Archean Itabirites From Ovan, NE-Gabon: Petrography, Mineralogy And Elemental Mapping

The Archean greenstone belt called Bélinga Group was highlighted in NE-Gabon around 1960. It consists of many petrographic types such as itabirites (BIFs), ultrabasites, and amphibolites. Recent geophysical studies revealed the presence of BIFs and associated rocks at Ovan, which were linked to the Bélinga Group according to similar magnetic and some petrographic characteristics. Unfortunately, data on itabirites in respect with petrography, mineralogy and geochemistry are rare. This note aims at contributing to petrography, mineralogy and elemental mapping of Ovan itabirites on the one hand, and giving strong proofs that they belong to the Bélinga Group on the other. Field investigations bring samples from six sites around Ovan. Selected itabirites samples have been studied in petrography, mineralogy (XRD) and elemental mapping (SEM). Two (2) itabirites lithofacies are recognized: the well-banded and the massive itabirites. Mineral assemblages show principally quartz, magnetite, hematite and goethite. SEM images show euhedral to sub-euhedral grains of quartz and Fe-oxides of two types: the biggest (Fe1), seen as primary minerals within Fe-rich bands and the smallest (Fe2), as secondary minerals disseminated in the siliceous levels. Elemental mapping clearly reveals alternating Fe- and Si-rich bands with Fe-rich bands predominance. Finally, the itabirites around Ovan are sedimentary rocks essentially formed by chemical precipitation and belonging to the Bélinga Group.

Control of pre-existing fabric in fracture formation, reactivation and vein emplacement under variable fluid pressure conditions: an example from Archean greenstone belt, India

Most of the upper crustal fluid flows are strongly influenced by the pre-existing fractures/foliations in the rocks under a certain state of tectonic stress and fluid pressure condition. In the present study, we analyzed a wide range of crosscutting fractures that are filled with quartz veins of variable orientations and thicknesses, from the gold-bearing massive metabasalts (supracrustals) of the Chitradurga Schist Belt adjacent to the Chitradurga Shear Zone (CSZ), Western Dharwar Craton, southern India. The study involves the following steps: (1) analyzing the internal magnetic fabric, using anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) studies, and determining strength of the host metabasalts, (2) quantifying the fluid pressure condition through lower hemisphere equal area projection of pole to veins by determining the driving pressure ratio (R′), stress ratio (ϕ), and susceptibility to fracturing, and (3) deciphering the paleostress condition using fault-slip analysis. We interpret the NNW–SSE to NW–SE (mean 337/69∘ NE) oriented magnetic fabric in the rocks of the region as having developed during regional D1/D2 deformation on account of NE–SW shortening. However, D3 deformation manifested by NW–SE to E–W shortening led to the sinistral movement along CSZ. As a consequence of this sinistral shearing, fractures with prominent orientations formed riedel shear components, with CSZ as the shear boundary. Subsequently, all the pre-existing fabrics along with the riedel shear components were reactivated and vein emplacement took place through episodic fluid pressure fluctuation from high to low Pf at shallow depth (∼ 2.4 km). However, NNW–SSE orientations were prone to reactivate under both high- and low-Pf conditions, thereby attaining maximum vein thickness along these orientations. The deduced paleostress from fault-slip analysis along with the kinematics of the fractures and veins are in good agreement with previously estimated regional tectonics. Thus, integrating multiple domains of studies helps in the logical interpretation of fluid flow conditions and vein emplacement mechanisms in the study area that has not been ventured before.

Control of pre-existing fabric in fracture formation, reactivation and vein emplacement under variable fluid pressure conditions: An example from Archean Greenstone belt, India

Most of the upper crustal fluid flows are strongly influenced by the pre-existing fractures/foliations in the rocks under a certain state of tectonic stress and fluid pressure condition. In the present study, we analyze a wide range of crosscutting fractures that are filled with quartz veins of variable orientations and thicknesses, from the gold bearing massive metabasalts (supracrustal) of the Chitradurga Schist Belt adjacent to the Chitradurga Shear Zone (CSZ), western Dharwar craton, south India. The study involves the following steps: 1) analyzing the internal magnetic fabric using anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) studies, and strength of the host metabasalts, 2) quantifying the fluid pressure condition through lower hemisphere equal area projection of pole to veins by determining the driving pressure ratio (R'), stress ratio (ϕ), and susceptibility to fracturing, and 3) deciphering the paleostress condition using fault slip analysis. We interpret that the NNW-SSE to NW-SE (mean 337°/69° NE) oriented magnetic fabric in the rocks of the region developed during regional D1/D2 deformation on account of NE-SW shortening. However, D3 deformation manifested by NW-SE to E-W shortening led to the sinistral movement along CSZ. As a consequence of this sinistral shearing, fractures with prominent orientations formed riedel shear components, with CSZ as the shear boundary. Subsequently, all the pre-existing fabrics along with the riedel shear components were reactivated and vein emplacement took place through episodic fluid pressure fluctuation from high to low Pf at shallow depth (~ 2.4 km). However, NNW-SSE orientations were susceptible for reactivation under both high and low Pf conditions leading to a much greater thickness along the same. The deduced paleostress from fault-slip analysis, along with the kinematics of the fractures and veins are in good agreement with the previously revealed regional tectonics. Thus, integrating multiple domains of studies, help in the logical interpretation of fluid flow condition and vein emplacement mechanism in the study area that has not been ventured before.

Optical image and microchemical analysis of gold grains from a weathered profile of the Minvoul greenstone belt, northern Gabon

Morphological characterization and quantification of gold particles by optical image analysis (OIA) and by compositional analysis of microprobes using scanning electron microscope and electron microprobe analysis techniques were carried out on gold grains from the Minvoul area (Archean greenstone belt in Gabon). Large grains of almost pure gold were found throughout a weathering profile, which consisted of saprolite, mottled clay zone, iron duricrust, pisolitic gravels and yellow latosol. In the deeper horizons, gold was dissolved as shown by corrosion features on the surface of particles with average sizes of 2.6Φ and 2.35Φ in the saprolite and mottled clay zones, respectively. The occurrence of secondary gold in the duricrust was indicated by the larger size of the nuggets (average, 1.8Φ), the high fineness (> 995 in average) and the close textural relationship between gold and neoformed iron oxyhydroxides. The uppermost horizons composed of yellow latosol and pisolitic gravels were interpreted as transported materials based on their size distribution (average 0.85Φ and 1.34Φ), sorting and shape parameters. The best morphological parameter to describe the whole weathering profile was found to be the perimeter/area ratio. The highest ratios were recorded in the saprolite (average 0.192 μm−1), and decreased towards the surface (average 0.057 μm−1). The combination of the OIA technique and the microchemical analysis of gold grains allowed us to define specific morphological and compositional characteristics of the gold particles for each horizon. Both methods proved to be of great utility to understand gold concentration, dissolution and dispersion processes in supergene environments.

Geochemistry of carbonate formations of the Chhattisgarh Supergroup, central India: implications for Mesoproterozoic global events

The Chhattisgarh Supergroup is one of the major Proterozoic marine sedimentary sequences of India. It consists of largely undeformed and unmetamorphosed siliciclastic, volcaniclastic, and carbonate formations deposited in two sub-basins, Hirri and Bharadwar, separated by an Archean greenstone belt. In spite of its apparent importance for Mesoproterozoic oceanic records, very few geochemical studies have been carried in the basin. Here, we present results of our high resolution geochemical and C–O–Sr isotopic studies in two carbonate formations of the supergroup: the Charmuria and the Chandi. We observe elevated δ13C values increasing from 2.6‰ to 3.6‰ in these formations, which is consistent with the globally reported late Mesoproterozoic values. Such consistently positive δ13C values are attributed to increased organic carbon burial in the basin margins during the deposition of these carbonates. Based on the principles of δ13C isotope stratigraphy, we suggest a depositional age between 1.0 and 1.2 Ga for these carbonates which form the upper part of the supergroup. The lowest 87Sr/86Sr ratios obtained from the Charmuria and Chandi formations, 0.70723 and 0.70816, respectively, are more radiogenic than the contemporaneous seawater, suggesting that the Sr isotopic system of the formations are altered. Based on the similarity in the δ13C values, we stratigraphically correlate the carbonate formations of the Raipur Group in both the Hirri and Bharadwar sub-basins. We also present a compilation of available δ13C and 87Sr/86Sr records from all the Proterozoic sedimentary successions of India and compare it with the global datasets. We find that while the Indian basins possess records of the Bitter Springs and Shuram δ13C anomalies, they lack evidence for the other major global events of the Proterozoic.