沉积变质型铁矿成矿条件及富铁矿形成机制

我国铁矿床类型有沉积变质型、岩浆型、接触交代 热液型(矽卡岩型)、火山岩型、沉积型和风化淋滤型6种,以沉积变质型最为重要。我国的沉积变质型铁矿床主要分布于华北克拉通,以鞍山式铁矿为代表,沉积时代为新太古代末,为阿尔果马型条带状铁建造 (BIF)变质而成;吕梁地区的袁家村式铁矿为苏比利尔型BIF变质而成,BIF沉积时代为2. 384~2. 210 Ga或新太古代末;舞阳、霍邱地区的沉积变质型铁矿可能为苏比利尔型BIF变质产物,BIF沉积时代分别为2. 473~2. 468 Ga、＜2. 54 Ga。BIF的形成与缺氧环境向大氧化事件初期的层化海洋环境过渡有关,海水中巨量溶解的铁质部分氧化,在初始层化海洋氧化还原界面附近的浅海环境以胶体形式沉淀。我国的BIF遭受区域变质变形作用,成为条带状磁铁石英岩,作为沉积变质型铁矿开发利用。BIF经历后期流体改造可形成富铁矿,形成机制有“去硅富铁”、“铁质活化再富集”和“去碳酸盐富铁”3种,弓长岭富铁矿的成矿年龄为1. 85 Ga左右,由BIF“去硅富铁”而成;齐大山富铁矿可能形成于2. 5 Ga,由BIF“铁质活化再富集”而成;袁家村富铁矿形成于1. 41~1. 34 Ga,可能由含碳酸盐的BIF“去碳酸盐富铁”而成。     

澜沧江铁矿带惠民式-疆峰式铁矿床特征与含铁建造

通过对惠民式和疆峰式铁矿的研究,认为它们都是受变质中基性火山岩建造控制的海相火山-沉积型铁矿床,前者兼有条带状含铁建造(BIF)和粒状含铁建造(GIF)的特征,而后者则为条带状含铁建造.它们均具备元古代条带状铁硅建造铁矿的特征,满足形成前寒武纪大型条带状含铁建造的“大型海洋热液供应系统、作为沉积仓储的大陆架体貌及有能力...     

河南舞阳经山寺铁矿床地球化学特征及其地质意义

河南经山寺铁矿床位于华北板块南缘,矿体形态为似层状和透镜状,铁建造以条带状铁矿石为主,含有少量的块状矿石,其顶、底板围岩及矿体夹层主要为太华群铁山庙组大理岩。矿床地球化学分析结果表明,本区条带状铁建造是与海相火山沉积有关的前寒武纪火山沉积变质型铁矿。Sr/Ba平均值20.55,Ti/V平均值104.24,Ni/Co平均值2.31,Y/Ho平均值62.67,具La的正异常(La/La*=0.807~1.564),Eu的正异常(Eu/Eu*=1.246~2.821),Y的正异常(Y/Y*=2.426~3.310),反映出经山寺条带状铁矿床形成于火山热液和海水混合的环境。极低的Zr、Hf、Th含量,表明陆源碎屑物质对BIF的贡献极少。无明显Ce负异常(Ce/Ce*=0.809~0.955),揭示条带状铁建造沉积于海水缺氧环境。流体包裹体均一温度主要集中在150~320℃,成矿流体具有低盐度〔w(NaCleq)=2.07%~18.80%〕、低密度(0.846~0.979 g/cm3)特征,流体包裹体成分显示成矿热液是一种低盐度的Na+、Cl-型水,并含有较高的CO2。经山寺铁矿床经历了海底火山喷流沉积和区域变质作用2个成矿期,成矿流体具多源性,且发生过强烈的不混溶作用,影响铁质发生进一步的迁移和富集。     

华北克拉通BIF铁矿形成时代与构造环境

条带状铁矿(BIF)主要形成于中晚太古代-早元古代,是地质演化和环境变化耦合作用的产物,在地质历史上具有不可重复性。BIF铁建造及相关火山沉积记录了早前寒武纪丰富的地质、环境和生物演化的信息,一直是前寒武纪研究的重要主题。同时,前寒武纪条带状铁建造是世界上最重要的铁矿类型,也是中国最重要的铁矿资     

中国前寒武纪铁矿床时空分布和演化特征

前寒武纪是中国铁矿重要成矿期，该时期的铁矿资源／储量占全国的656％。前寒武纪铁矿床类型可分（火山）沉积变质型铁矿床、与火山-侵入活动有关的铁矿床、沉积型铁矿床、复合成矿作用型铁矿床和岩浆型铁矿床五类，再细分为条带状铁建造铁矿床、与细碧角斑质火山-侵入活动有关的中浅变质铁矿床、沉积-变质热液改造型铁矿床等8个亚类。（火山）沉积变质型铁矿床是前寒武纪铁矿床的主要类型，其储量、矿产地和开采量均占全国首位，其中最主要的是条带状铁建造铁矿床亚类，是前寒武纪的特征类型，是仅发育在前寒武纪时期的铁矿床。中国最古老的铁矿床形成于古太古代，新太古代是中国铁矿最重要的形成时期，此期间形成铁矿的储量约占全国铁矿总储量50％，矿床类型是与绿岩带有关的阿尔戈马型条带状铁建造铁矿床。中国前寒武纪铁矿床主要分布在中国东部、陆块区和陆块边缘和内部的裂谷中，其成矿规模、成矿区域、成矿类型和成矿演化特点明显。     

冀东马兰庄条带状硅铁建造的变质时代及地质意义

前寒武纪条带状硅铁建造(BIF)是世界,也是中国最重要的铁矿资源类型,无论是储量,还是开采量,均居首位.前寒武纪条带状硅铁建造是地球早期特有的化学沉积建造类型,广泛分布于太古代—早元古代(3.2～1.8 Ga),记录了地球早期大气和海洋的化学成分、氧化还原状态及演化,是广大地质工作者长期关注的焦点之一.在国外,与BIF...     

江口式铁矿地质特征矿床类型及资源远景

介绍了江口式铁矿矿床特征及沉积岩相古地理特点,铁、锰、磷等矿产的沉积成矿序列,认为该类铁矿属条带状铁硅质建造,与前寒武纪苏必利尔湖型铁矿有一定相似性。矿床分布范围广,资源潜力大,建议加强勘查开发。     

古元古代-中国重要的成矿期

古元古代是中国十分重要的成矿期,矿种多、成矿规模大、矿床类型复杂。与太古宙相比,古元古代构造体制发生了本质的变化,由太古宙全活动体制转换为活动带和稳定地块并存的构造格局,因而其成矿特征与太古宙有明显差别。太古宙成矿主要与绿岩带有关,相应形成铁、金、铜锌等矿床。在古元古代,与成矿有关的构造环境主要是与拉伸、裂陷和伸展活动有关的裂谷环境,其次为活动大陆边缘裂谷及弧后盆地和被动大陆边缘盆地,有少部分与伸展构造有关,产在深大断裂带中的矿床。因而古元古代成矿是以裂谷、裂陷为主的成矿体系。在古元古代形成华北陆块北缘东段辽吉与古元古代裂谷作用有关的硼、铁、菱镁矿、滑石、铅锌、铜镍、岫玉等矿床成矿系列、华北陆块南缘中条山-王屋山与古元古代裂谷作用有关的铜矿床成矿系列、佳木斯微陆块与古元古代沉积变质作用有关的石墨、金矿床成矿系列等11个主要矿床成矿系列。相应大规模成矿的有铁、铜、金、铅锌、金红石、钛铁矿等金属矿床及石墨、菱镁矿、硼、滑石等非金属矿床。就是同一种矿产,与太古宙相比,矿床类型也有明显差别,如条带状铁建造(BIF)型铁矿,在太古宙为阿尔戈马型,而古元古代则以苏必利尔湖型为主。     

河南窑场铁矿床地球化学特征及其地质意义

通过对窑场铁矿床围岩和矿石的地球化学分析,得出本区条带状硅铁建造可能与海相火山沉积物有关,属于前寒武纪火山沉积变质型铁矿床范围,可进一步划分为火山岩-中酸性杂砂岩-硅铁质沉积建造.流体包裹体测温结果表明,含矿围岩中的包裹体均一温度集中在220～340 ℃之间,矿石中包裹体均一温度峰值为220～300 ℃,成矿流体具有低盐度[(w(NaCleq)为088%～1134%)]、低密度(066～099 g/cm3)特征.由激光拉曼探针分析可知,石英中气液包裹体具有较复杂的气液相成分,显示除水外,还具有较强还原性物质成分的特征峰值,表明整个成矿过程均处于还原环境.窑场铁矿床经历了前期含硅铁沉积物的沉积阶段和后期的区域变质作用阶段,变质成矿流体发生了不混溶现象,对成矿元素的富集起到一定的促进作用.     

巴西铁四角地区铁矿床研究进展

铁四角地区位于巴西圣弗朗西斯科克拉通的南端,主要由太古宙基底花岗-片麻岩、力达维汉斯(Rio Das Velhas)超群火山沉积岩以及古元古代米纳斯超群沉积盖层组成。米纳斯超群受古元古代泛亚马逊和新元古代巴西利亚2次造山事件的影响,形成了由西向东变形及变质程度由低至高的复杂格局。经过变质作用的条带状铁建造称为铁英岩,根据其成分可分为石英铁英岩、白云质铁英岩和角闪质铁英岩。铁四角地区大多数铁矿床赋存于这些铁英岩层位中,铁英岩的沉积时代介于2.58~2.42Ga之间。石英铁英岩和白云质铁英岩成分十分简单,前者主要由SiO2和Fe2O3组成,而后者主要为Fe2O3、CaO和MgO。两者的FeO含量都极低,Fe3+/(Fe2++Fe3+)比值接近于1,远高于世界上其他古元古代条带状铁建造。石英铁英岩与白云质铁英岩微量元素含量(<10×10-6)和稀土元素总量(8×10-6~35×10-6)都非常低,富集重稀土元素,具Eu、Y正异常和Ce负异常,与其他古元古代条带状铁建造相似。白云质铁英岩中白云石的C和O同位素相对均一,δ13CPDB为-2.5‰~-0.8‰,δ18 OPDB为-12.4‰~-8.5‰。δ13CPDB值与其他古元古代条带状铁建造完全不同,而与新太古代-古元古代海相碳酸盐的十分相似。铁四角地区大型铁矿床在古元古代早期沉积形成条带状铁建造后,在泛亚马逊和巴西利亚两次造山事件中,又经历了不同条件下涉及不同流体的复杂氧化和变质作用过程。在有利的构造部位,反复的热液流体作用是形成铁四角地区大型高品位铁矿床的重要因素。褶皱枢纽可以提高渗透性以及深大断裂能提供流体运移的通道,应是未来勘探的重要目标。     

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。     

华北克拉通前寒武纪BIF铁矿研究:进展与问题

研究表明,BIF铁矿在华北克拉通的分布具有一定规律性.大规模BIF铁矿主要发育在绿岩带分布区的鞍山-本溪、冀东、霍邱-舞阳、五台、鲁西和固阳等地;华北克拉通时代最古老的BIF形成于古太古代,最年轻BIF形成于古元古代早期,但BIF铁矿的峰期为新太古代晚期(2.52 ～2.56Ga);BIF铁矿类型可划分为阿尔戈马型和苏比利尔湖型两类,但华北以晚太古代绿岩带中的阿尔戈马型为主,仅吕梁的古元古代袁家村铁矿具典型苏比利尔湖型铁矿特征.根据BIF在绿岩带序列中的产出部位和岩石组合关系,可将华北BIF划分为:1)斜长角闪岩(夹角闪斜长片麻岩)-磁铁石英岩组合;2)斜长角闪岩-黑云变粒岩-云母石英片岩-磁铁石英岩组合;3)黑云变粒岩(夹黑云石英片岩)-磁铁石英岩组合;4)黑云变粒岩-绢云绿泥片岩-黑云石英片岩-磁铁石英岩组合;5)斜长角闪岩(片麻岩)-大理岩-磁铁石英岩组合等5种类型.华北克拉通BIF形成时代与早前寒武纪岩浆活动的时间基本一致(2.5～2.6Ga),但与华北克拉通陆壳增生的峰期(2.7～2.9Ga)有一定偏差,其原因可能与新太古代晚期华北克拉通构造-热事件十分强烈有关.华北克拉通新太古代BIF大多形成于岛弧环境,但局部地区(如固阳)BIF铁矿可能形成于深部有地幔柱叠加的岛弧环境.华北克拉通BIF富矿主要有三种类型:原始沉积、受后期构造-热液叠加改造和古风化壳等,但总体不发育富铁矿,国外发育的风化壳型富铁在我国甚为少见.本文认为在探讨BIF铁矿类型时,需要从绿岩带发育序列进行综合判别.阿尔戈马型铁矿一般产于克拉通基底(绿岩带)环境,苏比利尔湖型铁矿一般形成于稳定克拉通上的海相沉积盆地或被动大陆边缘.华北克拉通BIF铁矿地球化学研究结果表明,BIF铁矿无Ce负异常且Fe同位素为正值,从而暗示铁矿沉淀的环境为低氧或缺氧环境,而铕正异常可能指示BIFs为热水沉积成因,其机制可能为海水对流循环从新生镁铁质-超镁铁质洋壳中淋滤出F(e)和Si等元素,在海底排泄沉淀成矿,而条带状构造的形成可能归咎于成矿流体的脉动式喷溢.但对于BIF铁矿的物质来源、成矿条件和机制、富铁矿成因、华北克拉通不发育苏比利尔湖型铁矿的原因等方面,仍需深入研究.     

Neoproterozoic banded iron formations

Two epochs of the formation of ferruginous quartzites—Archean-Paleoproterozoic (3.2–1.8 Ga) and Neoproterozoic (0.85–0.7 Ga)—are distinguished in the Precambrian. They are incommensurable in scale: the Paleoproterozoic Kursk Group of the Kursk Magnetic Anomaly (KMA) extends over 1500 km, whereas the extension of Neoproterozoic banded iron formations (BIF) beds does not exceed a few tens of kilometers. Their thickness is up to 200 m and not more than 10 m, respectively. The oldest BIFs are located in old platforms, whereas Neoproterozoic BIFs are mainly confined to Phanerozoic orogenic (mobile) zones. Neoproterozoic BIFs universally associate with glacial deposits and their beds include glacial dropstones. In places, they underlie tillites of the Laplandian (Marinoan) glaciation (635 Ma), but they are more often sandwiched between glaciogenic sequences of the Laplandian and preceding Sturtian or Rapitan glaciation (730–750 Ma). Neoproterozoic BIFs are rather diverse in terms of lithology due to variation in the grade of metamorphism from place to place from low grades of the greenschist facies up to the granulite facies. Correspondingly, the ore component is mainly represented by hematite or magnetite. The REE distribution and (Co + Ni + Cu) index suggest an influence of hydrothermal sources of Fe, although it was subordinate to the continental washout. Iron was accumulated in seawater during glaciations, whereas iron mineralization took place at the earliest stages of postglacial transgressions.     

鞍本地区大孤山条带状铁建造含铁矿物和相分带特征及形成环境分析

鞍山-本溪条带状铁建造(Banded Iron Formation,简称BIF)位于华北克拉通东北缘,是世界上典型BIF之一,也是我国最重要的铁矿资源基地。大孤山位于鞍山地区南部矿带,为新太古代典型的Algoma型BIF,与华北克拉通其它大多数BIF相比,具有较低变质程度(绿片岩相-低角闪岩相)和较完整的沉积相分布特征。因此,通过大孤山BIF的研究有利于追踪Algoma型BIF的原生矿物组成及其后期成岩-变质过程,进而通过分析原生矿物形成的物理化学条件探讨古海洋环境。依据原生矿物共生组合及产出特征,可将大孤山BIF沉积相划分为氧化物相(30%)、硅酸盐相(50%)和碳酸盐相(20%)。氧化物相主要分布于主矿体南部,主要矿物组成为磁铁矿和石英;硅酸盐相分布于主矿体中部,主要矿物组成除了石英和磁铁矿之外,还有黑硬绿泥石、绿泥石、镁铁闪石等;碳酸盐相分布于矿体北部,主要矿物组成为菱铁矿、磁铁矿和石英等。本文通过大孤山BIF岩相学观察和含铁矿物化学成分研究,推测原生沉积物的组成为无定形硅胶、三价铁氢氧化物和富铝粘土碎屑,在经历了成岩和低级变质作用后转变为具不同相带的条带状铁建造。通过分析磁铁矿、菱铁矿和黑硬绿泥石等矿物在不同P_(O_2)-P_(CO_2)和pH-Eh条件下的共生相图可知,这些矿物均是在较低氧逸度、中到弱碱性环境下形成。综合考虑矿物成分、共生组合及受变质作用较弱等信息,本文推测制约原生矿物形成的控制因素主要是古海水氧化还原状态、酸碱度、CO_2含量和硫逸度。     

BIF成因研究进展

BIF在全球广泛分布,BIF型铁矿是铁的重要来源。根据产出的构造背景将其分为阿尔戈玛型（Algoma-type）和苏必利尔湖型（Lake Superior-type）。BIF主要产出于前寒武纪的古老克拉通和/或年轻地体,形成时代集中在3.0～2.0 Ga,峰期为2.5 Ga左右。前人对BIF型铁矿的成因研究着重于BIF的物质来源和Fe²⁺ 氧化沉淀机制两个方面,但都尚未达成共识。物质来源的观点主要有大陆风化剥蚀、海底热液、海底热液和海水的混合物、热液淋滤洋壳、既有大陆物质来源又有热液来源,沉淀机制主要有生物沉淀和非生物沉淀两种认识,前者是指Fe²⁺ 利用微生物（如蓝藻）光合作用产生的O₂氧化成Fe³⁺,或Fe²⁺ 直接被微生物代谢氧化,后者主要包括热液与海水混合、密度流作用、相分离、紫外线引起Fe²⁺ 氧化沉淀等。     

The photochemistry of manganese and the origin of Banded Iron Formations

The photochemical oxidation of Fe(2+) -hydroxide complexes dissolved in anoxic Precambrian oceans has been suggested as a mechanism to explain the deposition of Banded Iron Formations (BIFs). Photochemical studies have not yet addressed the low levels of manganese in many of these deposits, which probably precipitated from solutions bearing similar concentrations of Fe2+ and Mn2+. Depositional models must also explain the stratigraphic separation of iron and manganese ores in manganiferous BIFs. In this study, solutions containing 0.56 M NaCl and approximately 180 micromoles MnCl2 with or without 3 to 200 micromoles FeCl2 were irradiated with filtered and unfiltered UV light from a medium-pressure mercury-vapor lamp for up to 8 hours. The solutions were deaerated and buffered to pH approximately 7, and all experiments were conducted under O2-free (< 1 ppm) atmospheres. In experiments with NaCl + MnCl2, approximately 20% of the Mn2+ was oxidized and precipitated as birnessite in 8 hours. Manganese precipitation was only observed when light with lambda < 240 nm was used. In experiments with NaCl + MnCl2 + FeCl2, little manganese was lost from solution, while Fe2+ was rapidly oxidized to Fe3+ and precipitated as gamma-FeOOH or as amorphous ferric hydroxide. The Mn:Fe ratio of these precipitates was approximately 1:50, similar to the ratios observed in BIFs. A strong upper limit on the rate of manganese photo-oxidation during the Precambrian is estimated to be 0.1 mg cm-2 yr-1, a factor of 10(3) slower than the rate of iron photo-oxidation considered reasonable in BIF depositional basins. Thus, a photochemical model for the origin of oxide facies BIFs is consistent with field observations, although models that invoke molecular O2 as the oxidant of Fe2+ and Mn2+ are not precluded. Apparently, oxide facies BIFs could have formed under anoxic, as well as under mildly oxygenated atmospheres.     

古元古代大氧化事件(GOE)前后海洋环境的变化: 来自华北条带状铁建造(BIF)岩相学和地球化学的证据*

条带状铁建造(BIF)是形成于前寒武纪海洋中的化学沉积岩,记录了古海洋氧化还原状态的重要信息。华北克拉通广泛分布的新太古代和古元古代BIF,是了解古元古代大氧化事件(GOE)前后古海洋氧化还原环境变化的理想对象。初步研究表明,华北克拉通新太古代BIF主要为磁铁矿型氧化物相和硅酸盐相,极少数出现碳酸盐相;古元古代BIF包括赤铁矿型和磁铁矿型氧化物相、硅酸盐相和碳酸盐相,其中赤铁矿相是古元古代BIF独有的。以上矿物学特征表明,新太古代和古元古代水体的氧化还原条件是不同的。华北克拉通新太古代BIF的稀土元素组成缺乏强烈的负Ce异常,反映同期海水氧含量非常低,为缺氧状态; 但少量BIF也包含有负Ce异常,同时具有较大变化范围的Th/U值,指示新太古代海洋的局部水体氧含量相对较高,呈弱氧化状态。与新太古代BIF相比,古元古代BIF的Ce异常变化较大,包括无异常、正异常和负异常,尤其是赤铁矿相BIF具明显的负Ce异常,表明古元古代水体的氧含量和氧化还原结构已发生了明显变化; 结合华北克拉通BIF的Ni/Co、V/(V+Ni)和Th/U等比值特征,认为古元古代海洋呈次氧化—氧化环境。新太古代BIF 强烈富集重铁同位素,S同位素非质量分馏效应较为明显;而古元古代BIF相对富集轻铁同位素,S同位素非质量分馏效应不明显。综上,新太古代海洋环境整体缺氧,但局部可能存在氧气“绿洲”,暗示光合产氧作用在太古代晚期已经存在;大氧化事件期间及之后的古海洋总体具上部氧化、下部还原的分层特征。     

Changes of oceanic environment before and after the Paleoproterozoic Great Oxidation Event(GOE): Evidence from petrography and geochemistry of banded iron formation(BIF)from the North China Craton

Banded iron formation(BIF)belongs to sedimentary rocks formed in Precambrian marine,which can directly reflect the redox state of the ancient oceans. Mineral composition and geochemistry of BIF can reveal the relative changes of oxygen contents of ancient atmosphere-ocean. The Neoarchean and Paleoproterozoic BIFs widely distributed in the North China Craton(NCC),are the ideal research objects for understanding the changes of the ancient ocean redox environment before and after the Paleoproterozoic Great Oxidation Event(GOE). Our previous studies indicated that the sedimentary facies of the Neoarchean BIF in the NCC are mainly magnetite-type oxide and silicate,with minor carbonate. The sedimentary facies of the Paleoproterozoic BIF are hematite- and magnetite-type oxide,silicate and carbonate,of which the hematite-oxide facies is unique to the Paleoproterozoic BIF. The above mineralogical features suggest that the redox conditions of the Neoarchean and Paleoproterozoic seawater are different. The rare earth element composition of the Neoarchean BIF in the NCC lacks a strong negative Ce anomaly,reflecting that the oxygen content of contemporary seawater is very low and the marine is anoxic. However,a small amount of BIFs in the NCC also present the negative Ce anomalies and a wide range of Th/U ratios,indicating that the local water of the Neoarchean ocean had relatively high oxygen content and was at a weak oxidation state. Compared with the Neoarchean BIFs,the Paleoproterozoic BIFs present a wide range of Ce anomalies(i.e.,no Ce anomalies,positive Ce anomalies and negative Ce anomalies). The hematite-bearing BIF has an obvious negative Ce anomalies,implying that the oxygen content and redox state of Paleoproterozoic seawater changed significantly. Combined with the ratios of Ni/Co,V/(V+Ni)and Th/U of the BIFs in the NCC,the Paleoproterozoic oceans exhibited a suboxidation to oxidation environment. Besides,Neoarchean BIF is strongly enriched in heavy iron isotopes and the non-mass fractionation of S isotope is obvious,whereas the Paleoproterozoic BIF is relatively enriched in light iron isotopes and the non-mass fractionation of S isotope is not obvious. It is summarized that the Neoarchean marine is anoxic,but the oxygen‘oasis' may exist locally,implying that photosynthetic oxygen production already existed in the Late Neoarchean. The ancient ocean presented a layered characteristics during and after the GOE,indicating that the shallow water was generally oxidized and the deep water was reduced.     

Cobalt‐Bearing Grunerite in the Metamorphosed Banded Iron Formation in Orissa,India

Banded iron formation (BIF) comprising high grade iron ore are exposed in Gorumahisani‐Sulaipat‐Badampahar belt in the east of North Orissa Craton, India. The ores are multiply deformed and metamorphosed to amphibolite facies. The mineral assemblage in the BIF comprises grunerite, magnetite/martite/goethite and quartz. Relict carbonate phases are sometimes noticed within thick iron mesobands. Grunerite crystals exhibit needles to fibrous lamellae and platy form or often sheaf‐like aggregates in linear and radial arrangement. Accicular grunerite also occur within intergranular space of magnetite/martite. Grunerite needles/accicules show higher reflectivity in chert mesoband and matching reflectance with that of adjacent magnetite/martite in iron mesoband. Some grunerite lamellae sinter into micron size magnetite platelets. This grunerite has high ferrous oxide and cobalt oxide content but is low in Mg‐ and Mn‐oxide compared to the ones, reported from BIFs, of Western Australia, Nigeria, France, USA and Quebec. The protolith of this BIF is considered to be carbonate containing sediments, with high concentrations of Fe and Si but lower contents of cobalt and chromium ± Mg, Mn and Ni. During submarine weathering quartz, sheet silicate (greenalite) and Fe‐Co‐Cr (Mg‐Mn‐Ni)‐carbonate solid solution were formed. At the outset of the regional metamorphic episode grunerite, euhedral magnetite and recrystalized quartz were developed. Magnetite was grown at the expense of carbonate and later martitized under post‐metamorphic conditions. With the increasing grade of metamorphism greenalite transformed to grunerite.     

Mineralogy and geochemistry of banded iron formation and iron ores from eastern India with implications on their genesis

The geological complexities of banded iron formation (BIF) and associated iron ores of Jilling-Langalata iron ore deposits, Singhbhum-North Orissa Craton, belonging to Iron Ore Group (IOG) eastern India have been studied in detail along with the geochemical evaluation of different iron ores. The geochemical and mineralogical characterization suggests that the massive, hard laminated, soft laminated ore and blue dust had a genetic lineage from BIFs aided with certain input from hydrothermal activity. The PAAS normalized REE pattern of Jilling BIF striking positive Eu anomaly, resembling those of modern hydrothermal solutions from mid-oceanic ridge (MOR). Major part of the iron could have been added to the bottom sea water by hydrothermal solutions derived from hydrothermally active anoxic marine environments. The ubiquitous presence of intercalated tuffaceous shales indicates the volcanic signature in BIF. Mineralogical studies reveal that magnetite was the principal iron oxide mineral, whose depositional history is preserved in BHJ, where it remains in the form of martite and the platy hematite is mainly the product of martite. The different types of iron ores are intricately related with the BHJ. Removal of silica from BIF and successive precipitation of iron by hydrothermal fluids of possible meteoric origin resulted in the formation of martite-goethite ore. The hard laminated ore has been formed in the second phase of supergene processes, where the deep burial upgrades the hydrous iron oxides to hematite. The massive ore is syngenetic in origin with BHJ. Soft laminated ores and biscuity ores were formed where further precipitation of iron was partial or absent.