Skip to main content
Log in

On an unmetamorphosed iron-formation in the early precambrian of South-West Greenland

  • Published:
Mineralium Deposita Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

During Renzy Mines Ltd. exploration programme in 1972, an iron-formation was found in the Midternæs area north east of Ivigtut, South-West Greenland. It contains up to 32.9% Fe. The dominant mineral is greenalite, with minor amounts of magnetite, siderite and quartz. It was found in the northernmost part of the Ketilidian supracrustals (? 1800 m.y.), which are non-metamorphosed or very weakly metamorphosed. The iron-formation is suggested to be of submarine-exhalative origin, and precipitated in a moderately deep sea at low atmospheric O2 pressure.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Allaart, J. H., Bridgwater, D., Henriksen, N.: Pre-quaternary geology of Southwest Greenland and its bearing on North Atlantic correlation problems. In: North Atlantic geology and continental drift. Mem. Am. Assoc. Petrol. Geologists 12, 859–882 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Blake, R. L.: Iron phyllosilicates of the Cuyuna district in Minnesota. Am. Mineralogist 50, 148–169 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bondesen, E.: The stratigraphy and deformation of the Precambrian rocks of the Grænseland area, South-West Greenland. Meddr. Grønland 185, No. 1, 210 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Borchert, H.: Genesis of marine sedimentary iron ores. Trans. Inst. Mining Met. 69, 261–279 (1959–60)

    Google Scholar 

  • Braun, H.: Zur Entstehung der Marin-Sedimentären Eisenerze. Clausthal. Hefte Lagerstättenkd. und Geochem. Miner. Rohstoffe 2, 133 (1964)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dawes, P. R.: Contrasted types of metamorphism of basic intrusions in the Precambrian basement of the Tasîussaq area, South Greenland. Meddr. Grønland 189, No. 3, 125 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dimroth, E., Baragar, W. R. A., Bergeron, R., Jackson, G. D.: The filling of the Circum-Ungava Geosyncline. In: Symposium on basins and geosynclines of the Canadian Shield. Geol. Surv. Pap. Can. 70-40, 45–142 (1970)

  • Eichler, J.: Die geologische Position der präkambrischen Quarzbändererze (Itabirite) und die Problematik ihrer Genese. Clausthal. Hefte Lagerstättenkd. und Geochem. Miner. Rohstoffe 9, 6–26 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Escher, A.: The deformation and granitization of Ketilidian rocks in the Nanortalik area, S. Greenland. Meddr. Grønland 172, No. 9, 102 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • Garrels, R. M.: Mineral equilibria, 254 p. New York: Harper and Brothers 1960

    Google Scholar 

  • Gruner J. W.: The structure and chemical composition of Greenalite. Am. Mineralogist 21, 449–455 (1936)

    Google Scholar 

  • Higgins, A. K.: The stratigraphy and structure of the Ketilidian rocks of Midternæs, South-West Greenland. Meddr. Grønland 189, No. 2, 96 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • James, H. L.: Sedimentary facies of iron-formation. Econ. Geol. 49, 235–293 (1954)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kalsbeek, F.: The pattern of folding in an area of migmatites between Neria and Qasigialik fjords, South-West Greenland. Meddr. Grønland 175, No. 4, 17 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • Larsen, O.: K/Ar age determinations from western Greenland. Rapport Grønlands Geol. Unders. No. 11, 57–67 (1966)

  • Pedersen, K. R.: Precambrian fossils from the Ketilidian of South-West Greenland. Rapport Grønlands Geol. Unders. No. 11, 40–41 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ramdohr, P.: Die Erzmineralien und ihre Verwachsungen, 1089 p. Berlin: Akademie Verlag 1960

    Google Scholar 

  • Schidlowski, M.: Probleme der atmosphärischen Evolution im Präkambrium. Geol. Rundschau 60, 1351–1384 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt, R. G.: Geology and ore deposits of the Cuyuna North Range, Minnesota. Prof. Pap. U. S. Geol. Surv. 407, 96 (1963)

  • Yoder, H. S., Jr.: Isograd problems in metamorphosed iron-rich sediments. Ann. Rep. Dir. Geophys. Lab. Carnegie Instn. 1957, 232–237

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Appel, P.U. On an unmetamorphosed iron-formation in the early precambrian of South-West Greenland. Mineral. Deposita 9, 75–82 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00203280

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00203280

Keywords

Navigation