Abstract
Bulk geochemistry, Sr, Nd, and O–H isotope systematics are reported for the first time on banded iron formation (BIF)-hosted high-grade iron ore at the north-western segment of Congo Craton (CC). Located in Mbalam iron ore district, Southern Cameroon, Metzimevin iron ore deposit is a hematite-magnetite BIF system, dominated by SiO2 + Fe2O3 (97.1 to 99.84 wt%), with low concentrations of clastic elements e.g., Al2O3, TiO2, and HFSE, depicting a nearly pure chemical precipitate. The REE + Y signature of the iron deposit displays strong positive Eu anomaly, strong negative Ce anomaly, and chondritic to superchondritic Y/Ho ratios, suggestive of formation by mixed seawater-high temperature hydrothermal fluids in oxidising environment. The 87Sr/86Sr ratios of the BIF are higher than the maximum 87Sr/86Sr evolution curves for all Archean reservoirs (bulk silicate earth, Archean crust and Archean seawater), indicating involvement of continentally-derived components during BIF formation and alteration. The ƐNd(t) (+ 2.26 to + 3.77) and Nd model age indicate that chemical constituents for the BIF were derived from undifferentiated crustal source, between 3.002 and 2.88 Ga. The variable and diverse O and H isotope data (− 1.9‰ to 17.3‰ and − 57‰ to 136‰ respectively) indicate that the Metzimevin iron ore formed initially from magmatic plumes and later enriched by magmatic-metamorphic-modified meteoric fluids. Mass balance calculations indicate mineralisation by combined leaching and precipitation, with an average iron enrichment factor of > 2.67 and SiO2 depletion factor of > 0.99. This is associated with an overall volume reduction of 28.27%, reflecting net leaching and volume collapse of the BIF protholith.
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Acknowledgements
This work is part of the PhD thesis of the first author underway at The University of Bamenda. CES acknowledges support from the Alexander von Humboldt with the Support of Professor Bernd Lehmann who supported the radiogenic isotope work and also oversaw the preparation of polished sections at TU Clausthal, Germany. The authors are grateful for the insightful comments of the journal reviewers and editors.
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Tufoin, S.C., Suh, C.E., Tabod, T.C. et al. Bulk geochemistry, Rb–Sr, Sm–Nd, and stable O–H isotope systematics of the Metzimevin high-grade iron ore deposit, Mbalam iron ore district, southern Cameroon. Acta Geochim (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11631-023-00667-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11631-023-00667-x