Banded iron formations BIF

0 Geology, Igneous, Rocks 7:06 PM

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Banded iron formations (also known as banded ironstone formations

or BIFs) are distinctive units of sedimentary rock that are
almost always of Precambrian age.
A typical BIF consists of repeated, thin layers (a few
millimeters to a few centimeters in thickness) of silver to black
iron oxides, either magnetite (Fe3O4) or hematite (Fe2O3),
alternating with bands of iron-poor shales and cherts, often red
in color, of similar thickness, and containing microbands (submillimeter) of iron oxides.

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_formation_Dales_Gorge.jpg

Banded iron formation, Karijini National Park, Western Australia

Some of the oldest known rock formations, formed over 3,700

million years ago, include banded iron layers. Banded layers rich
in iron were mostly deposited between 2,400 and 1,800 mya.
Phanerozoic ironstones generally have a different genesis.
Banded iron beds are an important commercial source of iron ore,
such as the Pilbara region of Western Australia and the Animikie
Group in Minnesota.
Read more at http://www.geologyin.com/2014/06/banded-ironformations.html#482U7j8g7FHYgOPL.99