Chemical, Isotopic, and Fluid Inclusion Evidence for the Hydrothermal Alteration of the Footwall Rocks of the BIF-Hosted Iron Ore Deposits in the Hamersley District, Western Australia

Abstract. The petrography, chemical, fluid inclusion and isotope analyses (O, Rb-Sr) were conducted for the shale samples of the Mount McRae Shale collected from the Tom Price, Newman, and Paraburdoo mines in the Hamersley Basin, Western Australia. The Mount McRae Shale at these mines occurs as a footwall unit of the secondary, hematite-rich iron ores derived from the Brockman Iron Formation, one of the largest banded iron formations (BIFs) in the world. Unusually low contents of Na, Ca, and Sr in the shales suggest that these elements were leached away from the shale after deposition. The δ¹⁸O (SMOW) values fall in the range of + 15.0 to +17.9 per mil and show the positive correlation with calculated quartz/sericite ratios of the shale samples. This suggests that the oxygen isotopic compositions of shale samples were homogenized and equilibrated by postdepositional event. The pyrite nodules hosted by shales are often rimmed by thin layers of silica of varying crystallinity. Fluid inclusions in quartz crystals rimming a pyrite nodule show homogenization temperatures ranging from 100 to 240C for 47 inclusions and salinities ranging from 0.4 to 12.3 wt% NaCl equivalent for 18 inclusions. These fluid inclusion data give direct evidence for the hydrothermal activity and are comparable to those of the vein quartz collected from the BIF-derived secondary iron ores (Taylor et al, 2001). The Rb-Sr age for the Mount McRae Shale is 1,952 ± 289 Ma and at least 200 million years younger than the depositional age of the Brockman Iron Formation of ∼ 2.5 Ga in age. All the data obtained in this study are consistent with the suggestion that high temperature hydrothermal fluids were responsible for both the secondary iron ore formation and the alteration of the Mount McRae Shale.     

ECONOMIC GEOLOGY

正20140805Fan Baocheng(Xi’an Center of Geological Survey,China Geology Survey,Xi’an710054,China);Meng Guanglu The Geological Evolution and Metallization of TalasKalatawu Block in Northern Tianshan,Kyrgyzstan(Northwestern Geology,ISSN1009-6248,CN61-1149/P,46(2),2013,p.54-     

国内外前寒武纪条带状铁建造研究现状

条带状铁建造(BIFs)主要发育于早前寒武纪时期(3.8~1.8Ga),记录了早期地球演化的重要信息且蕴含丰富的铁矿石资源。本文梳理总结了国内外BIF相关领域的研究认识及存在问题:1统计对比显示,BIF沉积事件与地幔柱、地壳增生等重大地质事件相关;2稀土元素及Nd同位素示踪表明,Fe来源于海水与海底高温热液的混合溶液,其中高温热液与海水比例为1:1000;3 BIFs缺乏负Ce异常且富集重Fe同位素,暗示沉积时古海洋整体处于缺氧环境以避免Fe~(2+)发生氧化;4一些重要科学问题尚未解决,例如Si的主要来源、沉淀机制及条带成因等;5华北克拉通BIFs多形成于约2.54Ga,BIF类型、形成时代与富矿成因等问题有待深入研究。本文认为,加强国内外典型BIFs的对比研究并适当应用现代先进测试技术,有利于探索BIF沉积的精细过程及古老克拉通的早期演化。     

Correlation of T-log with E-log in coal-bearing formations

The profile of temperature gradient versus depth (T-log) has been found to be very useful for correlation with electrical resistivity log (E-log) in coal-bearing formations. A positive correlation between electrical resistivity and thermal resistivity is observed in coal sections whereas a negative correlation is found in sandstone/shale beds, thus helping in coal prospect evaluation. T logs have been used to correct the location of coal bed which had apparently been misinterpreted by the E-log. Hole to hole correlation of T-log and E-log is found to be excellent and it is observed that thermal resistivity characteristics of given formations remain fairly uniform. A rough estimation of coal grade is possible from the detailed study of the T-logs. Abrupt changes of temperature gradient as also its reversals have been observed in burnt coal sections.     

青海东昆仑洪水河铁矿床新元古代含铁建造铁同位素特征及其成因意义

青海省东昆仑造山带洪水河铁矿床为一中型铁矿床,其含铁建造产于狼牙山组千枚岩中,矿石类型主要为块状磁铁石英岩型,少量为条带状磁铁石英岩型,前人一般认为其属于沉积变质型铁矿床。本文在前人研究基础上,对洪水河铁矿区含铁建造中块状铁矿石进行了铁同位素、主量元素、稀土元素和微量元素分析。结果显示：除1件样品外,其余含铁建造样品的铁同位素δ56FeIRMM014均介于0.97‰~1.97‰之间,和全球典型新元古代含铁建造的Fe同位素特征基本一致;铁矿石的SiO₂+Fe₂O₃质量分数高达78.56%~98.06%,具有极低的Al/(Al+Fe+Mn)值（0.00~0.06）,为典型的化学沉积岩;总稀土元素（w (∑REE)）变化范围为(16.49~80.89)×10^-6,没有明显的Ce异常(Ce/Ce*为0.93~1.05),轻稀土元素轻微亏损,显示出类似新元古代含铁建造型的特点。综合对比洪水河铁矿区含铁建造的Fe同位素组成、沉积时代和地球化学特征,推断洪水河铁矿区含铁建造的沉积环境为新元古代柴达木—东昆北陆块的被动大陆边缘构造环境,铁等成矿物质主要来源于海相热液流体;富含Fe²+的海相热液流体上涌并逐渐演变为低温热液后在亚氧化水体环境中与含氧海水混合,最后导致Fe²+被部分氧化并形成氢氧化铁,氢氧化铁逐渐沉积在大陆斜坡上最终形成含铁建造。洪水河铁矿的成因类型可划归为拉皮坦型新元古代含铁建造。     

Post‐Great Oxidation Event Orosirian–Statherian iron formations on the São Francisco craton: Geotectonic implications

The protocratonic core of the São Francisco craton assembled during the 2.1–2.0 Ga Transamazonian orogeny. Orosirian Fe‐rich sequences that extend from the northwestern border of the São Francisco protocraton (Colomi Group) to the southeast under the Espinhaço Belt (the < 1.99 Ga Serra da Serpentina Group) record the opening of an intracratonic basin with the episodically developed ferruginous waters prior to the initiation of the Espinhaço rift at 1.8 Ga. Ferruginous conditions developed again during deposition of the Canjica Iron Formation of the < 1.7 Ga Serra de São José Group in the Espinhaço rift (contemporaneously with felsic magmatism; Conceição do Mato Dentro Rhyolite and Borrachudos Granitic Suite) and extensive sandstones of the < (1666 ±32) Ma Itapanhoacanga and < (1683 ±11) Ma São João da Chapada Formations. In the upper São João da Chapada Formation, banded hematitic phyllite also records input of Fe‐rich fluids. The young age of these iron formations with respect to the conventionally accepted 1.88 Ga age for the youngest shallow‐marine Paleoproterozoic iron formations, the apparent absence of granular facies (granular iron formations), and yet shallow‐water (above fair‐weather base) depositional environment indicate that an unusual setting developed in a large basin after the Great Oxidation Event, in the aftermath of the Transamazonian orogeny. We propose that mantle plumes led to the opening of a previously unrecognized rift system, that could have caused the magmatism, supplied hydrothermal Fe and led to the opening of the Espinhaço, Pirapora, and Paramirim rifts, later obliterated by the Araçuaí orogenic belt during the Neoproterozoic to Early Paleozoic Brasiliano orogeny. The rift system did not develop into an open continental margin but probably evolved into a broad sag basin, stretching across the São Francisco and Congo cratons.     

辽宁沉积盖层建造组合与构造古地理时空演化关系讨论

以板块构造学说为指导,以大陆动力学理论研究大陆块体离散、会聚、碰撞、造山的大陆动力学过程为主线,划分了陆块构造演化阶段.辽宁省由胶辽陆块、晋冀辽陆块2个Ⅰ级构造古地理单元组成;Ⅱ级构造古地理单元3个,即辽东陆内、燕辽裂谷、燕辽陆内;Ⅲ级构造古地理单元11个;Ⅳ级构造古地理单元14个.利用沉积岩建造组合与构造古地理单元时空结构演化关系,为研究辽宁省大地构造环境演化提供较系统的基础地质资料.     

Origin of the Neoproterozoic Baijianshan Banded Iron Formation at the Southeastern Margin of the Tarim Block in NW China: Implication for an Extremely Reducing Ocean

The Neoproterozoic banded iron formations(BIFs)were closely associated with the“Snowball Earth”during the breakup of the Rodinia,thus they played an important role in our understanding of the atmospheric and oceanic oxygen levels during this period.In this contribution,the Neoproterozoic(ca.737 Ma)Baijianshan BIF at Southeast Tarim,northwestern China was identified.Magnetite is the dominated iron-species,which occurs as the lamina interbedded with chert.The BIF contains low concentrations of trace elements,and is depleted in light rare earth elements(LREEs)based on comparison with the Post-Archean Australian Shale(PAAS).In addition,the BIF exhibits slightly positive La-Eu anomalies,negligible Ce anomalies,insignificant Y anomalies,chondritic Y/Ho ratios(23-32),and slightly chondritic initial ε_Nd(t=737 Ma)values(?0.45 to 1.46,averaging 0.37).All these features indicate that the precipitation of Baijianshan BIF was closely related to the submarine low-T hydrothermal fluids with little detrital contribution.Moreover,the Baijianshan BIF is characterized by the significant enrichment of heavy Fe isotopes,with δ⁵⁷Fe_IRMM-014 values ranging from 1.78‰ to 3.05‰,revealing the partial oxidation of Fe²⁺ into Fe³⁺ during the precipitation of this BIF.Our data suggest that the formation of Baijianshan BIF was closely associated with a significantly reducing ocean,which most likely was isolated from the oxidized atmosphere by a local ice sheet.This Neoproterozoic Baijianshan ocean has the initial oxygen levels as low as,or even lower than that of Archean and Paleoproterozoic oceans.     

A depositional model for a wave‐dominated open‐coast tidal flat,based on analyses of the Cambrian–Ordovician Lagarto and Palmares formations,north‐eastern Brazil

Open‐coast tidal flats are hybrid depositional systems resulting from the interaction of waves and tides. Modern examples have been recognized, but few cases have been described in ancient rock successions. An example of an ancient open‐coast tidal flat, the depositional architecture of the Lagarto and Palmares formations (Cambrian–Ordovician of the Sergipano Belt, north‐eastern Brazil) is presented here. Detailed field analyses of outcrops allowed the development of a conceptual architectural model for a coastal depositional environment that is substantially different from classical wave‐dominated or tide‐dominated coastal models. This architectural model is dominated by storm wave, low orbital velocity wave and tidal current beds, which vary in their characteristics and distribution. In a landward direction, the storm deposits decrease in abundance, dimension (thickness and spacing) and grain size, and vary from accretionary through scour and drape to anisotropic hummocky cross‐stratification beds. Low orbital wave deposits are more common in the medium and upper portion of the tidal flat. Tidal deposits, which are characterized by mudstone interbedded with sandstone strata, are dominant in the landward portion of the tidal flat. Hummocky cross‐stratification beds in the rock record are believed, in general, to represent storm deposits in palaeoenvironments below the fair‐weather wave base. However, in this model of an open‐coast tidal flat, hummocky cross‐stratification beds were found in very shallow waters above the fair‐weather wave base. Indeed, this depositional environment was characterized by: (i) fair‐weather waves and tides that lacked sufficient energy to rework the storm deposits; (ii) an absence of biological communities that could disrupt the storm deposits; and (iii) high aggradation rates linked to an active foreland basin, which contributed definitively to the rapid burial and preservation of these hummocky cross‐stratification deposits.     

山东省地层划分对比厘定意见

山东省地层大部属华北地层大区晋冀鲁豫地层区,再分为华北平原、鲁西及鲁东三个地层分区,鲁东南海域日照市平岛、达山岛及车牛山岛等属华南地层大区扬子地层区连云港地层分区。岩石地层分为27个(岩)群120个(岩)组12个正式段,还有相当数量的非正式段。恢复奥陶纪东黄山组、北庵庄组、土峪组、五阳山组、阁庄组、八陡组,并6个组为马家沟群;恢复二叠纪黑山组、万山组、奎山组和孝妇河组,并4个组为石盒子群;在青州—临朐地区识别出奥陶纪亮甲山组。地质代号原则上遵从最新的国家标准及行业标准。