wAbstract
@Recent studies provide an overview on hydrothermal-volcaniclastic-sedimentary
manganese deposits from the Magnitigorsk paleovolcanic belt in
Southern Urals, Russia (`100 deposits). This report presents data
on the structures of ore bodies, chemical composition, and mineralogy
of manganese ores. These deposits are divided into two types with
different ore-bearing band structures, chemical and mineral ore
compositions, and ore component accumulation conditions. Manganese
ores of the type 1 deposit are associated with jasperites. Ores
from type 2 deposits are localised within thin-banded jaspers.
Type 1 deposits are thought to form during hydrothermal activity
in areas where hydrothermal fluids leak into the seafloor. Type
2 deposits are formed within a closed basin as hydrothermal activity
decreases away from hydrothermal vents, and typically contain
a greater volcaniclastic contribution. Manganese ores comprised
more than 70 mineral types and form three groups of mineral assemblages:
(a) minerals formed during low grade regional metamorphism (Tΰ200-260,
P=2-3 kbar) that compose the main part of ore bodies, (b) mineral
assemblages in segregatic and metasomatic veins filling late stage
tectonic fractures, and (c) an assemblage of subsurface supergene
minerals. Most of these minerals (which total approximately 38
minerals) are metamorphic silicates. The formation of metamorphic
mineral assemblages is controlled by the presence of organic material
(OM) in primary sediments. The conditions under which type 1 deposits
formed favour the accumulation of OM. The metamorphism of these
sediments is responsible for the formation of oxide-carbonate-silicate
(greducedh) ores, which consist of Mn-silicates and carbonates
(such as tephroite, rhodonite, caryopilite, and rhodochrosite),
andradite, quartz, hematite, and hausmannite. Insignificant preserved
quantities of OM were found in type 2 deposits. During the metamorphic
alteration of these sediments, oxide-silicate (goxidisedh) ores
were formed with the dominance of braunite.
Keywords: Southern Urals; Manganese deposits; Magnitogorsk paleovolcanic
belt; Proximal and distal deposits; Hydrothermalx
1. Introduction
2. Geological setting
3. Mode of occurrence of the Mn-bearing ore bodies
4. Samples and methods
5. Results
@5.1. Chemical composition of manganese ores
@5.2. Mineralogy
6. Discussion
@6.1. Stages of deposit formation
@6.2. Ore genetic models
@6.3. The burial and metamorphism of manganese sediments
7. Conclusions
Acknowledgements
References