Scientific Quarterly Journal of Geosciences

Scientific Quarterly Journal of Geosciences

Geochemistry and genesis of the Tavousieh Soghan manganese deposit (southwest Kerman province)

Document Type : Original Research Paper

Authors
Mirmohammad Miri
Alireza Zarasvandi
Mohsen Rezaei
Abouzar Faraji Deraznoei
Department of Geology, Faculty of Earth Sciences, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran
10.22071/gsj.2025.505516.2180
Abstract
The Tavousieh manganese deposit occurs in the Soghan region southwest of Kerman province. This region is a part of the southern Sanandaj-Sirjan zone, formed during the Mesozoic to Cenozoic subduction of the Neo-Tethys oceanic crust beneath the central Iranian subcontinent. This deposit occurs in the ophiolite mélange radiolarite chert and is interbedded with pelagic limestones of Late Cretaceous. Petrographic and X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies show that the main Mn ores include pyrolusite, braunite, and todorokite with dispersed, colloform and cockade textures. The high contents of SiO2 concerning Al2O3 and Fe2O3, high Zn (96-410 ppm) content, and low Ni, Cu, and Co contents (95-646 ppm) of the studied samples reveal the influence of hydrothermal fluids in their formation. However, the REE distribution patterns indicate that hydrogenous processes also played a role in their occurrence, and accordingly, this deposit can be classified as hydrothermal-hydrogenous. By comparing the Fe2O3/TiO2 and LaN/CeN ratios of the Tavousieh and Nasirabad Mn deposits, it can be concluded that they formed as a result of manganese deposition in the Neo-Tethys Ocean from the oceanic ridge toward the continental margin.
Keywords
Manganese
Geochemistry
Tavousieh
Southern Sanandaj-Sirjan
Kerman

Subjects

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Scientific Quarterly Journal of Geosciences
Volume 35, Issue 2 - Serial Number 136
Summer 2025, vol. 35, Issue 2, Serial no. 136
Spring 2025
Pages 21-36