Why did banded iron formations stop forming?

Banded iron formations (BIFs) largely ceased forming around 1.8 billion years ago due to significant changes in Earth's environment, particularly the rise of free atmospheric oxygen during the Great Oxidation Event. This increase in oxygen levels led to the oxidation of dissolved iron in the oceans, which reduced the availability of soluble ferrous iron necessary for BIF formation. Additionally, biological processes and the proliferation of photosynthetic organisms further contributed to this shift, altering the conditions that allowed BIFs to form. As a result, the geological conditions favorable for BIF deposition were no longer present.