts, carbonate accumulation remained located mostly on the shallow platform. Energy level increased and carbonates were exported during the deposition of highstand systems tracts forming the infralittoral prograding oolitic wedge. During the deposition of lowstand systems tracts, carbonate production fell to near zero and intraclast strata, derived from the erosion of hardgrounds on the shallow platform, prograded basinward. Early diagenetic cements are related exclusively to discontinuities that are not found within the prograding wedge because of the continuous high sedimentation rate under lower hydrodynamic conditions. This absence of early cementation within the infralittoral prograding oolitic wedge was conducive to porosity conservation, making such features good targets for carbonate reservoir exploration. This study proposes a novel sequence stratigraphy model for oolitic platform wedges, including facies and early diagenesis features.     

纳米赤铁矿电极光电催化特性及苯酚降解活性研究

伴随环境污染问题日益加剧,借助半导体材料实现光能的光电转化在催化及环境领域引起广泛关注。本文借助电化学方法快速高效地合成不同沉积时间纳米赤铁矿薄膜电极。X射线衍射(XRD)、Raman光谱测试表明其成分为赤铁矿物相;原子力显微镜(AFM)观测颗粒尺寸约52.1(±1.48)nm×50.5(±1.49)nm,表面高度起伏分布于70~100 nm,且分布特征符合正态分布规律。紫外可见漫反射吸收谱显示电极可显著吸收350~600 nm波长范围可见光,计算得禁带宽度约2.0~2.1 e V。光电化学实验光电流密度-时间曲线及电流-电压曲线表明电极有良好的可见光光电催化活性,且反应符合Langmuir-Hinshelwood多相反应动力学模型。进一步选取效果较显著的沉积时间10 min电极研究其光电催化降解苯酚活性,0.65 V vs.SCE(饱和甘汞电极)恒电势光照条件下6 h苯酚降解率达62%,拟合一级动力学反应模型可知,反应速率常数k为0.16 h-1(R2=0.996)。综上,本文研究结果显示电化学法简单高效合成的纳米赤铁矿具有良好半导体性能且能够可见光光电催化降解苯酚等有机污染物。     

云南保山南红玛瑙矿物学特性及致色机理探究

通过光学显微镜、X射线粉晶衍射、X射线荧光光谱、电感耦合等离子体质谱、电子探针等测试分析手段对云南保山南红玛瑙的岩相学、矿物组成、化学成分等进行了系统研究,在此基础上进一步通过扫描电镜、X射线能谱元素面扫描、激光共聚焦显微拉曼分析了南红玛瑙致色矿物形貌、元素分布及矿物物相构成。研究结果表明,保山南红玛瑙主要矿物为石英(95%,质量分数),主要结构为粒状结构和纤维结构,次要矿物为斜硅石及方解石等,并含有吸附水和结构水两种状态水。致色矿物主要以小于1μm球状矿物颗粒、2~10μm絮状似球状集合体、针状矿物颗粒和不规则形态矿物集合体这4种类型存在,元素分析显示其为含铁矿物。显微拉曼进一步确认南红玛瑙的颜色是由含铁矿物所致,其中红色致色主要为赤铁矿,黄色致色主要为针铁矿,铁矿物的具体存在形式及其分布方式对南红玛瑙的价值具有决定性作用。本工作为南红玛瑙矿物学特性以及致色机理研究提供了有价值的参考信息,对完善其知识体系和推动南红玛瑙文化有重要意义,同时对借助共聚焦显微拉曼等微区表征技术推动宝玉石研究提供了新思路。     

Hematite spherules in basaltic tephra altered under aqueous, acid-sulfate conditions on Mauna Kea volcano, Hawaii: Possible clues for the occurrence of hematite-rich spherules in the Burns formation at Meridiani Planum, Mars

Iron-rich spherules (> 90% Fe₂O₃ from electron microprobe analyses) ∼10-100 μm in diameter are found within sulfate-rich rocks formed by aqueous, acid-sulfate alteration of basaltic tephra on Mauna Kea volcano, Hawaii. Although some spherules are nearly pure Fe, most have two concentric compositional zones, with the core having a higher Fe / Al ratio than the rim. Oxide totals less than 100% (93-99%) suggest structural H₂O and/or OH^− 1. The transmission Mössbauer spectrum of a spherule-rich separate is dominated by a hematite (α-Fe₂O₃) sextet whose peaks are skewed toward zero velocity. Skewing is consistent with Al³⁺ for Fe³⁺ substitution and structural H₂O and/or OH^− 1. The grey color of the spherules implies specular hematite. Whole-rock powder X-ray diffraction spectra are dominated by peaks from smectite and the hydroxy sulfate mineral natroalunite as alteration products and plagioclase feldspar that was present in the precursor basaltic tephra. Whether spherule formation proceeded directly from basaltic material in one event (dissolution of basaltic material and precipitation of hematite spherules) or whether spherule formation required more than one event (formation of Fe-bearing sulfate rock and subsequent hydrolysis to hematite) is not currently constrained. By analogy, a formation pathway for the hematite spherules in sulfate-rich outcrops at Meridiani Planum on Mars (the Burns formation) is aqueous alteration of basaltic precursor material under acid-sulfate conditions. Although hydrothermal conditions are present on Mauna Kea, such conditions may not be required for spherule formation on Mars if the time interval for hydrolysis at lower temperatures is sufficiently long.     

Properties of Ironstone Lateritic Gravels in Relation to Gravel Road Pavement Construction

A laboratory investigation was conducted to determine properties of five samples of ‘oolitic ironstone’ lateritic gravel aggregates which are relevant to their use as road construction materials. Measured values of physico-chemical, physico-mechanical as well as index properties and compaction characteristics are similar to those of other lateritic, gravels occurring in West Africa which are used in road pavement applications. These lateritic clayey gravels have good workability as engineering construction materials and are rated fair to good as road aggregates in terms of probable in-situ behaviour based on water absorption values. Relationships between maximum dry unit weight and optimum moisture content as well as those between California bearing ratio and some derived soil parameters such as grading modulus, plasticity product or plasticity modulus can be described using a third-order polynomial function. The maximum dry unit weight has a bimodal frequency distribution and can be predicted from logarithm to base 10 of compaction energy with fairly good accuracy.     

Characteristics and genesis of hematite in Chinese loess and paleosol sequences： Mineral genetic restriction for magnetic susceptibility as paleoclimate proxy and iron geochemistry

Hematite is an important iron oxide mineral in loess-paleosol sequences in central China. Investigation of the mineralogical characteristics, genetic mechanism and relationship of hematite with other iron oxides and Fe-bearing minerals will help understand the geochemical process before and after eolian deposit, paleocliamte significance of magnetic susceptibility and reconstruct paleoclimate in central China. So, hematite and related minerals of the loess and paleosol units from Chinese Loess Plateau were investigated using optical microscope, X-ray powder diffraction （XRD）, scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, and high-resolution transmission microscopy （HRTEM）. The results show that there are five genetic types of hematite in loess-paleosol sequences of central China： （1） weathering of Fe-bearing silicate minerals, for instance, chlorite, will release iron that is precipitated as aggregates of hematite nano-crystals on mineral surfaces; （2） hematite combined with eolian magnetite grains that resulted from partial oxidation of magnetite, even though the partial oxidation may occur in the original area; （3） phase transformation from eolian goethite to hematite; （4） hematite formed on the edge and surface of maghemite because of dissolution and hematite recrystallization; and （5） eolian detrial hematite. The hematite formed from chemical weathering of Fe-bearing silicates with nanoporous texture because of dehydration from iron hydroxide is the most important genetic mechanism. It is proposed that the fact that hematite was formed from chemical weathering of Fe-bearing silicates is a main reason for the redness in paleosol units. However, too intense pedogenesis and high amounts of precipitation will promote oxidation of eolian magnetite and maghemite dissolution, which may result in the decreasing of magnetic susceptibility.     

川东北飞仙关组鲕滩储层硫酸溶蚀的证据和模式探讨

川东北飞仙关组鲕滩储层的主要储集空间为溶蚀孔洞,主要由大气淡水溶蚀作用、有机酸溶蚀作用和硫酸溶蚀作用所形成。通过硫酸对灰岩和白云岩溶蚀实验、天然气中硫化氢含量与飞仙关组石膏厚度关系分析、天然气中硫同位素与地层中的硫同位素比较、方解石胶结物的阴离子分析等证据,首次提出了硫酸溶蚀在该储层形成中起很重要的作用。探讨了硫酸溶蚀形成储层的模式。     

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.