Textures and Rare Earth Elements Composition of Banded Iron Formations ( BIF ) at Njweng Prospect , Mbalam Iron Ore District , Southern Cameroon

The REE signature of banded iron formations (BIF) and martite-goethite mineralization of the Njweng ridge (South Cameroon) are used here to decipher the nature of the ocean during the period of BIF precipitation. The textures of typical BIF categories are also presented as the only sedimentary feature. Two types of BIF facies are present at Njweng: the oxide and silicate facies. These facies show two stages of phase transformations. The first is the transformation of the original magnetite mineral into martite by oxidation resulting in trellis texture; the second is a simultaneous transformation by hydration into goethite and dehydration into martite. The samples typically show LREE depleted patterns relative to HREE, a characteristic similar to that of modern seawater. Also the strong positive Eu anomalies from the samples indicate the involvement of hydrothermal plumes of volcanic origin such as at mid ocean ridges (MOR). Yttrium (Y) has a strong positive anomaly pointing to the transportation of REEs as aqueous complexes within these ancient seas. The BIF samples have no positive Ce anomalies, suggesting that the oceans at that time were more reducing with no Ce fractionation than in present day oceans. The martite-goethite mineralization rather shows a positive Ce anomaly that derived from the enrichment in REE during the weathering of REE-bearing minerals. These results are integrated into existing literature on REE in BIFs worldwide and provide new insights into these heretofore unstudied BIFs of the northern edge of the Congo Craton.


Introduction
The chemical coherence of rare earth elements (REE) and their similar ionic properties consequently give them similar geochemical behaviours.The element Yttrium (Y) is also often included in this category of elements because of its properties that are similar to those of some elements of this group.Rare earth elements have been widely used as geochemical tracers of various types of processes in the Earth Sciences e.g.environmental and hydrological studies [1][2][3], ancient and modern analogues for seawater composition [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11], origin and deposition of iron formations, other iron oxide-rich sedimentary rocks [12][13][14][15][16].The geological rock record extends back some 3.8 Ga into Earth history and samples of ancient seawater are not similarly preserved [17].Chemical sediments (e.g., limestones, iron formations, phosphorites) precipitated from seawater have been identified to record some of the trace elements and isotopic characteristics of the water mass from which they were formed [18].With the absence of preserved samples of old seawater, the REE patterns of the sediments are used as proxies to infer some of the important chemical features of the ancient oceans.Iron formations being part of this have long been inferred as to have trapped the REE signature of seawater at the site of Fe precipitation as supported by experimented studies and results from natural systems [18,19].More specifically Eu anomalies are tracers of hydrothermal input and Ce anomalies are used as redox proxies.Many aspects of the sedimentary origin of iron formations remain enigmatic because modern analogues are unknown.The intriguing question is still to know how these deposits were upgraded to iron ore [20,21], and whether REE signatures of enriched ores remained fix.
In this study we discuss the various banded iron formations (BIF) textural features, nature of iron-bearing oxides and their link with the deposition of iron forma-tions.Most importantly we use REE compositions of BIF and enriched martite-goethite mineralization from Njweng to compare the similarity of the REE trends and investigate the conditions of the system during the precipitation of BIF at Njweng in the northern part of Congo Craton.We also compare them with modern day seawater REE [22] and chemical sediments that best represent the REE signature of seawater at time of precipitation like limestone [23,24].

Geological Context of the Study Area
The Njweng prospect is situated in the dense humid equatorial forest in the East-South-East of Cameroon.It is covered by equatorial climate with 4 seasons (two dry seasons and two wet seasons), and the topography belongs to that of the central-south plateau of Cameroon with an average elevation of 700 m.The drainage pattern around the ridge is dendritic and oriented from south to the north, and separated by the ridge in two river systems (Karagoua and Bango) that take their sources at Mbarga to drain the area (Figure 1).
The Njweng iron prospect is located within the Ntem complex at the northern extension of the Congo Craton (Figure 2).The Ntem complex is Archaean in age and its main lithologic units comprise schist, amphibolite, quartzite, Tonalite-Trondhjemite-Granodiorite (TTG) granitoids, orthopyroxene-garnet (charnockitic) gneiss, greenstone rocks and itabirite-like rocks [25,26].The main structures in the Ntem complex are an E-W-trending (S1) foliation and numerous granitic plutons that are usually emplaced along a SW-NE-trending (S2) foliation.The S1 foliation dips steeply to the north and is locally deformed into mesoscopic isoclinal D2 folds [27].The S2 foliation is a regional, steeply dipping planar fabric with variably oriented stretching lineation and large-scale open folds that are associated with N-S-trending sinistral and dextral strike-slip faults and mylonitic (S3) foliation [28].This S2 foliation development is linked to dome-and-basin tectonics related to diapiric movements [29].The oldest rocks of the Ntem complex belong to the granite-gneiss assemblage, >3000 Ma [30], followed by granulite-facies metamorphism, granitoid plutonism and charnockitisation at ~2900 -2500 Ma.A major Eburnean tectono-metamorphic event at ~2000 Ma resulted in amphibolite-facies metamorphism.During the Pan-African (~600 Ma), a mobile belt, the Yaoundé series, drifted southward and  Copyright © 2013 SciRes.IJG collided with the Ntem complex [25].The Yaoundé series was consequently thrust over the Ntem complex, reactivating under brittle-ductile conditions, NE-SW-trending shear zones in the Ntem complex.The Pan-African overprint also expressed itself in the form of late granitic plutonism.Itabirite rocks in the Ntem complex are considered to be Archaean in age [31].
The Njweng prospect outcrops as a ridge with a N-S orientation (Figure 3) and is part of a wider iron ore district locally termed "the Mbalam Iron Ore District", that is currently being evaluated by the Cameroon Iron Ore company (CamIron) [32], and which comprises the Mbarga deposits, Metzimevin, Mbarga South and Meridional prospects (Figure 2).The main rock types of the Njweng prospect are metamorphosed chemical sediments (BIFs with varying degrees of magnetite, hematite, and goethite enrichment), metagranitoids and amphibolites.In terms of structure, this prospect depicts a folded structure.The dominant structure in the area is the early N-verging recumbent F1 fold which was overprinted by a late W-verging open F2 fold.Both F1 and F2 fold axes are discernable in (Figure 3).Outcrop observations also reveal this folding in itabirite, and the itabirite banding strikes N-S with a near vertical dips (average 75˚), and a dip direction E or W (Figures 4(a

Methods of Study
Selected representative samples of iron ore-bearing facies were chosen for petrographic studies, ore microscopy, and geochemical analyses following a careful field mapping of the prospect.Polished thin sections were prepared at the Mineral Resources Institute (MRI) of the Technical University of Clausthal in Germany and studied under ore microscope (reflected light in air and oil immersion) both at Clausthal and at University of Buea.
Whole rock geochemical composition of representative samples was obtained at ACME Laboratory in Canada using the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) method following a lithium metaborate/ tetraborate fusion and nitric acid digestion of a 0.2 g sample.Various standards were used and data quality assurance was by running these standards between samples as unknowns.

Textures and Ore Mineralogy
The Njweng protore is essentially an unenriched Banded Iron Formation (BIF) (Figures 4(a) and (b)).It is associated with spots of enriched martite-goethite mineralization.Most samples show good Fe oxide-quartz banding and some display microfolding (centimetric-scale) of mesobands ranging in thickness from ~1 mm and rarely reaching 1 cm (Figure 4(a)).The iron formation covers a wide palette of textural and mineralogical facies of BIF.Two facies types of BIF are observed at Njweng based on their mineralogy, namely the oxide and silicate facies.

Oxide Facies BIF
The oxide facies BIF is composed of quartz as the main gangue mineral associated with various iron oxides, principally martite, goethite and magnetite (Figures 4(a) and 5(a)).Minor phases present include monazite, apatite, rare pyrite and pyrrhotite.This BIF facies has an almost homogeneous mineral composition, with little textural variations that permit their differentiation into various subtypes, including granular and massive, specularite (slaty), granular, massive and weakly banded BIF (Figure 5).The granular and massive type is composed of quartz bands and two ferruginous layers: one with magnetite grains in a brown massive martite matrix, and a second gray to brown massive bands.Both layers display very little quartz.The massive bands are composed of rhythmical gray massive bands and white to yellowish stained silica bands; the granular bands show white silica layers and brown granular ferruginous bands, while the specularite bands type display some white silica and grey shiny slender grains of specular hematite rich bands.A poor alignment of xenomorphic martite, goethite and relict magnetite grains is discernable in the weakly banded sub-type BIF.In this facies, iron oxides are disseminated in a largely siliceous matrix that makes up over 60% of the rock.Weathering in both the oxides and silica layers on this facies is similar.

Iron Oxide Layers
Two main types of iron oxide layers were discriminated within the BIF: the massive and the granular type bands.The massive iron oxide bands show a dense network of martite crystals interconnected by goethite with some magnetite relicts and rare quartz grains (Figure 5(b)).The granular iron oxide bands show aggregates of coarse hexagonal and elongated crystals of martite with voids and pseudomorphic relicts of magnetite in the nuclei of large grains (Figure 5(c)).In general the bands are locally broken and disrupted (Figure 5(d)).Pores and intergranular spaces are often filled by recrystallised quartz and goethite.The martite appears as xenomorphic to subeuhedral grains with the trellis texture of the original magnetite, and magnetite relicts at the centre of crystals (Figures 5(c) and 6(a)).Euhedral to sub-euhedral hexagonal martite crystals pseudomorphed after magnetite are frequent in polished thin sections.A zoning transformation also occurs with magnetite being transformed into goethite by hydration, and subsequently into martite by dehydration (Figure 5(c)).Martite and specular hematite can be found fused together forming a dense network or occur as disseminated needle-like crystals (Figure 6(b)).Magnetite preferentially forms thin horizontal bands towards the centre of the iron-rich layers, and also appears as relicts at the centre of some martite crystals in the boundary of the band (Figure 6(c)).These skeletal relicts of the original magnetite grains and the xenomorphic shape of martite are widespread in thin sections (Figure 5) and show the advanced state of weathering in the iron bands.Goethite appears either as small isolated sub-euhedral crystals or xenomorphic blasted shapes.Overgrowths of goethite over paragenetically older martite and hematite are widespread at the boundary of some martite crystals (Figure 6(d)).They fill intergranular spaces between the martite grains, or in the porous areas at the centre of martite.This texture is locally associated to coarse bladed specular hematite.

Siliceous Layers
The siliceous layers are essentially composed of quartz with disseminated euhedral or xenomorphic blasted shape martite grains and elongated small needle-like crystals of specularite hematite in a very rich quartz matrix.The martite crystals are porous marking quartz dissolution.Quartz grains are equigranular and granoblastic-polygonal with intergranular triple junctions that suggest static recrystallization (Figure 6(b)).Bladed quartz grains are closely associated to magnetite crystals.The intergranular space is filled by goethite and martite, with xenomorphic shapes.The martite observed here is similar to that present in iron rich bands, with apatite and monazite grains linked to quartz and magnetite, respectively.

Silicate Facies BIF
The silicate facies (amphibolitic facies) at outcrop level is commonly characterized by abundant brown goethite pseudomorphs after silicate minerals (amphiboles) (Fig-

Iron Ore Microscopy
Detailed microscopic observation of the oxide facies BIF layers showed granoblastic and porphyroblastic magnetite crystals with poikilitic texture and numerous quartz inclusions (Figure 7(a)).In addition to this, inclusions of apatite and monazite (Figures 7(b) and (c)) are found in magnetite and quartz, respectively.These represent the main phases bearing REEs.The energy dispersive pattern in the identified monazite shows that it is REE-rich (Figure 8(a) and Table 1).
The silicate facies showed a Mg-Fe silicate that pre-   2).The energy dispersive pattern showed that, the silicate phase is Si, Mg and Fe dominant (Figure 8(a) and Table 3).Detailed microprobe data of the silicate phase and monazite are found in Table 2.The silicates might be alteration products after evaporites initially present in the system.The enriched martite-goethite mineralization, on its own, is very porous and composed of martite and goethite with some silica remnants and voids.The mineralization consists of relict thin bands of martite and goethite separated from rows of voids due to the leaching of silica (Figure 7(f)).

Rare Earth Elements Geochemistry
The REEY contents of oxide silicate facies BIF and that of the martite-goethite from Njweng in the Mbalam iron ore district are listed in Table 3 and presented in shalenormalized diagrams using the Post-Archaean Australian Shale (PAAS) [33] (Figure 9).These data show low   REE 6 24   but which clearly increases with the increase in abundance of La, Nd, and Ce in BIFs and in the martite-goethite samples.

Oxide Facies BIF
The REE patterns of oxide facies BIF are separated according to textural varieties as mentioned above.From Table 3, it appears that, La, Ce, and Nd are the most abundant elements in all samples of the oxide facies BIF types.The REE  varies between 6.77 and 23.00 ppm (average 11.92 ppm).However there is a tendency for the    3 and Figure 9).REE contents in the granular and the massive bands of the oxide facies BIF are those of the structural facies that approach the martite goethite value with 15.44 ppm and 17.07 ppm respectively.The Ce enrichment in the ore is unique and contrasting with its depletion in the two BIFs facies.

Textural and Mineralogical Changes
BIFs at Njweng are marked by alternate silica-and ironbearing bands.This texture worldwide has been intensively studied to reconstruct the chemical and physical properties of the Archean-Paleoproterozoic oceans and their changes with time [34][35][36].The overall well-bedded BIF sediments found throughout the world attest to a low-energy continuous escape of hydrothermal fluids into the basin with occasional more intensive flows which created the sedimentary structures [36].This compositional banding has been interpreted as representing the original sedimentary features [37].In Mbalam, it has been considered as the only preserved sedimentary feature in the itabirite [38].The itabirite facies are generally considered to be protore of high grade iron ore [21].
The processes of upgrading BIF to iron ore have remained contentious despite the recent progress made to elucidate them [21,[39][40][41][42] due to the search for proof in identifying the processes responsible for the increase of iron in the ore.Banding relicts in the martite-goethite with microsagging structures indicative of compaction is a strong indicator of the supergene weathering that permits to obtain high grade mineralization [21,43].Thus this fact points to supergene enriched mineralization in the study area.Similar interpretations of bedded martitegoethite ore bodies in the Hamersley province resulting from the supergene alteration of precursor BIF have been noted [44].

Changes in Mineral Assemblages
Microscopic observations have revealed that, most of the magnetite crystals are granoblastic and porphyroblastic with voids that exhibit a poikilitic texture, some rare quartz, monazite and apatite inclusions.Quartz inclusions are commonly subhedral suggesting that these BIFs have been metamorphosed and their shape is a product of post-depositional recrystallization [45].The ubiquitous presence of quartz in magnetite has significance with regards to the development of layering in the BIF.It is here suggested that the BIF was initially essentially cherty with dispersed Fe that aggregated and grew into large crystals during diagenesis [45].
Regardless of the iron oxides sequence in banding, it clearly appears that magnetite is an early oxide phase in the alteration paragenesis.Reflected light photomicrographs of BIF and enriched martite-goethite mineralization show abundant euhedral crystals (octahedral and/or dodecahedral crystals).This crystal habit is very common for magnetite, and suggests that the hematite is pseudomorph after magnetite, an occurrence referred to as "martite" [46].This observation indicates that all the BIF samples in this study have undergone considerable secondary oxidation and supergene enrichment.It can then be concluded on the basis of detailed microscopic observations of our samples that magnetite is the primary oxide, and hematite is the result of supergene processes of the magnetite alteration.Two paragenetic sequences are observed here: the first and dominant process is the direct transformation from the primary magnetite to martite by oxidation (Figure 6(a)).Such zoning was observed in previous studies and was considered as the result of chemical weathering [47].In the second par agenetic se-quence, the magnetite is first transformed into goethite by hydration then into martite by dehydration (Figure 5(c)) [48].These dual transformations of the magnetite directly into martite and/or indirectly via goethite highlight the unstable conditions that governed the breakdown of the primary magnetite.Trellis interlobate, and some polygonal forms of martite exhibit intragranular secondary porosity both in barren and enriched rocks.This is materialized by relict sharp euhedral voids, mainly due to silica leaching and other trace minerals such as sulphides [49].It is accompanied by widespread oxidation of magnetite into martite; although, it is not possible at this stage to determine the timing of such porosity developing within the martite grains.Some porosity within martite is likely to form as a result of the primary oxidation of magnetite to martite [49].Apart from the hematite pseudomorph after magnetite, iron-rich layers in some BIF sections show alternate magnetite and hematite thin bands.These particular alternate magnetite-hematite bands in the iron bands of the oxide facies have been suggested as deriving from the direct precipitation of each of these oxides from the hydrothermal solution [50].However, the presence of magnetite relicts in the martite grains, and within the martite bands at Njweng instead suggests weathering that is following the weakness plane of banding.This also suggested the involvement of an intermediate phase of iron hydroxides, hence the weathering affecting the original magnetite crystals [50][51][52][53][54].

REE Anomalous Behaviour and Original Composition of Seawater
Taken globally, REEY PAAS patterns of the oxide and silicate facies BIF and the martite-goethite mineralization of the Njweng ridge (Table 3) are characterized by a low , a strong depletion in LREE relatively compared to HREE (Figure 9).Iron formations display LREE depletion pattern similar to that of modern deep-marine water with no terrigenous input [12].A similar trend is observed between the average Njweng BIFs and limestone, with depletion of LREE relatively to HREE.This HREE enrichment is a feature of modern seawater [55,56] (Figures 9 and 10), and spider diagrams for the average pacific seawater confirm this fact (Figure 9).If we cast our gaze even further back, it would appear that HREE enrichment has been a feature of seawater since at least the late Archaean [57,58] and it corroborates with the spider diagram of BIF and enriched martite-goethite.Although far more subtle, but possibly significant changes to HREE fractionation cannot be ruled out [6].It has been suggested that, the small ionic radii of these elements result in stronger complexes which tend to stabilize them in solution giving them a stronger complexation [59,60].Their stronger inorganic complexation makes them to be more stabilized in solution, which is why they are more abundant in seawater compared to the marine clastic sediments.The overall shape of REE pattern is similar to that of limestone [23,24] considered as being proxy material of modern seawater (Figure 10).Mineralogical changes could in addition increase the REE abundance during weathering.The release of some elements in REE-rich minerals such as monazite and apatite that have been identified in some samples (Figure 7) may be responsible for the high REE content in some samples of BIF or have incorporated, hence causes the retention of REE released during diagenetic crystallization of the original iron formation.Similar effects were observed in some iron formations with other REE-rich minerals such as apatite, and xenotime [61,62].As such, their high abundance in some samples would raise difficulties in sampling for the REE in order to determine the origin of the BIF from these elements.REE contents of BIF are low when compared to the enriched martite-goethite suggesting an enrichment of these elements with phase transformations.The positive Ce anomaly obtained in the martite-goethite also supports this fact (Figure 9).from an input of Eu-enriched hydrothermal fluids into the water column [12,13,[68][69][70].The disparate behaviour of Eu from neighbouring REEs under hydrothermal conditions is attributed to the reduction of Eu (III) under high temperature (250˚C) and low Eh conditions [71].Based on REEY anomalies obtained from Njweng samples, it is suggested that the BIF was formed by precipitation and deposition from mixed Precambrian seawater and hydrothermal fluids.
When compared with the study area BIF and enriched martite-goethite mineralization, modern seawater spider diagram (Figure 9) does not typically display Eu anomaly.The absence of Eu anomaly is a feature of modern seawater, except in near hydrothermal vents [55,56].The Eh for this system decreases with increasing pH, but will always be well above the redox potential for the stability of divalent Eu.Thus, Eu 2+ cannot exist in the depositional environment where the iron-formations were deposited.Thus Eu in iron-formations may not have been fractionated on the grounds of redox conditions from the other REE.Therefore, Eu anomalies in iron-formations may not give any indication of the composition of the atmosphere during the Precambrian.

Yttrium Anomalies
In addition, Y is an element generally found in fluid-related alkaline volcanic rocks, and the positive Y anomaly apart from the Eu anomaly may suggest a volcanic input [72].The Y anomaly observed is due to Y/Ho fractionation that occurs when REE are transported as aqueous complexes.This characteristic is observed in plotted modern seawater data and limestone (Figures 9 and 10) that were respectively considered as indicators of modern and ancient seawater.

Cerium Anomalies
Figure 9 displays negative Ce anomalies for the Njweng BIF, limestone, and modern seawater.The interpretation of Ce anomalies in BIFs is made difficult by the complex redox behaviour of Ce.As observed at Njweng, the presence of negative Ce anomalies in BIF samples is well established [12,62,[73][74][75][76].This implies oxidation and segregation of Ce as Ce(IV).Negative Ce anomalies are suggested to be good evidence of the influence of seawater with a REE pattern similar to modern seawater [56,77].It has long been suggested that the negative Ce anomaly in seawater reflects the oxidation of Ce 3+ to much more insoluble Ce 4+ [78,79].This oxidation generally takes place under some specific pH and Eh conditions (pH = 8, E h = 0.15 − 0.45 volt) [66] and is a common result of weathering.Recent works on negative Ce anomaly suggested microbial and abiotic origins for this element [62,[80][81][82].The range of Ce anomalies observed in BIFs may result from variable mixing and oxidation processes on an ocean wide scale, or perhaps mostly local processes, including diagenetic recycling as noted in other areas [83,84].Ce anomalies in iron formations can also arise from analytical artefacts and diagenetic alteration.Therefore, it might reflect metamorphic or recent weathering-related redistribution of REEs between metamorphic minerals and compositionally different layers or between the soil horizon and bedrock [85,86].
The enriched martite-goethite mineralization shows a positive Ce anomaly, contrasting with the negative Ce anomaly observed in the BIF at Njweng.This difference could derive from enrichment in REE minerals during weathering, which resulted in enrichment of all the REEs (Figure 9).Monazite alteration in BIF samples increases Ce in enriched martite-goethite, producing a positive anomaly [61,62].However, for the reasons given above, the lack of such anomalies in an iron formation does not necessarily imply that seawater was not depleted in Ce.
It is known that, the modern oceans receive most of their REEs from three sources: the dissolved loads of rivers [87,88], hydrothermal alteration of the oceanic crust [89], and sediments undergoing diagenesis.Moreover, iron formation REE are chemical precipitated fraction related to the REE of the iron source materials, that of the seawater and both [90].It's therefore evident to consider that REE in BIF may not be considered as proxy material of seawater.In addition to this, changes by enrichment or depletion during weathering and metamorphism are also to be considered.This leads to the conclusion that the REE pattern of an iron formation does not appear to be a useful indicator of the REE pattern of seawater of the same age [90].Based on this river loads arguments, it becomes reasonable to expect the REE pattern of Archean "seawater" to be different from that of modern seawater since there is no evidence of their precipitation from a solution dominated by seawater of the same age [90].

Conclusions
Two main facies of BIF are distinguishable at Njweng: the oxide and the silicate facies.Banding is the main preserved sedimentary feature in the BIF.Petrographic evidence for quartz recrystallization is eloquent proof that banding in the BIF is a post depositional feature.The interruption of continuous banding in itabirite is due to the combined sedimentary and metamorphic processes.The subhedral quartz inclusions prove that the BIFs have been metamorphosed.On the basis of the detailed microscopic observation of our samples it is concluded that magnetite is the primary oxide and it is highly affected by two transformation phases: martitization through oxidation into martite with preservation of the trellis texture of the original magnetite, and hydration into goethite Copyright © 2013 SciRes.IJG followed by dehydration into martite.Relict banding in the enriched martite-goethite mineralization points to secondary oxidation and supergene enrichment that have affected the BIF.The presence of abundant pores and banding relicts observable in polished thin sections, accompanied by widespread oxidation, indicate the removal of silica by direct leaching and the formation of the enriched martite-goethite mineralization.The Eu anomaly observed are the results of inputs from strongly reducing sub-oceanic hydrothermal solutions from deep-sea spreading centres into ocean waters, as well as a higher heat flow in the oceanic crust during the Archaean.In addition to this anomaly, the positive Y anomaly combined with that of Eu, and the Y/Ho ratio obtained, point to volcanic input in the BIF formation, and REE transportation by aqueous complexes.The LREE depletion, HREE enrichment and positive Eu anomaly showed that, BIFs were formed by precipitation and deposition from mixed Precambrian seawater and hydrothermal fluids of late Archean to early Proterozoic age.The negative Ce anomalies are due to increasing Ce, resulting from microbial and abiotic processes, and attests to the strongly oxidizing conditions in the marine environment.Positive Ce anomalies in the martite-goethite derived from enrichment in REE minerals during weathering.This complex behaviour of Ce does not allow Ce to be considered as indicative of seawater conditions.The change in REE abundance derived from change in seawater composition, various diagenetic or progressive alterations of REE contents with increasing geological time and also reflects the existence of REE-rich minerals such as monazite and apatite.

Figure 1 .
Figure 1.Orographic map of the study area with the Mbarga deposit.

ure 4 (
b)).The bands present similar textures as above, in addition to the alternating white to yellowish silica bands and light green to dark massive iron oxides bands.The common minerals that accompany the silicate in reflected light microscopy are martite, magnetite, goethite, and quartz (Figure5(f)).In general, the weathering process that affected iron oxides in the various BIF facies is similar.They show variably hematitized magnetite (martitization), plus goethite weathering.The hematitization of magnetite may be incipient or nearly complete with only very tiny relicts of magnetite (Figures5(c), 6(a) and (c)).The weathering affects preferentially the magnetite component.The BIF type shows alternating silica and laminae of martite/hematite layers, respectively ranging from 0.41 mm to 1 mm and from 0.51 mm to 0.88 mm for microbands with both sharp and gradational contacts.These layering are sometimes sandwiched by a thin goethite veneer (Figure5(a)).Some iron oxide bands are porous, probably due to leaching of silica inclusions.A thin limonitic coating interstitial to the goethite grains is observed.No polished section of the enriched martitegoethite mineralization was done.

Figure 5 .Figure 6 .
Figure 5. Air (a)-(f) and oil (c) immersion reflected-light photomicrographs of iron oxides of Njweng Itabirite.(a) Granular and massive band BIF with coarse martite (M) crystals in rhythmic banding with magnetite (Mt) relicts at centre of martite grains and layering sandwich by a thin goethite veneer; (b) Massive bands, martite rich with some pore and magnetite relicts in grains; (c) Granular bands aggregates of coarse hexagonal crystals of martite showing alteration of magnetite into goethite (Go) then secondary transformation into martite; (d) Specularite bands texture with silica band (opaque) associated with locally broken and disrupted iron oxides bands with disseminated needle-like specularite hematite crystals; (e) Disseminated xenomorphic martite and goethite grains with some pores; (f) Amphibolitic bands Trellis texture and abundant pores (Po) in sub-euhedral and xenomorphic martite crystal.Some mesh-like amphibole Am) between martite grains.
granular and the massive bands to be richer in as compared to the other textural varieties of the oxide facies BIF.All the samples exhibit a decrease in concentration from the LREE to HREE ( REE  PAAS = 0.33) and a depletion of middle REE relatively to heavy HREE (average average La Yb PAAS Yb Dy ranges from 0.81 to 0.90).This depletion occurs in the light rare earth elements group (average PAAS ranges from 0.47 to 0.84), as well as in the HREE group (average La = 0.85).All the tex-tural varieties depict strong positive Eu anomalies ranging from 2.13 to 2.99 (average * Eu Eu = 2.62), and moderate positive Y anomalies (average * Y Y = 1.42).Ce anomaly is negative and ranges from 0.68 to 0.88 (average * Ce Ce = 0.81).It is worth noting that, positive Eu and negative Ce anomalies are more pronounced in the granular and massive as well as in the weakly banded BIF of the oxide facies at Njweng as observed in

Figure 9 .
Figure 9. Average (Av) values of BIF facies, Enriched martite goethite mineralization, and modern seawater REE normalized against the Post-Archean Australian Shale.BIFs and enriched martite-goethite are plods in ppm while modern seawater is plotted in (pmol/kg).

Figure 10
Figure 10 depicts positive Eu anomalies in both Njweng BIF facies and enriched martite-goethite as well as in limestone.The presence of a positive Eu anomaly in many Archean and Proterozoic iron-formation REE patterns was suggested to be the result of the input from suboceanic hydrothermal solutions from deep-sea spreading centres into ocean waters (which are considered as the source of the iron as well as of SiO 2 of the iron-formations) [63-65].The positive Eu anomalies also indicate the reducing conditions prevailing during the deposition of this formation.It has been shown that, reduction of Eu does not seem to occur within the ocean basins except by hydrothermal systems [66,67].The Eu anomaly in both BIF facies and enriched martite-goethite mineralization might thus indicate an input of strongly reducing hydrothermal solutions into the water from which the BIF precipitated as demonstrated in other areas [6,13,62,68,].The strong positive Eu anomalies in the BlFs may only result

Figure 10 .
Figure 10.Average (Av) REE values of BIF, enriched martite-goethite mineralization from Njweng, and Limestone, and modern seawater normalized against the Post-Archean Australian Shale.BIFs and enriched martite-goethite are plotted in ppm while modern seawater is in (pmol/kg).

Table 3 ,
highlighting the complex behaviour of these two elements in the series.

Table 2 . Representative microprobe data for Mg-Fe silica phase in Wt% oxides for the Njweng ridge.
*Eu Eu = 1.55),