Bulk geochemistry,Rb-Sr,Sm-Nd,and stable O-H isotope systematics of the Metzimevin high-grade iron ore deposit,Mbalam iron ore district,southern Cameroon

Bulk geochemistry,Sr,Nd,and O-H isotope systematics are reported for the first time on banded iron formation(BIF)-hosted high-grade iron ore at the northwestern segment of Congo Craton(CC).Located in Mbalam iron ore district,Southern Cameroon,Metzimevin iron ore deposit is a hematite-magnetite BIF system,dominated by SiO_(2)+Fe_(2)O_(3)(97.1 to 99.84 wt%),with low concentrations of clastic elements e.g.,Al_(2)O_(3),TiO_(2),and HFSE,depicting a nearly pure chemical precipitate.The REE+Y signature of the iron deposit displays strong positive Eu anomaly,strong negative Ce anomaly,and chondritic to superchondritic Y/Ho ratios,suggestive of formation by mixed seawater-high temperature hydrothermal fluids in oxidising environment.The^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr ratios of the BIF are higher than the maximum^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr evolution curves for all Archean reservoirs(bulk silicate earth,Archean crust and Archean seawater),indicating involvement of continentally-derived components during BIF formation and alteration.TheƐ_(Nd)(t)(+2.26 to+3.77)and Nd model age indicate that chemical constituents for the BIF were derived from undifferentiated crustal source,between 3.002 and 2.88 Ga.The variable and diverse O and H isotope data(−1.9‰to 17.3‰and−57‰to 136‰respectively)indicate that the Metzimevin iron ore formed initially from magmatic plumes and later enriched by magmatic-metamorphic-modified meteoric fluids.Mass balance calculations indicate mineralisation by combined leaching and precipitation,with an average iron enrichment factor of>2.67 and SiO_(2)depletion factor of>0.99.This is associated with an overall volume reduction of 28.27%,reflecting net leaching and volume collapse of the BIF protholith.

Geological settings and metallogenesis of high-grade iron deposits in China

The predominant types of high-grade iron deposits in China include skarn,sedimentary metamorphic(banded ironformation,BIF-type),continental/submarine volcanic-hosted and magmatic Fe-Ti-Voxide deposits.Based on a comprehensive review of current studies on these deposits,this paper suggests that the oxygen concentration in atmosphere played an important role for the formation of BIFs,whereas the tectonic setting and deep magmatic differentiation processes are more important for the other types.Notably,both high temperature and high pressure experiments and melt inclusion studies indicate that during the differentiation,high temperature magmas could develop iron-rich magma via liquid immiscibility but not pure oxide melt("iron ore magma").Fe-P melt could be generated directly by liquid immiscibility under hydrous and oxidized condition.The formation of high-grade iron deposits is mostly associated with the processes related to multiple stages of superimposition,e.g.,desiliconization and iron enrichment,removal of impurity,and remobilization and re-precipitation of iron.According to the temporal evolution,the high-grade iron deposit could be divided into multi-episode superimposition type(temporally discontinuous mineralization)and multi-stage superimposition type(temporally continuous mineralization).The former is represented by the sedimentary metamorphic iron deposit,and the latter includes those related to magmatic-hydrothermal fluids(e.g.,skarn,volcanic-hosted and magmatic types).