Formation age and geodynamic setting of the Neoproterozoic Shalong iron formation in the Central Tianshan, NW China: Constraints from zircon U–Pb dating, geochemistry, and Hf–Nd isotopes of the host rocks

The recently discovered Shalong iron deposit in the Central Tianshan with a reserve of 14 Mt of iron at 25–30 wt.% Fe shows the typical iron formation geological characteristics: The host rocks are mainly metamorphosed volcanic rocks including quartz hornblende schist, mica quartz schist, and plagioclase amphibolite; the iron orebodies are stratiform and bedded, indicative of strata‐controlled deposits; metallic minerals are dominated by...