Geochemistry and chronology of Se' ertengshan greenstone, Inner Mongolia

This paper deals with the meta-mafic volcanic rocks of the Gongyiming iron deposit at Baotou, Inner Mongolia. The major and trace elements and REE data indicate that the meta-mafic volcanic rocks occurred in the environment similar to a modern continental rift. Sm-Nd and Rb-Sr isotopic studies indicated that the meta-basic rocks were formed during the Early Neoarchean from 2800 Ma to 2900 Ma and reworked during the Late Neoarchean (2500 Ma) by metamorphism. Because of the separation of the North China Craton from the Siberia Craton during the Middle Proterozoic ( 1600 Ma), the Rb-Sr systematics of the rocks has been changed. The Se' ertengshan greenstone seems to occur during the Middle Archean. A stable continental crust may have existed during the Paleoarchean.