Synorogenic hydrothermal origin for giant Hamersley iron oxide ore bodies

Abstract

Research Article| February 01, 1999 Synorogenic hydrothermal origin for giant Hamersley iron oxide ore bodies Christopher McA. Powell; Christopher McA. Powell 1Tectonics Special Research Centre, Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia 6907, Australia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Nicholas H. S. Oliver; Nicholas H. S. Oliver 2Economic Geology Research Unit, School of Earth Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Zheng-Xiang Li; Zheng-Xiang Li 1Tectonics Special Research Centre, Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia 6907, Australia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar David McB. Martin; David McB. Martin 1Tectonics Special Research Centre, Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia 6907, Australia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Janos Ronaszeki Janos Ronaszeki 3BHP Iron Ore (Newman), Newman, Western Australia 6753, Australia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (1999) 27 (2): 175–178. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1999)027<0175:SHOFGH>2.3.CO;2 Article history first online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share MailTo Twitter LinkedIn Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Christopher McA. Powell, Nicholas H. S. Oliver, Zheng-Xiang Li, David McB. Martin, Janos Ronaszeki; Synorogenic hydrothermal origin for giant Hamersley iron oxide ore bodies. Geology 1999;; 27 (2): 175–178. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1999)027<0175:SHOFGH>2.3.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Geologic mapping, basin analysis, and calculated fluid compositions indicate that giant orebodies of microplaty hematite, and possibly martite-goethite, in the Hamersley province of Western Australia, were formed by heated fluids driven by early Paleoproterozoic orogenesis. Detrital grains of microplaty hematite in the McGrath trough, a foreland basin in front of the northward-advancing Ophthalmian fold belt constrain the age of the earliest microplaty hematite ore formation to <2.45 Ga and ≥ 2.2 Ga. Relationships between orebody shape and structure show that the orebodies formed during the Ophthalmian deformation, some possibly during orogenic collapse. Oxygen isotopes and fluid inclusions from veins and ore indicate that oxidizing fluids at temperatures >200 °C and locally up to 400 °C were involved. Regional circulation of hydrothermal fluids, including heated surface water, through reduced banded iron formations occurred during or soon after the Ophthalmian orogeny. We speculate that martite-goethite orebodies, previously considered Mesozoic–Cenozoic, could also be related to heated Paleoproterozoic meteoric fluids migrating northward away from the Ophthalmian fold belt. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.