Using an advanced geochronology method to accurately determine the age of iron oxide minerals, researchers discovered that the Hamersley deposits formed between 1.4 and 1.1 billion years ago, rather than the earlier estimate of 2.2 billion years ago.
Dr. Liam Courtney-Davies, lead author and former Postdoctoral Research Associate at Curtin University's John de Laeter Centre, now at the University of Colorado, Boulder, explained that the findings indicate iron deposits were created during a time of significant geological activity when ancient supercontinents were breaking apart and new ones were forming.
"The energy from this epic geological activity likely triggered the production of billions of tonnes of iron-rich rock across the Pilbara," Dr. Courtney-Davies said.
"The discovery of a link between these giant iron ore deposits and changes in supercontinent cycles enhances our understanding of ancient geological processes and improves our ability to predict where we should explore in the future."
Associate Professor Martin Danisik, a co-author from the John de Laeter Centre, highlighted that the research precisely dated minerals from banded iron formations (BIFs), which are ancient underwater layers of iron-rich rock providing critical insights into Earth's geological past.
"Until now, the exact timeline of these formations changing from 30 percent iron as they originally were, to more than 60 percent iron as they are today, was unclear, which has hindered our understanding of the processes that led to the formation of the world's largest ore deposits," Associate Professor Danisik said.
"By using an emerging technique to date iron oxide minerals through uranium and lead isotope analysis within the mineral grains, we directly dated all the major giant BIF-hosted iron ore deposits in the Hamersley Province."
"Our research indicates these deposits formed in conjunction with major tectonic events, highlighting the dynamic nature of our planet's history and the complexity of iron ore mineralisation."
Western Australia is the world's leading producer of iron ore, which is Australia's largest export earner, generating $131 billion in the last financial year.
Research Report:A Billion-Year Shift in the Formation of Earth's Largest Ore Deposits
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