The Nigerian manganese-rich iron-formations and their host rocks—from sedimentation to metamorphism

Abstract

This investigation deals with the Nigerian iron-formations and their host rocks and is based on about 560 mineral analyses (electron-microprobe) and 93 whole-rock analyses (64 iron-formations and 29 host rocks). The manganese-rich and Al-bearing iron-formations occurring in various schist belts of the northern and southern part of West-Nigeria consist of the magnetite-free silicate, the magnetite–silicate and the quartz-rich hematite facies. Iron-formations and host rocks originated from submarine-volcanogenic exhalations enriched in Fe, Mn and CO 2 and from Al 2O 3, SiO 2 and alkali (K 2O and Na 2O)-rich continental-derived pelitic to psammitic material. From these sources and their interaction and controlled by the volcanogenic activity, differently composed protoliths were deposited in the marine basin during the Birimian time. Subsequent metamorphism of greenschist to low amphibolite facies conditions during the Eburnian time led to the formation of the metaprotoliths of the magnetite–silicate (consisting of predominantly magnetite and quartz and subordinate of garnet and amphibole), the silicate facies (consisting of garnet, amphibole and rarely Mn-bearing ilmenite and quartz) and the metasediment phyllite. Garnets are predominantly almandine–spessartine solid solutions, whereas amphiboles are Mn and Ca-bearing grunerite–cummingtonite solid solutions. In the course of a second tectono-metamorphic event of Pan-African age, the magnetite–silicate facies iron-formation/phyllite association was transformed into the hematite facies and muscovite/biotite schists, whereas the silicate facies is characterized by extensive silicification features. The hematite facies and the silicified silicate facies are restricted to southern Nigeria where the second and heterogeneous tectono-metamorphic event is more pronounced (amphibolite facies conditions) than in northern Nigeria. The genesis, summarized as the metamorphic model, shows that the carbonate-rich (siderite, rhodochrosite and subordinate magnesite and calcite) protoliths were metamorphically transformed into the silicate and magnetite–silicate facies. The separation of Mn and Fe, leading to manganese-bearing iron-formations and iron-bearing manganese-formations was explained by varying pH-conditions, under which siderite (pH: 6.8–9.4) and rhodochrosite (pH: 9–11) precipitated. Similar to the Gunfit and Biwabik iron-formations of Minnesota, USA, the iron-formation of Bingi (Maru schist belt), now present in the form of the fayalite bearing silicate facies, was overprinted by contact metamorphism caused by a gabbro intrusion.