e a r l y a r c h a e a n g e o l o g y（e r l y r c h e l n g e o o g y）（53页）.docVIP

The Pilgangoora Greenstone Belt Introduction This project was initially conceived as a quantitative study of the effects of metamorphism on bio-markers and -signatures, with particular emphasis on isotopes of carbon and nitrogen (map of sampling locations, Figure 1). In this respect, and in some others, the project was a failure. The factors that hampered completion of this objective were: (i) the lack of suitable assemblages allowing quantitative geothermobarometry at all grades; (ii) incomplete equilibration and small grain-sizes in low-grade rocks, hindering petrological and microprobe analysis; (iii) concentrations of organic matter at or below background (contamination) levels, particularly in higher-grade rocks, thwarting (13Corg and (15Norg isotope mass-spectrometry, macronutrient (CNPS) microprobe analysis (Figure 2) and NH4+ Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR, Figure 3); and (iv) the large non-metamorphic variability of kerogen (13Corg analyses in individual units. However, because of several unexpected findings in Early Archaean rocks in Australia, Greenland and South Africa, focus shifted to geological evidence for the nature of ancient sedimentary environments, and biogeochemical processes therein. This introduction serves to give a general overview of Archaean, Pilbara and Pilgangoora Belt geology, in increasing level of detail . Focus rests on particular geological aspects of deep-water carbonates of the Coucal Formation (further described in Chapter 5), and shallow-water carbonates of the Strelley Pool Chert Formation. 1. Generalized Archaean Geology Judging from the tenacity and diversity of controversies, our understanding of the Earth’s crust during Early Archaean times can fairly be described as insecure. A good starting point is to consider how Archaean rocks differ from contemporaneous ones (‘inter-era differences’), and what this tells us about the early geosphere. Also worth considering are differences between Archaean terranes (‘i