George Lemewihbwen Ngiamte , Roland Maas , Eleanor C.R. Green , Olugbenga Akindeji Okunlola , Cheo Emmanuel Suh , Alan Greig , Ashleigh van Smeerdijk Hood , Nowel Yinkfu Njamnsi , Cyril Samndong Tufoin
{"title":"刚果克拉通西北部(喀麦隆南部)绿岩带中古生代 Mbarga BIF 勘探区:岩石学、地球化学、Sr-Nd 同位素、锆石 u-pb 地质年代、岩石成因和构造影响","authors":"George Lemewihbwen Ngiamte , Roland Maas , Eleanor C.R. Green , Olugbenga Akindeji Okunlola , Cheo Emmanuel Suh , Alan Greig , Ashleigh van Smeerdijk Hood , Nowel Yinkfu Njamnsi , Cyril Samndong Tufoin","doi":"10.1016/j.precamres.2024.107631","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Banded Iron Formations (BIFs) interbedded with schists characterize the Mbarga prospect in the Ntem Complex at the northwest edge of the Congo Craton. This study presents new whole-rock geochemical, Sr-Nd, and zircon U-Pb isotopic data for the BIFs and schists to constrain the timing and geodynamic setting of the deposit. The abundances of SiO<sub>2</sub> (52.81 to 79.14 wt%) and Na<sub>2</sub>O+K<sub>2</sub>O (4.24 to 8.54 wt%) in the schists indicate andesitic, dacitic, to rhyolitic protoliths. Trace element signatures, such as high Ba and depleted Nb-Ta concentrations, suggest a volcanic arc affinity. A well-defined U-Pb zircon age of 2890 ± 4 Ma implies a Mesoarchaean protolith age, while an imprecise Rb-Sr whole-rock age of ca. 2.65 Ga is consistent with known tectonothermal events (∼2.75 and 2.65 Ga) in the Ntem Complex. Initial ε<sub>Nd(2.89)</sub> values of + 0.8 to + 2.0 for the schists indicate an unevolved, mantle-like source for the protoliths. The BIFs show partial to extensive alterations of magnetite to hematite-martite and are of the Algoma type. They are characterized by high Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> (∼54.06 wt%) and SiO<sub>2</sub> (∼45.40 wt%) but low Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> (∼0.14 wt%), TiO<sub>2</sub> (∼0.1 wt%), Zr (∼4.92 ppm), Th (∼0.11 ppm), and REE-Y contents. Rare earth patterns marked by LREE depletion, positive Eu anomalies (∼2), mild Ce depletion (Ce/Ce* 0.67 to 1.16), and super-chondritic Y/Ho ratios (∼34) suggest formation under anoxic to suboxic Archaean marine conditions, possibly involving mixing of Archaean seawater with minor (0.1–1 %) contributions from medium- to high-<em>T</em> hydrothermal fluids. Sparse 2951 ± 24 Ma zircons, presumably of detrital origin, establish a depositional link to the associated schists, redefining the age of BIF deposition within the Ntem Complex to ca. 2.95–2.89 Ga. However, whole-rock Sm-Nd isotope data for five BIF samples define a scattered array with an imprecise slope equivalent to an age near 1004 ± 78 Ma, which may reflect a previously unrecognized recrystallization event in the BIFs. The initial ε<sub>Nd</sub> of this array (−11.1 ± 2.0) suggests a crustal source. The mineralogical, geochemical, and isotopic datasets reconcile the Mbarga BIF prospect with arc magmatism in the Late Archaean, suggesting their formation in a back-arc basin setting.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49674,"journal":{"name":"Precambrian Research","volume":"416 ","pages":"Article 107631"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2000,"publicationDate":"2024-11-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":"{\"title\":\"Greenstone belt-hosted Mesoarchaean Mbarga BIF prospect, NW Congo Craton (southern Cameroon): Petrography, geochemistry, Sr-Nd isotopes, zircon u-pb geochronology, petrogenetic, and tectonic implications\",\"authors\":\"George Lemewihbwen Ngiamte , Roland Maas , Eleanor C.R. Green , Olugbenga Akindeji Okunlola , Cheo Emmanuel Suh , Alan Greig , Ashleigh van Smeerdijk Hood , Nowel Yinkfu Njamnsi , Cyril Samndong Tufoin\",\"doi\":\"10.1016/j.precamres.2024.107631\",\"DOIUrl\":null,\"url\":null,\"abstract\":\"<div><div>Banded Iron Formations (BIFs) interbedded with schists characterize the Mbarga prospect in the Ntem Complex at the northwest edge of the Congo Craton. This study presents new whole-rock geochemical, Sr-Nd, and zircon U-Pb isotopic data for the BIFs and schists to constrain the timing and geodynamic setting of the deposit. The abundances of SiO<sub>2</sub> (52.81 to 79.14 wt%) and Na<sub>2</sub>O+K<sub>2</sub>O (4.24 to 8.54 wt%) in the schists indicate andesitic, dacitic, to rhyolitic protoliths. Trace element signatures, such as high Ba and depleted Nb-Ta concentrations, suggest a volcanic arc affinity. A well-defined U-Pb zircon age of 2890 ± 4 Ma implies a Mesoarchaean protolith age, while an imprecise Rb-Sr whole-rock age of ca. 2.65 Ga is consistent with known tectonothermal events (∼2.75 and 2.65 Ga) in the Ntem Complex. Initial ε<sub>Nd(2.89)</sub> values of + 0.8 to + 2.0 for the schists indicate an unevolved, mantle-like source for the protoliths. The BIFs show partial to extensive alterations of magnetite to hematite-martite and are of the Algoma type. They are characterized by high Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> (∼54.06 wt%) and SiO<sub>2</sub> (∼45.40 wt%) but low Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> (∼0.14 wt%), TiO<sub>2</sub> (∼0.1 wt%), Zr (∼4.92 ppm), Th (∼0.11 ppm), and REE-Y contents. Rare earth patterns marked by LREE depletion, positive Eu anomalies (∼2), mild Ce depletion (Ce/Ce* 0.67 to 1.16), and super-chondritic Y/Ho ratios (∼34) suggest formation under anoxic to suboxic Archaean marine conditions, possibly involving mixing of Archaean seawater with minor (0.1–1 %) contributions from medium- to high-<em>T</em> hydrothermal fluids. Sparse 2951 ± 24 Ma zircons, presumably of detrital origin, establish a depositional link to the associated schists, redefining the age of BIF deposition within the Ntem Complex to ca. 2.95–2.89 Ga. However, whole-rock Sm-Nd isotope data for five BIF samples define a scattered array with an imprecise slope equivalent to an age near 1004 ± 78 Ma, which may reflect a previously unrecognized recrystallization event in the BIFs. The initial ε<sub>Nd</sub> of this array (−11.1 ± 2.0) suggests a crustal source. The mineralogical, geochemical, and isotopic datasets reconcile the Mbarga BIF prospect with arc magmatism in the Late Archaean, suggesting their formation in a back-arc basin setting.</div></div>\",\"PeriodicalId\":49674,\"journal\":{\"name\":\"Precambrian Research\",\"volume\":\"416 \",\"pages\":\"Article 107631\"},\"PeriodicalIF\":3.2000,\"publicationDate\":\"2024-11-23\",\"publicationTypes\":\"Journal Article\",\"fieldsOfStudy\":null,\"isOpenAccess\":false,\"openAccessPdf\":\"\",\"citationCount\":\"0\",\"resultStr\":null,\"platform\":\"Semanticscholar\",\"paperid\":null,\"PeriodicalName\":\"Precambrian Research\",\"FirstCategoryId\":\"89\",\"ListUrlMain\":\"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301926824003449\",\"RegionNum\":2,\"RegionCategory\":\"地球科学\",\"ArticlePicture\":[],\"TitleCN\":null,\"AbstractTextCN\":null,\"PMCID\":null,\"EPubDate\":\"\",\"PubModel\":\"\",\"JCR\":\"Q2\",\"JCRName\":\"GEOSCIENCES, MULTIDISCIPLINARY\",\"Score\":null,\"Total\":0}","platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Precambrian Research","FirstCategoryId":"89","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301926824003449","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"GEOSCIENCES, MULTIDISCIPLINARY","Score":null,"Total":0}
Banded Iron Formations (BIFs) interbedded with schists characterize the Mbarga prospect in the Ntem Complex at the northwest edge of the Congo Craton. This study presents new whole-rock geochemical, Sr-Nd, and zircon U-Pb isotopic data for the BIFs and schists to constrain the timing and geodynamic setting of the deposit. The abundances of SiO2 (52.81 to 79.14 wt%) and Na2O+K2O (4.24 to 8.54 wt%) in the schists indicate andesitic, dacitic, to rhyolitic protoliths. Trace element signatures, such as high Ba and depleted Nb-Ta concentrations, suggest a volcanic arc affinity. A well-defined U-Pb zircon age of 2890 ± 4 Ma implies a Mesoarchaean protolith age, while an imprecise Rb-Sr whole-rock age of ca. 2.65 Ga is consistent with known tectonothermal events (∼2.75 and 2.65 Ga) in the Ntem Complex. Initial εNd(2.89) values of + 0.8 to + 2.0 for the schists indicate an unevolved, mantle-like source for the protoliths. The BIFs show partial to extensive alterations of magnetite to hematite-martite and are of the Algoma type. They are characterized by high Fe2O3 (∼54.06 wt%) and SiO2 (∼45.40 wt%) but low Al2O3 (∼0.14 wt%), TiO2 (∼0.1 wt%), Zr (∼4.92 ppm), Th (∼0.11 ppm), and REE-Y contents. Rare earth patterns marked by LREE depletion, positive Eu anomalies (∼2), mild Ce depletion (Ce/Ce* 0.67 to 1.16), and super-chondritic Y/Ho ratios (∼34) suggest formation under anoxic to suboxic Archaean marine conditions, possibly involving mixing of Archaean seawater with minor (0.1–1 %) contributions from medium- to high-T hydrothermal fluids. Sparse 2951 ± 24 Ma zircons, presumably of detrital origin, establish a depositional link to the associated schists, redefining the age of BIF deposition within the Ntem Complex to ca. 2.95–2.89 Ga. However, whole-rock Sm-Nd isotope data for five BIF samples define a scattered array with an imprecise slope equivalent to an age near 1004 ± 78 Ma, which may reflect a previously unrecognized recrystallization event in the BIFs. The initial εNd of this array (−11.1 ± 2.0) suggests a crustal source. The mineralogical, geochemical, and isotopic datasets reconcile the Mbarga BIF prospect with arc magmatism in the Late Archaean, suggesting their formation in a back-arc basin setting.
期刊介绍:
Precambrian Research publishes studies on all aspects of the early stages of the composition, structure and evolution of the Earth and its planetary neighbours. With a focus on process-oriented and comparative studies, it covers, but is not restricted to, subjects such as:
(1) Chemical, biological, biochemical and cosmochemical evolution; the origin of life; the evolution of the oceans and atmosphere; the early fossil record; palaeobiology;
(2) Geochronology and isotope and elemental geochemistry;
(3) Precambrian mineral deposits;
(4) Geophysical aspects of the early Earth and Precambrian terrains;
(5) Nature, formation and evolution of the Precambrian lithosphere and mantle including magmatic, depositional, metamorphic and tectonic processes.
In addition, the editors particularly welcome integrated process-oriented studies that involve a combination of the above fields and comparative studies that demonstrate the effect of Precambrian evolution on Phanerozoic earth system processes.
Regional and localised studies of Precambrian phenomena are considered appropriate only when the detail and quality allow illustration of a wider process, or when significant gaps in basic knowledge of a particular area can be filled.