All the occurrence of the Fe- and Si-rich lithologies that are associated with the Neoproterozoic island-arc metavolcanics of the Eastern Desert, Egypt were considered as banded iron formation (BIF) in many literatures. In the present study, it could differentiate them into: (1) proper BIF (e.g. Wadi Kariem BIF) and (2) volcanogenic jasper and chert deposits (e.g. Um Anab). The latter variety is typically associated with submarine volcanic successions. They are very thin and of laterally discontinuous nature of the lithologies. They still retain their diagenetic features almost intact and are thus amenable to sedimentological analysis. Application of fabric criteria to these rocks demonstrates their potential value in the understanding of the diagenesis of bedded chert. A systematic REE + Y study of both the proper BIF and the volcanogenic jasper and chert deposits was performed in order to understand their origin and depositional environment. The described occurrence appears to be dominantly composed of iron oxide and microcrystalline chert. The studied jasper and chert deposits are quite similar to banded iron formations both in texture, mineralogy and geochemistry. However, they are much more restricted in lateral distribution (i.e. lensoidal) and they are attributed to low-T hydrothermal alteration of the underlying volcanic rocks. This is clearly not the case for typical BIF that are Precambrian in age, with Proterozoic examples typically showing no obvious relationship to volcanic rocks. Considering the context of the studied jasper and chert deposits in a bimodal volcanic arc sequence, the occurrence of jasper deposits has substantial mineral exploration potential. The jasper-containing horizons should be regarded as 'load horizons' that may laterally correspond to stratiform/stratabound VMS-type deposits. This notion is possibly be supported by the occurrence of pyrite and other sulfide minerals at some localities.