Insight into the Origin of Iron Ore Based on Elemental Contents of Magnetite and Whole-Rock Geochemistry: A Case of the Bipindi Banded Iron Formations, Nyong Complex, SW Cameroon

IF 4.1 2区地球科学 Q1 GEOSCIENCES, MULTIDISCIPLINARY

Journal of Earth Science Pub Date : 2024-02-14 DOI:10.1007/s12583-022-1622-4

Landry Soh Tamehe, Huan Li, Sylvestre Ganno, Zuxing Chen, Yanick Brice Lemdjou, Safiyanu Muhammad Elatikpo

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Abstract

The Bipindi iron ore district is located in the central section of the Nyong Complex at the northwestern margin of the Congo Craton in Southwest Cameroon. This iron district contains numerous iron mineralization hosted by the Mewongo, Bibole, Kouambo, and Zambi banded iron formations (BIFs). These BIFs contain magnetite as the main iron ore mineral associated with pyrite, and gangue minerals are quartz with minor chlorite and amphibole. The origin of iron ore from these BIFs was investigated using a combination of in-situ magnetite and whole-rock chemistry. The studied BIF ore samples have a narrow range of TFe between 30.90 wt.% and 43.20 wt.%, indicating a low-grade ore. The geochemical signatures of magnetite such as low contents of base metals (e.g., Cu, Co, V, and Zn) and low Co/Zn ratios < 0.85 indicate a hydrothermal origin. Combined with the geochemical features of these BIFs, e. g., high Fe/Ti and Fe/Al ratios (mean > 600 and > 75, respectively), we suggest that magnetite was derived from a mixture of seawater and ∼0.1% low-temperature hydrothermal fluids in an oxidizing environment. Collectively, low-temperature hydrothermal and later metamorphic fluids were necessary for the transformation of the protolith Nyong Complex BIFs to iron ore.

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基于磁铁矿元素含量和全岩地球化学的铁矿石起源洞察：喀麦隆西南部尼永复合体比平迪带铁地层的一个案例

比平迪（Bipindi）铁矿区位于喀麦隆西南部刚果克拉通西北边缘的尼永复合体中部。该铁矿区包含大量由 Mewongo、Bibole、Kouambo 和 Zambi 带状铁地层（BIFs）包裹的铁矿。这些带状铁地层中的主要铁矿石矿物是磁铁矿，与黄铁矿伴生，煤矸石矿物是石英，还有少量绿泥石和闪石。采用原位磁铁矿和全岩化学相结合的方法对这些 BIF 的铁矿石来源进行了研究。所研究的 BIF 矿石样本的 TFe 含量范围较窄，介于 30.90 wt.% 和 43.20 wt.% 之间，表明这是一种低品位矿石。磁铁矿的地球化学特征，如低贱金属含量（如铜、钴、钒和锌）和低钴/锌比< 0.85，表明其起源于热液。结合这些 BIF 的地球化学特征，例如高铁/钛和铁/铝比率（平均值分别为 > 600 和 > 75），我们认为磁铁矿来源于氧化环境中的海水和 ∼0.1% 低温热液的混合物。总之，低温热液和后来的变质流体是原岩Nyong复合BIF转化为铁矿的必要条件。

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来源期刊

Journal of Earth Science 地学-地球科学综合

CiteScore

5.50

自引率

12.10%

发文量

128

审稿时长

4.5 months

期刊介绍： Journal of Earth Science (previously known as Journal of China University of Geosciences), issued bimonthly through China University of Geosciences, covers all branches of geology and related technology in the exploration and utilization of earth resources. Founded in 1990 as the Journal of China University of Geosciences, this publication is expanding its breadth of coverage to an international scope. Coverage includes such topics as geology, petrology, mineralogy, ore deposit geology, tectonics, paleontology, stratigraphy, sedimentology, geochemistry, geophysics and environmental sciences. Articles published in recent issues include Tectonics in the Northwestern West Philippine Basin; Creep Damage Characteristics of Soft Rock under Disturbance Loads; Simplicial Indicator Kriging; Tephra Discovered in High Resolution Peat Sediment and Its Indication to Climatic Event. The journal offers discussion of new theories, methods and discoveries; reports on recent achievements in the geosciences; and timely reviews of selected subjects.