DOCSLIB.ORG

Assrracr Greeiuajjte, STILPI\IOMELANE

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Assrracr Greeiuajjte, STILPI\IOMELANE Canadian Mineralogist Vol. 12, pp. 475-498 (1974) GREEIUAJjTE,STILPI\IOMELANE, MINNESOTAITE CROCIDOLITEAND CARBONATES IN I\ VERY LOW.GRADE METAMORPHIC PRECA,MBRIANIRON.FORMATION CORNELISKLEIN, JR. Department ol Geology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47401 AssrRAcr of possible solution of earlier phases and deposition of later phases were not found. The Sokoman Formation in the Howells River area, ai the western edge of the Labrador Trough, INrnouucrrou is part of a relatively undisturbed sedimentary se- quence which dips between 5' and l2o east-nortl- 16s mineral assemblagcin this study are east. The finely banded silicate-carbonate members part of the silicate-richhorizons of the Protero- of this Aon-formation were studied by detailed pe- trographic and electron microprobe techniques. Most of the assemblages show complex textures in which early diagenetio features are overprinted by later ones which are the result of very low-grade meta- morphio reactions. Of the three Fe-silicates, greena- lite, stilpnomelane, and minnesotaite, greenalite ap pears to be of very early origin (sedimentary to diagenetic). Stilpnomelane appears to be of diage- netic origin, and minnesotaite probably began its formation in diagenetic stages as well, but is gen- erally concluded to be of very low-grade metamor- phic origin. Greenalite which occurs as oolites, gtrarules, and later cemeot, is cryptocrystalline to microcrystalline in texture, and of homogeneous chemical composition. Stilpnomelane is well-crystal- lized, at times medium-grained. Minnesotaite, in well-crystallized rosettes and sprays, replaces earlier greenalite and stilpnomelane as well as much of the associated carbonates. Carbonate compositions are represented by members of the dolomite-anke- rite series, siderite, and calcite. Ankerite and side- rite are the most common carbonate species. Man- ganoan dolomite occurs in well-crystallized oolites ffi:lINDEX MAP SHOWING tvhich show relict banding as outlined by discon- LocArloNoF LABRAD.RrRouGH tinuous concentric bands of siderite rhombohedra. Calcite occurs sporadically as cement around silicate granules and in granul:tr ocqurences of calcite-side- I t" rite pairs. Magnetite occurs in coarsely recrystallized O ulo Miles bands, oolites, granules and iregular masses. Quartz # or chert occur throughout all of the assemblages. Crocodolite is found only in higbly deformed, cre- nulated crocodolite-mapetite-stilpnomelane-quartz assemblages in exposures near Schefferville, P.Q., and northwest thereof, where bulk compositions are Na-rich and structural deformation is pronounced. The primary Fe-silicate materials were probably hydrous silicate gels of greenalite-type and stilpno- melane-type compositions. Greenalite and stilpno- melane appear to be the recrystallization products thereof. Minnesotaite is a reaction product of earlier silicate and carbonate-chert assemblages. All Frc. 1. Location of the Howells River area, New- carbonates and magnetite appear to be of primary foundland and Schefferville, P.Q., with respect origin but are nolq coarsely recrystallized. Although to the iron-formation horizons in the Labrador recrystallization and reaction t€xtures are present Trough (after Gross 1968). Location of biotite in all assemblages,replacement textures indicative isograd after Fahrig (1967). 475 476 THE CANADIAN I\{INERALOGIST zoic iron-formation sequence at the western Schefferville mining areas. ODe sample of Ruth edge of the Labrador geosyncline. Most of the Slate from the Schefferville mining area and samples were obtained from the Sokoman For- one crocidolite-rich assemblage from Walthier mation in the Howells River area which is 1o- Lake, 23 miles northwest of Scheffervillb, were cated approximately twelve miles west of Schef- also studied. ferville, P.Q. (Fig. 1). Several additional samples The Sokoman Formation in the Howells River were obtained from the Sokoman Formation in area consists of conformable sedimentary units tho iron mining district of Schefferville, p.e., which are relatively undistur ed and strike ap- and 23 miles northwest thereof, in the Walthier proximately 35'NW and dip about 5 to 12" Lake area. east-northeast. Faults and other evidence of The iron-formation sequencein the Howells structural deformation are extremely rare. The River area was selectedfor this study of silicate. Sokoman Formation in the Schefferville area, carbonate assemblages.b.ecause the Sokoman however, has undergone complex structural Formation in this area is unleached, and be- changes and locally strong leaching and super- cause it probably is the least metamorphooed gene enrichment. and least altered iron.formation in the Labrador The first detailed study of the geologic setting, Trough. Although the mineral assemblagesdis- mineralogy and petrology of the Sokoman For- play some very low-gtade metamorphic fea- mation in the Howells River area was made by tutes, all preserve diagenetic and possibly pri- Perrault (1955). mary textures and chemistry. ANALYTTCALMBrnoos Gnorocrc SBrtrNc rN THE Howslrs RrvBrr. petrographic AREA Detailed studies of mineral as- semblagesand their textural relations were made The lowermost member of the proterozoic prior to electron probe microanalysis. Specific Kaniapiskau Supergroup which unconformably assemblageswere photographed at a magni- overlies the Ashuanipi Basement complex of fication similar to that of the highest power of Archean ageois the Wishart Formation, a basal the light optical system of the electron probe guartzite with an average thickness of approxi- (64OX). Chemical analysesfor nine oxide com- mately 58 feet (Fink 1972) in the Howells River ponents in the silicates, carbonates and oxides area. This is overlain by the Ruth Slate, a thin- were performed on polished thin sections using ly laminated slate consisting of carbonate, chert a three-spectrometerEtec Autoprobe. Operating and greenalite and sporadic pyrite and graphite. conditions were 15kv accelerating voltage and The Ruth Slate averages L7 feet in thickness. 0.02 microampere sample current, standardized The Sokoman Formation, with an averagethick- on quartz, using beam current integration. The ness of 373 feet, overlies the Ruth Slate. The electron beam size was adjusted to a relatively most silicate-rich members of the Sokoman For- large size of about 2 to 8 microns in diameter mation in the Howells River area are referred to because of the possibility of breakdown of the as the "Lower Iron Formation" (LIF) and the hydrous silicates and the carbonates with a "Lean Chert" (LC) by Iron Ore Company of higher electron loading per unit area. A com- Canada geologists (Fink 1972). The Lower Iron bination of well-analyzed, homogeneous syn- Formation member directly overlies the Ruth thetic silicate glasses and naturally occurring Slate, whereas the Lean Chert member forms crystalline silicates was used as standard mate- tle uppermost member of the iron-formation rials. The Etec Autoprobe spectrometers ale sequence.The Lower Iron Formation member controlled by an onJine PDP-11/05 (1.2K me- averages 27 feet in thickness and the Lean mory) computer which also performs the data Chert member averages 83 feet in thickness. handling for each analysis point. The computer The majority of the assemblagesof this study program for partial instrument control and 'oLlF" data were obtained from the and "lC" mem- handling was developed by Dr. Larry W. Finger bers of the Sokoman Formation in the Howells of the Geophysical Laboratory, Washington, River region. Samples were obtained from dia- D.C. (Finger & Hadidiacos L972; Finger 1973). mond drill cores 1032D and 1039D of the Iron Data reduction procedures were those of Bence Ore Company of Canada (Fink L97I, L972) & Albee (1965) with correction factors from and from field occurrences. A few additional Albee & Ray (1970). samples of silicate-rich members of the Soko- Complete chemical analyses of bulF samples man Formation, the silicate-carbonateiron-for- of the silicate-rich iron-formation were made mation (SCF) member and the "lower red by a combination of gravimetric, flame photo- cherty" (LRC) members were obtained in the rnetric and colorimetric techniques. LOW.GRADE METAMORPHIC PRECAMBRIAN IRON-FORMATION 477 BuLr CnsrursrRy oF SrLrcerE-RtcH 1 to 5. Analysis 7, which was made on a minne- InoN-FonvrerroN sotaite-rich band of the silicate-carbonate iron- formation member (SCIF) in the Schefferville Complete chemical analyses of eight bulk mining area, is almost equivalent to that of pure samplesof silicate-rich members of the Sokoman minnesotaite (see Table 4 for comparison). Formation and Ruth Slate are given in Table 1. Analysis 8, made on a highly oxidized part.of Analyses 1 to 5 represent samples from the un- the Ruth Slate, consists of hematite-limonite- leached and unaltered iron-formation in the chert and lesser, brown oxidized minnesotaite. Howells River area. In each of these, FeO ex- ceedsFezOa, reflecting the presenceof abundant siderite and Fe-silicates (which contain large MINERAL OnnrvrrstnY amounts of FeO), and lesser amounts of magne- Many of the minerals in this only very slightly tite. Oxide percentages in these five analyses are metamorphosed iron-formation are very fine- simil4l to those given by James (1966) for tle grained and finely intergrown with each other. silicate-carbonate iron-formation samples from Although such assemblagesare difficult to study the Mesabi district, Mimesota and the Gogebic by methods which require mineral separation district, Michigan. Analysis
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Washington State Minerals Checklist
    Division of Geology and Earth Resources MS 47007; Olympia, WA 98504-7007 Washington State 360-902-1450; 360-902-1785 fax E-mail: [email protected] Website: http://www.dnr.wa.gov/geology Minerals Checklist Note: Mineral names in parentheses are the preferred species names. Compiled by Raymond Lasmanis o Acanthite o Arsenopalladinite o Bustamite o Clinohumite o Enstatite o Harmotome o Actinolite o Arsenopyrite o Bytownite o Clinoptilolite o Epidesmine (Stilbite) o Hastingsite o Adularia o Arsenosulvanite (Plagioclase) o Clinozoisite o Epidote o Hausmannite (Orthoclase) o Arsenpolybasite o Cairngorm (Quartz) o Cobaltite o Epistilbite o Hedenbergite o Aegirine o Astrophyllite o Calamine o Cochromite o Epsomite o Hedleyite o Aenigmatite o Atacamite (Hemimorphite) o Coffinite o Erionite o Hematite o Aeschynite o Atokite o Calaverite o Columbite o Erythrite o Hemimorphite o Agardite-Y o Augite o Calciohilairite (Ferrocolumbite) o Euchroite o Hercynite o Agate (Quartz) o Aurostibite o Calcite, see also o Conichalcite o Euxenite o Hessite o Aguilarite o Austinite Manganocalcite o Connellite o Euxenite-Y o Heulandite o Aktashite o Onyx o Copiapite o o Autunite o Fairchildite Hexahydrite o Alabandite o Caledonite o Copper o o Awaruite o Famatinite Hibschite o Albite o Cancrinite o Copper-zinc o o Axinite group o Fayalite Hillebrandite o Algodonite o Carnelian (Quartz) o Coquandite o o Azurite o Feldspar group Hisingerite o Allanite o Cassiterite o Cordierite o o Barite o Ferberite Hongshiite o Allanite-Ce o Catapleiite o Corrensite o o Bastnäsite
    [Show full text]
  • Northshore Mining Fact Sheet
    CLEVELAND-CLIFFS INC. NORTHSHORE MINING FACT SHEET Northshore Mining (NSM), which originally operated as Reserve Mining Company, was the first taconite processing facility in North America when it opened in 1956. It was purchased by Cyprus Minerals in 1989, and Cleveland-Cliffs became the sole owner of the property in 1994. Northshore Mining’s Peter Mitchell Mine is located in Babbitt and the taconite is transported 47 miles by rail to the processing facility in Silver Bay, near Lake Superior. Northshore operations consist of an open pit truck Operational Statistics and shovel mine where two stages of crushing occur before the ore is transported along a wholly owned rail • Type of Ore: Magnetite line to the plant site in Silver Bay. At the plant site, two additional stages of crushing occur before the ore is • 2018 Pellet Production: 5.6 million gross tons sent to the concentrator. The concentrator utilizes rod mills, ball mills and magnetic separation to produce a • Annual Rated Capacity (includes concentrate): magnetite concentrate, which is delivered to the pellet 6.0 million tons plant located on-site. The plant site has its own ship loading port located on Lake Superior. In 2018, Cliffs began a capital upgrade to produce Annual Economic Impact low silica DR-grade pellets on a commercial scale. Throughout the construction project, management has • Workforce: 529 employees maintained production of its standard iron ore pellets for its blast furnace customers. The upgrade project is • Payroll (including benefits) $85 million expected to be completed in mid-2019. While overall production capacity at the processing facility will remain • Local services/supplies purchased: $200 million the same, Northshore will be able to produce up to 3.5 • Minnesota, local & taconite taxes: $16 million million long tons of DR-grade pellets.
    [Show full text]
  • Devonian and Carboniferous Metamorphism in West-Central
    American Mineralogist, Volume 73, pages20-47, 1988 Devonian and Carboniferousmetamorphism in west-centralMaine: The muscovite-almandinegeobarometer and the staurolite problem revisited M. J. Hololwlv Department of Geological Sciences,Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas 75275, U.S.A. B. L. Durnow Department of Geology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, U.S.A. R. W. HrNroN* The EnricoFermi Institute, The Universityof Chicago,Chicago, Illinois 60637,U.S.A. ABSTRAcT Important thermal metamorphic eventsin west-centralMaine occurred at 400 Ma (Mr), 394-379Ma(Mr), and325 Ma(Mr). EachiscloselyassociatedwithemplacementofS-type granites,such that the isogradpatterns produced in the surrounding pelitic schistsgenerally follow plutonic outlines. From north to south, gradeof metamorphism varies from chlorite to sillimanite-K-feldspar-muscovite. Mineral-chemistry studies on M, and M, indicate the following: (l) Much staurolite- grade chlorite is retrograde as demonstrated by the lack of a consistent relation between biotite composition and presenceor absenceofchlorite, given the restricted range ofX"ro allowed in these reduced graphitic rocks. Consequently,the first sillimanite-forming re- action for many pelitic schists in Maine does not involve chlorite. (2) Garnet zoning patterns are prograde in rocks of the staurolite zone and retrograde in rocks of higher grade. (3) Presenceof graphite and nearly pure ilmenite suggestslow Fe3* in micas and allows for end-membercalculations that include a "Ti biotite" (KTiD(Fe,Mg)AlSi3Oro(OH)r) and a "Ti muscovite" (KTi(Fe,Mg)AlSi3O,o(OH)r).(4) Staurolire contains about 3 H (48- oxygen basis) and shows subtle indications of nonideality in Fe-Mg Ko relationships. Garnet-biotite geothermometryindicates the following averagetemperatures for the first occurrenceof minerals:staurolite-510'C, sillimanite-580 "C, sillimanite-K-feldspar- 660 "C.
    [Show full text]
  • 2013 Minnesota Mining Tax Guide
    Mining Tax Guide SS J. A. Campbell in Taconite Harbor, ca. 1957-1964 (2005.0038.3318), Minnesota State Representative Fred A. Cina Papers, Iron Range Research Center, Chisholm, MN November 2013 2013 Distribution of Taconite Production Tax (2012 Production Year) Total Taconite Production Tax $102,633,021* Production tax is $2.465 per taxable ton. The average taxable tonnage was 38,310,339 tons. * Includes $8,428,275 from the State General Fund (22.0 cpt) cpt = cents per taxable ton Property tax Cities and townships School districts Counties IRRRB Other relief and misc. $13,893,864 $15,799,889 $14,270,998 $29,729,364 $16,493,071 $12,445,835 32.5 cpt 36.3 cpt 41.2 cpt 37.2 cpt 43.1 cpt 77.6 cpt City and Township Taconite School Regular IRRRB Fund** Taconite Economic Mining & Conc $0.0343 Fund** County Fund** Taconite Property $3,636,468 Development Fund Fund** $1,566,247 $9,000,065 Tax Relief $1,666,971 9.5 cpt $12,231,412 $2,066,752 4.1 cpt*** 23.5 cpt 31.9 cpt 5.4 cpt 4.4 cpt Regular School County Road and IRRRB $.1572 Fund** Bridge Fund** Fixed Fund Range Association Township Fund $6,908,326 $4,486,556 Public Works $1,252,520 of Municipalities & $1,223,128 18.0 cpt*** 11.7 cpt Projects 3.2 cpt Schools** 3.2 cpt $14,826,100 $137,802 Taconite Taconite 38.7 cpt Iron Range Higher Education Acct. 0.4 cpt Taconite railroad railroad $1,915,517 5.0 cpt Municipal Aid** $1,106,935 $784,377 2.0 cpt $6,355,475 2.9 cpt *** Producer Grant Hockey 16.6 cpt & Loan Fund Hall of Fame Building $3,176,600 $76,621 Maintenance Fund 8.3 cpt 0.2 cpt Taconite railroad $1,506,072 $591,142 3.9 cpt IRR Educational 1.5 cpt Revenue Bonds Taconite $1,411,925 Referendum** 3.7 cpt Mining effects** $3,091,236 $1,758,238 8.1 cpt Taconite Env.
    [Show full text]
  • ! 1! ! ! FINAL REPORT to the LEGISLATURE MINNESOTA TACONITE WORKERS HEALTH STUDY DATE: November 24, 2014 TO: FROM: COPIES
    ! ! FINAL REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE MINNESOTA TACONITE WORKERS HEALTH STUDY DATE: November 24, 2014 TO: Sen. David Tomassoni, chair Senate Jobs and Economic Growth Committee 317 Capitol Sen. Tony Lourey, chair Senate Health and Human Services Finance Division 120 Capitol Sen. Kathy Sheran, chair Senate Health, Human Services and Housing Committee 120 Capitol Rep. Tim Mahoney, chair House Jobs and Economic Development Finance & Policy Committee 591 State Office Building Rep. Sheldon Johnson, chair House Labor, Workplace and Regulated Industries 549 State Office Building Rep. Tom Huntley, chair Health and Human Services Finance Committee 585 State Office Building Rep. Tina Liebling, chair House Health and Human Services Policy Committee 367 State Office Building FROM: John R. Finnegan, Jr., dean and professor (E-mail: [email protected]; Phone: 612 625 1179) Jeffrey Mandel, associate professor, principal investigator (E-mail: [email protected]; Phone: 612 626 9308) COPIES: Iron Range Legislative Delegation Rep. David Dill Rep. Mary Murphy Sen. Tom Bakk Rep. John Persell Rep. Tom Anzelc Sen. Tom Saxhaug Rep. Carly Melin Rep. Jason Metsa 1! ! ! November 24, 2014 Dear Legislators: We are pleased to present the final report on our research regarding the health status of taconite workers. This report covers the assessments made by the University of Minnesota School of Public Health (SPH). The Natural Resources Research Institute will be submitting a separate report on the environmental characterization work that they have been doing. This report contains the SPH’s efforts in occupational exposure, mortality and cancer incidence, case-control studies and the respiratory health survey of taconite workers and spouses.
    [Show full text]
  • The Structure of Stilpnomelane Reexamined
    THE STRUCTURE OF STILPNOMELANE REEXAMINED JouN W. Gnunon, Uniaersity of Minnesota, Mi.nneapolis,Minnesota. Assrnect New r-ray data show the distribution of ions normal to the basal cleavage in the layer silicate stilpnomelane. Since it is similarto talc and biotite a structure consistentwithits properties can be proposed. It explains satisfactorily the behavior of the mineral including its base exchange of K for Tl. Stilpnomelane is an important essential constituent of certain iron formations. fNrnooucrroN The writer (1) made an attempt in 1937 to determine the composition and crystal structure of stilpnomelane. At that time the mineral had been reported from the quartz veins in iron formations and from the chlorite-epidote-albite schists in New Zealand (8 and 11). Recently it has been identified in large amounts in the iron formations of the Cuyuna and Mesabi ranges of Minnesota. There it is one of the three principal iron silicates,iron talc, to be describedin detail shortly, being the second and greenalite the third. As was pointed out previously, (1, p. 912) stilpnomelane may readily be mistaken for biotite under the microscope.Like biotite it is negative with a small optic angle and has similar pleochroism. In the hand speci- men it resembleseither biotite or chlorite, but is much more brittle. Its cleavageis excellent. Basal sections with partially developed hexagonal outlines have been observed. These properties and the discussion that follows make it certain that stilpnomelane has a layer structure and is related to the micas and chlorites. CnBurcar CouposrrroN Nothing essentially new can be added with regard to the chemical composition of stilpnomelane.
    [Show full text]
  • Miissbauer Spectra of Minnesotaite and Ferroan Talc J.M.D. Corv, T
    American Mineralogist, Volume 76, pages 1905-1909, 1991 Miissbauer spectra of minnesotaite and ferroan talc J.M.D. Corv, T. Blxls* Department of Pure and Applied Physics,Trinity College,Dublin 2, Ireland S. GuccnNnprnr Department of Geological Sciences,University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago,Illinois 60680, U.S.A, Arsrru.cr Mdssbauer spectra of five samples of minnesotaite and one of ferroan talc have been recordedat 296 K and 4.2 K. A singleferrous doublet with isomer shift 6 : 1.13 mm/s relative to aFe and quadrupolesplitting L:2J4 mm/s is observedin all minnesotaite samples at room temperature. The ferroan talc has a smaller quadrupole splitting, A : 2.55 mm/s. All minnesotaite samplesorder antiferromagnetically,with N6el points in the tange 25-37 K, but ferroan talc does not order magnetically down to 4.2 K. Two distinct ferrous populations in minnesotaite are inferred from the resolved magneticallysplit spec- tra at 4.2 K. The minority sites may be those coordinated by the excessOH in the min- nesotaitestructure. The P-cell and C-cell variants have distinctly different hyperfine fields (10.4 and 14.9T for the two sitesin the P cell but 8.9 and 14.4T in the C cell),although their N6el points are similar. INrnooucrroN taite, ferroan talc, and talc and found a lack of compo- Minnesotaite was originally considered by Gruner sitions having the octahedralFe fraction in the range0.45- (1944) to be an Fe analogueof talc having ideal formula 0.60, perhapsindicating the chemical limits of the struc- tures. {Fel*}[Sio]O,o(OH),,where { } and [ ] denotethe oc- tahedral and tetrahedral sites, respectively.More recent- Both minnesotaite and talc have a continuous octahe- ly, X-ray and electron diffraction studies (Guggenheim dral sheet(Fe in minnesotaite, Fe,Mg in ferroan talc) but and Bailey, 1982; Guggenheim and Eggleton, 1986) differ in the nature ofthe tetrahedral sheets.It is therefore showed that the structure is considerablymore complex.
    [Show full text]
  • ITP Mining: Energy and Environmental Profile of the U.S. Mining Industry: Chapter 4: Iron
    Energy and Environmental Profile of the U.S. Mining Industry 4 Iron The chemical element iron is the fourth most common element in the Earth's crust and the second most abundant metal. About five percent of the Earth's crust is composed of iron. The metal is chemically active and is found in nature combined with other elements in rocks and soils. In its natural state, iron is chemically bonded with oxygen, water, carbon dioxide, or sulfur in a variety of minerals. Forms of Iron Minerals, Ores, and Rocks Iron occurs mainly in iron-oxide ores. Some ores are a mixture of minerals rich in iron. Other iron ores are less rich and have a large number of impurities. The most important iron ore- forming minerals are: • Magnetite - Magnetite (Fe3O4) forms magnetic black iron ore. There are large deposits of magnetite in Russia and Sweden. • Hematite - Hematite (Fe2O3) is a red iron ore. Hematite occurs in almost all forms, from solid rock to loose earth. It is the most plentiful iron ore and occurs in large quantities throughout the world. • Goethite - Goethite (Fe2O3.H2O), a brown ore, contains iron. • Limonite - Limonite (Fe2O3.H2O) is a yellow-brown iron ore. Limonite is a collective term for impure goethite and a mixture of hydrated iron oxides. Iron 4-1 Energy and Environmental Profile of the U.S. Mining Industry Taconite contains low-grade iron in fine specks and bands. It is an extremely hard and flinty - containing about 25 - 30 percent iron. The iron in taconite occurs principally as magnetite and hematite and finely dispersed with silica in sedimentary deposits.
    [Show full text]
  • Approaches to the Low Grade Metamorphic History of the Karakaya Complex by Chlorite Mineralogy and Geochemistry
    Minerals 2015, 5, 221-246; doi:10.3390/min5020221 OPEN ACCESS minerals ISSN 2075-163X www.mdpi.com/journal/minerals Article Approaches to the Low Grade Metamorphic History of the Karakaya Complex by Chlorite Mineralogy and Geochemistry Sema Tetiker 1, Hüseyin Yalçın 2,* and Ömer Bozkaya 3 1 Department of Geological Engineering, Batman University, 72100 Batman, Turkey; E-Mail: [email protected] 2 Department of Geological Engineering, Cumhuriyet University, 58140 Sivas, Turkey 3 Department of Geological Engineering, Pamukkale University, 20070 Denizli, Turkey; E-Mail: [email protected] * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: [email protected]; Tel.: +90-0542-412-16-19. Academic Editor: Antonio Simonetti Received: 18 November 2014 / Accepted: 9 April 2015 / Published: 16 April 2015 Abstract: In this study, chlorite is used to investigate the diagenetic-metamorphic evolution and accurate geological history of the different units belonging to the Karakaya complex, Turkey. Primary and secondary chlorite minerals in the very low-grade metamorphic rocks display interference colors of blue and brown and an appearance of optical isotropy. Chlorites are present in the matrix, pores, and/or rocks units as platy/flaky and partly radial forms. X-ray diffraction (XRD) data indicate that Mg-Fe chlorites with entirely IIb polytype (trioctahedral) exhibit a variety of compositions, such as brunsvigite-diabantite-chamosite. The major element contents and structural formulas of chlorite also suggest these were derived from both felsic and metabasic source rocks. Trace and rare earth element (REE) concentrations of chlorites increase with increasing grade of metamorphism, and these geochemical changes can be related to the tectonic structures, formational mechanics, and environments present during their generation.
    [Show full text]
  • Mining on the Mesabi Iron Range?
    What’s Happening in Mining on the Mesabi Iron Range? Dan Jordan Mining & Minerals Program Supervisor Iron Range Resources Projects that must go through Environmental Review lvpmn.org 23 Project locations 13 Developers $6 billion dollars = Approximate total value of all projects Large Scale Developments 2005 - 2011 The Iron Range has a history of large scale projects that can transform the landscape. But, not since the 1960’s and early 1970’s has the region seen so many large scale projects under consideration all at the same time • Excelsior Energy Project $2,000,000,000 • Minnesota Steel Industries project in Nashwauk $1,650,000,000 • Machine #7 at the UPM paper mill in Grand Rapids $650,000,000 • Franconia Minerals – Birch Lake & Maturi Extension $616,000,000 • PolyMet’s NorthMet Project $380,000,000 • Keetac Plant Expansion $300,000,000 • Mesabi Nugget Production Scale Plant in Hoyt Lakes $235,000,000 • Taconite Plant Capacity Expansion $275,000,000 & Alternate Energy Improvements • MP Allete Clay Boswell Unit 3 Retrofit $200,000,000 • Laurentian Energy Project for Hibbing and Virginia $80,000,000 Total $6,386,000,000 Currently 6 Taconite Mines are in operation in Minnesota 2004 Foreign ownership: Stelco 14.7% of HibTac Today: Global ownership & competition United States Steel 2007 Name Production Employees Ownership Million Tons Minntac 12.751 1210 US Steel Corp. Keewatin Taconite 5.220 385 US Steel Corp. Managed by Cleveland Cliffs Mining Co. 2007 Name Production Emp. Ownership Million Tons ArcelorMittal 62.3% Hibbing 7.266 689 U S Steel Corp. 14.7% Taconite Cleveland-Cliffs 25% Northshore 4.975 511 Cleveland-Cliffs 100% Mining United Cleveland-Cliffs 70% 5.279 431 Taconite Laiwu Steel Group 30% 2007 Name Production Emp Ownership Million Tons ArcelorMittal 2.708 533 ArcelorMittal 100% Minorca Mine Inc.
    [Show full text]
  • Greenalite, Mg-Rich Minnesotaite and Stilpnomelane from the Osj6berg and Sirsj6berg Iron-Ore Mines, Hjulsj6, W
    MINERALOGICAL MAGAZINE, SEPTEMBER 1985, VOL. 49, PP. 611 613 Greenalite, Mg-rich minnesotaite and stilpnomelane from the Osj6berg and Sirsj6berg iron-ore mines, Hjulsj6, W. Bergslagen, Sweden GREENALITE, Mg-rich minnesotaite, and stilpno- subvertical body which strikes approximately E-W melane have been identified by electron micro- and is considered by Baker and de Groot (1983b) to probe analysis in samples taken from dumps of the be continuation of the Osj6berg ore horizon. The abandoned Qsj6berg and Sirsj6berg mines 5 km ore is separated from an underlying limestone NW of Hjulsj6, Bergslagen. This is the first horizon by a garnet-pyroxene-amphibole skarn. report of the occurrence of these minerals in the Magnetite is present in the skarn and the limestone. Proterozoic iron ores of Central Sweden. The two Epidote and calcite are later minerals filling tectonic mines, some 700 m apart, worked a large, 7 km long, fissures and cracks. meta-rhyotite-hosted, magnetite ore horizon--one Greenalite occurs in a sample from ()sj6berg of the many concordant skarn iron ores in the mine which comprises a fine grained aggregate of 1.8-1.9 Ga Proterozoic Bergslagen Supracrustal magnetite grains (+0.05 mm) with some larger Series (Oen et al., 1982). They were amongst the grains up to 0.5 mm in a matrix composed pre- largest iron producers of this area. dominantly of talc with minor green chlorite. Talc The subsurface geology of the mines has been also fills fractures in the larger magnetite grains. described by Geijer and Magnusson (1944); earlier Very minor pyrite and rare chalcopyrite are seen descriptions are given by Blomberg (1879) and enclosing magnetite.
    [Show full text]
  • Taconite Iron Ore NESHAP Economic Impact Analysis EPA-452/R-03-015 August 2003
    Taconite Iron Ore NESHAP Economic Impact Analysis EPA-452/R-03-015 August 2003 Taconite Iron Ore NESHAP Economic Impact Analysis By: Katherine Heller Brooks M. Depro Jui-Chen Yang Laurel Clayton RTI International* Health, Social, and Economics Research Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709 Prepared for: John L. Sorrels U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards Innovative Strategies and Economics Group (ISEG) (C339-01) Research Triangle Park, NC 27711 Contract No. 68-D-99-024 *RTI International is a trade name of Research Triangle Institute. CONTENTS Section Page Executive Summary...................................................ES-1 1 Introduction .................................................... 1-1 2 Industry Profile .................................................. 2-1 2.1 The Supply Side ........................................... 2-3 2.1.1 Taconite Pellet Production Processes, Inputs and Outputs .... 2-3 2.1.1.1 Mining of Crude Ore .......................... 2-3 2.1.1.2 Beneficiation ................................. 2-5 2.1.1.3 Agglomeration ............................... 2-8 2.1.2 Types of Products .................................... 2-8 2.1.3 Major By-Products, Co-Products, and Input Substitution Possibilities ....................................... 2-10 2.1.4 Costs of Production and Worker Productivity ............. 2-11 2.1.4.1 Costs of Production .......................... 2-11 2.1.4.2 Variations in Worker Productivity by Establishment Size ........................... 2-12 2.2 The Demand Side......................................... 2-13 2.2.1 Uses and Consumers ................................ 2-13 2.2.1.1 Uses ...................................... 2-13 2.2.1.2 Consumer Characteristics ...................... 2-15 2.2.2 Product Characteristics .............................. 2-15 2.2.3 Substitution Possibilities in Consumption ................ 2-15 2.3 Industry Organization ...................................... 2-17 2.3.1 Taconite Manufacturing Facility Characteristics ..........
    [Show full text]