US-Egypt Cooperative Research: Origin and Economic Potential of Some Banded Iron Ore Deposits from the Central Eastern Desert of Egypt

该项目支持A.博士之间的合作研究。西弗吉尼亚州马歇尔大学地质系El-Shazly和亚历山大大学地质系Khalil Ebeid博士。 他们计划研究发生在埃及东部沙漠的带状铁矿床，以确定这些带状铁矿的成因过程，并确定形成年龄。 知识专长美国和埃及的主要研究人员将主要侧重于以铁硅比异常高为特点的乌姆纳尔和瓦迪卡雷姆矿床，试图确定这些带状铁矿石的成因过程以及每种矿床的地质时间轴。将开展实地工作，绘制矿体图，并确定其与具体构造的关系。岩石学和全岩地球化学的常量元素和微量元素分析有助于矿床的分类，制约其变质作用的条件，并确定其形成的构造环境。对流体包裹体的显微测温和激光显微拉曼研究将通过表征流体成分及其捕集条件，确定成岩作用、热液活动和变质作用在这些矿床形成中的作用。亚利桑那大学使用激光烧蚀电感耦合等离子体质谱法对从铁矿石及其夹层岩石中分离出的单个锆石晶体进行U-Pb测年，将通过对每个晶体内特定化学区域的测年来限制热液蚀变和变质作用的时间。 一个多发性硬化症患者。来自埃及的一名高中生和来自马歇尔大学的一名美国本科生将更好地了解这两个群体的教育制度和文化。马歇尔大学的一名本科生参加埃及的实地工作，并随后接受地球化学分析技术和科学研究方面的培训，将对学生有益。拟议的地球化学研究将导致更好地评价这些铁矿石的经济潜力，因为它将确定被认为对钢铁工业不可取的任何元素的浓度以及矿石的总品位。

This project supports collaborative research between Dr. A. El-Shazly, Department of Geology, Marshall University, West Virginia and Dr. Khalil Ebeid, Geology Department of Alexandria University. They plan to study the banded iron ore deposits occurring in the Eastern Desert of Egypt to identify the processes involved in the genesis of these banded iron ores and to determine the age of formation. Intellectual MeritBy focusing primarily on the deposits of Umm Nar and Wadi Kareim, which are characterized by exceptionally high Fe/Si ratios, US and Egyptian PIs will attempt to identify the processes involved in the genesis of these banded iron ores and the geological timeline of each. Field work will be carried out to map the ore bodies and establish their relations to specific structures. Petrological and whole rock geochemical analysis for major and trace elements will help classify the deposits, constrain the conditions of their metamorphism, and identify the tectonic setting of their formation. Microthermometric and laser micro-Raman studies of fluid inclusions will lead to the identification of the roles of diagenesis, hydrothermal activity, and metamorphism in the formation of these deposits through characterization of the fluid compositions and their conditions of entrapment. U-Pb dating of individual zircon crystals separated from the iron ores and their intercalated rocks using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry at the University of Arizona will constrain the timing of hydrothermal alteration and metamorphism through dating specific chemical zones within each crystal.Broader ImpactsThe broader impacts of this project will promote the development of junior scientists. The involvement of an M.S. level student from Egypt and a US undergraduate from Marshall University will lead to a better understanding of educational systems and cultures for both groups. Participation of a Marshall University undergraduate in field work in Egypt and subsequent training in techniques of geochemical analysis and scientific research will be beneficial to the student. The proposed geochemical studies will result in a better evaluation of the economic potential of these iron ores, as it will determine the concentrations of any elements deemed undesirable for the steel industry as well as the overall grade of the ores.