Formation mechanism of Gongchangling high-grade magnetite deposit hosted in archean BIF, anshan-benxi area, northeastern china

Banded iron-formations are main resources of global iron ore in which high-grade ore is mainly composed of martite–goethite and hematite. They are also the major resource of iron ore in China, mainly distributing in Liaoning and Hebei Province. In China, the iron ore with Fe greater than 50% is classified as high-grade iron ore. The high-grade iron ore mainly consists of magnetite and displays its unique characteristics. Gongchangling iron deposit is one typical BIF-iron deposit which contains 150Mt of high-grade iron ore in China. The high-grade magnetite ore bodies mainly occur around magnetite quartzite, faults and the cores of folds and show positive relation to the development of the “altered rocks” in this deposit. This research shows that high-grade magnetite comes from magnetite quartzite and they are both formed, with little or no addition of aluminum-containing detrital material, by marine chemical deposition in reduced environment and they are closely related to seafloor hydrothermal activity.