Texture, Microstructure and Geochemistry of Magnetite from the Banduhurang Uranium Mine, Singhbhum Shear Zone, India – Implications for Physico-chemical Evolution of Magnetite Mineralization
Authors: Ghosh Dibakar , Dutta Tusar , Samanta Susanta K. , Pal Dipak C. 
Published: January 2013

The Singhbhum Shear Zone in eastern India is one of the largest repositories of uranium and copper in India. Besides uranium and copper, apatite-magnetite mineralization is widespread in this shear zone. This study aims at deciphering the physico-chemical evolution of magnetite mineralization in relation to progressive shearing integrating field relations, micro-textures, structures and compositions of magnetite in the Banduhurang uranium mine.

Apatite-magnetite ores occur as discrete patches, tongues, and veins in the strongly deformed, fine grained quartz-chlorite schist. Textures and microstructures of magnetite indicate at least three stages of magnetite formation. Coarse-grained magnetite (magnetite-1) with long, rotational, and complex strain fringes, defined by fibrous and elongate quartz, is assigned to a stage of pre-/early-shearing magnetite formation. Medium grained magnetite (magnetite-2), characterized by single non-rotational strain fringe equivalent to the youngest fringe of magnetite-1, grew likely at the mid-/late-stage of shearing. Fine grained magnetite (magnetite-3) is generally devoid of any pressure shadow. This indicates even a much later stage of formation of this magnetite, presumably towards the closing stage of shearing.

Some of the magnetite-1 grains are optically heterogeneous with a dark, pitted Cr-Ti-bearing core overgrown by lighter, fresh rim locally containing pyrite, chalcopyrite, and chlorite inclusions. The cores are also locally characterized by high Al and Si content. Homogeneous magnetite-1 is optically and compositionally similar to the overgrowth of heterogeneous magnetite-1. This homogeneous magnetite-1 that grew as separate phase is contemporaneous with the overgrowth on pitted core of heterogeneous magnetite-1. Magnetite-2 is compositionally very similar to homogeneous magnetite-1, but is devoid of sulfide inclusion. Magnetite-3 is generally devoid of any silicate or sulfide inclusion and is most pure with least concentrations of trace/minor elements. The high Al and Si content in some magnetite can be explained by coupled substitution that involves substitution of Si4+ for Fe3+ in the tetrahedral sites and Fe2+ for Fe3+ in the octahedral sites, with a simple substitution of Al3+ for Fe3+ in the octahedral sites.

The mode of occurrences of apatite-magnetite ores indicates a predominantly hydrothermal origin of most magnetite. However, the Cr-Ti-bearing magnetite-1 cores and inferred mafic nature of the original protolith indicates that some magnetite was inherited from the original igneous rock. We propose that the pre-/early-shearing hydrothermal event of magnetite formation was associated with sulfide mineralization and alteration of existing magmatic magnetite. The second stage of magnetite formation at the mid-/late-stage of shearing was not associated with sulfide formation. Finally, fine-grained compositionally pure magnetite formed at the closing stage of shearing likely due to metamorphism of Fe-rich protolith.