Metallogeny of iron deposits and resource potential of major iron minerogenetic units in China

Abstract：Iron resource is an important metal resource in China. Summary of iron metallogeny and analysis of iron resource potential are of theoretical and practical significance. This paper summarizes the natural endowment characteristics of the iron resource in China. Iron deposits in China are classified into metamorphosed sedimentary-type iron deposits, magmatic-type iron deposits, contact metasomatic-hydrothermal-type iron deposits, volcanogenic type iron deposits, sedimentary type iron deposits and weathering-infiltration type iron deposits as well as 40 typical iron deposit styles. Metallogenic models of Anshan type, Damiao type, Mengku type and Daxigou type iron deposits are established. This paper divides China’s iron resource into 36 iron minerogenic units, and also summarizes the temporal and spatial distribution of iron deposits of different genetic types, different deposit sizes, and different ore types. The resource potential of 7 important minerogenetic units is also discussed.