Mineralization and Metallogeny of Iron Deposits

A special issue of Minerals (ISSN 2075-163X). This special issue belongs to the section "Mineral Deposits".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2025 | Viewed by 794

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
MNR Key Laboratory of Metallogeny and Mineral Assessment, Institute of Mineral Resources, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing 100037, China
Interests: genesis and metallogenic regularity of iron deposits; shortwave infrared spectroscopy; alteration mapping

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Guest Editor
MNR Key Laboratory of Metallogeny and Mineral Assessment, Institute of Mineral Resources, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing 100037, China
Interests: metallogenic regularity of mineral deposits; Xinjiang mineral deposits; geology; geochronology; lithogeochemistry; mineralogy; fluid inclusion study; isotopic analysis

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Guest Editor
School of Earth Science and Resources, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710054, China
Interests: iron deposits; banded iron formations
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Iron ore plays an important role in global economic development and industrialization. Recent advancements in analytical testing and exploration techniques have revolutionized iron ore research. Techniques like micro-area observation and in-situ composition analysis (elemental or isotope) have demonstrated complex mineralization processes. Additionally, big data and artificial intelligence technologies have introduced new tools to discriminate between genetic models and predict mineralization. This Special Issue aims to present the latest research findings on the genesis, metallogeny and exploration methods of iron deposits worldwide. We welcome original papers and review articles focusing on globally renowned or emerging iron deposits. This Special Issue will primarily cover the following topics: genesis of iron deposits; geological background and metallogeny of iron deposits; and innovative exploration methods and technologies for improving the understanding of iron ore deposits.

Dr. Shigang Duan
Dr. Chengdong Yang
Prof. Dr. Xiuqing Yang
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • iron oxide–apatite (Kiruna) deposits
  • iron–titanium–(vanadium) oxide deposits
  • iron skarn
  • banded iron formation
  • geodynamic setting of iron mineralization
  • metallogeny of iron deposits
  • exploration methods

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 5597 KiB  
Article
40Ar-39Ar Chronometry Supports Multi-Stage Tectonic Thermal Events in the Bayan Obo Fe-Nb-REE Deposit
by Xinke Gao, Dongsheng Wang, Hongying Li, Yike Li, Hongquan She, Jianjun Yang, Li Zhang, Changhui Ke, Jian Zhao, Shouxian Ma, Chenghao Ren and Futing Yin
Minerals 2025, 15(7), 683; https://doi.org/10.3390/min15070683 - 26 Jun 2025
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Abstract
The Bayan Obo deposit, located on the northern margin of the North China Plate (NCP), is the world’s largest comprehensive Fe-REE-Nb deposit. After its formation, this deposit was affected by multiple tectonic thermal events, but the ages of these geological events are controversial. [...] Read more.
The Bayan Obo deposit, located on the northern margin of the North China Plate (NCP), is the world’s largest comprehensive Fe-REE-Nb deposit. After its formation, this deposit was affected by multiple tectonic thermal events, but the ages of these geological events are controversial. To determine the evolutionary history of the Bayan Obo deposit, we conducted a detailed study of the macroscopic and microscopic deformation characteristics of the ore district and selected representative minerals, such as riebeckite and biotite, which are widely present in the banded rocks of the deposit, for an 40Ar-39Ar isotopic analysis. The results show that a large number of deformation structures have developed in the carbonatite and surrounding rocks, including mineral bands, boudins, tight folds, and rotated porphyroclasts, suggesting that the region has undergone intense compression and shearing and that the deformation temperature can reach ~550 °C. 40Ar-39Ar plateau ages of 414.9 ± 1.4 Ma and 264.5 ± 2.5 Ma were obtained for the riebeckite and biotite, respectively. Using these results in conjunction with regional geological data and considering the closure temperature of the mineral isotope system, it was inferred that these two ages corresponded to two distinct reworking events experienced by the deposit during the Early Paleozoic and Late Paleozoic following its initial formation. These events corresponded to the collision between the Bainaomiao Arc and the NCP and the magmatic activity induced by a continental–continental collision during the closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean (PAO), respectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mineralization and Metallogeny of Iron Deposits)
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17 pages, 5068 KiB  
Article
The Contribution of Evaporite Layers in the Formation of the Subvolcanic Type Fe Deposit in the Emeishan Large Igneous Province, Southwestern China: Insights from the S and O Isotopic Characteristics of the Kuangshanliangzi Deposit
by Qiu Wan, Chao Duan, Yanhe Li, Bin Hu, Kejun Hou and Tianshun Wang
Minerals 2025, 15(5), 456; https://doi.org/10.3390/min15050456 - 27 Apr 2025
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Abstract
The Emeishan Large Igneous Province (ELIP) is one of the largest igneous provinces, containing some of the world’s richest mineral resources. It mainly comprises magmatic Fe-Ti-V deposits and Cu-Ni sulfide deposits, with minor subvolcanic-type Fe deposits related to mafic–ultramafic rocks. The evaporite layer [...] Read more.
The Emeishan Large Igneous Province (ELIP) is one of the largest igneous provinces, containing some of the world’s richest mineral resources. It mainly comprises magmatic Fe-Ti-V deposits and Cu-Ni sulfide deposits, with minor subvolcanic-type Fe deposits related to mafic–ultramafic rocks. The evaporite layer is involved in the metallogenic system, yet its contribution has not been examined in detail. In this study, an integrated geological study, single-mineral S and O isotopic analysis, and in situ S isotope analysis were carried out on pyrite and magnetite from the Kuangshanliangzi (KSLZ) subvolcanic-type Fe deposit to examine the role of evaporite layers in Fe mineralization. The O isotopic values of magnetite and the S isotopic values of pyrite were abnormally high in the KSLZ deposit. This indicates that the ore-forming system of the KSLZ deposit is contaminated by 18O- and 34S-enriched evaporite layers, inferred from the Dengying Formation, which significantly increase the oxygen fugacity, sulfur fugacity, and water content of the metallogenic system via the basic–ultrabasic magma-upwelling process, thus promoting the formation of Fe ores. When the SO42− (from evaporite layers) oxidizes Fe2+ to Fe3+, the SO42− is reduced to S2−, and the ore-forming system can be changed from unsaturated sulfide to supersaturated sulfide, which also benefits the Cu-Ni sulfide deposit formation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mineralization and Metallogeny of Iron Deposits)
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