Economic Geology
Leila Amini; Mohammad Maanijou
Abstract
One of the common processes that lead to the formation and enrichment of precious metal deposits is boiling. The existence of a spatial relation between fluid boiling and deposition of precious metals is a valuable tool in exploration of epithermal deposits. Therefore, the investigating of the process ...
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One of the common processes that lead to the formation and enrichment of precious metal deposits is boiling. The existence of a spatial relation between fluid boiling and deposition of precious metals is a valuable tool in exploration of epithermal deposits. Therefore, the investigating of the process occurrence in epithermal deposits will be able to predict the continuation of exploration trend. Chah-Morad epithermal gold deposit is located in 75 km northwest of Bazman in the Sistan and Baluchistan Province and in the Makran-Chagai Magmatic Arc southeast of Iran. The mineralization in the Chah-Morad deposit occurred in 3 stages and in quartz veins that exist between the altered argillic alteration zone and dacite and rhyodacite sub-volcanic rocks. Textural mineralogical and fluid inclusions studies indicate the occurrence of the boiling process in this deposit. The most important kinds of evidence for the occurrence of this process are: a) the presence of adularia, b) platy calcite texture, c) breccia, crustiform-colloform textures, d) different liquid-vapor ratios of fluid inclusions, e) the increase in the salinity of fluid inclusions with the decrease in homogenization temperatures, f) the coexistence of fluid inclusions with different salinities and g) co-existing liquid single-phase fluid inclusions with vapor single-phase fluid inclusions. Therefore, the existance of boiling is confirmed in the Chah-Morad deposit.
Economic Geology
mohammad maanijou; Azadeh Mirzai
Abstract
Bagher Abad and Darreh Badam fluorite mineralizations are located in southeast Mahallat city (Markazi province) and occured as veins with common trend of East-West within slate and phyllite of Shemshak Formation (Lower Jurassic). The fluorite is the main mineral of the veins and quartz, barite, calcite, ...
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Bagher Abad and Darreh Badam fluorite mineralizations are located in southeast Mahallat city (Markazi province) and occured as veins with common trend of East-West within slate and phyllite of Shemshak Formation (Lower Jurassic). The fluorite is the main mineral of the veins and quartz, barite, calcite, dolomite, pyrite, chalcopyrite, goethite and covellite are the sub-ordinary minerals of deposits. The distribution of rare earth elements (REE) indicates that the violet, colorless and gray fluorites in primary mineralization stage have been enriched in LREE (result of digestion and wall rock replacement) and and the blue types of fluorites enriched in MREE and HREE, formed in post mineralization stage. Tb/La vs Tb/Ca and Y/Ho ratios diagrams are used for determination of genesis and differentiation of fluorite mineralization. These data show all samples can have a hydrothermal source for Bagher Abad and Darreh Badam deposits. Negative anomaly of Eu in all samples of fluorite can be caused by the formation of fluorite at above 200°C temperatures. In addition to, depletion of Ce in fluorites of studied areas indicated a reduced fluid and presence of pyrite and chalcopyrite sulphide minerals confirming this.
M Maanijou; N Puyandeh; A.A Sepahi; S Dadfar
Abstract
The study area is located at 42 km NE of Qorveh city, in KordestanProvince and in the Metamorphic– Magmatic Sanandaj-Sirjan Zone. There are other important gold mines such as the Zarshouran and Aghdarreh mines in this zone. The most important alterations of the region are sericitic (phyllic), argillic, ...
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The study area is located at 42 km NE of Qorveh city, in KordestanProvince and in the Metamorphic– Magmatic Sanandaj-Sirjan Zone. There are other important gold mines such as the Zarshouran and Aghdarreh mines in this zone. The most important alterations of the region are sericitic (phyllic), argillic, silicification and propylitic respectively. Therefore, in this research, the phyllic and argillic alterations were the main purpose and by using different techniques of images processing of satellite images such as: False Color Composition, Band Ratio, Principal Component analysis, Crosta and finally by Spectral Angle Mapper methods iron oxides and development of alterations have been recognized. For accuracy between field evidences and results of software processing, X-Ray Diffraction analysis were used for controlling and recognizing the index minerals of each zone. Then, the comparison between standard and the study area curves were done to confirm the obtaining results. Finally, this method was effective in recognizing and mapping of the hydrothermal alterations.
F Aliani; S Dadfar; M Maanijou
Abstract
Prospecting of deposits by studying of alteration zones has agreat importance. Giventhattheidentificationof alteration zones of areas, which have iron potential has beenlessstudied usingremote sensingdata, thereforeto achievethe identificationofalterationsurroundingthe HajiAbadiron deposit in the northeast ...
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Prospecting of deposits by studying of alteration zones has agreat importance. Giventhattheidentificationof alteration zones of areas, which have iron potential has beenlessstudied usingremote sensingdata, thereforeto achievethe identificationofalterationsurroundingthe HajiAbadiron deposit in the northeast of Sonqor City,, in the Kermanshah Province processinganalysisofsatellite images such as False Color Composite (FCC), Band Ratio (B.R), Directed Principal Component Analysis (DPCA) and Spectral Angle Mapping (SAM) techniques on short wave infrared and visible near infrared bands (SWIR+VNIR) of ASTER (AdvancedSpaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer sensor) were used. Also by comparing USGS (United States Geological Survey) minerals standard reflection curve with studied region’s curves, it can be seen that the curve of thepropylitic alteration minerals have more agreement with chlorite and epidote, and the phyllic-argillic alteration have more agreement with illite and kaolinite, and iron-oxides have more agreement with goethite and hematite.The results accuracy wasapproved by fieldandmicroscopicstudies and represents thepatterns ofalteration aroundthedeposit.
M. Maanijou; I. Rasa; D. Lentz
Abstract
Chehelkureh copper deposit is located in Kuh-e-Lunka area, 120 km NW of Zahedan (SE of Iran). The host rocks of mineralization are intercalated Eocene turbiditic greywackes, siltstones, and shales (flysch). They are folded with N-S trend and the eastern limb of this fold has ...
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Chehelkureh copper deposit is located in Kuh-e-Lunka area, 120 km NW of Zahedan (SE of Iran). The host rocks of mineralization are intercalated Eocene turbiditic greywackes, siltstones, and shales (flysch). They are folded with N-S trend and the eastern limb of this fold has been drag folded. Several stocks and dykes of granodiorite to quartz monzodiorite and granite compositions intruded the turbidites, converting them locally to hornfels. These intrusions are oriented parallel to the major NW-SE fault set. The Chehelkureh ore field comprises numerous irregular lenses and veins. The ore field extends for 1500m in N23°W direction, and is displaced by late brittle faults striking roughly E-W. The fault and fracture filling ores include quartz, dolomite, ankerite, siderite, calcite, and lesser amounts of pyrrhotite, arsenopyrite, pyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, galena, Se-rich galena, marcasite, molybdenite, ilmenite, and rutile. Assay data from 39 drill holes show high contents of base metals, with an average of 1.48% Cu, 1.77% Zn, 0.85% Pb (4.1% Cu+Zn+Pb), and silver (average 22 ppm in 45 samples). The ores are not so enriched in gold (0.14 ppm on average in 45 samples).
A composite sample of least-altered greywackes and shales (host rocks) is used for comparison with mineralized samples. Mass-balance calculations were carried out to quantify chemical changes resulting from different alteration episodes. With the low solubility and low variance of Al (Al2O3) in moderately altered sedimentary country rocks compared with many other immobile trace components, Al2O3 is used as an immobile component for mass-balance calculations. There is a net mass increase in Fe2O3T, and MgO and a net mass decrease in Na2O, CaO, K2O, and SiO2 with chloritization. Carbonatization shows Fe2O3T, and MgO enrichment and SiO2 and Na2O depletion, implying that ankerite, siderite and dolomite are predominant phases. SiO2 is enriched in silicified samples and depleted in other alteration types. There is no mass change in Cu, Pb and Zn with kaolinization, but these elements are enriched in other alteration types. Hg is enriched in all alteration types except kaolinization, which may even show a slight depletion. Samples from gossan with silicification showed an increase in SiO2, Fe2O3T, Cu, Pb, Hg, and Zn and a decrease in MgO, Na2O, CaO, and K2O. Some trace and major elements have high variance in different alterations and are more complicated to interpret, such as P2O5, MnO, Ni, Co, and Rb.
The REE contents of the composite host rock sample are enriched in the LREE relative to the HREE and moderately depleted in Eu and Ho. As a whole, samples with kaolinization and carbonatization (ankerite and siderite) have been enriched in REE contents and other wallrock alteration, including chloritization, dolomitization, kaolinization, minor sericitization, and silicification, are depleted in REE. SEM-EDS evidence indicates that enrichment of REE-bearing phosphates, such as monazite, occurred with carbonatization and kaolinization assemblages.