Economic Geology
masoumeh Norouzi; Ali Abedini; Ali Asghar Calagari; Fatemeh Kangarani Farahani
Abstract
The kaolin occurrence in the Abolhasani-Zereshkouh area (south of Shahroud, northeast of Iran) is a product of alteration of Eocene andesitic rocks. With attention to mineralogical studies, kaolinite, quartz, chlorite, montmorillonite, illite, rutile, calcite, orthoclase, albite, vermiculite, palygorskite, ...
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The kaolin occurrence in the Abolhasani-Zereshkouh area (south of Shahroud, northeast of Iran) is a product of alteration of Eocene andesitic rocks. With attention to mineralogical studies, kaolinite, quartz, chlorite, montmorillonite, illite, rutile, calcite, orthoclase, albite, vermiculite, palygorskite, jarosite, and hematite are the mineral assemblege of this alteration occurrence. Calculations of mass balance of elements with assuming Zr as monitor immobile element show that elements such as Si, Fe, Mg, Na, K, Ti, Cr, Ba, Be, Co, Cs, Rb, Sn, U, V, W, Ni and REE were partially depleted and elements such as Hf, Zn and Cd enriched during the kaolinitization processes of andesitic rocks. Other elements including Al, Ca, P, Mn, Ga, Nb, Sr, Ta, Th, Y, Cu, Pb and Tl were undergone both leaching and fixation processes. The mass decrease of Si, Fe, K, Rb, Cs and Ba reveals destruction of plagioclase and hornblende by highly acidic hydrothermal fluids. The presence of two abnormal decreasing and increasing trends for the elements Al, Ga, P, Nb, Ta, and Y can be attributed to the low pH of the altering fluids, the high water-to-rock ratio and the abundance of complexing legands.
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, ...
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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.
Sh Fatahi; A.A Calagari; A Abedini
Abstract
Neyestanak bentonite deposit is located in northwest of Naeen, Isfehan province. This deposit is an alteration product of Oligocene tuff breccias. Mineralogical considerations of this deposit show that montmorillonite, kaolinite, and quartz are the principal minerals which are accompanied by lesser amounts ...
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Neyestanak bentonite deposit is located in northwest of Naeen, Isfehan province. This deposit is an alteration product of Oligocene tuff breccias. Mineralogical considerations of this deposit show that montmorillonite, kaolinite, and quartz are the principal minerals which are accompanied by lesser amounts of anorthite, calcite, chlorite, illite, albite, dolomite, microcline, orthoclase, sanidine, and halite. Mineral chemistry investigations testify to the similarity of this deposit with Wyoming-type bentonite deposits. Geochemical studies reveal that bentonitization of tuff breccias at Neyestanak is accompanied by depletion of Ba, Co, Zn, Y, Ni, Sr, Au, Ca, Fe, Mg, Mn, P, Ti, and Na, enrichment of Si, Th, As, Hf, Nb, and U, and leaching-fixation of K, Pb, Cs, Rb, Zr, and Cu. Geochemical analyses make clear that variation of Eu and Ce anomalies in this deposit were controlled by the degree of alteration of feldspars and oxidation potential of the environment, respectively. By considering the results obtained from this study, it seems that factors such as differences in degree of alteration intensity of parent materials, physico-chemical conditions of the environment, adsorption, incorporation in crystal structure, access to complexing ligands, and differences in degree of resistance of the primary minerals against alteration played prominent role in mobilization, distribution, and concentration of elements in this deposit.
A Abedini; S Alipour; M Khosravi
Abstract
TheDarzi-Vali bauxite deposit is located in ~20 km east of Bukan, south of West-Azarbaidjan province (NW Iran). This deposit developed as stratiform layers and lenses within carbonate rocks of the Ruteh Formation (middle Permian). The mineralogical studies indicated that the surface waters with oxidizing-acidic ...
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TheDarzi-Vali bauxite deposit is located in ~20 km east of Bukan, south of West-Azarbaidjan province (NW Iran). This deposit developed as stratiform layers and lenses within carbonate rocks of the Ruteh Formation (middle Permian). The mineralogical studies indicated that the surface waters with oxidizing-acidic nature and the underground waters with reducing-basic nature played an important role during the development and evolution of this deposit. Based on field evidences and geochemical studies, the basaltic rocks are the most probable parent rock of this deposit. Calculations of enrichment factor revealed that the elements of Si, Ca, Mg, Na, K, Mn, Co, Rb and Hf were leached during development of this deposit and the elements of Al, Ti, V, Th, Ga, Zr, Nb, U, and Cr were enriched. This is while the elements of Fe, P, Ni, Ba, and Y have borne leaching-fixation processes. The obtained data indicated that the factors such as adsorption, scavenging, residual concentrations, buffering of weathering solutions by carbonate bedrock, mineralogical control, differences in intense of alteration, organic matter, and fluctuation of underground water tables have played pronounced roles in distribution of major, minor, and trace elements in this deposit. This study also revealed that the Fe-poor and Fe-rich ores of this deposit have appropriate properties for being used in refractory and cement industries, respectively.
F Kangarani Farahani; A.A Calagari; A Abedini
Abstract
The Shahbolaghi laterite deposit is located in ~40 km southeast of Damavand, Tehran province. This deposit was developed as stratiform horizons within the shales and sandstones of Shemshak formation (Jurassic). Mineralogical investigations show that the major minerals in this deposit include hematite, ...
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The Shahbolaghi laterite deposit is located in ~40 km southeast of Damavand, Tehran province. This deposit was developed as stratiform horizons within the shales and sandstones of Shemshak formation (Jurassic). Mineralogical investigations show that the major minerals in this deposit include hematite, boehmite, and anatase accompanied by lesser amounts of goethite, magnetite, chamosite, kaolinite, quartz, calcite, diaspore, zircon, pyrite, and rutile. The microscopic evidences such as development of spastoidic textures within the ores suggest a high energy water-saturated sedimentary environment during the lateritization processes. By considering the mineral assemblage and textural characteristics, deposition and diagenesis of this horizon occurred in an oxidizing and almost near surface environment. Based on the obtained data from the field observations, geochemistry of major, trace, and rare earth elements the lateritic horizon at Shahbolaghiwas developed probably byalteration of parent rocks with basaltic composition. The bauxitization process was occurredintrends of kaolinization, destruction of kaolinite, and deferrugenization. The geochemical investigations indicated that the distribution of trace elements in this horizon was controlled by clays and minor mineral phases.
M Roohafza; S Alipour; A Abedini
Abstract
Ghareh-bolagh area is located in 20 Km of east of Mahabad, south of West-Azarbaidjan province. Carbonate rocks of Bayandour formation and dolomites of Soltanieh formation in this area are the host of mineralizations from Barium, iron and manganese. Based upon mineralogical investigations, barite, magnetite, ...
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Ghareh-bolagh area is located in 20 Km of east of Mahabad, south of West-Azarbaidjan province. Carbonate rocks of Bayandour formation and dolomites of Soltanieh formation in this area are the host of mineralizations from Barium, iron and manganese. Based upon mineralogical investigations, barite, magnetite, hematite, goethite, limonite, pyrolusite were major mineral assemblages of these mineralizations which that is accompanied by chalcopyrite, malachite, azurite, and calcite in low amounts. The most important geochemical characteristic these mineralizations are relative weak differentiation of LREE from HREE in barite and iron-manganese ores, Eu negative anomalies in iron-manganese ores (0.26-0.76) and Eu positive anomalies in barite (7.7-10.51). Incorporation of the obtained results from investigations of field, petrographic and geochemical (analytic data and correlation coefficients between elements) indicate that factors such as changes in physicochemical conditions of environment (pH, Eh, temperature), activity of complexing ligands, and presence of minor mineral phases (clay minerals, zircon, zenotime, and monazite) played important role in distribution of rare earth elements during mineralization and development of these ores.
H. Khalilzadeh; A. A. Calagari; A. Abedini; H. Rahimpour-Bonab
Abstract
Boket residual horizon is located in ~15 km northeast of Ajabshir, East-Azarbaijan province. This horizon was developed as stratiform lenses along the contact of Ruteh (middle-upper Permian) and Elika (Triassic) carbonate formations. The ores within this horizon display pelitomorphic, micro-granular, ...
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Boket residual horizon is located in ~15 km northeast of Ajabshir, East-Azarbaijan province. This horizon was developed as stratiform lenses along the contact of Ruteh (middle-upper Permian) and Elika (Triassic) carbonate formations. The ores within this horizon display pelitomorphic, micro-granular, micro-ooidic, pseudo-porphyritic, ooidic, pisoidic, pseudo-breccia, and nodular textures. Based on geochemical data, the ores within this horizon are divided into five types, (1) ferritic laterite, (2) bauxitic laterite, (3) kaolinitic laterite, (4) ferritic kaolinite, and (5) laterite. Comparison of distribution patterns of elements across a selected profile indicates the effective role of Al and Ti in distributing and concentrating of Zr, Ga, Nb, Th, V, and HREEs within the ores. Incorporation of data obtained from petrographical and geochemical studies shows that the ores have authigenic origin. Furthermore, factors such as chemical variations of weathering solutions, fixation in neomorphic phases, existing in resistant minerals, heterogeneity of protolith, differences in the degree of weathering intensity, and adsorption processes coupled with weak drainage, diagenesis, dynamic pressures, and fluctuation of underground water table played crucial roles in distribution and development of ores within this horizon. The most notable geochemical characteristics of the ores (except in kaolinitic laterite) is the greater mobility of LREEs relative to HREEs during weathering processes. This abnormal behavior within the horizon could be related to factors such as differences in stability of primary minerals containing REEs, the pH variation (from 6.7 to 7.8) of weathering solutions, and moderate degree of evolution of the profile.
A. Abedini; A. A. Calagari
Abstract
Depositional cessations during Permian period in north of Saqqez were associated with development of lenses of bauxite-kaolin ores in Ruteh carbonate formation. In one of these lenses considered, six lithologic units were recognized which are from bottom to the top, (1) dark brown red, (2) violet, (3) ...
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Depositional cessations during Permian period in north of Saqqez were associated with development of lenses of bauxite-kaolin ores in Ruteh carbonate formation. In one of these lenses considered, six lithologic units were recognized which are from bottom to the top, (1) dark brown red, (2) violet, (3) multicolor, (4) pink (5) yellow, and (6) white (kaolin). Calculations of absolute weathering index for these units indicate that elements such as Si, Na, K, P, Mn, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, and Lu were leached during the weathering processes from basaltic rocks and elements such as Th, U, Y, Nb, Hf, Zr, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, and Yb enriched. Whereas, elements such as Al, Fe, Ti, Rb, V, Cr, Ni, Co, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, and Gd have born leaching-fixation processes during the development of the weathered profile. The obtained results show that processes such as adsorption, scavenging and concentration by Fe-oxides and hydroxides, stability of metal-carrying complexes, variations in chemistry of weathering solutions, the presence of organic matters, fixation in neomorph phases, and the presence in the resistant mineral phases were the important factors that have played pronounced roles in distribution of elements in these deposits.
