Sedimentology
Yazdan Golestan; Umid Kakemem; Mohammad Adabi; E. Dehyadegari
Abstract
Carbonate-evaporate succession with siliciclastic sediments and mixed siliciclastic carbonate deposits of Asmari-Pabdeh reservoir in Karanj Oil Field with Oligo-Miocene in age was studied to determine diagenesis, microfacies and original carbonate mineralogy. Micritization, dissolution, compaction, neomorphism, ...
Read More
Carbonate-evaporate succession with siliciclastic sediments and mixed siliciclastic carbonate deposits of Asmari-Pabdeh reservoir in Karanj Oil Field with Oligo-Miocene in age was studied to determine diagenesis, microfacies and original carbonate mineralogy. Micritization, dissolution, compaction, neomorphism, cementation and dolomitization are the main diagenesis processes that effect Asmari-Pabdeh successions. Petrographic studies led to identification of three types of dolomite such as dolomicrite, dolomicrosparite and dolosparite, in which dolomicrosparite and particulary dolospatite caused increase in reservoir quality. Eleven carbonate-evaporate microfacies were identified. These deposited in four major environments comprises of tidal flat, lagoon, carbonate shoal and open marine. Sedimentary environment of the Asmari Formation recognized as a homoclinal ramp. Diagenetic studies reveal impact of marine, meteoric and burial diagenesis on the deposits. Geochemistry of minor and major elements reveal original aragonite mineralogy for carbonates of the Asmari Formation. The high Sr/Mn and Sr/Ca and minor amounts of manganese implying close diagenetic system with low Water/Rock interaction for the Asmari Formation succession.
Economic Geology
yegane khoramtash; farajolah fardoost
Abstract
The Saghari copper deposit is located 120 Km at Southwest of shahrood, within in the eastern part of Toroud-Chahshirin magmatic arc. Mineralization in the Saghari area occured within volcanic and pyroclastic units of Eocene. Based on the field, laboratory investigations and geochemical analysis, the ...
Read More
The Saghari copper deposit is located 120 Km at Southwest of shahrood, within in the eastern part of Toroud-Chahshirin magmatic arc. Mineralization in the Saghari area occured within volcanic and pyroclastic units of Eocene. Based on the field, laboratory investigations and geochemical analysis, the outcropped rocks in the Saghari deposit are andesite, andesite-basalt, basalt, dacite and several exposures of pyroclastic rocks such as tuff and agglomerate. The rocks are high-k, calc-alkaline to a small amount of shoshonitic in nature, and are formed at a magmatic arc setting in a subduction zone. Basic to intermediate dyke bodies intruded Eocene volcanic-pyroclastic sequences. The host rocks have been affected by argillitic, sericitization, chloritzation, carbonatization and oxide-Fe (limonite, hematite and goethite). The textures and structures of mineralization are vein-veinlet, replacement, open space filling and disminated. According to the mineralography studies, main minerals of copper are malachite, chalcocite, covellite, chalcopyrite, chrysocolla and rare native copper. Malachite and chalcosite are the most abundant minerals. Geochemical studies indicate that copper has a relative correlation with silver.also based on studies of fluid inclusion, the depth of the ore, formation temperature and salinity are 100-200 meter, 100-140 °c and 5-15 WtNaCl%. Copper mineralization in the Saghari deposite has similarities in mineralogy, host rock, texture, structure and geometry with manto-type and volcanic red bed copper deposits.
Economic Geology
Fardin mousivand; Fayeq Hashemi; Mehdi Rezaei-Kahkhaei; Amir Pakizeh
Abstract
The Darreh Amrood Pb (Ag) deposit is located in south of Ghohrood, in the Urumieh-Dokhtar magmatic arc (UDMA). Host rockes to the deposit are Middle to Late Eocene grey-green siliceous tuff and crystal lithic tuff. Geometry of orebodies is stratabound, irregular, and semiconcordant to discordant to layering ...
Read More
The Darreh Amrood Pb (Ag) deposit is located in south of Ghohrood, in the Urumieh-Dokhtar magmatic arc (UDMA). Host rockes to the deposit are Middle to Late Eocene grey-green siliceous tuff and crystal lithic tuff. Geometry of orebodies is stratabound, irregular, and semiconcordant to discordant to layering of the host rocks. Ore structures and textures are dominated by semi-massive to brecciated, banded and vein-veinlets. Main primary minerals are galena, pyrite and chalcopyrite, and secondary minerals are dominated by covelline, goethite and hematite. Gangue minerals are epidote, chlorite, sericite, clay minerals, quartz, calcite and barite. Wall rock alterations are dominated by epidote-chlorite and sericitic. The rare earth element (REE) pattern of ores is not similar to that of volcanic rocks in the footwall and hangingwall that is concordant with sub-seafloor replacement process for ore formation. Also Ce showed negative anomaly that can be attributed to Ce in the seawater. Also based on structural, stratigraphic, petrographic, textures, mineralogical, alteration and geochemical studies, it is inferred that the Pb (Ag) mineralization in the Darreh Amrood area occurred as bimodal felsic- or Kuroko-type volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) mineralization, and formed as sub-seafloor replacement. It should be noted that the Darreh Amrood deposit is the first recognition of base metal-rich and poor barite VMS mineralization in the UDMA.
Petrology
Siavash Omidianfar; mohammad rahgoshay; Iman Monsef
Abstract
Koudakan Granitoid located in 100 km South of Birjand and 18 km North of Ghaleh-Zari mine in eastern Iran. It belong to the Lut Block volcanic–plutonic belt. These intrusive rocks (Eocene-Oligocene) petrogaphicaly composed of Diorite, Monzodiorite, Quartzmonzodiorite, Tonalite, Porphyritic Tonalite, ...
Read More
Koudakan Granitoid located in 100 km South of Birjand and 18 km North of Ghaleh-Zari mine in eastern Iran. It belong to the Lut Block volcanic–plutonic belt. These intrusive rocks (Eocene-Oligocene) petrogaphicaly composed of Diorite, Monzodiorite, Quartzmonzodiorite, Tonalite, Porphyritic Tonalite, Granodiorite, Granite and Porphyritic Granite. Plutonic rocks in this area have features typical of high-K calc-alkaline to shoshonite series, metaluminous and belong to I-type Granitoides. Enrichment in LILE rather than HFSE (RbN/YN: 38.12-124.93), negative anomalies of Nb and Ti and enrichment in LREE rather than HREE (LaN/YbN: 6.74-12.03) in all of samples are important evidences for the formation of this rocks in a subduction related magmatic belt. Positive anomalies of Pb and K indicate the involvement of continental crust in evolution of parental magma. Parallel trend of the samples in spider diagrams show that they are co-genetic. Elements ratios and Different discrimination diagrams show the formation of this rocks in an active continental margin with about less than 45 Km crustal thickness in per-collision steps. Parental magma has been generated by low degree partial melting (less than 5%) of an enriched peridotite in mantle wedge (Spinel lherzolite.).
Razieh Rezaei Hamid; Ebrahim Tale Fazel; Shojaedin Niroomand
Abstract
The Baharieh copper deposit with 1 Mt Cu ore, is located in 30 km of NE Kashmar city and it’s belong to Sabzevar zone and Taknar metallogenic area. The copper mineralization as stratabound and 200m length with east-west trending which occurs in porphyric andesitic tuff (middle Eocene). Volcanic ...
Read More
The Baharieh copper deposit with 1 Mt Cu ore, is located in 30 km of NE Kashmar city and it’s belong to Sabzevar zone and Taknar metallogenic area. The copper mineralization as stratabound and 200m length with east-west trending which occurs in porphyric andesitic tuff (middle Eocene). Volcanic to subvolcanic rocks are composed of andesite, dacite and rhyolite and shows calc-alkaline to shoshonitic affinities. According to geochemistry of immobile trace elements (e.g., La, Yb and Zr), the igneous rocks straddle within active continent margin arcs. The vein minerals consist of main sulfide minerals such as chalcopyrite and pyrite, which accompanied with bornite, covelline, and chalcocite. Silicic, calcitic, chloritic and argillic are the main alteration assemblage with mineralization. Two types of fluid inclusions including of liquid-rich (LV-type) and vapor-rich (VL-type) are distinguished in quartz-ore stage of the Baharieh deposit. Homogenization temperature and salinity are recorded varies from 187 to 356°C and 0.99 to 18.7 wt% NaCl eq. Some characteristic as vein, breccia and vuggy textures, volcanic host rocks, low temperature alteration, simple ore minerals and high chalcopyrite content, temperature and salinity of fluids and the other evidences shows Baharieh copper deposit is similar to in Cu (Ag) manto-type (volcanic red bed) deposit at Chile.
R. Pourmasoomi; A. R. Jafari rad; M. Lotfi; P. Afzal
Abstract
The Khankeshi stratabound copper deposit is located in Markazi province, 80 Km SW of Tehran. The area is covered by a sequence of E-W trending lava flows and pyroclastic of Late Eocene age. The volcanic rocks can be classified as trachyandesite and andesite.The rocks contain a ...
Read More
The Khankeshi stratabound copper deposit is located in Markazi province, 80 Km SW of Tehran. The area is covered by a sequence of E-W trending lava flows and pyroclastic of Late Eocene age. The volcanic rocks can be classified as trachyandesite and andesite.The rocks contain a high fraction of potassium calc-alkaline and their geochemical characteristics attribute them to back arc basin and extentional processes. The oldest rocks of the study area are Elta unit , composed of green andesitic tuff located in south eastern of the khankeshi. This part indicates a basin with volcanic activities and exhalites, and green tuff with thin lamination combined with microcrystalline carbonates. On the other hand, presence of carbonate of micrite with framboidal pyrite in this part indicated reducing environment and Exhalites activity by source of sulfur in manto type mineralization in the khankeshi. The host rock is Elt type latite andesite with mega porphyritic texture and involved major ore chalcopyrite, bornite with pyrite and minor chalcocite, covellite, hematite, Goethite and malachite with dolomite and dolosparite veins. Framboidal pyrite is replaced with forms of fine and circle chalcopyrite and bornite in primary micritic background and subhedral crystals into dolosparite veins of crystallized micrititic carbonate micrite in forms of epigenetic that produce the supergene secondary production. This unit with pyroclastics and tuff breccias(Elta unit), indicated volcanic cycle that mineralization of copper, in forms of stratabound, has taken place in it. Local alteration associated with copper mineralization includes weak chloritization, oxidation with local argillic, serecitic and zeolitic. Mineralization is stratabound and copper mineralization occurs as disseminated, vein-veinlet,open space fillings and replacements. Based on fluid inclusion studies on coexisting calcite, Homogenization temperatures are between 129.4 to 227.1(with an average of 175°C).Salinity varies between 1.91 to 13.40(average 12) wt٪ NaCl eq. The depth of fluid inclusion trapping is estimated to be less than 200 meters and ore formation has occurred at pressure values less than 74 bars. Geological, ore mineralogy, ore texture, structures and fluid inclusions characteristics in the khankeshi deposit are similar to those reported from Manto type copper deposits.
sayed zia Hosseini; Mahbobeh Iranmanesh
Abstract
The Oligocene-Miocene Daredesk pluton, located in southeastern part of the Urumieh–Dokhtar magmatic assemblage, is outcropped in the Eocene volcanic rocks in northeastern Jiroft. The pluton comprises mainly of diorite, quartz diorite, quartz monzodiotrite and granodiorite with metaluminous and ...
Read More
The Oligocene-Miocene Daredesk pluton, located in southeastern part of the Urumieh–Dokhtar magmatic assemblage, is outcropped in the Eocene volcanic rocks in northeastern Jiroft. The pluton comprises mainly of diorite, quartz diorite, quartz monzodiotrite and granodiorite with metaluminous and calcalkaline affinity. They have petrographic and geochemical characteristics of I-type granitoids. Condrite and MORB normalized multi element spider diagrams for the Daredesk granitoid rocks show marked negative Ti, Nb and Ta anomaly and an enrichment of LILE (e.g Rb, Cs snd Ba). This feature together with other geochemical specifications, tectonic discrimination diagrams and geological position of the Daredesk pluton indicate its formation in an active continental margin setting. Also, chondrite-normalized rare earth element patterns of the Daredesk intrusive rocks show a gentle slope with (La/Yb)n= 3-6/4, indicate nonexistence of garnet as a residual phase in the source. All these features together with the occurrences of mafic microgranular enclaves, MgO and Cr contents, Th/Rb, Nb/Yb, Rb/Sr and Ba/Rb ratios clearly show that the Daredesk granitoid rockes formed by interaction between a primary mafic magma, produced by partial melting of metasomatized lithospheric mantle, with lower crust.
Fariba Asiay Soufiani; Hossein Kouhestani; Amir Morteza Azimzadeh
Abstract
Qarachilar Cu-Mo-Au mineralization is located within the Qaradagh batholite in the Arasbaran metalogenic zone. This area is a part of southern margin of Lesser Caucasus. Qaradagh batholite at the Qarachilar mineralization area composed of granodiorite- quartz monzodiorite (as the main phase and host ...
Read More
Qarachilar Cu-Mo-Au mineralization is located within the Qaradagh batholite in the Arasbaran metalogenic zone. This area is a part of southern margin of Lesser Caucasus. Qaradagh batholite at the Qarachilar mineralization area composed of granodiorite- quartz monzodiorite (as the main phase and host rock of mineralization), diorite, quartz monzonitic stocks, apophyses of porphyritic granite and acidic to intermediate dykes. These intrusions have Upper Eocene- lower Miocene age. All of the mentioned intrusion phases have calc-alkaline to high-K calc-alkaline nature and classified as metaluminous I-type granites. The porphyritic granite apophyses and dykes, and quartz monzonitic stocks have adakitic nature and can be classified as high silica adakites. Chondrite normalized REE patterns in granodiorites- quartz monzodiorites indicate enrichment in LREE and flat trend in MREE and HREE, while porphyritic granites show steep pattern with enrichment in LREE and depletion in HREE. Based on field investigation, geological, petrological, geochemical and tectonomagmatic discrimination diagrams, it can be conclude that granodiorite- quartz monzodiorite phase was formed in active continental margin as a result of Neo-Tethyan ocean subduction beneath the Eurasia. The quartz monzonite stocks and porphyritic granites were formed in a post collisional setting from metasomatized lithospheric mantle wedge.
Hasan Zamanian; Ghasem Beiranvand; Farhad Ahmadnejad
Abstract
Bagoushi deposit is located in 37 km northwestern Masiri in Fars province. Structurally the deposit is situated in the Zagros Simply Folded Mountain belt and developed in Upper Cretaceous carbonates. From the top to bottom, the deposit is consisting of red, pisolitic, brown, brecciate, and kaolinitic ...
Read More
Bagoushi deposit is located in 37 km northwestern Masiri in Fars province. Structurally the deposit is situated in the Zagros Simply Folded Mountain belt and developed in Upper Cretaceous carbonates. From the top to bottom, the deposit is consisting of red, pisolitic, brown, brecciate, and kaolinitic bauxite horizons. Boehmite, kaolinite, hematite, pyrophyllite, anatase, calcite and diaspore are the major mineral phases. The main ore textures of the deposit include pisolitic, pisolitic-oolitic and clastic with pelitomorphic and microgranular matrixes. According to the formation conditions of the major minerals, the Bagoushi deposit formed in an environment ranging from acidic-oxidizing surface water to basic and reducing groundwater. Some textural features such as pelitomorphic matrix, pisolitic and oolitic textures, radial fractures in pisoids, growth of simple cortex around earlier pisoids, pisoids with cortexes lacking radial and circular fractures, are indicative of allochthonous origin; and broken pisoids, allogeneic pisoids and clastic grains reveal the transportation of bauxitic materials; therefore the bauxite materials is authigenic, but in some parts were transported and re-deposited, at least locally. The mass change calculations relative to the immobile element Ti show that elements such as Si, Fe, Mg, K and Na are leached out; Al, Zr, V, Th, Nb, Ba and REEs particularly LREE are concentrated; and Hf, Ta, Co, Rb, Cs, Be and U are relatively immobile during the bauxitisation process. The bauxite ores are characterized by progressive enrichment of the REE compared to parent rock, intense LREE/HREE fractionation, relatively stable negative Eu anomalies, and weak negative Ce anomalies.
Petrology
Leili Bastami; Reza Moussavi; Mahboobeh Hosseini-Barzi; Bahaedin Hamdi Hamdi
Abstract
The sandstones of the Dorud Formation (Early Permian) have been subjected to petrographic and geochemical studies in order to investigate provenance, tectonic setting, source rock and paleoclimate conditions in Khur section, Central Alborz. The Dorud Formation with a thickness of 360 m is mainly composed ...
Read More
The sandstones of the Dorud Formation (Early Permian) have been subjected to petrographic and geochemical studies in order to investigate provenance, tectonic setting, source rock and paleoclimate conditions in Khur section, Central Alborz. The Dorud Formation with a thickness of 360 m is mainly composed of fine to medium grained sandstones with lesser amounts of carbonate and mudstone. In order to achieve the above-mentioned goals, 125 thin sections were subjected to petrographic studies. Modal analysis was performed on 20 thin sections and 13 samples of sandstones were analysed for major and trace elements. Based on petrographic studies the sandstones of the Dorud Formation are classified as quartzarenite with high textural and mineralogical maturity. Plotting point counting data on (Qt99.6, F0.2, L0.2( and (Qm95.9, F0.2, Lt3.9) triangles implies craton interior provenance. Also, major and trace elements based geochemical diagrams indicate that these sandstones deposited in a passive continental margin tectonic setting. According to petrographic and geochemical evidence the sandstones of the Dorud Formation derived from erosion of middle- to high-grade metamorphic, felsic igneous and quartoze sedimentary rocks. High mineralogical maturity, high values of chemical index of weathering (CIW) and chemical index of alteration (CIA) as well as SiO2 (%) versus Al2O3 + K2O + Na2O (%) diagram imply moderate to intense weathering under warm and humid climatic conditions. Passive continental margin tectonic setting and warm and humid paleoclimatic conditions is consistent with paleogeographic position of Iran during the Early Permian.
Economic Geology
seyran yousefi; masoud alipourasl
Abstract
The Zarandieh district is situated approximately 42 km northeast Saveh (Markazi province) and in the northwestern part of the Urumieh-Dokhtar magmatic belt. In this area, mineralization is hosted by Eocene andesitic lava and Oligo-Miocene diorite and gabbroic rocks. According to the geochemical evidence, ...
Read More
The Zarandieh district is situated approximately 42 km northeast Saveh (Markazi province) and in the northwestern part of the Urumieh-Dokhtar magmatic belt. In this area, mineralization is hosted by Eocene andesitic lava and Oligo-Miocene diorite and gabbroic rocks. According to the geochemical evidence, parental magma of igneous rocks is calc-alkaline, metaluminous and related to continental margin volcanic arcs. Mineralization has been observed as veins, veinlets and brecciated forms in diorite and gabbroic rocks. The main ore mineral is chalcopyrite and associated with pyrite, bornite, oligist, chalcocite, covellite, neotosit, native copper, malachite, azurite, chrysocolla, goethite and limonite. Cu grade in the ore samples are varied from 0.04 to 1.7 % (0.40 % in average). Statistical analyses of geochemical data from mineralized samples by Pearson method displayed that Cu has maximum correlation with Ag, As, Zn, Cd and Pb, respectively. Microthermometry studies of fluid inclusions show that the average homogenization temperature is 195° C and the average salinity of 23 wt% NaCl. The Zarandieh Copper mineralization is closely related to hydrothermal vein copper deposit types.
E. Alizadeh; Gh. R. Ghadami; D. Esmaeily; J. Omrani; A. Golmohammadi
Abstract
The Roshtkhar intrusive rocks are located in the northeastern part of the Roshtkhar prospecting area (KhorassanRazavi province), along the eastern edge of the Khaf-Kashmar-Bardaskan volcano-plutonic belt, north of the Dorouneh Fault and on the southern part of the Sabzevar structural zone. The intusive ...
Read More
The Roshtkhar intrusive rocks are located in the northeastern part of the Roshtkhar prospecting area (KhorassanRazavi province), along the eastern edge of the Khaf-Kashmar-Bardaskan volcano-plutonic belt, north of the Dorouneh Fault and on the southern part of the Sabzevar structural zone. The intusive rocks consist mainly ofsyenite to monzonite with minor amount of syenite porphyry, monzonite porphyry, and diorite porphyry with granular and porphyry texture, respectively. According to the geochemical data, the Roshtkhar intrusive rocks are calc-alkaline granitoid series with high-K to shoshonitic affinity, magnesian, metaluminous, and belong to I-type granites.Chondrite-normalized Rare Earth Element and mantle-normalized trace-element spider diagrams display enriched in LILE and LREE and also Th, depleted in HFSE and weak depletion in HREE and Y, along with negative anomalies of Nb,Ta, and Ti, that are characteristic of the post-collisional calc-alkaline rocks along with a continental active margin tectonic setting. In spite of the low ratios of Nb/U, Nb/La and Ce/Pb, the Sm/Yb (2.8-3.9) ratios reveals low contamination of magmas with upper continental crust. According to geochemistry of trace elements and REE, the main cause of magmatism in Roshtkhar area was melting of a metasomatized lithospheric mantle (E-MORB) with spinel lherzolite composition accompanied by in the presence of phlogopite. Multiple element and REE pattern, abundance of K2O/Na2O in Roshtkhar intrusive rocks show contamination and mixing with acidic magma ofamphibolitic lower crust due to temperature of mantle magma and AFC process played important roles in magma evolution. La vs. La/sm diagram illustrate partial melting and also according to K, positive anomalies of Rb, Ba, K, Th, U, and Pb, and the negative anomalies of Nb, Ti, Ta, and Ba associated with high La (La > 29), it seems partial melting of lower continental crust has played an important role in the genesis of the Roshtkhargranitoids rocks. Based on field investigation, petrographic studies, and lithogeochemistry using the granitoids discrimination tectonic setting diagrams, it seems that the Roshtkhar intrusive rocks were generated in a post-collisional extensional environment in a continental margin arc setting with partial melting of the mantle-lower crust within the Khaf-Kashmar-Bardaskan belt.
Sedimentology
Majid Khazaee; Mahbobeh Hosseini-Barzi; Abbas Sadeghi; Hossein Mosaddegh
Abstract
The provenance of Jeirud Formation deposits (upper Devonian) in central Alborz has been investigated from study of siliciclastic sandstones (petrography, modal analysis and Heavy minerals assemblage) and mudstones (major and minor elements geochemistry). An integration of results suggest a mixture of ...
Read More
The provenance of Jeirud Formation deposits (upper Devonian) in central Alborz has been investigated from study of siliciclastic sandstones (petrography, modal analysis and Heavy minerals assemblage) and mudstones (major and minor elements geochemistry). An integration of results suggest a mixture of basic to acidic igneous rocks and recycling of older sedimentary rocks as the provenance that weathered under cold and arid to semi-arid climatic conditions. An integration of modal analysis and heavy minerals results into the geochemical studies including Roser and korsch diagram (Log K2O/Na2O versus SiO2) and Verma and Armstrong-Altrin Functional diagrams, indicate that, siliciclastic rocks of Jeirud, resulted from weathering of acidic-intermediate to basic rocks of collisional tectonic provenances (recycled orogens) and transporting on craton interior and have been deposited on a passive margin basin. Investigations and comparison with McLennan et al., studies, represent that geochemical results and proportions of study area are consistent with those of old upper continental crust (OUC) typical of collisional tectonic settings.
Economic Geology
Hakima Taghadosi; Azadeh Malekzadeh Shafaroudi
Abstract
Namegh area is located northeastern Kashmar, Khorasan Razavi province, and centeral part of of Khaf-Kashmar-Bardaskan magmatic belt. Geology of the araea is covered by Eocene volcanic rocks having andesite to rhyolite composition, which are intruded by subvolcanic intrusions with monzonite, monzodiorite, ...
Read More
Namegh area is located northeastern Kashmar, Khorasan Razavi province, and centeral part of of Khaf-Kashmar-Bardaskan magmatic belt. Geology of the araea is covered by Eocene volcanic rocks having andesite to rhyolite composition, which are intruded by subvolcanic intrusions with monzonite, monzodiorite, and diorite composition. All of units are affected by well development alteration, which are silicified-sericitic, moderate argillic, and propylitic alteration zones. Mineralization is occurred as stockworck and disseminated. Primary minerals include chalcopyrite, pyrite, magnetite, and gold and secondary minerals include goethite, hematite, malachite, and azurite. High anomaly of Cu (up to 1%) and Au (up to 12 ppm) are correlated with strong silicified-sericitic alteration. Based on fluid inclusion studies, formation temperature of mineralization is between 404 to 551 ºC and it is occurred from NaCl-, and CaCl2-bearing fluid with 15 to 23 wt. % NaCl equivalent salinity. Decrease of temperature and HCl activity during boiling time and decrease of temperature due to mixing of magmatic and meteoric fluids could be the most important factors for formation of mineralization. Evidences of tectonic setting, lithology, development and types of alteration, mineralization form and limited outcrops, types of ore minerals, geochemical anomalies, types of fluid inclusions and temperature and salinity of fluid indicate the mineralization of Namegh is probably upper level of porphyry Cu-Au deposit. The Khaf-Kashmar-Bardaskan belt can be one of the most important porphyry deposits metallogenic zones of Iran due to tectonic setting and magmatic-mineralization evidences, which needs detailed exploration in future.
S. Alipour; Kh. Mosavi-ovenlegi; E. Hosseini; Sh. Aslanpour; Z. Haseli
Abstract
The Urmia Salt Lake as the largest hyper saline lake of the world is located between west and east Azerbaijan provinces, NW Iran. Geochemistry of trace and rare earth elements of bed sediments taken from 25 Cm of the lower most of 1.5 meters depth of drilled holes in 130 samples between 2014-2015 ...
Read More
The Urmia Salt Lake as the largest hyper saline lake of the world is located between west and east Azerbaijan provinces, NW Iran. Geochemistry of trace and rare earth elements of bed sediments taken from 25 Cm of the lower most of 1.5 meters depth of drilled holes in 130 samples between 2014-2015 were investigated. General geochemical composition of samples revealed a very heterogeneous variation of major oxides at NW, NE, SW and SE parts of the lake. MgO, CaO and Na2O show a high enrichment compared to UCC, PAA and NASC values. Main minerals of the bed sediments include halite, calcite, ankerite, quartz, orthoclase, augite, hornblende and chlorite. The overall geochemical composition of sediments, resemble ferruginous shale and graywacke sandstone. Weathering in the various parts of the bed sediments is relevant to general climatological characters in the region. Rb and Sr among trace elements show high anomaly in respect to UCC, PAAS and NASC, while Eu indicated high depletion, especially at SW corner of the lake. Geochemical comparisons indicate the major role of different rock units in forming bed sediments rather than sediments carried by entering rivers to the lake.
M. Ebrahimi; M. Rafiei
Abstract
Eocene pyroclastic-volcanic rocks, ranging in composition from basic to intermediate and acidic rocks, are widely exposed at north of Zavieh, southwest of Karaj. The pyroclastic-volcanic sequence is composed of basalt, trachy-basalt, basaltic trachy-andesite, andesite, trachy-andesite, trachydacite, ...
Read More
Eocene pyroclastic-volcanic rocks, ranging in composition from basic to intermediate and acidic rocks, are widely exposed at north of Zavieh, southwest of Karaj. The pyroclastic-volcanic sequence is composed of basalt, trachy-basalt, basaltic trachy-andesite, andesite, trachy-andesite, trachydacite, dacite and rhyolite along with various pyroclastic rocks including ignimbrite, welded tuff, crystal tuff, lithic tuff, lithic crystal tuff, ash tuff and lapillistone. The pyroclastic-volcanic sequence contains large amount of ignimbrite. Common textures found in the studied volcanic rocks are porphyritic, glomeroporphyritic, cumulophyric, amygdaloidal and trachytic. Rock fragments and broken crystals are usually found in the pyroclastic rocks. Eutaxitic texture is commonly observed in the ignimbrite. Flow banding is seen in the study rhyolitic rocks. Meanwhile, columnar structure is commonly observed in the lava flows and ignimbrites. Pyroxene, amphibole, biotite, plagioclase and quartz are the major minerals in the volcanic sequence along with K-feldspar, opaque minerals and altered olivine as minor minerals. Calcite, chlorite, epidote and sericite are also present as accessory minerals. According to geochemical data the studied volcanic rocks are mainly calc-alkaline, however few samples plot in the alkaline and shoshonitic fields in some diagrams. Negative anomalies of Nb and Ta, Pb positive anomaly, large ion lithophile elements enrichment, rare earth elements enrichments and depletion in high field strength elements all indicate that the parent magma of the studied rocks has originated from a metasomatized asthenospheric mantel over the Benioff-Waddatti zone. Common existence of sieve texture in plagioclase crystals, corroded crystals of plagioclase and pyroxene and dark rim of Fe-Ti oxides around biotite and amphibole crystals all indicate that a disequilibrium condition existed during crystallization which is most probably due to magma mixing. However, assimilation, decompression and rapid ascend of magma may also produce such textures.
S. J. Moghaddasi; J. Yazdi; T. Namdar Mohammadi
Abstract
Siriz iron deposit is located in Central Iran structural zone, 75 km northwest of Zarand, Kerman Province. Iron mineralization occurred mainly as irregular ore bodies, lenses and veins in Paleozoic metamorphosed dolomitic limestone known as Kuhbanan Formation and the skarn units at the contacts of Siriz ...
Read More
Siriz iron deposit is located in Central Iran structural zone, 75 km northwest of Zarand, Kerman Province. Iron mineralization occurred mainly as irregular ore bodies, lenses and veins in Paleozoic metamorphosed dolomitic limestone known as Kuhbanan Formation and the skarn units at the contacts of Siriz granitoid pluton. The Siriz iron deposit shows a simple mineralogical composition including magnetite, pyrite, chalcopyrite, hematite and iron hydroxides. The Siriz granitoid pluton is composed of quartz syenite, quartz monzonite, syenite and syenogabbro, with a calc–alkaline origin. Based on geochemical studies and classification, this pluton shows A-type characteristics with A1 subclass, originated from a mantle source. The Siriz skarn mineralization system consists of Siriz granitoid pluton as heat and mineralization source, skarn zone, massive magnetite iron ore lenses and veins, and metamorphosed dolomitic limestone (marble). An advance contact metamorphism between Siriz pluton and the dolomitic limestone of Kuhbanan Formation originated a calcic marble with granoblastic texture with garnet-wollastonitemarble (calcite) assemblage in limestone and garnet-clinopyroxene-phlogopite assemblage in dolomitic limestone. The Ca(-Mg) silicate minerals formed at this stage are mainly anhydrous and are not associated with iron mineralization. The peripheral high temperature magmatic-hydrothermal system changed to lower temperature system during the progressive cooling of the Siriz granitoid pluton,. This stage was recognized by formation of epidote, tremolite–actinolite, biotite, muscovite, chlorite, talc, calcite and quartz mineral assemblage in the Siriz iron deposit skarn unit. The association of iron mineralization and the late retrograde mineral assemblages, suggests that the iron mineralization is probably related to the fluid mixing with cooler meteoric water and decline in ore fluid temperature.
A. Zohdi; S. A. Moallemi; M. A. Salehi
Abstract
In the Zagros sedimentary basin, the maximum thickness of the Guri Member carbonates is belonging to the eastern parts of the Bandar-Abbas region. In this research, the Guri Member in five outcrops at the Bandar-Abbas region has been sedimentological and stratigraphic studied. The Guri Member mainly ...
Read More
In the Zagros sedimentary basin, the maximum thickness of the Guri Member carbonates is belonging to the eastern parts of the Bandar-Abbas region. In this research, the Guri Member in five outcrops at the Bandar-Abbas region has been sedimentological and stratigraphic studied. The Guri Member mainly consists of limestone with interbedded marl with a variable thickness from 540 m at the Handun outcrop to 52 m at the Nakh outcrop. According to facies study and using the 87Sr/86 Sr isotopic ratio (amounts 0.708522 and 0.708790 values) of the basal carbonate layers of this member, the beginning sedimentation of these deposits occur during the Burdigalian and Langian times within the five carbonate facies. Fieldwork observations and facies distribution suggested a shelf carbonate platform for deposition of the Guri Member at the Bandar-Abbas region. Petrographic investigation in addition to trace elements (Sr, Mn and Fe) and isotopic (oxygen and carbon) geochemical analyses, also indicate the main influence of the marine to shallow-burial diagenetic process with the marine fluids after primary deposition of the Guri Member. The comparison of the oxygen and carbon isotope values of the Guri samples with the least-altered oxygen and carbon range for the early to middle Miocene marine calcite and also the more variations of the oxygen isotope values (between -1.19‰ to -5.39‰ PDB), and lees variations of carbon isotope values (between -1.05‰ to 2.2‰ PDB), indicate the effects of shallow-burial fluids (marine-phreatic) on the carbonate of the Guri Member.
M Ebrahimi; H Kouhestani; M.A.A Mokhtari; M Feizi
Abstract
The Aqkand area is located at 48 km north of Zanjan and is a part of the Tarom subzone within the Western Alborz-Azerbaijan structural zone. Acidic rocks exposed in this area consist of Oligocene rhyolite-rhyodacite, perlite, pitchstone and ignimbrite. Rhyolites and rhyodacites are exposed as domes and ...
Read More
The Aqkand area is located at 48 km north of Zanjan and is a part of the Tarom subzone within the Western Alborz-Azerbaijan structural zone. Acidic rocks exposed in this area consist of Oligocene rhyolite-rhyodacite, perlite, pitchstone and ignimbrite. Rhyolites and rhyodacites are exposed as domes and lava flows. Perlites are located at the lower parts of the rhyolitic-rhyodacitic domes. Geochemical investigations indicate calc-alkaline nature along with magmatic arc affinity for the studied rocks. These rocks are characterized by LREE-rich patterns with high LREE/HREE ratio and distinctive negative Eu anomaly. Positive anomalies of Rb, Pb and Th on the spider diagrams suggest continental crust involvement in the genesis and evolution of the parental magma. Based on tectonic setting discrimination diagrams, Aqkand acidic rocks are plotted in the post-collision tectonic setting. In overall petrographic, petrologic and geochemical evidence demonstrate that during the final stages of the continental collision, the thickened sub-continental lithosphere in the Alborz was delaminated and replaced by hot asthenospheric mantle. Rapid upwelling of hot asthenosphere gave rise to the partial melting of sub-continental lithosphere which produced the Oligocene basaltic rocks of the study area. Emplacement of basaltic magma in the upper part of the continental crust led to the partial melting of the crust and generation of the acidic magmas. Rapid cooling of acidic lavas led to the generation of glassy rocks such as obsidian which are changed to perlite in contact with meteoric and warm waters.
A Abedini
Abstract
The Basir-Abad area (northeast of Ahar, East-Azarbaidjan province) is a part of the Cenozoic Ahar-Arasbaran magmatic belt in northwest of Iran. Intrusion of granitic and granodioritic igneous rocks of Oligocene age into the Eocene volcanic rocks (andesite, trachy-andesite, andesi-basalt and basalt) resulted ...
Read More
The Basir-Abad area (northeast of Ahar, East-Azarbaidjan province) is a part of the Cenozoic Ahar-Arasbaran magmatic belt in northwest of Iran. Intrusion of granitic and granodioritic igneous rocks of Oligocene age into the Eocene volcanic rocks (andesite, trachy-andesite, andesi-basalt and basalt) resulted in occurrence of metallic mineralization along with development of widespread alteration zones in this area. Mineralogical studies indicate that these alteration zones include silicic (quartz), intermediate and advanced argillic (kaolinite, smectite, quartz and alunite), and propylitic (chlorite, epidote, albite and calcite). Hypogene ores within veins and veinlets of silicic alteration zone contain pyrite, chalcopyrite and galena accompanied by covellite, copper-carbonate minerals (malachite and azurite) and iron-oxides and- hydroxides (goethite, limonite and hematite) of supergene origin. The distribution patterns of REEs normalized to chondrite display differentiation and enrichment of LREEs relative to HREEs and occurrence of variant negative Eu anomalies in all alteration zones. Mass balance calculations of elements, using isocon method, indicate that during development and evolution of the silicic and the intermediate argillic alteration zones, REEs experienced enrichment in the former and depletion in the latter. Furthermore, development of advanced argillic and propylitic alteration zones was accompanied by enrichment of LREEs and selective depletion of HREEs. Further investigation revealed that occurrence of negative Eu anomaly (0.20-0.23) in silicic alteration zone is related to abundance of chloride ions, increase of oxygen fugacity of hydrothermal system and highly acidic nature of the fluid. The results obtained from geochemical studies (mass balance calculations, changes in values of Eu and Ce anomalies and ratios of REEs) suggest that changes of pH, temperature, oxygen fugacity, difference in abundance and type of complexing ions in solution, fluid/rock ratio, and presence of minerals such as kaolinite, goethite, smectite, hematite and alunite played important role in differentiation, mobilization and distribution of lanthanides in the studied alteration system.
H Atapour
Abstract
The Quaternary aeolian sands occur in northern and southern parts of the urban areas of the Kerman city. The important aeolian and interlayered sedimentary structures are cross- bedding and ripple mark. Diameter of the aeolian sands ranges from 0.06 to 2 mm, but coarse- grained (gravel size) alluvial ...
Read More
The Quaternary aeolian sands occur in northern and southern parts of the urban areas of the Kerman city. The important aeolian and interlayered sedimentary structures are cross- bedding and ripple mark. Diameter of the aeolian sands ranges from 0.06 to 2 mm, but coarse- grained (gravel size) alluvial deposits are interlayered within the aeolian sands. Mineralogy and petrography of the aeolian sands indicate the presence of rock fragments (30 % carbonate, 25 % igneous and 5 % metamorphic rocks), silicate minerals (15 %) and non-silicate minerals (25 %). The Aeolian sands contain calcite (10%), quartz - chert (12%), alkali feldspar- plagioclase (5%), iron-titanium oxides (5%), clinopyroxene (2%), amphibole (1%) and gypsum (5%). Normative minerals include 30% calcite, 15.4% quartz, 12.5% orthoclase, 10% albite, 2.5% anorthite, 2% diopside, 1% enstatite, 4.6% clay minerals, 0.37% apatite, 3% gypsum, 3% hematite, 0.45% brookite and 10% dolomite. Major element composition of 22 aeolian samples analyzed by XRF and ICP-OES methods shows the frequent occurrence of calcium oxide and lower content of silica compared to the aeolian sands of other regions of the world, though the other major oxides are similar to the aeolian sands of Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Namibia. Geochemical diagrams of K2O/Al2O3 versus Na2O/Al2O3and SiO2/Al2O3versus Fe2O3/K2Oand Na2O/K2O suggest a combined provenance of the igneous, metamorphic and carbonate sedimentary rocks for the aeolian sands around the urban areas of the Kerman city.
S. A. Majidi; M. Lotfi; M. H. Emami; N. Nezafati
Abstract
The Origin of Iron Oxide-Apatite deposits (IOA) with low Ti or Kiruna type deposits has long been a matter of debate. In this case, several provenances have been proposed for these deposits which include: magmatic, magmatic-hydrothermal, hydrothermal, banded iron formations, and sedimentary-exhalative. ...
Read More
The Origin of Iron Oxide-Apatite deposits (IOA) with low Ti or Kiruna type deposits has long been a matter of debate. In this case, several provenances have been proposed for these deposits which include: magmatic, magmatic-hydrothermal, hydrothermal, banded iron formations, and sedimentary-exhalative. Bafq-Saghand metallogenic zone is located in central Iran and hosts several large IOA type deposits including Chadormalu, Choghart, Se-Chahun, and Esfordi with nearly ~1500 mt ore with an average grade of 55%. Mineralization of REE-rich apatite is very common in these deposits, an issue that could be utilized for the study of their genesis. Fifteen apatite samples from the deposits of Chadormalu, Choghart, Se-Chahun, and Esfordi were taken and analyzed using LA ICP-MS. According to the geochemical analysis, the apatite of the abovemnetioned deposits show high enrichment of Y, Na, and Si, while very low content of Cl. Total REE content varies from 0.36-2.25% in which the LREE show an enrichment indicating strongly fractionation from HREE. Strong negative Eu anomaly (0.69-0.256) is observed. Sr and Y contents in apatites are 165-365 and 743-1410 ppm, respectively. The Fe-OH-Cl diagram shows that apatites is situated in the Hydroxil-fluoroapatite domain. The results show that these deposits are similar to those of IOA type deposits (e.g. Kiruna, El Laco, Abagong, Avnik, etc.). Apatite mineralization is unlikely related to carbonatitic magmatism, but situated in the Kiruna type and mafic rocks domain. The main mineralization event was likely related to tonalite-trondhjemite-granodiorite (TTG) and diorite-granite of arc magmatism (525-532 Ma) which were intruded into the Cambrian volcano sedimentary units (as country rock). Then the hydrothermal processes following alkaline intrusion (syenite and monzosyenite) led to mineralization. In general, the iron oxide-apatite (IOA) mineralization with low Ti has occurred through the magmatic-hydrothermal processes in the Bafgh-Saghand zone.
S. M. Heidari; M. Ghaderi; H. Kouhestani
Abstract
Arabshah gold deposit formed through hydrothermal activity with an age of ~11 Ma (based on zircon U-Pb dating by LA-ICP-MS), in northwestern Iran. This hydrothermal activity is a part of the Urumieh-Dokhtar magmatic arc (UDMA), leading to mineralization in this area, similar to Zarshouran, Aghdarreh ...
Read More
Arabshah gold deposit formed through hydrothermal activity with an age of ~11 Ma (based on zircon U-Pb dating by LA-ICP-MS), in northwestern Iran. This hydrothermal activity is a part of the Urumieh-Dokhtar magmatic arc (UDMA), leading to mineralization in this area, similar to Zarshouran, Aghdarreh and Sarigunay gold deposits. Host rocks are a series of lower Paleozoic sedimentary sequences, cut by calc-alkaline to alkaline (high potassium) dacitic domes. Gold mineralization is mainly observed as vein-veinlets, open space filling, disseminated and brecciation in the deposit. The mineralization in terms of hydrothermal alteration (decalcification, minor argillic, sulfidization, dolomitization and silicification) and mineralization development process is associated with brecciation and deposition of base metal sulfides, iron, arsenic and antimony, similar to deposits associated with geothermal systems (low sulfidation epithermal) in volcanic arcs, but the host rock here is sedimentary. Sulfide minerals in the ore include pyrite, arsenopyrite, orpiment and realgar, stibnite, galena, sphalerite and minor amounts of chalcopyrite. Gold mineralization occurred in the form of released grains of oxidized pyrite, the tiny (invisible) in the sulfide phases such as arsenian pyrite for solid solution. The Arabshah deposit shows characteristic alteration assemblages and ore minerals (As, Sb, Hg, base metals) of epithermal low sulfidation deposits. It has been formed in relation to the mid-upper Miocene, high-level magmatic-hydrothermal activity within an extensional regime at the last stages of the UDMA activity in northwestern Iran.
A. Abedini
Abstract
Intrusion of quartz-monzodioritic igneous bodies of Oligocene age into the Eocene lithic crystal tuffs and trachy-basalts resulted in occurrence of widespread argillic alteration zone in the Jizvan area (Tarom-Hashtjin zone). Mineralogical studies indicate that this alteration zone includes kaolinite, ...
Read More
Intrusion of quartz-monzodioritic igneous bodies of Oligocene age into the Eocene lithic crystal tuffs and trachy-basalts resulted in occurrence of widespread argillic alteration zone in the Jizvan area (Tarom-Hashtjin zone). Mineralogical studies indicate that this alteration zone includes kaolinite, quartz, smectite, pyrophyllite, muscovite-illite, alunite, rutile, calcite, feldspar, chlorite, hematite and goethite minerals. Hypogene ore minerals within the silicic-carbonatic veins and veinlets of argillic alteration zone contain chalcopyrite, galena and pyrite accompanied by goethite, malachite and azurite of supergene origin. Mass changes calculations of elements with assumption of Al as a monitor immobile element indicate that elements such as Ti, P, Th, Nb, Ta, Y and Zr have suffered leaching during argillization of lithic crystal tuffs. This abnormal behaviour is in relation to low pH of altering solutions, high water/rock ratio, abundance of complexing ions and suitable drainage system. The distribution pattern of REEs normalized to chondrite shows differentiation and enrichment of LREEs relative to HREEs and occurrence of negative Eu and Ce anomalies during argillization of lithic crystal tuffs. Geochemical investigations reveal that occurrence of negative Ce anomaly (0.49-0.92) is in relation to the destruction of zircon by acidic-oxidizing fluids. Negative Eu anomaly (0.23-0.73) and mass loss of elements such as Si, Fe, K, Rb, Cs, Sr and Ba indicate destruction of plagioclase and hornblende by strongly acidic hydrothermal fluids and high oxygen fugacity of environment. The correlation coefficients between elements display the controlling role of Mn-oxides in distribution and concentration of REEs, Pb, Zn and Cu. Mineralogical and geochemical evidence such as presence of pyrophyllite, alunite and rutile, enrichment of LREEs relative to HREEs, low values of La+Ce+Y, negative Ce anomaly and strong positive correlations between (LREEs/HREEs)N-LOI and (La/Lu)N-P suggest that the development and evolution of argillic alteration zone in the Jizvan area is affiliated to hypogene processes.
B. Hosseini; A. R. Ahmadi; M. Ghanbari Dolatabadi
Abstract
A suite of dykes at the north of Mashad –Ardehal which intruded into the Eocene volcanic and sedimentary rocks represents part of Tertiary volcanism in middle part of the Urumieh-Dokhtar magmatic belt. The rocks are cogenetic and are mainly basaltic andesite, andesite and trachy andesite ...
Read More
A suite of dykes at the north of Mashad –Ardehal which intruded into the Eocene volcanic and sedimentary rocks represents part of Tertiary volcanism in middle part of the Urumieh-Dokhtar magmatic belt. The rocks are cogenetic and are mainly basaltic andesite, andesite and trachy andesite in composition and belong to tholeiitic and medium-K calc alkaline series. Chondrite-normalized REE patterns exhibit moderate enrichment in LREE relative to MREE. Enrichment in LILE and depletion in HFSE relative to REE on multi-element diagrams is similar to subduction related magmatic rocks. From the geochemical point of view, these rocks demonstrate intermediate characteristics of active continental margins and island arcs settings. Geochemical evidences and also association of the magmatic rocks with green tuffite and other shallow marine sedimentary rocks suggest that the rocks generated in an extensional continental (ensialic) back-arc basin.
