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Dating hypogene iron mineralization events in Archean BIF at Weld Range, Western Australia: insights into the tectonomagmatic history of the northern margin of the Yilgarn Craton

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Abstract

This study is the first to constrain the absolute timing of hypogene iron mineralization in Archean BIF located in the Yilgarn Craton. In situ SHRIMP U–Th–Pb geochronology on xenotime and monazite grains has been used to constrain the age of hypogene magnetite replacement ores at the Beebyn deposit and hypogene magnetite vein ores at the Madoonga deposit in the Weld Range study area. The Beebyn magnetite replacement ores (c. 2627 Ma) are younger than the published maximum depositional age of the BIF hosts of the Wilgie Mia Formation (2792 ± 9 Ma) and partially overlaps crystallization ages of granitic rocks (2757–2606 Ma) that intrude supracrustal rocks throughout the study area. These plutons, and their probable subvolcanic expressions, are considered to be likely sources of energy and fluids responsible for magnetite replacement ores. In contrast, Madoonga magnetite veins record multiple dates: the first at 2857 ± 41 Ma, followed by events at c. 2775 Ma through 1812 Ma. The two oldest monazite dates of 2857 ± 41 and 2832 ± 51 Ma are interpreted to be mineralization ages for magnetite veins, possibly related to subseafloor volcanism and base metal VMS systems; whereas the younger dates (i.e. 2775–1812 Ma) probably represent multiple episodes of phosphate mineral precipitation related to reactivation of structures and overprinting by discrete pulses of hydrothermal fluids. The Madoonga BIFs are genetically distinct from the Beebyn BIFs and are the oldest dated BIFs at Weld Range, being older than c. 2857 Ma, but younger than the c. 2970 Ma felsic volcanic rocks in the stratigraphic footwall to the Madoonga BIFs. Hydrothermal events at the Madoonga deposit (2215–2120 Ma) coincide with published dates for rifting, mafic–ultramafic magmatism, and basin development along the northern margin of the Yilgarn Craton (2215–2145 Ma), whereas the younger phosphate mineral dates correspond with the Glenburgh (2002–1947 Ma) and Capricorn Orogenies (1817–1772 Ma). Tectonic activity along the northern margin of the Yilgarn Craton coincides with reported ages for hematite mineralization in BIF-hosted iron-ore deposits in the Hamersley Basin and Pilbara Craton, suggesting the far-reaching effects of tectonism along paleocratonic boundaries as drivers for iron mineralization in BIF.

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Funding

This study received financial support from the Geological Survey of Western Australia through the Exploration Incentive Scheme (a Royalties for Regions initiative). Sinosteel Midwest Corporation is thanked for granting access to drillcore. Neal McNaughton and Birger Rasmussen are thanked for making phosphate isotopic standards available for this project. Armin Zeh, Kathryn Cutts, and Alexandre Cabral are thanked for their careful reviews and helpful comments. Paul Duuring, Imogen Fielding, Timothy Ivanic, and Yong-Jun Lu publish with permission from the Executive Director of the Geological Survey and Resource Strategy Division (Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety). This is contribution 1368 from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Core to Crust Fluid Systems (http://www.ccfs.mq.edu.au).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geological Survey of Western Australia, Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, 100 Plain Street, East Perth, Western Australia, 6004, Australia

    Paul Duuring, Imogen O. H. Fielding, Timothy J. Ivanic & Yong-Jun Lu

  2. Centre for Exploration Targeting and Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Core to Crust Fluid Systems (CCFS), School of Earth Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, 6009, Australia

    Paul Duuring, João O. S. Santos, Steffen G. Hagemann, Thomas Angerer, Yong-Jun Lu & Jinwoo Choi

  3. Amazon State University, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil

    João O. S. Santos

  4. Institute of Mineralogy and Petrography, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria

    Thomas Angerer

  5. Centre for Microscopy Characterisation and Analysis, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, 6009, Australia

    Malcolm Roberts

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  1. Paul Duuring
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Correspondence to Paul Duuring.

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Electronic supplementary material

Online Resource 1

Solid geology map of the undeveloped Beebyn deposit showing the location of three main BIF units, the distribution of hypogene alteration zones within BIF, and the location of diamond drillholes that were sampled for geochronology. (PDF 55 kb)

Online Resource 2

The simplified NW–SE cross-section through the Beebyn deposit demonstrates the steep dip of the BIF units, the continuation of hypogene magnetite-rich ore zones beneath the base of weathering, and the position of the diamond drillhole WRRD0583. (PDF 396 kb)

Online Resource 3

Hand specimens of (a) least altered BIF and (b) Stage 1 magnetite–siderite/ferroan dolomite altered BIF at the Beebyn deposit. (PDF 373 kb)

Online Resource 4

Replacement of primary quartz bands in BIF by Stage 1 hypogene magnetite and carbonate minerals in the Beebyn deposit. (a) Hand specimen of BIF that shows the replacement of primary quartz bands by Stage 1 magnetite–siderite/ferroan dolomite. Euhedral magnetite is disseminated throughout the rock, while carbonate minerals pseudomorphically replace quartz bands and locally define narrow veins that transgress primary bands. (b) The photomicrograph, taken in transmitted cross-polarized light, shows the partial replacement of fine-grained primary quartz by Stage 1 carbonate minerals. Magnetite is very fine grained to coarser grained and is disseminated. (c) Close up view showing the partial replacement of primary quartz by Stage 1 siderite. In areas where the processes has reached completion, Stage 1 siderite displays the euhedral habit of the replaced primary quartz grain. The photomicrograph was taken in transmitted cross-polarized light. (d) The same area and photographic conditions as in (c), but using an axillary plate (γ 530 nm) to visually accentuate differences between quartz and carbonate. (e) A different area in the same hand specimen (taken in transmitted plane-polarized light) demonstrates the complete replacement of primary quartz by Stage 1 magnetite–siderite/ferroan dolomite. In this case, the carbonate grains are coarser grained and are present as mineral inclusions in subhedral magnetite. (f) An enlarged portion of the same sample shows a Stage 1 ferroan dolomite grain surrounded by Stage 1 magnetite. The photomicrograph taken in transmitted plane-polarized light shows opaque mineral inclusions of magnetite and translucent fluid inclusions filled with CO2 vapour. (PDF 982 kb)

Online Resource 5

Solid geology map of the undeveloped Madoonga deposit showing the location of two main BIF units and the location of diamond drillholes sampled for geochronology. (PDF 47 kb)

Online Resource 6

The simplified NW–SE cross-section through the Madoonga deposit shows the steep dip of the BIF units, extension of hypogene magnetite-rich ore zones beneath the base of weathering, and the position of the diamond drillhole WRRD1127. (PDF 42 kb)

Online Resource 7

Hand specimens of (a) least altered BIF and (b) Stage 2 magnetite–talc altered BIF at the Madoonga deposit. (PDF 351 kb)

Online Resource 8

Electron microprobe analyses of xenotime from the Beebyn and Madoonga deposits. (XLSX 64 kb)

Online Resource 9

Electron microprobe analyses of monazite from the Beebyn and Madoonga deposits. (XLSX 32 kb)

Online Resource 10

Box and whisker plots showing selected major, minor, and trace element abundances in monazites from Beebyn magnetite replacement ores. Data show monazite compositions: cores versus rims. Data are determined from EPMA analysis. Box plots divide the ordered values of the data into four equal parts, by finding the median and then the 25th and 75th percentiles of the data. Median values are shown as solid black lines and mean values as solid black circles. The “whiskers” are drawn from each end of the box and represent values that are 1.5 times the interquartile range (i.e. the range between the 25th and 75th percentiles). (PDF 568 kb)

Online Resource 11

Box and whisker plots showing xenotime compositions (cores versus rims) from Madoonga magnetite vein ores. (PDF 558 kb)

Online Resource 12

Box and whisker plots showing monazite compositions (cores versus rims) from Madoonga magnetite vein ores. (PDF 584 kb)

Online Resource 13

Compilation of published geochronological data for igneous and sedimentary rocks in the Weld Range study area. (XLSX 17 kb)

Online Resource 14

SHRIMP U–Th–Pb data and BSE images for xenotime from the Beebyn and Madoonga deposits. (XLSX 406 kb)

Online Resource 15

SHRIMP U–Th–Pb data and BSE images for monazite from the Beebyn and Madoonga deposits. (XLSX 898 kb)

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Duuring, P., Santos, J.O.S., Fielding, I.O.H. et al. Dating hypogene iron mineralization events in Archean BIF at Weld Range, Western Australia: insights into the tectonomagmatic history of the northern margin of the Yilgarn Craton. Miner Deposita 55, 1307–1332 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00126-019-00930-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00126-019-00930-3

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