GEOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND GEOLOGICAL SIGNIFICATION OF THE DATAIGOU IRON DEPOSIT IN BENXI, LIAONING PROVINCE

Study on the major and rare earth elements (REE) of Dataigou iron deposit reveals that the average bulk compositions of the banded iron formations (BIF) are rich in TFe₂O₃ and SiO₂ but low with Al₂O₃ and TiO₂ contents. These characteristics are consistent with those of the iron deposits in Anshan-Benxi, Wutaishan and Qianan. It shows that the Dataigou deposit is of volcanic-sedimentary metamorphic iron deposit, characterized by depletion of light REE and enrichment of HREE, with distinct positive anomaly of Eu, which indicates that the BIFs are the products of chemical sedimentation from paleo-seawater with significant input of volcanic hydrothermal fluids.