1 Petrological and Geochemical Characteristics of Egyptian Banded Iron Formations: 2 Review and New Data from Wadi Kareim 3 4 K. I. Khalil1, and A. K. El-Shazly2* 5 6 1 Geology Department, Faculty of Science, University of Alexandria, Moharram Bey, Alexandria, 7 Egypt 8 2 Geology Department, Marshall University, 1 John Marshall Dr., Huntington, WV 25755 9 10 *Corresponding Author (e-mail:
[email protected]). 11 12 # of words in text: 8307 13 # of words in references: 2144 14 15 Abbreviated title: Egyptian BIFs 16 17 Abstract 18 19 The banded iron formations in the eastern desert of Egypt are small, deformed, bodies 20 intercalated with metamorphosed Neoproterozoic volcaniclastic rocks. Although the 13 21 banded iron deposits have their own mineralogical, chemical, and textural characteristics, 22 they have many similarities, the most notable of which are the lack of sulfide and paucity of 23 carbonate facies minerals, a higher abundance of magnetite over hematite in the oxide 24 facies, and a well-developed banding/ lamination. Compared to Algoma, Superior, and 25 Rapitan type banded iron ores, the Egyptian deposits have very high Fe/Si ratios, high Al2O3 26 content, and HREE-enriched patterns. The absence of wave-generated structures in most of 27 the Egyptian deposits indicates sub-aqueous precipitation below wave base, whereas their 28 intercalation with poorly sorted volcaniclastic rocks with angular clasts suggests a 29 depositional environment proximal to epiclastic influx. The Egyptian deposits likely formed in 30 small fore-arc and back-arc basins through the precipitation of Fe silicate gels under slightly 31 euxinic conditions.