Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Gold-Sulfide Mineralization in Banded Iron Formation at Girar, Bundelkhand Craton, India: Inferences from Field Observations and Petrography

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Journal of the Geological Society of India

Abstract

Gold mineralization associated with quartz veins and sulfide minerals has been reported in Banded Iron Formation (BIF) at Girar, Bundelkhand Craton, India. The BIF is deformed with the development of tight- isoclinal folds in high strain zones and hosts four types of quartz veins viz., (i) folded veins, (ii) band parallel veins, (iii) low angle cross-cutting veins, and (iv) high angle cross-cutting veins. Folded and band parallel veins are continuous with each other and spatially restricted to zones of tight-isoclinal folds in BIF. Shape of quartz aggregates in the folded and band parallel veins is interlobate, and these veins contain pyrite and chalcopyrite as dominant sulfide minerals along with gold. Microstructure of quartz grains and presence of fragments of BIF in sulfide mineralgold bearing folded and band parallel veins indicate that the formations of these veins were related to a single deformation episode. Spatial association of folded and band parallel veins to intensely folded zones in BIF is attributed to epigenetic nature of sulfide and gold mineralization.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adomako-Ansah, K., Mizuta, T., Ishiyama, D. and Hammond, N.Q. (2017) Nature of ore-forming fluid and formation conditions of BIF-hosted gold mineralization in the Archean Amalia Greenstone Belt, South Africa: Constraints from fluid inclusion and stable isotope studies. Ore Geol. Rev., v.89, pp.609–626.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bhattacharya, A.R. and Singh, S.P. (2013) Proterozoic crustal scale shearing in the Bundelkhand massif with special reference to quartz reefs. Jour. Geol. Soc. India, v.82(5), pp.474–484.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • de Souza Martins, B., Lobato, L.M., Rosière, C.A., Hagemann, S.G., Santos, J.O.S., Villanova, F.L.D.S.P. and de Ávila Lemos, L.H. (2016) The Archean BIF-hosted Lamego gold deposit, Rio das Velhas greenstone belt, Quadrilátero Ferrífero: Evidence for Cambrian structural modification of an Archean orogenic gold deposit. Ore Geol. Rev., v.72, pp.963–988.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dinkar, G.K., Farooqui, S.A., Tantua, R.K., Prabhat., P and Verma, A.K. (2019) Greenstone belt of Girar-Mandwara area, district Lalitpur, Uttar Pradesh: Suitable for gold associated poly-metallic deposits. Gold Mining in India: The way forward, Oorgaum, pp. 84.

  • Dowling, K. and Morrison, G. (1989) Application of quartz textures to the classification of gold deposits using North Queensland examples. Econ. Geol. Monog., v.6, pp.342–355.

    Google Scholar 

  • Farooqui, S.A., Dinkar, G.K. and Tantua, R.K. (2010) Shear controlled gold mineralization in precambrian iron formation around Girar, Lalitpur District, U.P. Abstract Volume, National Symposium on Geology and Mineral Resources of Bundelkhand Craton (GMRB-2010), pp.65∣66.

  • Fripp, R.E.P. (1976) Stratabound gold deposits in Archean banded iron-formation, Rhodesia. Econ. Geol., v.71(1), pp.58–75.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gourcerol, B., Kontak, D.J., Thurston, P.C. and Petrus, J.A. (2018) Results of LA-ICP-MS sulfide mapping from Algoma-type BIF gold systems with implications for the nature of mineralizing fluids, metal sources, and deposit models. Miner. Depos., v.53(6), pp.871–894.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hammond, N.Q. and Moore, J.M. (2006) Archaean lode gold mineralisation in banded iron formation at the Kalahari Goldridge deposit, Kraaipan Greenstone Belt, South Africa. Miner. Depos., v.41(5), pp.483–503.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hiloidari, S., Satyanarayanan, M., Singh, S.P., Bhutani, R., Subramanyam, K.S.V. and Sarma, D.S. (2021) Evidence for Mesoarchean subduction in Southern Bundelkhand Craton, India: Geochemical fingerprints from metavolcanics of Kurrat-Girar-Badwar Greenstone Belt. Geochemistry, v.81(3), pp.125787.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaur, P., Zeh, A. and Chaudhri, N. (2014) Characterisation and U-Pb-Hf isotope record of the 3.55 Ga felsic crust from the Bundelkhand Craton, northern India. Precambrian Res., v.255, pp.236–244.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaur, P., Zeh, A., Chaudhri, N. and Eliyas, N. (2016) Unravelling the record of Archaean crustal evolution of the Bundelkhand Craton, northern India using U-Pb zircon-monazite ages, Lu-Hf isotope systematics, and whole-rock geochemistry of granitoids. Precambrian Res., v.281, pp.384–413.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kerrich, R. and Fryer, B.J. (1979) Archaean precious-metal hydrothermal systems, Dome Mine, Abitibi Greenstone Belt. II. REE and oxygen isotope relations. Can. Jour. Earth Sci., v. 16(3), pp.440–458.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kerswill, J.A., Henderson, J.R. and Henderson, M.N. (1996) Distribution of gold and sulfides at Lupin, Northwest Territories; discussion. Econ. Geol., v.91(5), pp.957–964.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klein, C. (2005) Some Precambrian banded iron-formations (BIFs) from around the world: Their age, geologic setting, mineralogy, metamorphism, geochemistry, and origins. Amer. Mineral., v.90(10), pp.1473–1499.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kolb, J., Hellmann, A., Rogers, A., Sindern, S., Vennemann, T., Bottcher, M.E. and Meyer, F.M. (2004) The role of a transcrustal shear zone in orogenic gold mineralization at the Ajjanahalli Mine, Dharwar Craton, South India. Econ. Geol., v.99(4), pp.743–759.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kresse, C., Lobato, L.M., Figueiredo e Silva, R.C., Hagemann, S.G., Banks, D. and Vitorino, A.L. (2020) Fluid signature of the shear zone-controlled Veio de Quartzo ore body in the world-class BIF-hosted Cuiabá gold deposit, Archaean Rio das Velhas greenstone belt, Brazil: a fluid inclusion study. Miner. Depos., v.55(7), pp.1441–1466.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar, G., Kumar, S. and Yi, K. (2021) Three distinct Archean crustal growth events as recorded from 3.48 Ga migmatite, 2.70 Ga leucogranite, and 2.54 Ga alkali granite in the Bundelkhand Craton, Central India. Jour. Asian Earth Sci., v.219, pp.104886.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lawley, C.J., Dubé, B., Mercier-Langevin, P., Kjarsgaard, B., Knight, R. and Vaillancourt, D. (2015) Defining and mapping hydrothermal footprints at the BIF-hosted Meliadine gold district, Nunavut, Canada. Jour. Geochem. Explor., v.155, pp.33–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, L., Ireland, T.R., Holden, P., Ávila, J., Vasconcelos, P. and Mavrogenes, J. (2021) Sources of auriferous fluids associated with a Neoarchean BIF-hosted orogenic gold deposit revealed by the multiple sulfur isotopic compositions of zoned pyrites. Contrib. Mineral. Petrol., v.176(4), pp.1–22.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Malviya, V.P., Arima, M., Pati, J.K. and Kaneko, Y. (2006) Petrology and geochemistry of metamorphosed basaltic pillow lava and basaltic komatiite in the Mauranipur area: subduction related volcanism in the Archean Bundelkhand craton, Central India. Jour. Mineral. Petrol. Sci., v.101(4), pp.199–217.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mondal, M.E.A., Goswami, J.N., Deomurari, M.P. and Sharma, K.K. (2002) Ion microprobe 207Pb/206Pb ages of zircons from the Bundelkhand massif, northern India: implications for crustal evolution of the Bundelkhand-Aravalli protocontinent. Precambrian Res., v.117(1–2), pp.85–100.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morales, M.J., e Silva, R.C.F., Lobato, L.M., Gomes, S.D., Gomes, C.C. and Banks, D.A. (2016) Metal source and fluid-rock interaction in the Archean BIF-hosted Lamego gold mineralization: Microthermometric and LA-ICP-MS analyses of fluid inclusions in quartz veins, Rio das Velhas greenstone belt, Brazil. Ore Geol. Rev., v.72, pp.510–531.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Owona, S., Ondoa, J.M. and Ekodeck, G.E. (2013) Evidence of quartz, feldspar and amphibole crystal plastic deformations in the paleoproterozoic Nyong Complex Shear Zones under Amphibolite to Granulite conditions (west Central African Fold Belt, SW Cameroon). Jour. Geogr. Geol., v.5(3), pp.186.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pal, N. and Mishra, B. (2003) Epigenetic nature of the BIF-hosted gold mineralization at Ajjanahalli, southern India: evidence from ore petrography and fluid inclusion studies. Gondwana Res., v.6(3), pp.531–540.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Passchier, C.W. and Trouw, R.A. (2005) Microtectonics: Springer Science & Business Media, 382p.

  • Pati, J.K., Patel, S.C., Pruseth, K.L., Malviya, V.P., Arima, M., Raju, S., and Prakash, K. (2007) Geology and geochemistry of giant quartz veins from the Bundelkhand Craton, central India and their implications. Jour. Earth Syst. Sci., v.116(6), pp.497–510.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Phillips, G.N., Groves, D.I. and Martyn, J.E. (1984) An epigenetic origin for Archean banded iron-formation-hosted gold deposits. Econ. Geol., v.79(1), pp.162–171.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ramakrishnan, M. and Vaidyanadhan, R. (2008) Geology of India (Vol. 1). Geological Society of India, Bangalore, 556p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rao, J. M., Rao, G.P., Widdowson, M. and Kelley, S.P. (2005) Evolution of Proterozoic mafic dyke swarms of the Bundelkhand Granite Massif, central India. Curr. Sci., v.88(3), pp.502–506.

    Google Scholar 

  • Saager, R., Oberthuer, T. and Tomschi, H.P. (1987) Geochemistry and mineralogy of banded iron- formation-hosted gold mineralization in the Gwanda greenstone belt, Zimbabwe. Econ. Geol., v.82(8), pp.2017–2032.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saha, L., Pant, N. C., Pati, J. K., Upadhyay, D., Berndt, J., Bhattacharya, A. and Satynarayanan, M. (2011) Neoarchean high-pressure margarite-phengitic muscovite-chlorite corona mantled corundum in quartz-free high-Mg, Al phlogopite-chlorite schists from the Bundelkhand craton, north central India. Contrib. Mineral. Petrol., v.161(4), pp.511–530.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sarkar, S.C. and Gupta, A. (2012) Crustal evolution and metallogeny in India: Cambridge University Press, 912p.

  • Singh, P.K., Verma, S.K., Singh, V.K., Moreno, J.A., Oliveira, E.P. and Mehta, P. (2019) Geochemistry and petrogenesis of sanukitoids and high-K anatectic granites from the Bundelkhand Craton, India: Implications for late-Archean crustal evolution. Jour. Asian Earth Sci., v.174, pp.263–282.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh, P.K., Verma, S.K., Singh, V.K., Moreno, J.A., Oliveira, E.P., Li, X.H. and Prakash, D. (2021) Geochronology and petrogenesis of the TTG gneisses and granitoids from the Central Bundelkhand granite-greenstone terrane, Bundelkhand Craton, India: Implications for Archean crustal evolution and cratonization. Precambrian Res., v.359, pp.106210.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh, V.K. and Slabunov, A. (2015a) Geochemical characteristics of banded iron formation and metavolcanics of Babina greenstone belt of the Bundelkhand Craton, Central India. Jour. Econ. Geol. Georesource Manag., v. 10, pp.63–74.

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh, V.K. and Slabunov, A. (2015b) The Central Bundelkhand Archaean greenstone complex, Bundelkhand craton, central India: geology, composition, and geochronology of supracrustal rocks. Int. Geol. Rev., v.57(11–12), pp.1349–1364.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh, V.K. and Slabunov, A. (2016) Two types of Archaean supracrustal belts in the Bundelkhand Craton, India: geology, geochemistry, age and implication for craton crustal evolution. Jour. Geol. Soc. India, v.88(5), pp.539–548.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Slabunov, A., Singh, V.K., Joshi, K.B. and Li, X. (2017) Paleoarchean zircons from quartzite of South Bundelkhand Supracrustal Complex: origin and implications for crustal evolution in Bundelkhand Craton, Central India. Curr. Sci., v.112(4), pp.794–801.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Slabunov, Á.I. and Singh, V.K. (2019) Meso-Neoarchaean crustal evolution of the Bundelkhand Craton, Indian Shield: new data from greenstone belts. Int. Geol. Rev., v.61(11), pp.1409–1428.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steadman, J.A. and Large, R.R. (2016) Synsedimentary, diagenetic, and metamorphic pyrite, pyrrhotite, and marcasite at the Homestake BIF-hosted gold deposit, South Dakota, USA: Insights on Au-As ore genesis from textural and LA-ICP-MS trace element studies. Econ. Geol., v.111(7), pp.1731–1752.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steadman, J.A., Large, R.R., Davidson, G.J., Bull, S.W., Thompson, J., Ireland, T.R. and Holden, P. (2014) Paragenesis and composition of ore minerals in the Randalls BIF-hosted gold deposits, Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia: Implications for the timing of deposit formation and constraints on gold sources. Precambrian Res., v.243, pp.110–132.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stipp, M., StuÉnitz, H., Heilbronner, R. and Schmid, S.M. (2002) The eastern Tonale fault zone: a ‘natural laboratory’ for crystal plastic deformation of quartz over a temperature range from 250 to 700 °C. Jour. Struct. Geol., v.24(12), pp.1861–1884.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trendall, A. (2013) Sedimentary rocks ∣ Banded Iron Formations. Reference Module in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences, doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-409548-9.02985-7.

  • Vearncombe, J.R. (1993) Quartz vein morphology and implications for formation depth and classification of Archaean gold-vein deposits. Ore Geol. Rev., v.8(5), pp.407–424.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Verma, S.K., Verma S.P., Oliveira, E.P., Singh, V.K. and Moreno, J.A. (2016) LA-SF-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb geochronology of granitic rocks from the central Bundelkhand greenstone complex, Bundelkhand craton, India. Jour. Asian Earth Sci., v.118, pp.125–137.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vielreicher, R.M., Groves, D.I., Ridley, J.R. and McNaughton, N.J. (1994) A replacement origin for the BIF-hosted gold deposit at Mt. Morgans, Yilgarn Block, WA. Ore Geol. Rev., v.9(4), pp.325–347.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zoheir, B. and Akawy, A. (2009) Epigenetic BIF-hosted gold lodes at the Abu Marawat area, Eastern Desert, Egypt: integrated mineralogical, structural control and fluid inclusion studies. Appl. Earth Sci., v.118(2), pp.59–76.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

AKS acknowledges the Start-up Research Grant (File No.SRG/2019/000424) from Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Department of Science and Technology (DST), Govt. of India to carry out the research work. Laboratory support extended by Department of Geology, Banaras Hindu University is highly appreciable. NVCR thanks BHU for awarding him an Institution of Eminence (IOE) incentive grant. The authors acknowledge the anonymous reviewer for valuable suggestions.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221 005, India

    Ajit Kumar Sahoo, N. V. Chalapathi Rao, Sneha Raghuvanshi & Sudipa Bhunia

  2. Department of Earth Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, 247 667, India

    Rajagopal Krishnamurthi

  3. Directorate of Geology and Mining, Khanij Bhawan, 27/8, Ram Mohan Rai Marg, Lucknow, 226 001, India

    Gautam Kumar Dinkar

  4. CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad, 500007, India

    Arun Kumar Ojha

Authors
  1. Ajit Kumar Sahoo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Rajagopal Krishnamurthi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Gautam Kumar Dinkar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. N. V. Chalapathi Rao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Arun Kumar Ojha
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Sneha Raghuvanshi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Sudipa Bhunia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ajit Kumar Sahoo.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Sahoo, A.K., Krishnamurthi, R., Dinkar, G.K. et al. Gold-Sulfide Mineralization in Banded Iron Formation at Girar, Bundelkhand Craton, India: Inferences from Field Observations and Petrography. J Geol Soc India 99, 13–22 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-023-2262-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-023-2262-8

Search

Navigation