Dr Zhiguo Dong

Research Interests

I focus on the formation pathways of sedimentary manganese deposits and manganese-rich sedimentary successions, as well as their implications for redox reconstructions of ancient ocean-atmosphere system. My research involves multiple methods mainly including sedimentary geology, petrology and mineralogy, sedimentary geochemistry, and non-traditional metal stable isotopes (e.g., Mo, W, Cr).

Genesis of Mn-rich successions and corresponding paleoenvironmental implications

As a redox-sensitive element, oceanic manganese (Mn) cycling has a profound impact on a variety of life-related elements such as oxygen (O), carbon (C), sulphur (S), iron (Fe), and molybdenum (Mo). Therefore, Mn-rich successions across geological record hold important information on the redox evolution of Earth’s surface environments. To date, it remains highly debated regarding the exact pathways by which considerable Mn was transported into sediments and then permanently preserved. In this project, we focus on Archean and Proterozoic Mn-rich successions, including exploitable ore deposits and subeconomic sedimentary Mn enrichments. Multiple methods, mainly including sedimentary geology, petrology and mineralogy, sedimentary geochemistry, and non-traditional stable metal isotopes (e.g., Fe, Mo, W, Cr), will be combined to reveal their formation mechanisms and coeval redox landscape, thereby further refining the dynamic oxygenation history of early Earth.
 

Short CV

Publications (-05/2024)

• Xie SJ, Dong ZG, Shang JB, Zhang X, Peng ZD, Li W, Zhang LC, Shi YL, Robbins L, Wang CL (2024): Age and genesis of the Tongshan banded iron formation in the Zhongtiao region, North China Craton. Ore Geology Reviews, 164: 105845.
• Wang CL, Xie SJ, Zhang X, Tong XX, Bai Y, Peng ZD, Dong ZG, Zhang LC, Wan B (2024): Deciphering the source of banded iron formations in the North China Craton. Precambrian Research, 402: 107298.
• Dong ZG, Peng ZD, Robbins LJ, Konhauser KO, Zhang BL, Zhang LC, Li J, Li WJ, Zhang L, Wang CL (2023): Episodic ventilation of euxinic bottom waters triggers the formation of black shale-hosted Mn carbonate deposits. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 341: 132-149.
• Dong FY, Yin L, Dong ZG, Liu JJ, Tan ZZ, Long XP, Jia WL, Li J (2023): Dynamic deep water oxygenation of marginal seas in the aftermath of the Sturtian Snowball Earth: Insights from redox-hydrological reconstructions of the Nanhua basin (South China). Precambrian Research. 398: 107219.
• Dong ZG, Peng ZD, Wang CL, Zhang BL, Zhang LC, Li J, Zhang X, Li WJ, Zhang L (2022): Insight into the genesis of the Zhaosu Carboniferous Mn carbonate deposit (NW China): constraints from petrography, geochemistry, and C-S-Mo isotopes. Mineralium Deposita, 57: 1269-1289.
• Li WJ, Peng ZD, Dong ZG, Zhang BL, Gao BY, Zhang LC, Zhu MT, Robbins LJ, Konhauser KO (2022): Direct Re-Os dating of manganese carbonate ores and implications for the formation of the Ortokarnash manganese deposit, northwest China. Economic Geology, 117(1): 237-252.
• Zhang BL, Lv ZC, Dong ZG, Zhang X, Yu XF, Li YS, Zhen SM, Wang CL (2022): Source characteristics of the Carboniferous Ortokarnash manganese deposit in the Western Kunlun Mountains. Minerals, 12(7): 1-24.
• Zhu MT, Dong ZG, Zhang LC (2022): Volatile accumulation for the mineralization of Li–Be pegmatites in the northeastern Pamir, Western Kunlun, China. International Geology Review, doi.org/10.1080/00206814.2022.2087109.
• Zhang BL, Wang CL, Robbins LJ, Zhang LC, Konhauser KO, Dong ZG, Li WJ, Peng ZD, Zheng MT (2020): Petrography and geochemistry of the Carboniferous Ortokarnash manganese deposit in the Western Kunlun Mountains, Xinjiang Province, China: implications for the depositional environment and the origin of mineralization. Economic Geology, 115(7): 1559-1588.