Economic Geology
Fatemeh Esmaeili; Fardin mousivand; Mahmoud Sadeghian; Seyed Mehran Heidari
Abstract
Miandasht copper deposit is located in 110 km east of Shahrood, 24km north west of Abbasabad, and in the Cenozoic volcanic belt of north of Central Iran zone. The major rock units of the study area have Eocene age and include submarine flows (andesite, basalt, and trachyandesit), pyroclastic (tuff breccia ...
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Miandasht copper deposit is located in 110 km east of Shahrood, 24km north west of Abbasabad, and in the Cenozoic volcanic belt of north of Central Iran zone. The major rock units of the study area have Eocene age and include submarine flows (andesite, basalt, and trachyandesit), pyroclastic (tuff breccia and agglomerate) and sedimentary complex (Nomullitic limestone, tuffacous limestone, shale, sandstone and conglomerate). Mineralization in the Miandasht copper deposit occurred as parallel to layering of the host rocks (tuff breccia and agglomerate), and also along with cross- cutting faults of the host rocks in form of stratabound and epigenetic ores. The main ore textures include vein- veinlets, open space filling, disseminated and replacement. The Ores contain primary pyrite, chalcopyrite, chalcocite, bornit, and secondary covellite, chalcocite, malachite, hematite and limonite. The most important wall rock alterations accompanied with mineralization are carbonatic- silicic, sericitic, argillic, and chloritic, and that the amound of carbonatization and silicification increases with closing to mineralization zones. According to geochemical studies, tectonic setting of the deposit was extensional environment formed in a continental margin volcanic arc. Based on essential characteristics of the copper mineralization such as tectonic setting, host rocks, mineralogy, and type of alterations, the Miandasht copper deposit shows many similarities with Manto- type deposits, dominantly formed during orogeny, folding and faulting of the host sequence. It should be mentiond that some charachteristic features of the Miandasht copper deposit including development of argillic alteration, and lack of extensive zeolitic alteration, distinguishes it from other copper deposits in the region including Abbasabad deposit.
Economic Geology
Zahra Kaboodi; Majid Ghaderi; Ebrahim Rastad
Abstract
The Kahak copper deposit occurs in the Eocene volcano-sedimentary sequence of Qom region, Urumieh-Dokhtar magmatic arc. The oldest rock unit in this sequence is a crystal tuff, overlain by tuff, andesite, sandstone, conglomerate, and limestone. Host rocks to the Kahak deposit include andesite and tuff, ...
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The Kahak copper deposit occurs in the Eocene volcano-sedimentary sequence of Qom region, Urumieh-Dokhtar magmatic arc. The oldest rock unit in this sequence is a crystal tuff, overlain by tuff, andesite, sandstone, conglomerate, and limestone. Host rocks to the Kahak deposit include andesite and tuff, and the geometry of mineralization is stratabound. Mineralographical studies show that the ore minerals are pyrite, chalcopyrite, chalcocite, native copper, bornite, galena, covellite, digenite, and malachite accompanied by magnetite, and hematite. Based on mineralogical studies, two types of alteration are recognized in the volcanic rocks of the area, general alteration, and ore mineral alteration. The propylitic alteration is an indication of general alteration. The main alteration types in the mineralized zone of the deposit include carbonatization, silicification, chloritization, epidotization, and zeolitic. Dissemination, open space filling, vein-veinlet, pseudo-lamination, and replacement are the major textures and structures of the ore minerals at Kahak. Two major stages are distinguished for mineralization at the Kahak deposit. The first stage is volcanism and pyrite formation in the host rocks (andesite and tuff), producing reduction state. The second stage involves diagenesis and entering Cu-rich oxidant fluids replacing Cu for Fe in the pyrite and forming Cu-sulfides and hematite and mineralization. The Kahak copper deposit shows high similarities in geometry, host rock, mineralogy, texture and structure and genetic model with the Manto-type copper deposits worldwide.
Sedimentology
Mohadeseh Janbaz; Hassan Mohseni; Alireza Piryaei; Rudy Swennen; Bizhan Yousefi Yeganeh; Hassan Soradeghi Sufiani
Abstract
Middle-late Eocene Shahbazan Formation is exposed in the Lurestan area (Zagros region). The diagenetic features have been studied based on the data from five surface sections and four additional exploration wells. This investigation was carried out on the petrography of 700 thin sections, Cathodoluminescence ...
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Middle-late Eocene Shahbazan Formation is exposed in the Lurestan area (Zagros region). The diagenetic features have been studied based on the data from five surface sections and four additional exploration wells. This investigation was carried out on the petrography of 700 thin sections, Cathodoluminescence on 40 thin polished samples, Scanning Electron Microscope on six samples and Electron Probe Micro-Analysis on 11 thin polished sections. the most conspicuous diagenetic processes affected on the Shahbazan Formation are dolomitization, cementation, neomorphism, physical and chemical compaction, dissolution and dedolomitization, of which dolomitization is the most important. Dolomite distribution in studied sections suggest that fluid flow was probably toward SW of studied area, since the extend of dolomitization waning in this direction. Since the dolomites of the Shahbazan Formation are overlain by the Asmari Formation, the dolomitization predates deposition of the Asmari Formation and occurred in eogenesis. Majority of calcite cements deposited before dolomitization in eogenesis, excluding parts of the blocky and poikiotopic calcite which may form in telogenetic and mesogenetic realms respectively. Degrading neomorphism occurred in marine realm. Part of dissolution occurred in meteoric vadose of eogenesis. Compaction commenced in meogenesis with increasing over burden due to deposition of the Shahbazan Formation and culminated after deposition of the Asmari and Gachsaran Formations. Telogentic processes caused dissolution and dedolomitization of the Shahbazan Formation due to exhumation. by the exception of dedolomitization and neomorphism, other diagenetic features are occurred in all studied sections.
S Hassanpour; S. Alirezaei
Abstract
The Masjeddgaghi Cu-Au deposit is located to the southeast of the Arasbaran zone, NW Iran, to the south of the Lesser Caucasus. Mineralization in Masjeddaghi is associated with an Eocene dioritic subvolcanic pluton intruded into older volcanic and sedimentary rocks. The Masjeddaghi intrusive body is ...
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The Masjeddgaghi Cu-Au deposit is located to the southeast of the Arasbaran zone, NW Iran, to the south of the Lesser Caucasus. Mineralization in Masjeddaghi is associated with an Eocene dioritic subvolcanic pluton intruded into older volcanic and sedimentary rocks. The Masjeddaghi intrusive body is high-K, calc alkaline, and meta-aluminous, and formed in an island arc subduction/collision setting. Hydrothermal alteration is distinguished by a potassic core marked by secondary biotite and K-spar that grades outward into a chlorite-rich propylitic halo. The ore minerals include chalcopyrite, associated with minor chalcocite, bornite, tetrahedrite, and trace molybdenite. Pyrite and magnetite are common associates. The Masjeddaghi deposit is elliptical in plan view, 500 x 400 m in diameters, and mineralization has been traced for several hundred meters from surface exposures. 40Ar/39Ar geochronology on secondary biotite from potassic alteration zone indicates that mineralization, and by corollary, the emplacement and crystallization of the Masjeddaghi porphyritic intrusion, occurred in 54.07 ± 0.53 Ma. The Masjeddaghi ore deposit shows geology, mineralization and alteration characteristics comparable to those typical of island arc type porphyry Cu-Au systems. Masjeddaghi ore deposit shows geology, mineralization and alteration characteristics similar to island arc porphyry type systems.
H Mosaddegh; M Hadi; M Parandavar
Abstract
The Eocene marine deposits in the Chenarbu section in Torbat-e-Jam region (eastern part of Central Iran Zone) have been biostratigraphically studied based on large benthic foraminifera coincide with Shallow Benthic Zones (SBZ) and Calcareous Nannofossils, according to standard worldwide zones (NP). This ...
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The Eocene marine deposits in the Chenarbu section in Torbat-e-Jam region (eastern part of Central Iran Zone) have been biostratigraphically studied based on large benthic foraminifera coincide with Shallow Benthic Zones (SBZ) and Calcareous Nannofossils, according to standard worldwide zones (NP). This investigation has been conducted on carbonate sediments with a focus on large benthic foraminifera assemblage such as Eorupertia magna (La Calvaz), Fabiania cassis (Oppenheim), Eoannulariaeoconica (Cole ve Bermudez), Gypsina sp., Textularia sp., Nummulites perforatus (De Montfort) Nummulites sp., Discocyclina sp., Rotalia sp., Acervulina sp., and calcareous nannofossils such as Cribrocentrum reticulatum, Sphenolithus obtusus, Sphenolithus spiniger, Sphenolithus editus, Helicosphaera compacta, Coccolithus pelagicus, Coccolithus eopelagicus, Reticulofenestra sp., Discoaster sp., Discoaster siapanensis, Discoaster barbadiensis. Therefore, based on the determined index species, the SBZ15?- 17 biozones of large benthic foraminifera and the NP16 biozone of calcareous nannofossils in the studied section have been detected which both assign the Late Lutetian- Early Bartonian (Middle Eocene) age for the section.Also, the Lutetian- Bartonian boundary according to index calcareous nannofossil species was separated carefully, and the first appearance of the foraminifera species of N. perforatus (de Montfort) in the middle part of the deposited sequence was recorded during geological time of the Bartonian stage. Therefore, this fact points that in Iran alike western parts of the Tethys basin, the first appearance of N. perforatus (de Montfort) occurred in Early Barthonian (SBZ17). Systematic of Nummulites perforatus (de Montfort) was described based on typological and biometrical characterization.
M Vahidinia; M Vahdati Rad; A Sadeghi
Abstract
Planktonic foraminifera of the Khangiran Formation that represents the last marine deposits in the Kopeh-Dagh basin and exposed in the Chehel-Kaman synclinal entrance (west of Sarakhs) studied in this article. A sum of 32 species belonging to 11 genera of planktonic foraminifera were recorded allowing ...
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Planktonic foraminifera of the Khangiran Formation that represents the last marine deposits in the Kopeh-Dagh basin and exposed in the Chehel-Kaman synclinal entrance (west of Sarakhs) studied in this article. A sum of 32 species belonging to 11 genera of planktonic foraminifera were recorded allowing erection of seven biozones from E4 ـ E11.indicating an age ofYpresian-Lutetian for this Formation. Based on the statistical analysis of planktonic foraminifera of the Khangiran Formation, the low and common abundances of Subbotina genus and its rare of appearance and disappearance in the upper samples of the formation and the low abundance of Catapsydrax and Parasubbotina genera and the high abundance of Acarinina genus throughout this formation indicate a warm water and intermediate trophic conditions for the depositional course of this formation in this basin.
S.Z Hosseini
Abstract
The Eocene mafic lava flows of Sarcheshmehare cropped out in the southwest of Rafsanjan area at the central part of the Urmia – Dokhtar magmatic belt. The rocks are basalt, basaltic andesite and andesite in composition and consist of clinopyroxene + plagioclase ± olivine ± hornblende phenocrysts. ...
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The Eocene mafic lava flows of Sarcheshmehare cropped out in the southwest of Rafsanjan area at the central part of the Urmia – Dokhtar magmatic belt. The rocks are basalt, basaltic andesite and andesite in composition and consist of clinopyroxene + plagioclase ± olivine ± hornblende phenocrysts. The geochemical characteristics show calc-alkaline nature for the lavas that are formed in an active continental margin tectonic environment. Low amounts of MgO, Cr and Ni in the Sarcheshmeh Eocene basaltic lavas points to the role of evolution in their parental magma. The MORB normalized multi-element patterns of the lava flows show enrichment in LILE (e.g. Sr, K, Rb and Ba) and depletion in HFSE (e.g. Ta, Nb and Ti). The Chondrite-normalized REE patterns show moderate enrichments in LREE with (La/Yb)n< 3 for all samples. The geochemical features such as (La/Yb)n
F Chegeni; D Baghebani; S.H Vaziri; T Mohtat; N Kohansal Ghadimvand
Abstract
For the purpose of biozonation of the Pabdeh Formation (Middle-Upper Eocene) based on planktonic foraminifera, a stratigraphic section in the southern slope of the Mishan Mountain and another in the Eshgar Mountain were studied. The thickness of these sections is 162.5 and 150 meters, respectively. The ...
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For the purpose of biozonation of the Pabdeh Formation (Middle-Upper Eocene) based on planktonic foraminifera, a stratigraphic section in the southern slope of the Mishan Mountain and another in the Eshgar Mountain were studied. The thickness of these sections is 162.5 and 150 meters, respectively. The Pabdeh Formation in the southern slope of the Mishan Mountain consists of marl, marly limestone, shale and limestone, and in the Eshgar Mountain includes alternating cream limestone and thin-bedded marl. In this study, most of the identified microfauna are Planktonic foraminifera. Identified Planktonic and benthic foraminifers in the southern slope of the Mishan Mountain include 18 genera and 8 species, and in the Eshgar Mountain include 21 genera and 10 species. Also four biozones are introduced of which one belongs to the Mishan Mountain and three belong to the Eshgar Mountain as follow: Hantkenina nuttalli Range Zone; Hantkenina nuttalli Turborotalia cerro-azulensis Interval Zone; Turborotalia cerro-azulensis Range Zone; Turborotalia cerro-azulensis/ Hantkenina sp. Assemblage Zone.
M Abolipour; E Rastad; N Rashidnejad Omran
Abstract
The Koshkoiye district is located in Dehaj-Sardoiye subzone of Uromieh-Dokhtar Magmatic Arc in Kerman region. There are five active mines including Palangi, Cheshmeh Khezr, Tale Dozi, Abedini, and Eghbali. The geometry of mineralization is strata-bound and hosted in the Eocene Pyrobitumen-bearing porphyritic ...
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The Koshkoiye district is located in Dehaj-Sardoiye subzone of Uromieh-Dokhtar Magmatic Arc in Kerman region. There are five active mines including Palangi, Cheshmeh Khezr, Tale Dozi, Abedini, and Eghbali. The geometry of mineralization is strata-bound and hosted in the Eocene Pyrobitumen-bearing porphyritic andesite. Bornite, chalcocite and chalcopyrite are important Cu-sulfides together with hematite. The textures and structures of mineralization are open space filling, disseminated, vein-veinlet and replacement. According to geochemical study, tectonic setting of Koshkoiye copper district is extensional back-arc, which generated together with subduction of the Dehaj-Sardoiye subzone. Abundant of Cu, Pb and Ag elements is up to 600, 5 and 2 ppm in fresh porphyritic andesite. Fluid inclusion microtermometry indicates probably basinal brine source for ore-forming fluids. The copper mines in the Koshkoiye district have a lot of similarity in mineralogy, minor element, host rock, textures and structures, geometry and genesis with each other and the Manto-type copper mineralization of the world. This type of copper mineralization in the Koshkoiye district of Rafsanjan indicates the importance of volcanic processes in copper mineralization plus plutonic processes that produces porphyry systems in the Dehaj-Sardoiye subzone. The presence of pyrobitumen in porphyritic andesite host rock causes these deposits exposure in a few pyrobitumen-bearing andesitic hosted copper deposits of the world. There are only a few of these deposits in the world and dominantly located in Chile. Two important stages could be separated for mineralization in these deposits like the other Manto-type copper mineralization. The first stage includes processes, which caused to generate pyrite and pyrobitumen in matrix of porphyritic andesite and produced a reduction state in it. The Second stage was related to importance of generation of the Cu-rich oxidation fluids, which replaced the first stage pyrite and pyrobitumen by Cu-sulfides and hematite and caused copper mineralization.
F Malek Mahmoodi; M Khalili; H Bagheri
Abstract
Kavir bentonite in the northeast of Isfahan province is a part of the Khur bentonite horizon and lies in the Central Iranian structural zone. This deposits formed by the alteration of Eocene andesite-basalts. Based on the field observation several active faults are responsible in transporting siliceous ...
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Kavir bentonite in the northeast of Isfahan province is a part of the Khur bentonite horizon and lies in the Central Iranian structural zone. This deposits formed by the alteration of Eocene andesite-basalts. Based on the field observation several active faults are responsible in transporting siliceous fluids to the surface and their precipitation as geode, jasperoid and silicic veins. Microscopic observation indicates that these fluids outward alternatively in an alkaline aqueous basin. Chemical compositions of both siliceous and bentonitic samples as well as host volcanic rock show the same trend in trace elements and support the role of this hydrothermal fluid in bentonite formation. Depletion on LILE elements and Cs Positive anomalies is observed in siliceous and bentonitic samples. Oxygen and deuterium stable isotope study document that bentonites formed in temperature of about 83ْc and hydrothermal fluids are essentially derived from a meteoric water origin.
H. Azizi; A. Akbarpour
Abstract
Volcanic rocks with mainly andesite composition and lenzoid form outcropped in the Eocene sedimentary host rocks in the east of Sanandaj. Field studies confirm that they are intercalation with the sedimentary host rocks. In thin section, those have porphyritic, glomoroporphyric microlithic and microlithic ...
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Volcanic rocks with mainly andesite composition and lenzoid form outcropped in the Eocene sedimentary host rocks in the east of Sanandaj. Field studies confirm that they are intercalation with the sedimentary host rocks. In thin section, those have porphyritic, glomoroporphyric microlithic and microlithic porphyric textures. Some texture evidences such as glassy inclusion in the center of plagioclase phenocrysts, displacement of plagioclase and mafic phenocrysts with mafic hydrate minerals imply amalgamation of volcanic activity with soft sediments in shallow water; also cracking of plagioclase phenocrysts confirms this subject. Geochemical study shows that these rocks are enriched in incompatible elements such as U, Th, Pb and depleted in Nb, and Ti elements compared with chondrites, primitive mantle and NMORB. If crustal contamination can be responsible for these changes, but as usual these anomalies imply the primary magma generated above the subduction zone. This volcanic rock may have a unique origin the same as Urumieh-Dokhtar volcanic belt.
S. A. Moallemi; M. H. Adabi; A. Sadeghi
Abstract
In order to determine the depositional environment and age of the carbonaceous Jahrum Formation, benthic foraminiferal assemblage of upper Eocene in the Jahrum Formation carbonates, located in GisakanMountain, 10 km east of the Borazjan city and adjacent fields, were studied. Based on the foraminiferal ...
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In order to determine the depositional environment and age of the carbonaceous Jahrum Formation, benthic foraminiferal assemblage of upper Eocene in the Jahrum Formation carbonates, located in GisakanMountain, 10 km east of the Borazjan city and adjacent fields, were studied. Based on the foraminiferal distribution and abundance, the paleoenvironment were reconstructed. Due to the presence of Nummulites fabianni and based on strontium isotopic analyses, the age between 33.7-35Ma (Priabonian) was determined. The mean sedimentation rate of ~ 2 m/10000 yr. was calculated. This study indicated Asmari Formation deposited after a hiatus, more than four million years (Rupelian stage). Gradual decreases of the sea level and hence the distribution of large benthic foraminifera resulted in the deposition of six sedimentary facies along the inner-middle to outer carbonate ramp system. These facies, from deep to shallow parts of the basin, include argillaceous carbonates containing planktonic foraminifera that were deposited in a hemipelagic to pelagic environment (which is the transition zone from the Pabdeh to Jahrum Formation), carbonate facies of operculina wackestone to packstone related to the outer carbonate ramp, discocyclina /nummulites wackestone to packstone facies deposited in the middle to outer ramp, nummulites wackestone facies occurred in the middle ramp, nummulites orbitolites wackestone to packstone belong to the middle to inner ramp, and finally the orbitolites/bioclast packstone deposited in the inner ramp.