The Ediacaran metamorphosed banded iron formation (BIF) at Gohar Zamin mine (Gol-e-Gohar #3 anomaly), Sirjan (southeastern Iran): Perspective from ore structures, bulk ore-rock geochemistry and O-S-Pb isotopic signatures

Abstract

Little is known about the occurrence of the Neoproterozoic banded iron formations (BIFs), except few cases of the glaciogenic Cryogenian BIFs. In this investigation, we describe an Ediacaran metamorphosed BIF interbedded with metamorphosed rocks. The Gohar Zamin iron deposit (643 Mt @ 54.3 % Fe, 2.04 % S, 0.12 % P) is hosted by mica schist, quartz schist and meta-basite that formed by metamorphism of the Fe-oxy-hydroxides, terrigenous (pelitic)-chemical (carbonate) sediments, silica gel and repeated phases of MORB-type submarine basic eruptions in shallow marine syn-rift basins. The sediments, basaltic eruptions and iron oxides were lithified to BIFs and then metamorphosed to greenschist facies during Cimmerian orogeny. The presence of macro-meso-microbandings in BIFs, coarse-grained quartz dropstones and magnetite clasts in the ores-host rocks, chemical index of alteration (CIA) (41.83 to 95.42 %) and positive correlation of Al2O3 against TiO2 and SiO2 values suggests a possible syn-glaciogenic BIF deposition. Fe/Ti-Al (Al + Fe + Mn), Fe-P, Co-Ni, V-Ti, V-Ni and Ni/ (Cr + Mn)-Ti + V diagrams suggest similarity to BIFs rather than the I-type granitoid magmatic-hydrothermal-skarn iron ores. REE + Y patterns display LREE depletion to slight enrichment, low-moderate Y/Ho ratios, HREE flat patterns, a nearly-zero to a seawater-like negative Ce anomaly and negative Eu anomaly. Such signatures may reflect low-T (300–200 °C) hydrothermal fluids for the origin of Fe-oxy-hydroxides formed by seawater-basaltic interaction and syn-glaciogenic meltwater influxes. Delta 18O values in magnetite-hematite (+3.3 to + 9.5 ‰) are in equilibrium with seawater and global BIFs. Delta 34S values in pyrite (+21.51 to + 26.59 ‰) reflect similarity to the Ediacaran pyrite composition formed by both thermal sulfate reduction (TSR) and bacterial sulfate reduction (BSR) processes. The radiogenic ratios of 206Pb/204Pb (19.228–25.105), 207Pb/204Pb (15.50–16.158) and 208Pb/204Pb (38.526–39.895) plot on the right side of 0.0 Ga geochron and were probably originated from the highly radiogenic zircon or galena clasts deposited by glaciogenic deposits. Geochemostratigraphy records zigzag elemental halos with the highest values of Fe (59.08 wt%) and Au (49.9 ppb). Exploration guides may be oriented to surficial sampling of the gossanized outcrops and heavy mineral surveys in drainage crosscutting the schistose rocks.