Depositional Environment, Genesis and Gold Systems of Banded Iron Formation

A special issue of Minerals (ISSN 2075-163X). This special issue belongs to the section "Mineral Deposits".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2022) | Viewed by 11832

Special Issue Editors

Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières (BRGM), F-45060 Orléans, France
Interests: BIF; gold; geochemistry; Precambrian; economic geology
Harquail School of Earth Sciences, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON P3E 2C6, Canada
Interests: Precambrian; greenstone stratgraphy; BIF; gold
Department of Earth Sciences, University of Yaounde I, Yaounde P.O. Box 812, Cameroon
Interests: BIF; gold, economic geology; structural geology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We aim to publish a Special Issue of the journal that presents a set of themed articles on “Depositional Environment, Genesis and Gold Systems of Banded Iron Formation”.

Gold mineralization in Precambrian greenstone belts represents an economically important commodity reflecting about 13% of the world’s gold resource (e.g., Pilbara, Kaapvaal, Zimbabwe, Superior, Slave and Churchill; Phillips et al., 1984; Goldfarb et al., 2001; Bleeker, 2006; Dubé and Gosselin, 2007; Biczok et al., 2012). Among the many types of gold deposits, Banded Iron Formation (BIF) illustrates an exploration target. These rocks, which represent chemical sedimentary rocks characterized by alternating layers of iron-rich minerals and chert intercalated with volcano-sedimentary sequences, act as a favorable host rock for orogenic gold mineralization within several Archean cratons (i.e., Pilbara, Kaapvaal, Superior, Slave and Churchill). In addition to this economic aspect, these Fe-rich sequences have long been appreciated as an important contributor to furthering our understanding of the geochemical evolution of the Earth. However, these deposits are, in general, tectonically deformed, metamorphosed and dismembered, thus making the reconstruction of their depositional setting and overall geologic setting difficult.

Our Special Issue will cover a broad range of relevant topics of interest, such as:

  1. Documentation of newly identified BIF and their depositional environment;
  2. New geochemical tools to assess BIF depositional setting;
  3. Stratigraphy influence on gold mineralization;
  4. BIF and ore-forming processes;
  5. Influence of primary BIF settings on gold mineralization;
  6. Atypical BIF deposits: their mineralogy and genesis.

Thank you and we look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Blandine Gourcerol
Prof. Dr. Phil Thurston
Dr. Sylvestre Ganno
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • BIF
  • gold
  • geochemistry
  • economic geology
  • depositional setting

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

30 pages, 10930 KiB  
Article
Lithostratigraphy, Origin, and Geodynamic Setting of Iron Formations and Host Rocks of the Anyouzok Region, Congo Craton, Southwestern Cameroon
by Isaac Swiffa Fajong, Marvine Nzepang Tankwa, Donald Hermann Fossi, Sylvestre Ganno, Cyriel Moudioh, Landry Soh Tamehe, Cheo Emmanuel Suh and Jean Paul Nzenti
Minerals 2022, 12(10), 1198; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/min12101198 - 23 Sep 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1667
Abstract
In Cameroon, most of the iron formation occurrences reported are found within the Nyong and Ntem Complexes. The Anyouzok iron deposit is located in the Nyong Complex greenstone belts, which represent the NW margin of this Congo craton. The main lithological units comprise [...] Read more.
In Cameroon, most of the iron formation occurrences reported are found within the Nyong and Ntem Complexes. The Anyouzok iron deposit is located in the Nyong Complex greenstone belts, which represent the NW margin of this Congo craton. The main lithological units comprise the iron formations (IFs) unit, consisting of banded IFs (BIFs) and sheared BIFs (SBIFs), and the associated metavolcanic rocks unit consisting of mafic granulite, garnet amphibolite, and biotite gneiss. Within the Anyouzok area, BIFs are rare, while SBIFs are ubiquitous. This study reports the petrography, mineralogy, and whole rock geochemistry of IFs and interbedded metavolcanic rocks of the Anyouzok iron deposit. The abundance of cavities, higher Fe contents (49.60–55.20 wt%), and strong Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu* = 2.14–3.17) within the SBIFs compared to the BIFs suggest that SBIFs were upgraded through post-depositional hydrothermal alteration activities. REE signatures indicate the contribution of both seawater and hydrothermal fluids during BIFs precipitation. Mafic granulite and garnet amphibolite protoliths were derived from the partial melting of a metasomatized spinel lherzolite depleted mantle source. The overall compositional variations of the Anyouzok IFs and interbedded metavolcanic rocks endorse an Algoma-type formation deposited in the back-arc basin under suboxic to anoxic conditions. Full article
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28 pages, 9784 KiB  
Article
Can Weathering of Banded Iron Formations Generate Natural Hydrogen? Evidence from Australia, Brazil and South Africa
by Ugo Geymond, Erick Ramanaidou, Dan Lévy, Abderrahim Ouaya and Isabelle Moretti
Minerals 2022, 12(2), 163; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/min12020163 - 28 Jan 2022
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 6473
Abstract
Oxidation of iron-rich rock is known to generate H2 in oceanic as well as in continental domains. Here we tested the possibility of H2 generation as the result of weathering of banded iron formations (BIF). The BIF constitute more than 60% [...] Read more.
Oxidation of iron-rich rock is known to generate H2 in oceanic as well as in continental domains. Here we tested the possibility of H2 generation as the result of weathering of banded iron formations (BIF). The BIF constitute more than 60% of global iron ore reserves with low Fe3+/Fetot and total Fe ranging from 20 to 40 wt% and are therefore good candidates for H2 production potential. In the vicinity of BIF-hosted iron mines in Australia, Brazil and South Africa, satellite imaging has revealed the presence of sub-circular depressions that usually are the proxy of H2-emitting features. A morphological comparison of the sub-circular depressions with the ones observed in previous studies point to probable H2 seeping in these areas. In parallel, a petrological study conducted on altered and fresh BIF samples from the Hamersley Province in Western Australia also suggests H2 generation during BIF weathering. Indeed, mineral transitions from ferrous silicate (riebeckite and/or minnesotaite) to ferric iron oxi-hydroxides (goethite) or from ferrous and ferric oxides (magnetite) to exclusively ferric oxides (maghemite, hematite, goethite) were observed on the samples. The oxidation of ferrous iron by aqueous fluids circulating through and leaching the BIF is promising for H2 generation. The BIF weathering profile suggests that the limiting factor is the presence of water, and that this reaction is happening at, or near, surface temperature. This challenges the idea that high temperatures are required to generate H2 as it is the case during the serpentinization. The link between BIF and H2 will have however to be further investigated to better constrain the reactions and their kinetics. Full article
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21 pages, 6923 KiB  
Article
Depositional Setting of Archean BIFs from Congo: New Insight into Under-Investigated Occurrences
by Blandine Gourcerol, Olivier Blein, Matthieu Chevillard, Yannick Callec, Florent Boudzoumou and Louis-Marie Joachim Djama
Minerals 2022, 12(2), 114; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/min12020114 - 19 Jan 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2568
Abstract
Archean banded iron formations (BIF) represent a major contributor to better constraining and assessing the paleogeography and evolution of Archean cratons. In this context, we conducted an exhaustive sampling and analysis campaign of BIF units in the Congo Craton, covering several greenstone belts [...] Read more.
Archean banded iron formations (BIF) represent a major contributor to better constraining and assessing the paleogeography and evolution of Archean cratons. In this context, we conducted an exhaustive sampling and analysis campaign of BIF units in the Congo Craton, covering several greenstone belts within the Ivindo, Kelle-Mbomo, and Chaillu blocks. The REE + Y patterns suggest: (1) Interaction of seawater with Fe-oxyhydroxides, as illustrated by strong REE enrichment coupled with La and Y enrichment; (2) contributions from high-temperature (>250 °C) hydrothermal fluids, illustrated by positive Eu anomalies; and (3) detrital input as suggested by relatively consistent REE concentrations and a chondritic Y/Ho ratio. These observations suggest a typical environment of Algoma-type BIF deposition. Moreover, assessment of the Ce anomalies in a combination of HREE enrichment indicates that some basins in the Chaillu and Ivindo blocks may have known potential oxygen-rich episodes in the early Archean during the deposition of these BIFs. Full article
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