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.     

Geochemical characterization of Archaean amphibolites from the eastern part of Anshan–Benxi iron producing area,northeastern China: implication for tectonic setting of BIFs

The Anshan–Benxi iron producing area, which is located at the northeastern margin of the North China Craton, is the main distribution area of Archaean BIFs in China. In their eastern part, including the Gongchangling and Waitoushan deposits, BIFs mainly are hosted in the Archaean middle Anshan Group. Amphibolites are widely distributed in the iron‐bearing rock series, reflecting the tectonic setting of BIFs. Amphibolites not only have MORB‐like compositional characteristics, but also have island arc‐like ones, and they are consistent with back‐arc basin basalts (BABB). In the study area, the protolith of amphibolites belongs to Okinawa‐type BABB; it indicates that tectonic setting of BIFs is the intra‐continental back‐arc basin. In the study area, the formation of sedimentary basins for BIFs had been associated with oceanic plate subduction. Amphibolites from Gongchangling deposit are characterized by relative enrichments in LILE and LREE, and depletions in HFSE. This indicates that they had a relatively large influence of subduction in their formation. Amphibolites from Waitoushan deposit are characterized by relative enrichments in LILE without conspicuous depletions in HFSE, indicating relatively low subduction rates. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

辽宁鞍山－本溪地区铁矿床流体包裹体和硫、氢、氧同位素特征研究

鞍山-本溪地区是我国最大的铁矿集区,分布有诸多大型、特大型铁矿床,并且产出有弓长岭二矿区大型和齐大山、南芬中型磁铁富矿床。贫铁矿体与变质沉积岩和火山碎屑岩等围岩呈层状或似层状产于太古宙花岗岩中,富铁矿体(TFe50%)呈层状或透镜体状产于贫铁矿体和围岩及其附近的断裂带中,并可见明显的热液蚀变现象。为了探讨鞍本地区富铁矿的成因,为指导找富矿提供依据,本文主要对比研究了鞍本地区贫铁矿石和富铁矿石中流体包裹体、硫同位素和氢氧同位素特征。贫铁矿石(磁铁石英岩和假象赤铁石英岩)石英中含有大量的孤立分布负晶形气体包裹体(Ⅰc类包裹体),富铁矿石石英中主要以液体包裹体(Ⅰb类包裹体)为主,可见含子矿物的流体包裹体;贫铁矿石中黄铁矿的δ34S变化范围为-6.5‰~11.8‰,平均值为0.4‰,富铁矿石中黄铁矿的δ34S变化范围较大,为-7‰~14.4‰,平均值为2.0‰;贫铁矿石中磁铁矿δ18 O变化范围为3.4‰~10.4‰,平均值为7.1‰,石英δ18 O变化范围为11.8‰~15.1‰,平均值为13.4‰,富铁矿石中磁铁矿δ18 O变化范围为-1.4‰~6.5‰,平均值为2.3‰,富铁矿石中石英δ18 O变化范围为9.6‰~15.8‰,平均值为13.6‰,δD变化范围为-129‰~-75‰,平均值为-104‰。富铁矿石中石英流体包裹体、黄铁矿δ34S和磁铁矿δ18 O部分继承了贫铁矿石的特征,但是显示更多的后期热液特征,暗示鞍本地区富铁矿石是在贫铁矿石的基础上受后期热液改造形成的。富铁矿石中石英的氢氧同位素特征表明其热液流体主要为混合岩化热液,富铁矿的形成可能为去硅富铁模式,同时也可能有铁质活化再转移模式。     

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.     

吉林省桦甸市老牛沟铁矿床地质特征

吉林省桦甸市老牛沟铁矿是吉林省境内目前发现的最大规模的"鞍山式"铁矿床,与著名的吉林夹皮沟金矿处在同一构造环境内,具有典型的"阿尔果玛"型BIFs铁矿特征。     

条带状铁建造(BIFs)研究的几个问题

前寒武纪条带状铁建造(BIFs)中拥有全球最重要的铁矿资源,BIFs中以及包括BIFs在内的含铁岩系还含有丰富的金、铜、锌、钴、铂族等有用元素。本论文主要针对BIFs形成过程中与成矿有关的几个关键问题进行评述和探讨,包括BIFs的成矿系列,地幔柱与BIFs的关系,微生物在BIFs形成中的作用等。认为BIFs内部以及包括BIFs在内的含铁岩系均构成贱、贵金属成矿系列;地幔柱与BIFs之间存在密切的时、空和成因联系;在早前寒武纪缺氧的环境下,厌氧的细菌类生物通过光合作用为BIFs中铁质沉淀提供了氧。希望该研究对包括BIFs的成矿作用在内的前寒武纪地质研究以及拓展找矿思路有所启示。     

前寒武纪条带状硅铁建造的形成机制与地球早期的大气和海洋

前寒武纪条带状硅铁建造(BIFs)是地球早期特有的化学沉积建造类型,记录了当时大气和海洋的化学成分、氧化还原状态及演化。本文系统测定了华北地台条带状硅铁建造的硫硅氧同位素组成。不同时代和不同类型条带状硅铁建造中石英的硅同位素组成非常相似,强烈亏损30Si,δ30SiNBS-28大部分位于-2.0‰～-0.3‰之间,平均-0.8‰;硅铁建造中石英的δ18OV-SMOW相对较高,8.1‰～21.5‰,平均13.9‰;二者均与现代海底黑烟囱、泉华及热水沉积硅质岩的硅氧同位素组成相似。在同一样品中,磁铁矿条带中石英的δ30SiNBS-28普遍低于相邻硅质条带中石英的值,而δ18OV-SMOW刚好相反,反映了硅铁建造沉积时的初始特征。BIFs中硫化物的δ34SV-CDT变化范围很大,-22.0‰～+11.8‰,但大部分集中分布在0值附近。Δ33S=-0.89‰～+1.2‰,显示出了明显的硫同位素非质量分馏特征,说明当时大气氧浓度很低。与火山活动关系密切的Algoma型硅铁建造的Δ33S多为负值,而远离火山活动中心的Superior型硅铁建造的Δ33S多为正值。提出无论是Algoma型,还是Superior型BIFs都是由海底热液喷气作用形成的。富含溶解硅和铁的热水溶液喷发到在海底以后,由于温度突然下降,硅酸H4SiO4在海水中达到过饱和状态,导致SiO2首先沉淀,形成硅质层;随着热水溶液与海水的不断混合,温度不断降低,Eh值不断升高,Fe2+逐渐被氧化生成Fe3+随后沉淀,形成富铁层。一套硅铁韵律层代表了一次大的海底喷气活动;海底热液喷气的周期性活动形成了规律性的硅铁韵律层。BIFs的广泛分布和硫同位素非质量分馏效应的普遍存在,表明当时大气氧水平很低,可能不足现在氧水平的1‰;火山和海底喷气活动非常强烈,海水温度较高,呈酸性,pH值在3.0～5.5之间;海洋中可溶解硅H4SiO4和Fe2+的浓度很高;而可溶硫酸盐的浓度极低,1mM。早元古代(1.8Ga)以后海洋硫酸盐浓度升高,由富铁海洋转化为富硫酸盐的海洋,是造成BIFs消失的根本原因。大规模火山喷发和海底喷气活动对海洋的成分和氧化还原状态影响很大,使海洋的氧化时间较大气至少推迟了6亿年。     

古全球变化与非等时韵律沉积及前寒武纪条带状铁矿建造形成的终止

前寒武纪各种地质记录表明了太古代—元古代早期古全球环境具有显著的陆少洋多和大气富ＣＯ２、贫Ｏ２的特征。ＢＩＦｓ大气－海洋系统中Ｆｅ２＋的氧化是导致铁质发生沉淀的一个重要过程，在前寒武纪早期缺Ｏ２的环境，生物－无氧氧化和日光－紫外线为主的宇宙射线光致氧化作用产生的直接非生物－无氧氧化过程，在前寒武纪早期缺Ｏ２环境对Ｆｅ２＋的氧化可能起着重要的和主导的作用。ＢＩＦｓ条带状矿石的宏、微观ＳｉＯ２或Ｆｅ２Ｏ３／Ｆｅ３Ｏ４单层厚度非等厚性表征了硅、铁供给非等量性与交替淀积非等时性的韵律堆积。文章提出了一种与地球自转速率有关的日长年际变化（古ＥＬＮｉｎｏ事件）－硅铁临界饱和浓度模式，从统一的地球动力学条件和不同类型ＢＩＦｓ的成因联系解析了这种韵律堆积的机制。元古代早—中期大气－海洋系统发生了Ｏ２增多和ＣＯ２减少的古全球变化，导致了２．２～１．８Ｇａ之间大气圈平流层古臭氧层的形成。古臭氧层大幅度消减日光－紫外线对地球表面的强烈辐射，不仅使全球性由日光－紫外线光致氧化作用直接产生的Ｆｅ２＋非生物－缺氧氧化过程消失，而且也保证了生命演化的延续和生物进入多样性繁衍。与其伴随的全球性巨厚碳酸盐建造，导致了上壳岩下伏的地球早期富铁?     

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.     

辽宁歪头山铁矿床两类矿石地球化学特征及其对成矿作用的制约

歪头山铁矿床是鞍山-本溪地区条带状铁建造（BIFs）的典型代表,并且有一定规模的富铁矿分布。本文主要报道了矿区内较贫铁矿石和较富铁矿石的地球化学特征,结果表明两类矿石既有一致性又存在差异性。一致性表现在：所有矿石主要由TFe2O3和SiO2组成,其他氧化物含量很少,结合微量元素和稀土元素特征,指示其为一种化学沉积岩,但受到了火山热液作用的影响;矿石的稀土元素总量很低,经太古界后平均澳大利亚页岩（PAAS）标准化后,呈现重稀土相对富集,轻稀土相对亏损的配分模式,都具有明显的Eu正异常,和比较高的Y/Ho比值,与热液相关的Cr、Co、Ni含量也相对较高,暗示其成矿物质来源于海底热液,同时具有海水的特征。差异性表现在：较富铁矿石具有明显的热液特征,并且K2O含量大于Na2O含量,某些微量元素组成也与混合花岗岩具有相似性,结合野外地质特征,暗示较富铁矿石可能是在较贫铁矿石的基础上受混合岩化热液作用形成的。