Siderite in banded iron formation of the Neoarchean Baizhiyan Formation, Shanxi Province: genesis and palaeoenvironmental implications
Xie Bao-Zeng1,2, Sun Long-Fei2, Fang Hao2, Shi Xiao-Ying1,2, Tang Dong-Jie1,3
1 State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology,China University of Geosciences(Beijing),Beijing 100083,China; 2 School of Earth Sciences and Resources,China University of Geosciences(Beijing),Beijing 100083,China; 3 Institute of Earth Sciences,China University of Geosciences(Beijing),Beijing 100083,China
Abstract：Siderite is one of the major mineral components in Precambrian banded iron formation(BIF)and an archive for palaeoenvironmental reconstruction. However,it can exist as primary,early diagenetic,and late diagenetic origins,thus limiting its application in palaeoenvironmental analysis to a certain extent. Previous studies mainly focused on geochemical features of siderite,whereas its petrographic features were paid less attention. In order to further reveal the origin of siderite in BIF,this study took BIF from the Neoarchean Baizhiyan Formation in Yangjiaogou Mining Area,Dai County,Shanxi Province as a target,and carried out a systematic petrographic analysis. The results show that the BIF in the Baizhiyan Formation is mainly composed of alternating centimeter-scale,iron-rich and silicon-rich bands. Wave-agitated structure is rare,but occasionally cross lamination and storm debris are present,suggesting that the BIF was mainly deposited below the storm-wave base. There are three main occurrences for the siderite,including: (1)sub-millimeter layers with detrital particles “suspended” in them,indicating that they may have the primary origin formed in water column or sediment-water interface; (2)dispersed anhedral grains in iron-rich layers,which may be of an early diagenetic origin;and (3)veins penetrating into layers of chlorite,or truncating quartz and ankerite,which is of a late diagenetic origin. The occurrence of primary siderite in the BIF from the Baizhiyan Formation suggests that the Neoarchean seawater below the storm-wave base was strongly anoxic,iron-rich,and of low sulfate concentration. Siderite has the potential to reflect the information of marine chemistry;however,the occurrence of siderite with different origins in one sample requires fabric-specific analysis.
Xie Bao-Zeng,Sun Long-Fei,Fang Hao et al. Siderite in banded iron formation of the Neoarchean Baizhiyan Formation, Shanxi Province: genesis and palaeoenvironmental implications[J]. JOPC, 2021, 23(1): 175-190.
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