First discovery of ferruginous chert arenites in the early Precambrian Hamersley Group of Western Australia

Abstract

Research Article| March 01, 1989 First discovery of ferruginous chert arenites in the early Precambrian Hamersley Group of Western Australia Bruce M. Simonson; Bruce M. Simonson 1Department of Geology, Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio 44074 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar A. D. T. Goode A. D. T. Goode 2Exploration Department, BHP-Utah Minerals International, P.O. Box 559, Camberwell, Victoria 3124, Australia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Bruce M. Simonson 1Department of Geology, Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio 44074 A. D. T. Goode 2Exploration Department, BHP-Utah Minerals International, P.O. Box 559, Camberwell, Victoria 3124, Australia Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (1989) 17 (3): 269–272. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1989)017<0269:FDOFCA>2.3.CO;2 Article history First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Bruce M. Simonson, A. D. T. Goode; First discovery of ferruginous chert arenites in the early Precambrian Hamersley Group of Western Australia. Geology 1989;; 17 (3): 269–272. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1989)017<0269:FDOFCA>2.3.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract The shaly upper part of the Wittenoom Dolomite, which belongs to the 2.5 Ga Hamersley Group of Western Australia, locally contains thin layers to lenses of ferruginous chert arenite that are very similar to cherty arenites found in granular Precambrian iron formations. Where they are best preserved, the clasts in the Wittenoom arenites consist of chert with finely disseminated inclusions of hematite or iron silicate. In some layers, the clasts are elongated and petrographically very similar to thinly laminated cherts in the surrounding layers, suggesting that they are rip-up clasts redeposited locally. In other arenites, however, the chert clasts are peloidal to oolitic, suggesting a shallower source and a longer distance of transportation. Both types were probably transported during short-lived, high-energy events such as turbidity currents and/or bottom return flow induced by storms. Restriction of the arenites to the northeastern part of the Hamersley Basin and other sedimentological data suggest that these currents were moving toward the south and west. These occurrences of ferruginous chert arenite provide new evidence that the textural differences between large banded iron formations (such as those of the Hamersley Group) and large granular iron formations (such as those of the Lake Superior region and Nabberu Basin) primarily reflect differences in hydrodynamic conditions. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.