BIFs的形成及其铁氧化机制研究进展与展望

doi:10.13745/j.esf.sf.2022.2.81

摘要/Abstract

摘要：

条带状铁建造(banded iron formations, BIFs)是早前寒武纪(3.8~1.8 Ga)缺氧古海洋中大规模Fe(II)氧化形成的一类富铁沉积岩,具有典型的硅质层与铁质层互层的条带状或层状结构,形成的铁矿物主要以磁铁矿和赤铁矿为主。BIFs构成了全球规模最大、储量最多的铁矿类型,具有重大的经济价值。BIFs也是地球环境与生命协同演化的产物,是研究早期地球许多重大演化事件(如大氧化事件)独特的载体。然而,由于早前寒武古海洋环境和沉积条件的独特性,尽管经过了近百年的研究,BIFs成因仍存在许多未解之谜。其中,最关键的科学问题莫过于溶解态Fe(II)如何在缺氧古海洋中大量氧化形成特定的铁矿物组合。本文首先概述了BIFs类型、物质组成及来源,以及沉积条件等基本信息;然后从BIFs特殊的沉积环境入手,综述了前人提出的Fe(II)氧化机理及存在的一些问题,讨论了微生物驱动下的氮元素生物地球化学循环对Fe(II)氧化及BIFs形成的贡献及相关研究进展,最后对BIFs成因研究提出了展望。

关键词: 条带状铁建造, 生物成因, 铁氧化机制, 氮循环耦合的铁氧化过程

Abstract:

Banded-iron formations (BIFs), typically consisted of interbanded iron- and silica-rich layers, are unique iron-rich sediments precipitated by extensive Fe(II) oxidation in the anoxic-hypoxic ocean during the Early Precambrian Era (mainly 3.8-1.8 Ga). The most abundant iron-containing minerals in BIFs are magnetite and hematite. BIFs provide the largest iron source to form giant iron ores that are of great economic value. Furthermore, as BIFs are closely related to the two billion-year co-evolution of life and earth environments, they are unique geological records for studying the important evolutionary events (e.g., the rise of atmospheric O₂) on the early Earth. However, few modern BIF analogues have been discovered due to the uniqueness of the Early Precambrian paleomarine environment and sedimentary conditions. Thus, there are still many unsolved mysteries about the origin of BIFs, despite intensive research in the past century. Among them, the most critical scientific question is how the dissolved Fe(II) was oxidized to form specific mineral assemblages in the anoxic paleo-ocean. In this review, the basic information on BIF types, material compositions and sources, as well as sedimentary conditions are summarized, followed by the proposed mechanisms of Fe(II) oxidation and their inherent problems from the perspective of special sedimentary environment of BIFs. Also discussed are the contribution of microbial-mediated nitrogen biogeochemical cycle to Fe(II) oxidation and the formation of BIFs and related research progress. Lastly, an outlook on the genetic study of BIFs is discussed.

Key words: banded iron formation, biogenesis, Fe(II) oxidation mechanisms, Fe(II) oxidation coupled with nitrogen cycle

中图分类号:

黄柳琴, 李林鑫, 蒋宏忱. BIFs的形成及其铁氧化机制研究进展与展望[J]. 地学前缘, 2023, 30(2): 333-346.

HUANG Liuqin, LI Linxin, JIANG Hongchen. Formation and iron oxidation mechanisms of BIFs: Research progress review and outlook[J]. Earth Science Frontiers, 2023, 30(2): 333-346.

图/表 3

图1 (A)地质历史时期大气O2含量的变化(PAL表示present atmospheric level,即与现代大气O2含量比值),其中GOE(great oxidation event)和NOE(neoproterozoic oxygenation event)表示古元古代大氧化事件和新元古代氧化事件,图中的“?”代表氧化程度尚无定论,据文献[75]修改;(B)铁建造沉积(包括早期条带状铁建造BIFs,元古宙颗粒状铁建造GIFs和新元古代晚期拉皮坦型铁建造)形成的铁储量(柱状图)和各时期不同地质载体中记录的N同位素组成[7,85-86]。

Fig.1 Composite diagram illustrating co-evolution of life and Earth through geological time. (A) Stepwise rise of atmospheric O2 (modified from [75]). PAL: present atmospheric level; GOE: Great Oxidation Event during Paleoproterozoic; NOE: Neoproterozoic Oxygenation Event. Question marks indicate uncertain O2 levels. (B) Variation of Fe content (bar graph) in BIF sediments (BIFs, GIFs, Rapitan IFs) and N isotope records (scatter plot) in different rocks and forms (adapted from [7,85-86]).

图2 (A)前人提出古海洋中Fe(II)氧化及BIFs矿物形成机制;(B)古海洋中微生物Fe、N循环耦合的可能过程 A中①—蓝藻(Cyanobacteria)光合作用产生的O2氧化;②—紫外线(hv)光催化氧化;③—厌氧不产氧光合细菌(AAPB)的嗜铁光合氧化。Fe(II)氧化生成水铁矿(Fe(OH)3)被④—异化铁还原微生物(dissimilatory iron reducing bacteria, 简称DIRB)通过氧化有机质([CH2O])还原Fe(III),生成纳米磁铁矿(Fe3O4)及菱铁矿(FeCO3)。B中微生物固氮作用及海底热液活动带来较高浓度的 NH 4 +,经微生物氧化(硝化作用或厌氧氧化)形成 NO 3 -进而参与Fe(II)氧化过程,包括:①微生物酶介作用下 NO 3 -还原Fe(II)氧化耦合反应及② NO 2 -化学氧化Fe(II),生成水铁矿、原生磁铁矿和菱铁矿等;水铁矿可经③微生物铁氨氧化作用(Feammox)还原结构Fe(III)生成磁铁矿等,同时将 NH 4 +氧化为N2、 NO 2 -或 NO 3 -。

Fig.2 Schematic diagrams illustrating (A) existing Fe(II) oxidation mechanisms for mineral formation in BIFs and (B) plausible Fe-N coupling processes in paleo marine environments

图3 西藏热泉高温微生物菌群(QZM-1、-2及-16,温度约80 ℃)还原 NO 3 -氧化Fe(II),以及 NO 2 -高温条件下(80 ℃)化学氧化Fe(II)形成的磁铁矿、菱铁矿等矿物组合(A),形成的矿物沉淀有明显的磁性(B),SEM观察下发现微生物作用形成微米级的自形磁铁矿(C)和菱铁矿(D),同等高温下 NO 2 -化学氧化Fe(II)生成的磁铁矿多为球形(E),据文献[136]修改。

Fig.3 Composite diagram showing the characteristics of mineral assembly (magnetite, siderite, calcite, quartz) formed by thermophilic NO 3 - reducing-Fe(II) oxidation microbial consortia (QZM-1, 2, 16, ~80 ℃) from Tibet hot springs and by chemical NO 2 - reduction-Fe(II) oxidation (80 ℃). (A) Geochemical composition analysis results. (B) Vials containing samples. (C, D) SEM images of biogenic μm-size euhedral magnetite and siderite particles. (E) Chemical oxidation product. Modified from [136].

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