The Paleoproterozoic Zhaigou banded iron formation in the Fuping Complex, North China Craton: Geochemistry, geochronology and implications for genesis and tectonic setting

Precambrian Banded iron formations (BIFs) provide important insights on the chemical composition of ancient seawater, as well as the tectonic setting of their formation. The Precambrian BIFs deposits in the North China Craton are widely distributed in the Archean greenstone belts and are composed predominantly of Neoarchean Algoma-type including those in the Anshan-Benxi and eastern Hebei areas of the Eastern Block, together with minor Paleoproterozoic Superior-type BIFs in the southern segment of the trans-North China Orogen. The Zhaigou BIF deposit is associated with Paleoproterozoic Wanzi supracrustal sequence and amphibolite in the Fuping Complex in central North China Craton. Here, we present petrological, geochronological and geochemical data of the meta-sedimentary rocks, BIF ores and amphibolites from the Zhaigou BIF deposit in the Fuping Complex for the first time to constrain the formation age, source characteristics and depositional setting, and evaluate the redox states of the Paleoproterozoic seawater. Whole-rock geochemical data show that the BIF ores are enriched in HREE with low (La/Yb)PAAS values (0.037–0.073), and exhibit positive Eu (3.34–6.21) and Pr (1.05–1.10) anomalies. The PAAS-normalized REY patterns resemble 1:100 mixture of high-temperature hydrothermal fluid and seawater, indicating the involvement of the two end members. In combination with whole-rock geochemical data of BIF ores, trace elements of magnetite and U-Pb ages of detrital zircons from the meta-sedimentary rocks, we propose that crustal components from the Fuping TTG gneiss also contributed to the BIFs. The geochemical features suggest that the protolith of amphibolite is basalt formed in island arc setting. The negative Ce anomaly (Ce/Ce* = 0.81 ∼ 0.90) indicates the deposition of the Zhaigou BIF ore in an oxidizing environment. Zircon U-Pb data on the BIF ore yield weighted mean 207Pb/206Pb ages of 2028 ± 33 Ma and 1874 ± 52 Ma, representing the formation age of the Zhaigou BIF deposit and the subsequent metamorphic event, respectively. The Zhaigou BIF deposit belongs to the Algoma-type which shows close association with the Paleoproterozoic sedimentary sequence and basaltic magmatism in oceanic island arc setting. The Paleoproterozoic seawater forming the Zhaigou deposit was oxidized after the Great Oxygenation Event (GOE) during the terrane assembly in the trans-North China Orogen.