Summary
Iron-formations occur as massive to compositionally layered, Fe oxide-rich, concordant bodies in the Palaeoproterozoic Willyama Supergroup of the Olary Domain, South Australia. They have constitutional similarities to those occurring in the neighbouring Broken Hill Domain. The most abundant iron-formations are in the Quartzofeldspathic Suite and comprise magnetite-quartz assemblages (± hematite, barite, actinolite, apatite). Hematite, magnetite, albite, quartz, Ca(Na) amphibole(s), CaNaFe clinopyroxene and andraditic garnet are major constituents of rare calc-silicate iron-formations in the Bimba and Calcsilicate Suites, whereas magnetite, quartz, almandine-spessartine, manganoan fayalite, manganoan grunerite and apatite form manganiferous iron-formations in the Pelite Suite. The pronounced differences in mineralogy of the three iron-formation types are the result of regional metamorphism of diverse hydrothermal precipitates with variable elastic components, together with the local effects of high-temperature metasomatic alteration. Metasomatic fluids were produced as a result of devolatilisation of the evaporite-bearing volcanosedimentary sequence, during and following amphibolite grade metamorphism and deformation, which led to localised and regional-scale hydrothermal alteration. In places, there was extensive metasomatic reconstitution (veining, brecciation, replacement) of iron-formations and associated rocks, caused by high-temperature (350°–650°C), oxidising, saline fluids. The resulting epigenetic ironstones are dominated by magnetite-hematite-quartz with minor sulfides and display enrichment in Fe, Ti, Cu, Au, Sc, U, V, Y, Zn and HREE relative to parental iron-formations.
Zusammenfassung
Eisenformationen kommen als massige bis in der Zusammensetzung geschichtete, Eisenoxidreiche, konkordante Körper in der paläoproterozoischen Willyama Supergroup der Olary Domäne, Südaustralien, vor. Sie haben konstitutionelle Ähnlichkeiten mit Vorkommen in der benachbarten Broken Hill Domäne. Die häufigsten Eisenformationen befinden sich in der Quartzofeldspathic Suite and bestehen aus Magnetit und Quarz (± Hämatit, Baryt, Aktinolit, Apatit). Hämatit, Magnetit, Albit, Quarz, Ca(Na) Amphibol(e), CaNaFe Klinopyroxen und andraditischer Granat sind Hauptbestandteile von seltenen Kalksilikat-Eisenformationen in den Bimba und Calcsilicate Suites, während Magnetit, Quartz, Almandin-Spessartin, manganhaltiger Fayalit, manganhaltiger Grunerit und Apatit manganhaltige Eisenformationen in der Pelite Suite bilden. Die ausgeprägten Unterschiede in der Mineralogie der drei Typen von Eisenformationen sind durch Regionalmetamorphose von diversen hydrothermalen Ausfällungen mit variablen klastischen Komponenten verursacht worden, zusammen mit lokalen Wirkungen einer hock-Temperatur metasomatischen Alteration. Metasomatische Fluide wurden während und nach der Amphibolitmetamorphose und Deformation durch Devolatilisation der evaporithaltigen vulkanosedimentären Abfolge produziert, die sowohl zu lokaler, wie auch zu weiträumiger hydrothermaler Alteration führten. Örtlich kam es zu umfangreicher metasomatischer Rekonstitution (Gangbildung, Brekkzierung, Verdrängung) von Eisenformationen und assoziierten Gesteinen verursacht durch hoch-Temperatur (350°–650°C), oxidierte, saline Fluide. Die resultierenden epigenetischen Eisensteine bestehen hauptsächlich aus Magnetit, Hämatit, und Quarz mit Sulfiden und weisen eine Anreicherung in Fe, Ti, Cu, Au, Sc, U, V, Y, Zu und SREE relativ gegenüber den ursprünglichen Eisenformationen auf.
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Ashley, P.M., Lottermoser, B.G. & Westaway, J.M. Iron-formations and epigenetic ironstones in the Palaeoproterozoic Willyama Supergroup, Olary Domain, South Australia. Mineralogy and Petrology 64, 187–218 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01226569
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01226569