Genetic stratigraphic analysis of the Hamersley group

Summary

To test the hypothesis that original facies of Pilbara banded iron formations were carbonate-rich, new dedicated lithofacies and sequence-stratigraphic analysis of the Hamersley Province was undertaken in this project.

Key findings from the project include:

• Precursor sediments were hydrothermal muds;
• The depositional site was deep-marine; and
• The precursor sediments to BIFs were deposited by deep-marine bottom density currents.

Keywords: banded iron formation, Pilbara, Brockman, diagenesis, hydrothermal, iron ore supersequence