Ironstones of the Olary Block, South Australia: the use of RNAA and INAA to understand their genesis

Reactor neutron activation analysis (RNAA) , instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) and electron microprobe analysis of ironstones and barite from the Olary Block indicate that these deposits are geochemically similar to modem and ancient submarine hydrothermal precipitates. Geochemical analyses generally show low Mn, Pb, Zn, As and Sb concentrations and elevated Au and Cu values. Major (Al, Si) and trace (REE, Th, U, PGEs) element data show that the ironstones and barite rocks are of hydrothermal origin and that mixing occurred between oxidised (and possibly hypersaline) surficial waters and a hydrothermal fluid similar to that from modem sites of submarine exhalation. Such geochemical similarities imply rapid burial in the volcano-sedimentary pile or sub-seafloor replacement. The REE patterns in the iron formations demonstrate a range from low temperature reduced hydrothermal precipitates, seawater and oxidised hydrothermal precipitates. Geochemical signatures are due to precipitation from hydrothermal fluids of lower temperature with further influence by prolonged exposure to the overlying water column and subaqueous oxidation. 7 refs