辽冀地区条带状铁建造地球化学特征：Ⅱ.稀土元素特征

辽冀地区(鞍山-本溪地区和冀东地区)位于华北克拉通北东部,是我国早前寒武纪条带状铁建造(BIFs)最重要的分布区,主要为新太古代Algoma型。本文系统对比了辽冀地区28个铁矿床200件铁矿石样品的稀土元素特征。结果表明:(1)所有样品的稀土元素特征比较相似:稀土元素总量较低,Y/Ho比值较高;经太古宙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,La异常不明显,强烈的Eu正异常和明显的Y正异常,暗示研究区铁矿石成矿物质主要来源于海底高温热液和海水的混合溶液;与冀东地区BIFs相比,鞍本地区Eu异常更为明显,说明鞍本地区BIFs显示更多的热液特征;(2)铁矿石的Ce/Ce*变化范围为0.77~1.09,缺乏明显的Ce负异常,说明其沉积于还原的海水环境;(3)辽冀地区BIFs的稀土元素总量、Eu异常、Y异常和Y/Ho比值变化范围均比较大,可能与BIFs沉积过程中碎屑物质的加入有关;与鞍本地区相比,冀东地区BIFs的Eu正异常、Y正异常程度均小于鞍本地区,热液和海水特征均不明显,Y/Ho比值更接近球粒陨石(26~28),可能暗示冀东地区有更多的碎屑物质的加入。     

山西五台山和冀东迁安地区条带状铁矿的岩石化学特征及其地质意义

详细报道了五台山地区白峪里、柏枝岩和峨口(又名山羊坪铁矿)3个新太古代条带状铁矿床和冀东迁安地区条带状铁矿样品的岩石学和岩石化学特征,并与辽宁鞍山和山东韩旺以及国外同类矿床进行了对比。五台山地区和冀东迁安地区条带状铁矿的微量元素和稀土元素的含量和配分特征与国内外同类矿床十分一致:4个地区条带状铁矿样品均富集Th、U、La、Ce、P、Sm等元素,亏损K、Nb、Sr、Hf、Er、Ti等元素;稀土元素总量均较低,是太古宙海洋沉积特征之一,轻稀土元素轻微亏损,重稀土元素稍富集,具有明显的Eu的正异常,部分具有Y正异常。Y的异常通常代表了海水的特征,Eu的正异常指示了高温海底热液的特征,由此可判断铁硅质建造形成于热海水环境。五台山地区与条带状铁矿伴生的黄铁矿的δ34S值在零附近,表明其来源于地幔。由此可知所研究条带状铁矿床是幔源的火山喷发或火山喷气带来的硅铁质溶于海水后在特定条件下经化学沉积而成。     

江西新余铁矿的地球化学特征及其与华北BIFs铁矿的对比

本文报道了新余和华北BIF铁矿的主量元素、微量元素、稀土元素的测试结果:新余和华北地区BIF铁矿的化学成分均主要由Fe2O3T和SiO2组成,它们的页岩标准化稀土元素配分曲线均呈现轻稀土亏损、重稀土富集的分馏模式。与华北BIF相比,新余铁矿具有更高的Al2O3和TiO2含量、微量元素含量、稀土总量,以及更低的Eu异常和Y/Ho比值,这些特征均表明,与华北地区相比,高温热液对新余地区BIF的贡献不明显。铁矿无明显的Ce负异常和Fe同位素组成为正值的特征暗示了铁矿沉淀时的海水为低氧逸度环境。     

冀东司家营条带状含铁建造铁矿石铁同位素特征及其地质意义

司家营条带状含铁建造（Banded iron formation,BIF）型铁矿床是冀东地区规模最大的铁矿床,前人对其进行了大量的年代学、岩石学和元素地球化学工作,但目前尚未对其进行Fe同位素研究。本文通过Fe同位素和主微量、稀土元素相结合的方法对司家营BIF的成矿物质来源和形成背景提出了有效制约,同时对司家营BIF的锆石U- Pb年龄数据进行补充。锆石U- Pb年代学显示,司家营BIF形成于2537~2531Ma。地球化学数据显示司家营BIF矿石主要由TFe2O3和SiO2组成,具有较低的Al2O3和TiO2含量,富集Fe重同位素（δ56Fe=0.341‰~0.525‰）;稀土元素配分模式呈现轻稀土亏损、重稀土富集的特征,具有明显的Eu、Y、La正异常,Y/Ho比率较高（Y/Ho=34.96~45.84）。这些特征表明司家营BIF是基本无碎屑物质参与的化学沉积岩,稀土元素来源于高温热液和海水的混合溶液,铁质来源于海相热液流体。司家营BIF缺乏真正的Ce负异常和Fe同位素组成均为正值指示其形成于缺氧环境。综合对比世界上其他地区太古宙BIF的Fe同位素特征,本文认为新太古代时期地球海洋含氧量逐步上升,此时海洋总体属于缺氧环境,但部分地区氧气含量较高。     

鞍山-本溪地区条带状铁建造的铁同位素与稀土元素特征及其对成矿物质来源的指示

通过Fe同位素、稀土元素与主量元素相结合的方法,对辽宁省鞍山-本溪地区新太古代条带状铁建造(BIF)的成矿物质来源提出了有效制约.BIF的化学成分主要由TFe2O3和SiO2组成,并且具有较低的Al2O3和TiO2含量,表明该地区BIF型贫铁矿是由极少碎屑物质加入的化学沉积岩.稀土元素的总量较低,经页岩标准化后的稀土元素配分模式呈现轻稀土亏损、重稀土富集的特征,具有明显的Eu、Y、La正异常,这些特征表明该地区BIF是古海洋的化学沉积岩,同时具有明显的火山热液贡献特征.用多接收电感耦合等离子体质谱仪(MCICP-MS)测定Fe同位素的结果表明,相对于标准IRMM-014,所测样品均显示Fe的重同位素富集,且Fe同位素组成与Eu异常存在明显的正相关关系,表明该地区BIF中铁的来源与海底火山热液活动密切相关,首次从成矿元素Fe本身为条带状铁建造的成矿物质来源提供了直接的证据.     

辽宁本溪贾家堡子地区BIF铁矿床地球化学特征

利用主量元素和稀土元素相结合的地球化学方法,对本溪贾家堡子铁矿成矿物质来源和矿床成因进行了研究.结果表明：贾家堡子地区条带状铁矿（BIF）的化学成分主要为TFe₂O₃和SiO₂,并且Al₂O₃和TiO₂含量较低,这一特征与鞍本地区及山西五台山和冀东迁安地区条带状铁矿基本一致,指示该条带状铁矿是由极少碎屑物质加入的化学沉积岩.稀土元素呈现弱轻稀土亏损、重稀土富集的特征,具有明显的Eu正异常特征,表明该BIF的稀土元素来源于火山热液和海水的混合液.贾家堡子地区条带状铁矿床成因类型为Algoma型铁矿.     

山东省海阳市郭城镇BIF型铁矿地球化学特征与矿床成因探讨

郭城镇条带状铁矿(BIF)位于胶莱盆地东北缘,赋存于古元古代荆山群变质岩中。通过与冀东迁安和山西五台地区的铁矿对比,可以看出郭城铁矿地球化学特征主要为化学沉积,但有一定量的碎屑参与。在后澳大利亚太古宙页岩(PAAS)稀土配分图中,轻稀土元素亏损、高的Y/Ho值以及La和Y正异常的特征表明铁矿沉淀于海相环境,而高的Sr/Ba、Ti/V值以及Eu的强烈正异常表明火山热液的参与,成矿物质来源于火山活动。无明显的Ce负异常,表明当时可能存在一个缺氧的大气环境。根据矿石及围岩的氢氧同位素值特征,可以看出其成矿作用流体的类型为混合岩化型热液。     

BIF微量稀土元素分析方法及其在冀东司家营铁矿中的应用

以硅铁条带交替出现为特征的条带状铁建造(BIF)是世界上最重要的铁矿资源类型,精确分析磁铁矿的化学组成具有重要意义。本文开展了磁铁矿样品不同溶样方法分析结果的比对,并详细分析和讨论了冀东司家营铁矿磁铁矿与燧石单条带的微量及REE元素分析的地球化学特征。分析结果表明,对于磁铁矿样品,常规HF+HNO₃溶样法与HBr+HNO₃组合溶样法具有一致的溶样效果;司家营BIF的Zr,Sc,Th含量极低,表明未受陆源碎屑的污染;铁质与硅质具有低LREE、高HREE、La和Y正异常的海水REE特征,同时具有Eu正异常的热液REE特征;Ce负异常的缺乏,说明当时的古海洋是一个缺氧的环境。研究发现富铁条带的稀土总量大于富硅条带的稀土总量,这可能与硅、铁沉积物的地球化学习性相关,铁质沉积物更易吸收稀土元素。富矿和普通矿石具有原生的热液与海水的混合来源,部分富矿受到后期流体的强烈扰动,甚至表现出热液流体的特征。     

河北迁安杏山铁矿床地球化学特征及其对成矿物质来源的指示

不同学者曾对迁安地区铁矿床的前寒武地质、岩石学和地球化学等方面进行了深入的研究,但是其成矿物质来源至今没有进行深入探讨。危机矿山勘察在迁安杏山矿床中发现了富大铁矿体,但其成因不明。本文通过对迁安富矿和普通矿石的主量、微量元素和稀土元素研究,结果表明它们的化学成分主要由Fe₂O₃(T)、SiO₂组成,并且Al₂O₃和TiO₂具有较低的含量,指示其形成时几乎没有碎屑物质的加入。而经PAAS标准化后,稀土元素的配分模式表现轻稀土亏损、重稀土富集的特征,无论是富矿还是普通矿石,都具有Eu正异常、其Co/Zn和Ni/Zn比值与热液类似的特征,表明形成时有高温热液加入;其Y/Ho > 44、Y的正异常表明其有海水的成因;La/La*表明其没有陆源碎屑加入;La_N/YV_N < 1,表明既有海水特征,又有热液特征,所有这些数据都显示了迁安铁矿矿石的物质来源为海水和热液,与其他地方BIF铁矿物质来源一致。由于富矿和普通矿石的物质来源一致、主微量及稀土元素含量和分布类似、铁矿物主要为磁铁矿、原始沉积条带明显,推断富矿可能是火山一沉积建造原始沉积时由于局部富铁环境而形成的。      

辽宁弓长岭铁矿床磁铁矿稀土元素特征及其地质意义

辽宁弓长岭铁矿床是我国著名的沉积变质型铁矿床,其二矿区的磁铁富矿达大型规模,属国内之最.为探讨弓长岭铁矿床铁矿的物质来源、形成环境和富矿成因,本文以二矿区六个铁矿体的贫铁矿石和富铁矿石中磁铁矿单矿物为研究对象,利用电感耦合等离子体质谱进行了系统的稀土元素测试.结果表明,所有样品中磁铁矿的稀土元素总量(∑REEs)和Y具有非常一致的特征:稀土元素总量较低,Y/Ho比值较高;经太古界后平均澳大利亚页岩( PAAS)标准化呈现重稀土相对富集、轻稀土相对亏损的分馏模式,大部分呈现La正异常,所有样品都有明显的Eu和Y正异常,这些特征表明研究区的磁铁矿成矿物质主要来源于海底高温热液和海水;虽然磁铁矿的Ce/Ce*为0.69～ 0.97,但大多数样品缺乏真正意义的Ce负异常,这暗示其沉积于还原的海水环境;富铁矿石磁铁矿的稀土元素总量和Eu含量明显高于贫铁矿石的磁铁矿,而且含富矿的上含铁带Eu异常明显较高,表明富铁矿石磁铁矿具有更明显的热液特征,是在贫铁矿石的基础上受热液活动形成的.     

冀东柞栏杖子BIF地球化学特征、形成时代及其地质意义

冀东地区柞栏杖子BIF出露于绿片岩相—低角闪岩相朱杖子岩群变质岩中。铁矿石主要由石英和磁铁矿组成,还含有少量透闪石和黑云母。主量元素主要为Si O2、Fe2O3和Fe O,其次为少量的Ca O和Mg O。较低的Al2O3含量、极低的Ti O2含量和高场强元素(HFSE)暗示,铁矿石中陆源碎屑物质含量很低。铁矿石的稀土元素含量较低,稀土元素配分模式特征为轻稀土元素相对亏损、重稀土元素相对富集。较明显的Eu正异常、轻微的Y正异常及较高的Y/Ho值的稀土元素特征,类似于高温热液和海水的混合热液,暗示成矿物质主要来自于海水和高温热液。对柞栏杖子BIF矿体夹层黑云斜长变粒岩进行SHRIMP锆石U-Pb定年,207Pb/206Pb年龄加权平均值为2572±8Ma(MSWD=5.8),可代表柞栏杖子BIF的形成年龄。综合前人研究,认为冀东地区变质级别不同的BIF物质来源相同、形成年代相近,BIF的变质可能和2500Ma左右华北克拉通东部陆块发生的地幔岩浆底侵事件有关。     

山西五台山地区太古宙条带状铁建造地球化学特征及成因

五台山地区是中国典型的太古宙条带状铁建造发育区。 系统的稀土、微量元素地球化学研究结果表明, 本区条带状铁建造稀土元素组成与北美页岩相比, 具明显的正铕异常, HREE相对富集, 而Zr、Ba、Sr、Pb等属酸性岩类强烈富集的不相容元素,相对于 上陆壳明显亏损, 结合现代海底热流沉积地球化学的研究成果,认为本区条带状铁建造为古海底热流化学沉积作用的产物, 其形成与五台山地区太古宙基性火山活动密切相关。     

Geochemistry and Si–O–Fe isotope constraints on the origin of banded iron formations of the Yuanjiacun Formation,Lvliang Group,Shanxi, China

Banded iron formations (BIFs) within the Lvliang region of Shanxi Province, China, are hosted by sediments of the Yuanjiacun Formation, part of the Paleoproterozoic Lvliang Group. These BIFs are located in a zone where sedimentation changed from clastic to chemical deposition, indicating that these are Superior-type BIFs. Here, we present new major, trace, and rare earth element (REE) data, along with Fe, Si, and O isotope data for the BIFs in the Yuanjiacun within the Fe deposits at Yuanjiacun, Jianshan, and Hugushan. When compared with Post Archean Australian Shale (PAAS), these BIFs are dominated by iron oxides and quartz, contain low concentrations of Al₂O₃, TiO₂, trace elements, and the REE, and are light rare earth element (LREE) depleted and heavy rare earth element (HREE) enriched. The BIFs also display positive La, Y, and Eu anomalies, high Y/Ho ratios, and contain ³⁰Si depleted quartz, with high δ¹⁸O values that are similar to quartz within siliceous units formed during hydrothermal activity. These data indicate that the BIFs within the Yuanjiacun Formation were precipitated from submarine hydrothermal fluids, with only negligible detrital contribution. None of the BIF samples analyzed during this study have negative Ce anomalies, although a few have a positive Ce anomaly that may indicate that the BIFs within the Yuanjiacun Formation formed during the Great Oxidation Event (GOE) within a redox stratified ocean. The positive Ce anomalies associated with some of these BIFs are a consequence of oxidization and the formation of surficial manganese oxide that have preferentially adsorbed Ho, LREE, and Ce^4 +; these deposits formed during reductive dissolution at the oxidation–reduction transition zone or in deeper-level reducing seawater. The loss of Ce, LREE, and Ho to seawater and the deposition of these elements with iron hydroxides caused the positive Ce anomalies observed in some of the BIF samples, although the limited oxidizing ability of surface seawater at this time meant that Y/Ho and LREE/HREE ratios were not substantially modified, unlike similar situations within stratified ocean water during the Late Paleoproterozoic. Magnetite and hematite within the BIFs in the study area contain heavy Fe isotopes (⁵⁶Fe values of 0.24–1.27‰) resulting from the partial oxidation and precipitation of Fe^2 + to Fe^3 + in seawater. In addition, mass-independent fractionation of sulfur isotopes within pyrite indicates that these BIFs were deposited within an oxygen-deficient ocean associated with a similarly oxygen-deficient atmosphere, even though the BIFs within the Yuanjiacun Formation formed after initiation of the GOE.     

安徽霍邱BIF铁矿地球化学特征及其成矿意义：以班台子和周油坊矿床为例

安徽霍邱铁矿田位于华北克拉通南缘,是一个大型BIF铁矿田.本文对霍邱矿田班台子矿区和周油坊矿区的铁矿石及其赋存的岩石共28件样品进行了详细的主微量元素地球化学分析.分析结果表明,班台子矿区的片麻岩和角闪岩的原岩属于一套亚碱性系列的岩石,具有大离子亲石元素(LILE)富集,高场强元素(HFSE)明显亏损的火山弧岩石的特征.班台子角闪岩具有低的K2O含量和Ti/V值,Ti/V=22.7 ～ 25.9,平均24.5,与岛弧拉斑玄武岩一致.弧后盆地玄武岩化学组成具有类似岛孤拉斑玄武岩的特征.BIFs的形成往往需要构造稳定的半深水-深水盆地,孤后盆地能够为BIFs韵律条带的产生提供稳定的沉积环境,因此霍邱BIFs铁矿的大量出现说明班台子矿区角闪岩形成于弧后盆地,代表了霍邱铁矿形成的构造环境.班台子矿区铁矿石的(Eu/Eu*)SN=1.57 ～1.82,与Superior型(简称S型)BIFs特征一致;而周油坊矿区假象镜铁矿的(Eu/Eu*)SN=1.93 ～3.41,与Algoma型(简称A型)BIFs特征比较吻合.正Eu异常的强弱反应了成矿位置距离海底火山热液喷气口的远近.因此,我们推断霍邱地区BIFs型铁矿形成位置与海底火山热液喷气口的距离比较特别,处于A型向S型过渡的位置.角闪岩和片麻岩及其赋存的铁矿石的Al2O3和TiO2良好的线性相关性说明铁矿石铁质部分来源于侵蚀的弧后盆地玄武岩.Y/Ho比值=31.05 ～56.67,平均为46.65,说明霍邱铁矿继承了海水与热液的混合特征,其中,海水的贡献更大一些.周油坊矿区的大理岩主要化学组成CaO为28.49％ ～29.10％,MgO为20.25％ ～ 21.22％以及少量的SiO2(2.45％～6.10％).与平均显生宙石灰岩相比,周油坊大理岩亏损LILE和HFSE;与后太古代平均澳大利亚页岩(PAAS)相比,周油坊假象镜铁矿稀土元素总量低,明显正Eu异常,Ce无明显异常,Y/Ho比值介于35.00～56.67,平均48.81.这些特征显示大理岩及其赋存的假象镜铁矿形成于缺氧的海洋环境,海水中的氧能使亚铁离子氧化成三价铁离子沉淀出Fe(OH)3,但不足以使Ce3+氧化成Ce4+.     

Seawater-like trace element signatures (REE + Y) of Eoarchaean chemical sedimentary rocks from southern West Greenland,and their corruption during high-grade metamorphism

Modern chemical sediments display a distinctive rare earth element + yttrium (REE + Y) pattern involving depleted LREE, positive La/La*_SN, Eu/Eu*_SN, and Y_SN anomalies (SN = shale normalised) that is related to precipitation from circumneutral to high pH waters with solution complexation of the REEs dominated by carbonate ions. This is often interpreted as reflecting precipitation from surface waters (usually marine). The oldest broadly accepted chemical sediments are c. 3,700 Ma amphibolite facies banded iron-formation (BIF) units in the Isua supracrustal belt, Greenland. Isua BIFs, including the BIF international reference material IF-G are generally considered to be seawater precipitates, and display these REE + Y patterns (Bolhar et al. in Earth Planet Sci Lett 222:43–60, 2004). Greenland Eoarchaean BIF metamorphosed up to granulite facies from several localities in the vicinity of Akilia (island), display REE + Y patterns identical to Isua BIF, consistent with an origin by chemical sedimentation from seawater and a paucity of clastic input. Furthermore, the much-debated magnetite-bearing siliceous unit of “earliest life” rocks (sample G91/26) from Akilia has the same REE + Y pattern. This suggests that sample G91/26 is also a chemical sediment, contrary to previous assertions (Bolhar et al. in Earth Planet Sci Lett 222:43–60, 2004), and including suggestions that the Akilia unit containing G91/26 consists entirely of silica-penetrated, metasomatised, mafic rock (Fedo and Whitehouse 2002a). Integration of our trace element data with those of Bolhar et al. (Earth Planet Sci Lett 222:43–60, 2004) demonstrates that Eoarchaean siliceous rocks in Greenland, with ages from 3.6 to 3.85 Ga, have diverse trace element signatures. There are now geographically-dispersed, widespread examples with Isua BIF-like REE + Y signatures, that are interpreted as chemically unaltered, albeit metamorphosed, chemical sediments. Other samples retain remnants of LREE depletion but are beginning to lose the distinct La, Eu and Y positive anomalies and are interpreted as metasomatised chemical sediments. Finally there are some siliceous samples with completely different trace element patterns that are interpreted as rocks of non-sedimentary origin, and include metasomatised mafic rocks. The positive La/La*_SN, Eu/Eu*_SN and Y_SN anomalies found in Isua BIFs and other Eoarchaean Greenland samples, such as G91/26 from Akilia, suggests that the processes of carbonate ion complexation controlling the REE − Y patterns were already established in the hydrosphere at the start of the sedimentary record 3,600–3,850 Ma ago. This is in accord with the presence of Eoarchaean siderite-bearing marbles of sedimentary origin, and suggests that CO₂ may have been a significant greenhouse gas at that time.     

Petrology and geochemistry of the banded iron-formations from Ntem complex greenstones belt,Elom area,Southern Cameroon: Implications for the origin and depositional environment

Banded iron-formations (BIFs) form an important part of the Archaean to Proterozoic greenstone belts in the Southern Cameroon. In this study, major, trace and REE chemistry of the banded iron-formation are utilized to explore the source of metals and to constraint the origin and depositional environment of these BIFs. The studied BIF belongs to the oxide facies iron formations composed mainly of iron oxide (mainly magnetite) mesobands alternating with quartz mesobands. The mineralogy of the BIF sample consists of magnetite and quartz with lesser amount of secondary martite, goethite and trace of gibbsite and smectite. The major element chemistry of these iron-formations is remarkably simple with the main constituents being SiO₂ and Fe₂O₃ which constitute 95.6–99.5% of the bulk rock. Low Al₂O₃, TiO₂, and HFSE concentrations show that they are relatively detritus-free chemical sediments. The Pearson’s correlation matrix of major element reveals that there is a strong positive correlation (r = 0.99) of Al with Ti and no to weak negative correlation of Ti with Mn, Ca and weak positive correlation of Si with Ca, suggesting the null to very minor contribution of detrital material to chemical sediment. The trace elements with minor enrichments are transition metals such as Zn, Cr, Sr, V and Pb. This is an indicator of direct volcanogenic hydrothermal input in chemical precipitates. The studied BIF have a low ΣREE content, ranging between 0.41 and 3.22 ppm with an average of 0.87 ppm, similar to that of pure chemical sediments. The shale-normalized patterns show depletion in light REE, slightly enrichment in heavy REE and exhibit weak positive europium anomalies. These geochemical characteristics indicate that the source of Fe and Si was the result of deep ocean hydrothermal activity admixed with sea water. The absence of a large positive Eu anomaly in the studied BIF indicates an important role of low-temperature hydrothermal solutions. The chondrite-normalized REE patterns are characterized by LREE-enriched (Mean La_CN/Yb_CN = 8.01) and HREE depletion (Mean Tb_CN/Yb_CN = 1.61) patterns and show positive Ce anomalies. With the exception of one sample (LBR133), all of the BIF samples analyzed during this study have positive Ce anomalies on both chondrite- and PASS-normalized plots. This may indicate that the BIFs within the Elom area were formed within a redox stratified ocean. The positive Ce anomalies in the studied samples likely suggest that the basin in which Fe formations were deposited was reducing with respect to Ce, probably in the suboxic or anoxic seawaters.     

Petrography and geochemistry of the Shilu Fe–Co–Cu ore district,South China: Implications for the origin of a Neoproterozoic BIF system

The Shilu Fe–Co–Cu ore district is situated in the western Hainan Province of south China. This district consists of the upper Fe-rich layers and the lower Co–Cu ores, which are mainly hosted within the Neoproterozoic Shilu Group, a dominantly submarine siliciclastic and carbonate sedimentary succession that generally has been metamorphosed to greenschist facies. Three facies of metamorphosed BIFs, the oxide, the silicate–oxide and the sulfide–carbonate–silicate, have been identified within the Shilu Group. The oxide banded iron formation (BIF) facies (quartz itabirites or Fe-rich ores) consists of alternating hematite-rich and quartz-rich microbands. The silicate–oxide BIF facies (amphibolitic itabirites or Fe-poor ores) comprises alternating millimeter to tens of meter scale, magnetite–hematite-rich bands with calc-silicate-rich macro- to microbands. The sulfide–carbonate–silicate BIF facies (Co–Cu ores) contain alternating cobaltiferous pyrite, cobaltiferous pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite macrobands to microbands mainly with dolomite–calcite, but also with minor sericite–quartz bands. Blasto-oolitic, pelletoidal, colloidal, psammitic, and cryptocrystalline to microcrystalline textures, and blasto-bedding structures, which likely represent primary sedimentation, are often observed in the Shilu BIF facies.The Shilu BIFs and interbedded host rocks are generally characterized by relatively low but variable ∑ REE concentrations, LREE depletion and/or MREE enrichment relative to HREE, and no Ce, Gd and Eu anomalies to strongly positive Ce, Gd and Eu anomalies in the upward-convex PAAS-normalized REY patterns, except for both the banded or impure dolostones with nil Ce anomaly to negative Ce anomalies and negative La anomalies, and the minor sulfide–carbonate–silicate BIF facies with moderately negative Eu anomalies. They also contain relatively low but variable HFSE abundances as Zr, Nb, Hf, Th and Ti, and relatively high but variable abundances of Cu, Co, Ni, Pb, As, Mn and Ba. The consistently negative ε_Nd(t) values range from − 4.8 to − 8.5, with a T_DM age of ca. 2.0 Ga. In line with the covariations between Al₂O₃ and TiO₂, Fe₂O₃ + FeO and SiO₂, Mn and Fe, Zr and Y/Ho and REE, and Sc and LREE, the geochemical and Sm–Nd isotopic features suggest that the precursors to the Shilu BIFs formed from a source dominated by seafloor-derived, high- to low temperature, acidic and reducing hydrothermal fluids but with variable input of detrital components in a seawater environment. Moreover, the involved detrital materials were sourced dominantly from an unknown, Paleoproterozoic or older crust, with lesser involvement from the Paleo- to Mesoproterozoic Baoban Group underlying the Shilu Group.The Shilu BIFs of various facies are interpreted to have formed in a shallow marine, restricted or sheltered basin near the rifted continental margin most likely associated with the break-up of Rodinia as the result of mantle superplume activity in South China. The seafloor-derived, periodically upwelling metalliferous hydrothermal plume/vent fluids under anoxic but sulfidic to anoxic but Fe^2 +-rich conditions were removed from the plume/vent and accumulated in the basin, and then variably mixed with terrigenous detrital components, which finally led to rhythmic deposition of the Shilu BIFs.