Economic Geology
A. Baharvandi; M. Lotfi; M. Ghaderi; M. R. Jafari; H. A. Tajeddin
Abstract
Shekarbeig barite deposit is located 46 km southwest of Mahabad in northwestern part of the Sanandaj-Sirjan zone. The outcropped rock units in the area are Late Protrozoic metamorphosed volcano-sedimentary rocks, equivalent to Kahar Formation. The main ore mineral occurs as stratiform barite lenses in ...
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Shekarbeig barite deposit is located 46 km southwest of Mahabad in northwestern part of the Sanandaj-Sirjan zone. The outcropped rock units in the area are Late Protrozoic metamorphosed volcano-sedimentary rocks, equivalent to Kahar Formation. The main ore mineral occurs as stratiform barite lenses in three horizons accompanied by sulfide minerals as massive and/or parallel bands within metamorphosed rhyolitic tuffs (metatuff). The deposit footwall is composed of phyllite and slate crosscut by silicic and sulfide-bearing barite veins and veinlets (stringer zone). Primary minerals in the ore are mainly barite, pyrite, marcasite, chalcopyrite and bornite and secondary minerals are chalcocite, covellite, malachite, siderite, goethite, hematite and other iron hydroxides. Gangue minerals include quartz, sericite, calcite, dolomite, feldspar and chlorite. In terms of metallic ores, the Shekarbeig deposit does not vary much having only pyrite and chalcopyrite. Types of fluid inclusions in the Shekarbeig deposit are two-phase liquid-vapour (LV), mono-phase vapour and mono-phase liquid; two-phase liquid-vapour being the dominant type in both stringer and stratiform parts. Sulfur isotope data indicate that seawater was the main mineralizing fluid for Shekarbeig mineralization. These data suggest that complete reduction of recent seawater sulfate and the rate of mixing of hydrothermal solution with cold waters in deep parts of the basin may result in precipitation of large amount of sulfides in the stringer and stratifrom zones. On the other hand, partial reduction of recent seawater sulfates provided required sulfur for the deposition of barite. Geological evidence, evaluation, lithostratigraphy, mineralization geometry and the results of fluid inclusion and sulfur isotope studies for samples from the Shekarbeig deposit indicate derivation of the hydrothermal fluids of low salinity and moderate temperature from seawater and circulation and upward movement by a heating source (probably subvolcanic intrusions) and finally cooling and deposition of the fluids as sulfate and sulfide on the sea floor due to mixing with seawater, similar to massive sulfide Kuroko-type deposits.
E. Rastad; H. Tajedin; A. Yaghubpur; M. Mohajel
Abstract
The Barika gold (and silver) rich-massive sulfide deposit is located 18 km east of Sardasht city, north western part of Sanandaj-Sirjan metamorphic zone. Rock units outcropped in this area are metamorphosed volcano-sedimentary rocks in green schist facies, and include association of meta-andesit, meta-tuffite, ...
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The Barika gold (and silver) rich-massive sulfide deposit is located 18 km east of Sardasht city, north western part of Sanandaj-Sirjan metamorphic zone. Rock units outcropped in this area are metamorphosed volcano-sedimentary rocks in green schist facies, and include association of meta-andesit, meta-tuffite, phyllite, and slate rocks. The Barika deposit is metamorphosed to greenschist facies, and underwent Barika shear zone- related deformation. The metamorphism/deformation events have superimposed on the synvolcanic stratiform ore and resulted in a variety of mineralogy and textures. Ore minerals in the deposit were originally composed of pyrite, sphalerite, galena, tetrahedrite- tenantite and stibnite which were deposited during synvolcanogenic hydrothermal activity. Gold probably was occurred as submicroscopic inclusions or invisible gold locked in pyrite and electrum in barite. Prograde metamorphism/deformation obliterated almost the sedimentary textures in the stratiform ore. the regional metamorphism have resulted in the development of granoblastic textures with triple junctions in pyrite which lead to migration of submicroscopic gold to the crystal boundary to form microscopic electrum. Shear zone - related deformation, lead to chemical remobilization of pre-existing mobilizable metallic constituents (e.g., Au, Ag, Pb, Sb, As and Hg) and eventually reconcentrated them as visible electrums associated َwith Ag, As, Sb, Pb, Hg – rich sulfosalt minerals at microfractures and open spaces which have developed during the shearing deformation. Metamorphic/deformation remobilization was important in releasing refractory Au from sulfides and locally concentrating it in a recoverable form (electrum).