Geochemistry and U-Pb zircon geochronology of the Nkout banded iron formations and associated metasiliciclastic rocks, NW Congo craton, southern Cameroon

The Nkout banded iron formations (BIFs)-hosted iron deposit is located in the Ntem Complex at the northwestern part of the Congo craton, southern Cameroon. We report geochronological and geochemical data of magnetite BIFs and interlayered mica schists from the Nkout iron ore deposit. The BIFs show t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International geology review 2024-10, Vol.66 (19), p.3327-3352
Main Authors: Kouayep Tchoundi, Lysiane Christelle, Ganno, Sylvestre, Soh Tamehe, Landry, Djoukouo Soh, Arlette Pulcherie, Fossi, Donald Hermann, Nzenti, Jean Paul
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Amphibolite facies
Amphibolites
Anomalies
Anoxia
Banded iron formations
Congo craton
Cratons
Fluids
Formations
Geochemistry
Geochronology
Geochronometry
High temperature
Iron
Iron ores
LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating
Lead
Magnetite
maximum depositional age
Metamorphism
metasiliciclastic rocks
Mica
Mineral deposits
Orogeny
Precipitates
Radiometric dating
Rare earth elements
Rocks
Schists
Seawater
Sedimentary rocks
Shale
Yttrium
Zircon
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Summary:The Nkout banded iron formations (BIFs)-hosted iron deposit is located in the Ntem Complex at the northwestern part of the Congo craton, southern Cameroon. We report geochronological and geochemical data of magnetite BIFs and interlayered mica schists from the Nkout iron ore deposit. The BIFs show typical features of chemical precipitates characterized by seawater-like shale-normalized rare earth elements plus yttrium spectra. Weak positive Eu anomalies indicate the contribution of high-temperature hydrothermal fluids to the BIFs, with low detrital input. The absence of true Ce anomalies indicates that the BIFs were likely to be deposited in anoxic seawater. LA-ICP-MS U-Pb detrital zircon data for the BIFs and associated metasiliciclasltic rocks constrained the maximum depositional age at ca. 2.8 Ga, suggesting that the Nkout BIFs are likely the oldest iron formations in the Ntem Complex. Our zircon U-Pb isotope data indicate that the Nkout succession experienced lower-amphibolite facies metamorphism at ca. 2.0 Ga, which correlates with the regional tectono-thermal event linked to the convergence and assembly of terranes between the Congo and São Francisco cratons during the Eburnean-Transamazonian orogeny.
ISSN:0020-6814
1938-2839
DOI:10.1080/00206814.2024.2326971