ABSTRACT
It has been proposed that anoxic and iron-rich (ferruginous) marine conditions were common through most of Earth history. This view represents a major shift in our understanding of the evolution of marine chemistry. However, thus far, evidence for ferruginous conditions comes predominantly from Fe-speciation data. Given debate over these records, new evidence for Fe-rich marine conditions is a requisite if we are to shift our view regarding evolution of the marine redox landscape. Here we present strong evidence for ferruginous conditions by describing a suite of Fe-rich chemical sedimentary rocks-banded iron formation (BIF)--deposited during the Early Cambrian in western China. Specifically, we provide new U-Pb geochronological data that confirm a depositional age of ca. 527 Ma for this unit, as well as rare earth element (REE) data are consistent with anoxic deposition. Similar to many Algoma-type Precambrian iron formations, these Early Cambrian sediments precipitated in a back-arc rift basin setting, where hydrothermally sourced iron drove the deposition of a BIF-like protolith, the youngest ever reported of regional extent without direct links to volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) deposits. Their presence indicates that marine environments were still characterized by chemical- and redox-stratification, thus supporting the view that-despite a dearth of modern marine analogues-ferruginous conditions continued to locally be a feature of early Phanerozoic seawater.
ABSTRACT
The results of Raman, SEM, CL and EDS analysis show that the quartz-type BIF (banded iron formation) in Tieshanmiao formation, from Wuyang area of south North China Craton mainly contains quartz, magnetite and a small quantity of calcite. In comparison, magnetites represent the highest automorphic degree, while calcites contribute to the lowest automorphic degree. In addition, the automorphic degree of the quartz lies between magnetite and calcite. In the results of Raman analysis, the crystallinity and order degree are quite diverse in the vertical direction of the calcite band-like, and this is different from the calcite vein precipitating from the upper hydrothermal fluid. There are obvious plastic flow happening to calcite particles. During the process of plastic flow, the calcites are finally filled in the space between quartz and magnetite. This is the reason why the cross sectional shape and distributional characteristics of calcite aggregate are controlled by the particles of quartz and magnetite, which is also evidenced by the calcite filled into the slight interspace between two particles of quartz. In the Raman analysis, there are apparent differences of microarea component in calcite band-like, and this denotes that it is produced by the plastic flow and concourse process. What's more, the calcite acts as the migration intermedium of tiny magnetite during their concourse and crystallization processes, which is witnessed by the concentrated particles of magnetite in small size in local parts of the calcites. With the help of calcite, the small magnetite particles join together to crystallize with bigger size or form aggregate of minerals.
