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.
F Mousivand; E Rastad; M.H Emami; J Peter; M Solomon
Abstract
The Bavanat (Jian) pelitic-mafic- / Besshi-type Cu-Zn-Ag volcanogenic massive sulfide deposit locates in the Bavanat area, South Sanandaj-Sirjan zone. Mineralization occurs as two stratigraphic ore horizons discontinuously within the Surian metamorphosed volcano-sedimentary complex through more than ...
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The Bavanat (Jian) pelitic-mafic- / Besshi-type Cu-Zn-Ag volcanogenic massive sulfide deposit locates in the Bavanat area, South Sanandaj-Sirjan zone. Mineralization occurs as two stratigraphic ore horizons discontinuously within the Surian metamorphosed volcano-sedimentary complex through more than 35 km in the area. Stratigraphicaly, from footwall toward hangingwall, four ore facieses were distinguished within the Bavanat (Jian) orebodies including: 1) vein-veinlets or stringer, 2) vent complex, 3) bedded-banded, and 4) hydrothermal-exhalative sediments. The ores have various primary and secondary textures and structures, although most of the primary ones were obscured during metamorphism and deformation. The relict primary textures include massive, semi-massive, banded, brecciated, disseminated and vein-veinlet ores. In the stringer and specially in the vent complex facies, chalcopyrite replaced pyrite indicating influx of a hot copper-rich fluid into the pyrite-rich massive ores during zone refining process. Also, a metal and mineralogical zonation is obsereved in the Bavanat deposit. The major wall rock alterations in the Bavanat deposit from center to margins are silicic, quartz-chlorite, chloritic, chlorite-carbonate and chlorite-sericite, which show zonal pattern. Based on electron microprobe studies, chlorite is of iron-rich type. The abundant pyrrhotite in the Bavanat deposit might be due to low oxygen and sulfur fogacity, and occurrence of abundant chlinochlor in the alteration zones may indicate low pH (between 4.3 and 5.3) conditions for the ore-forming fluids. The high amounts of Cu and Zn, and low amounts of Pb, along with fluid inclusion studies results indicate high temprature (300-350 °C) for the ore fluids. Based on this study, the ore fluids responsibe for formation of the Bavanat deposit were hot, reduced and acidic, which entered into a confined marine basins, followed by ore deposition.
M Shademan; A.R Arab-Amiri; H Kheyrollahi; D Rajabi
Abstract
Frequency Domain Electromagnetic surveys are being used for various applications like mineral and water exploration, environmental hazards and buried human-made materials because of its resolution and fast acquisition for low depth targets. Resistivity and its depth for each frequency could be calculated ...
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Frequency Domain Electromagnetic surveys are being used for various applications like mineral and water exploration, environmental hazards and buried human-made materials because of its resolution and fast acquisition for low depth targets. Resistivity and its depth for each frequency could be calculated in a simpler approach and shorter time than Iterative Inversion Method, Called Straight or Fast Inversion Methods, by assuming earth as a homogeneous half space. Barika’s Anomaly situated in Alut Geology 1:100,000 sheets in west Azerbaijan is studied in order to prospect gold_ lead mineralization which has been detected in systematic geochemical and litho-geochemical surveys. In this paper we studied different Fast Inversion algorithms for synthetic data then applied the best method for real data. Resistivity distribution for each frequency produced and appropriate interpretation according to geology acquired. The results showed that there is a good correlation between low resistivity and shear zones. Also geology map can be modified with higher frequency resistivity.
F Mousivand; E Rastad; M.H Emami; J.M Peter
Abstract
Various types of volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposits occurred within the northern and southern parts of the Sanandaj-Sirjan zone (SSZ). The most important VMS deposits of the south SSZ includes the Bavanat Cu-Zn-Ag (pelitic mafic- or Besshi-type), Sargaz Cu-Zn (bimodal mafic- or Noranda-type), ...
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Various types of volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposits occurred within the northern and southern parts of the Sanandaj-Sirjan zone (SSZ). The most important VMS deposits of the south SSZ includes the Bavanat Cu-Zn-Ag (pelitic mafic- or Besshi-type), Sargaz Cu-Zn (bimodal mafic- or Noranda-type), and Chahgaz Zn-Pb-Cu (silicicalstic felsic-or Bathurst-type) deposits, and the north SSZ hosts the Barika gold-rich (bimodal felsic- or Kuroko-type) VMS deposit. Comparison of the VMS deposits, and investigating of possible relationship between formation of these deposits and tectono-magmatic processes within the SSZ indicate formation of all the deposits within intra-arc rift basins related to subduction of the Neo-Tethyan oceanic crust beneath the Iranian plate during Mesozoic period. Main reasons for formation of the different VMS types within the SSZ might be due to evolution of magma nature and intra-arc rift basins. Comparison between the deposits in many aspects including host and associated rock types and ore mineral paragenesis indicate clear differences between the Bavanat and Sargaz deposits and the Chahgaz deposit. It is inferred that the differences could be due to variations in magma compositions, i.e., felsic in the Chahgaz, and mafic in the Bavanat and Sargaz host sequences. Indeed, development of the intra-arc rifting was at early/nascent stage in the Bavanat and Sargaz regions and at mature stage in the Chahgaz area.The SSZ (particularly the southern part) due to hosting various VMS type deposits and involving the known largest and majority VMS deposits in Iran is the most attractive structural zone for VMS exploration.
F. Mousivand; E. Rastad; M. H. Emami; J. M. Peter; M. Solomon
Abstract
Zn-Pb-Cu mineralization in the Chahgaz area, located 60 km south of Shahre Babak, occurs within a Middle Jurassic metamorphosed bimodal volcano-sedimentary sequence in the South Sanandaj-Sirjan zone. Mineralization occurs associated with exhalites within units 1and 2 of the host sequence as numerous ...
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Zn-Pb-Cu mineralization in the Chahgaz area, located 60 km south of Shahre Babak, occurs within a Middle Jurassic metamorphosed bimodal volcano-sedimentary sequence in the South Sanandaj-Sirjan zone. Mineralization occurs associated with exhalites within units 1and 2 of the host sequence as numerous occurrences, and within unit 3 as Chahgaz deposit and some occurrences hosted by meta-rhyolitic tuff, meta-rhyolite, and meta-pelites, as predominantly stratiform, tabular and sheeted-like orebodies at specific stratigraphic horizons. Ore textures include massive, semi-massive, banded, laminated, disseminated and vein-veinlets. Ore minerals are predominantly pyrite, sphalerite, galena, chalcopyrite, tetrahedrite, arsenopyrite, and minor bornite and pyrrhotite, and gangue minerals include dominantly sericite, quartz, chlorite and barite. Wallrock alteration is dominated by sericitic and chloritic and minor carbonatic and silicic types. Altered host rocks have been foliated due to metamorphism and deformation, and along with the associated ores have been folded and faulted and show cataclastic, triple junctions, pressure shadows, crenulations, and boudinage features. Based on geological, mineralogical, geochemical and alteration studies, it is inferred that Zn-Pb-Cu mineralization in the Chahgaz area has occurred as volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS)-type in an arc rift basin, and has subsequently been metamorphosed under greenschist facies conditions during the Late Cimmerian and Laramid orogenies and younger events. This mineralization, in comparison with similar deposits in the world, has the most similarities with those deposits of siliciclastic felsic-type in the Bathurst Mining Camp, Canada, and Iberian Pyrite Belt in Spain and Portugal; and it is the first recognition of this type in Iran.
zahra badrzadeh; M. Sabzehei; E. Rastad; M. H. Emami; D. Gimeno
Abstract
The Sargaz massive sulfide deposit is situated near Jiroft (south-east Kerman), in the southern Sanandaj-Sirjan Zone. The host rocks are Upper Triassic to lower Jurassic(?) pillow basalt. The occurrence of mineralization in basaltic to basaltic andesite, the existence of Jaspilite and Fe-Mn horizons ...
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The Sargaz massive sulfide deposit is situated near Jiroft (south-east Kerman), in the southern Sanandaj-Sirjan Zone. The host rocks are Upper Triassic to lower Jurassic(?) pillow basalt. The occurrence of mineralization in basaltic to basaltic andesite, the existence of Jaspilite and Fe-Mn horizons in distal part of the deposit, the occurrence of a stringer zone discordantly under massive ore, the presence of pyrite as the main sulfide mineral, brecciated textures and mineralogical zonation in the massive ore, all suggest that the Sargaz deposit can be classified as a volanogenic massive sulfide deposit. The mineralogy is reasonably simple, with pyrite being the main sulfide mineral, with lesser chalcopyrite and sphalerite. On the basis of different generation of minerals, shape, size, their mutual geometry, relative timing of crosscutting structures and replacement features, brecciated textures and mineralogical zonation indicate that the growth history of the Sargaz deposit was complex due to syn and post depositional processes. Based on mineralogical, textural and paragenetic relationships, four principal stages of mineralization are recognized. Stage I mainly consist of fine grained pyrite (As rich), and locally sphalerite, quartz and barite. Framboidal pyrite, colloform pyrite and sphalerite were formed during this stage. After stage 1 mineralization, collapse of the sulfide mounds took place probably due to dissolution of anhydrite matrix, producing accumulations of pyrite breccias. Following this mound collapse, during stage II, pyrite (Co rich), sphalerite, tetrahedrite-tenantite and galena were formed as euhedral and coarse grains. Stage III deposits consist of chalcopyrite replacements and zone refining process. During this stage, due to zone refining, a chalcopyrite-pyrite zone was developed at the lower part of the massive sulfide lens and a sphalerite-rich zone formed in the upper part. During stage IV, over refining process, led to the dissolution of stage III chalcopyrite and base-metal depleted pyrite body in the lowermost part of the massive sulfide lens and carbonate veins were emplaced into the sulfide lens replacing earlier barite.