Basic characteristics and metallogenic potential of banded iron formation(BIF) in the southern Prince Charles Mountains, East Antarctica

Abstract

Banded iron formation(BIF) occurs in the lower part of the Paleoproterozoic Ruker Group at Mount Ruker, southern Prince Charles Mountains in East Antarctica. Of all depositional sequence of the Ruker Group, at least 400 m is of iron-bearing formation and 30~70 m is of ore body with an average grade of total Fe about 33.5%. The formation process of the BIF may be related to metamorphic volcanic rocks and the BIF may belong to the transitional type between the Lake Superior type and the Algoma type in genetic classification. High precision aeromagnetic survey identified two major, 10-km-wide, positive aeromagnetic anomalies extending westward from Mount Ruker for 50 km in the north and 60 km in the south, respectively. Based on the aeromagnetic anomaly and high-precision magnetic anomaly data, the prediction model and the distribution range of the BIF are established. The recoverable iron ore resources are finally estimated to be more than ten billion tons.

Keywords

• banded iron formation
• metallogenic potential
• southern prince charles mountains
• east antarctica