GEOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND PROSPECTING INDICATORS FOR DATAIGOU IRON DEPOSIT IN BENXI, LIAONING PROVINCE

The Dataigou iron deposit in Benxi, Liaoning Province is the first oversize Anshan-type iron deposit explored below elevation of -1000 m in Anshan-Benxi iron ore metallogenic belt. The ore-bearing rock series are Yingtaoyuan Formation of Anshan Group, with concealed steeply dipping tabular iron orebody inside, buried in 1100-1200 m deep with extension of 2000 m long. The orebody falls into three natural ore types from top to bottom, i.e. hematite, hematite-magnetite complex and magnetite ores. The Dataigou iron deposit is of typical Anshan-type with simple mineral compositions, including iron-bearing minerals dominated by magnetite and hematite (specularite). The iron ores are in mosaic, lepido and columnar granoblastic textures, with mainly banded structure. The average grade of TFe is 29.34%, with mFe of 14.63%, SiO₂ of 46.08% and little other elements. Based on the geological characteristics, the prospecting indicators of Dataigou iron deposit are summarized, which would provide reference for prospecting potential iron deposits with deep burial and significant magnetic anomaly in the region.