Scientific Quarterly Journal of Geosciences

Scientific Quarterly Journal of Geosciences

Geochemical characteristics of tourmaline as a prospecting guide for porphyry orebodies and granitoid rocks of Kerman province

Document Type : Original Research Paper

Authors
1 Geological Survey of Iran, Kerman Branch
2 University of Shahid Bahonar, Kerman, Iran
Abstract
Currently, the use of tourmaline and tourmalinite as and exploration guide in different mineral deposits have a special importance. In this paper, the geochemical application of tourmaline in six intrusive granitoid rocks have been investigated, of which three are mineralized and the rest unmineralized. Based on geological, and petrographical studies, tourmalinite occurs as veins, veinlets, and radial form in the immediate contact of granitoid rocks. Twenty tourmalinite samples weighing one kilogram of mineralized and unmineralized intrusive granitoid rocks were investigated geochemically. The results show that the average content of copper (91 ppm) and lead (100 ppm) in mineralized granitoid rocks are three times higher than unmineralized granitoids. The high and anomalous content of tin (40 ppm), tungsten (20 ppm) and molybdenum (11 ppm) have been observed in a few samples of unmineralized granitic rocks. Copper and lead show a good correlation in mineralized granitiod rocks, whereas, tin, tungsten and molybdenum exhibit a common correlation in unmineralized granitic rocks. Based on the results of this investigation, copper and lead in tounnalinite could be used as an exploration guide for porphyry copper ore deposits. Also, tin, tungsten and molybdenum are indicative of granophile elements or granitic rocks. The advantage of tourmaline or tourmalinite is that it is separated much easier than other minerals (biotite), from the granitoid rocks.
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Volume 11, 41-42
Autumn & Winter 2002, Vol. 11, No. 41-42
Winter 2001
Pages 38-59