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The Complex Paragenetic History Of Basal Negaunee Iron Formation Iron Ores, Tilden Mine, Marquette District, Upper Michigan, Natalie J. Pietrzak

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Variable mineral chemistry and textures of basal Negaunee iron ores mined in the Main Tilden Pit have led to metallurgical difficulties. Core-logging and detailed petrography supported by microprobe investigations, identify three upward fining lithofacies within the Main Pit Carbonate and overlying Martite ore domains: 1) Basal Clastics; 2) Medial BIF; and 3) Granular Iron Formation. Growth fault related subsidence controlled deposition of the Basal Clastics, comprised of detrital quartz dispersed in a matrix of chlorite, cemented by ferri-hydrite, chert and Mg-siderite. Subsequent starvation of any clastic input led to cyclic iron-silica precipitation throughout the deposition of Medial BIF. Increasing wave …