Basic Science Sector

Citation:

Basta, F. F., A. E. Maurice, L. Fontbot, and P. - Y. Favarger, "Petrology and geochemistry of the banded iron formation (BIF) of Wadi Karim and Um Anab, Eastern Desert, Egypt: Implications for the origin of Neoproterozoic BIF", Precambrian Research, 2011.

Abstract:

Banded iron formation (BIF) is exposed among the Precambrian rocks in the Wadi Karim and Um Anab areas in the Eastern Desert of Egypt. The BIF conformably alternates with Neoproterozoic arc metavolcanic rocks, which comprise metabasalts and mafic to intermediate metapyroclastic rocks. The BIF of Wadi Karim belongs to the oxide and mixed carbonate-oxide facies, while that ofUmAnab belongs to the oxide facies only. Iron bands are generally composed of iron-rich mesobands rhythmically alternating with jasper, chert or carbonate mesobands as in the Wadi Karim area, or chert mesobands as in the Um Anab area. The BIF of Wadi Karim is composed essentially of magnetite, hematite and microcrystalline quartz, in addition to ankerite in the carbonate-bearing bands, while that ofUmAnab is composed of magnetite and microcrystalline quartz.

Notes:

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