Economic Geology
Pouria Mahmoodi; Ebrahim Rastad; Abdorrahman Rajabi; Mehran Moradpour
Abstract
The Early Cretaceous Eastern Haft-Savaran Zn-Pb (Ba) deposit situated in the Arak mining district and occurred within the extentional back-arc of Malayer-Esfahan basin. Mineralization occurred in two horizons in the Estern Haft-Savaran deposit. First horizon is major horizon that formed within the most ...
Read More
The Early Cretaceous Eastern Haft-Savaran Zn-Pb (Ba) deposit situated in the Arak mining district and occurred within the extentional back-arc of Malayer-Esfahan basin. Mineralization occurred in two horizons in the Estern Haft-Savaran deposit. First horizon is major horizon that formed within the most upper portion of the massive limestone and second horizon occurred in the thin limestone which is alternate with shale and marl. Textures of the mineralization in this deposit are replacement, massive and vein- veinlets, and main alterations are silisification, dolomitization and calcitization. Sphalerite, galena, chalcopyrite, tetrahedryte, pyrite, bornite, chalcosite and covelite are the sulfide minerals and quartz, calcite, dolomite and sericite are gangue minerals in the ore deposit. Cathodoluminescence study in this deposit indicates three dolomites and one calcite generations. First generation of dolomite associated with weak mineralization and second generation of dolomite is Fe-rich and associated with main mineralization. Third generation of dolomite is late dolomitization and formed with calcite and cross-cutted the mineralization. Presence of framboidal pyrite with galena and sphalerite in its matrix and fine-grain euhedral barite suggest mineralization began during sedimentation and early diagenesis stage near seafloor. In continuum, main ore is identified as replacement occurrence of first generation sulfides by second generation coarse-grained sulfides under seafloor. With regarding to the formation of the Eastern Haft-Savaran deposit in the extentional tectonic setting, massive limestone as the host rock, and mineralization formation as replacment during diagenesis of the host rock under the seafloor, this deposit would be classified as Irish type deposit.
M. Movahednia; E. Rastad; R. Rajabi; F. J. González
Abstract
The Ab-Bagh Zn-Pb deposit is located at the southeastern part of the Malayer-Esfahan metallogenic belt. This deposit is hosted by Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous sedimentary sequence. Zinc and lead mineralization occurred within two horizons. The ore horizon 1 is hosted by Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous ...
Read More
The Ab-Bagh Zn-Pb deposit is located at the southeastern part of the Malayer-Esfahan metallogenic belt. This deposit is hosted by Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous sedimentary sequence. Zinc and lead mineralization occurred within two horizons. The ore horizon 1 is hosted by Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous black shale and siltstone. The ore body displays a wedge-like shape and is located close to syn-sedimentary fault. The ore horizon 2 occurs in lower Cretaceous carbonates and includes massive ore,concordant with the host rock layering; Syn-sedimentary faults, half-graben basins and related anoxic environments, had an important role in formation of SEDEX-type Zn-Pb mineralization in the Ab-Bagh and deposition of sulfides. Sedimentary debris flows and syn-sedimentary braccia within host rocks of the Ab-Bagh deposit suggests activity of normal faulting simultaneously with sedimentation of host rock and consequently development of half- graben structures. Formation of half-graben structures is one of the most important factors of redox condition of ore forming environment. This structures led to development of deeper zones within the basin, where anoxic condition were occurred. Trace and rare earth elements geochemistry of host rocks, size of pyrite framboids and presence of organic matter in the host rocks, represent anoxic to euxinic paleo-redox condition of this basin, which is caused by microbial activities and depth of the basin,associated with normal syn-sedimentary fault. Comparison of syn-sedimentary normal faulting and anoxic formation environment of the Ab-Bagh deposit with other SEDEX deposit of Iran, indicates similarity of their formational environment.
Kamran Motevali; Mehrdad Behzadi; Mohammad Yazdi
Abstract
Eocene magmatism with intermediate-acid tuffs and volcanic rocks, the host to the Nodoushan deposit in Yazd province, intruded by Oligocene early diorite and later granite plutonic rocks. The former involved in iron skarn (containing epidote and euhedral grossularite) to the north and northern part of ...
Read More
Eocene magmatism with intermediate-acid tuffs and volcanic rocks, the host to the Nodoushan deposit in Yazd province, intruded by Oligocene early diorite and later granite plutonic rocks. The former involved in iron skarn (containing epidote and euhedral grossularite) to the north and northern part of the deposit, the latter contributed to fault-controlled Zn-Pb deposit. The structural features controlled both the mineralization and consequent alterations which ranged from silicification (central) to argillic (northern). Propylitic alteration and dolomitization considered the minor ones, the iron contamination of which could be provided by earlier iron mineralization. Sulfide minerals dominantly pyrite, sphalerite and galena followed by chalcopyrite and late stage copper minerals such as covellite, digenite, bornite, chalcocite. Oxide minerals developed to the depth of 40m as a result of faults. Sphalerite which is of high-Fe type was characterized by extensive chalcopyrite disease, the iron content of which provided by earlier iron concentration. The concentration of chalcopyrite exsolution along sphalerite margins as well as galena veinlets is due to the thermal shock of later stage hydrothermal fluids that deposited galena and chalcopyrite. Negligible fossil replacements indicate both mineralization and alteration. It was concluded that the Zn-dominant mineralization was deposited under the structural controlling faults which reflects part of its earlier iron mineralization.
Economic Geology
M. Movahednia; E. Rastad; A. Rajabi; F. Choulet
Abstract
The Ab-Bagh Zn-Pb deposit is located in the central part of the Sanandaj-Sirjan zone (SSZ) and at the southeastern part of the Malayer-Esfahan metallogenic belt. This deposit is hosted by Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous sedimentary sequence. Zinc and lead mineralization occurred within two horizons. ...
Read More
The Ab-Bagh Zn-Pb deposit is located in the central part of the Sanandaj-Sirjan zone (SSZ) and at the southeastern part of the Malayer-Esfahan metallogenic belt. This deposit is hosted by Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous sedimentary sequence. Zinc and lead mineralization occurred within two horizons. The ore horizon 1 is hosted by Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous black shale and siltstone. The ore body displays a wedge-like shape and is located close to syn-sedimentary fault. The ore horizon 2 occurs in lower Cretaceous carbonates and includes a massive ore facies that is concordant with host rock layering. It is also underlain by a stockwork facies. Weathering processes led to a supergene ore stage at Ab-Bagh deposit in parts toward the surface. Based on geology, mineralogy and geochemistry, two types of non-sulfide ore were distinguished: the white ore and the red ore. The white ore is a wall-rock replacement mineralization that contains high Zn, low Fe and a very low concentration of Pb. To the opposite, the red ore formed after the direct replacement of sulfide protore and it typically contains low Zn, high Fe and medium Pb± As concentrations. Supergene ore consists of smithsonite and hydrozincite. Minor cerussite, Zn-rich clays, greenockite, covellite and Fe-Mn oxides were also identified. The supergene part of the Ab-Bagh deposit formed as a consequence of long time weathering of a SEDEX-type sulfide protore. Oxidation of sulfide minerals (mainly pyrite and sphalerite), carbonate buffering reactions and precipitation of secondary Zn-bearing minerals are the main geochemical process involved. The REE patterns of the white non-sulfide ore are similar to that recorded in the host rocks but REE patterns of red ore, is similar to sulfide ore. The comparison with other major non-sulfide Iranian deposits suggests that Ab-Bagh deposit is very similar to Kolahdarvazeh and Mehdiabad deposits; it also shows lots of similarities with other worldwide examples (e.g. Moroccan non-sulfide ore deposits).
M Boveiri Konari; E Rastad; M Rastad; A Nakini; M Haghdoost
Abstract
Tappehsorkh Zn-Pb-(Ag) deposit, hosted by Lower Cretaceous siltstone, tuff and dolomite, is located in the northern part of the Irankuh mountain range, south of Esfahan. Sulphides in this ore have a relatively simple mineralogy including sphalerite, galena, tetrahedrite, pyrite and to a lesser extent, ...
Read More
Tappehsorkh Zn-Pb-(Ag) deposit, hosted by Lower Cretaceous siltstone, tuff and dolomite, is located in the northern part of the Irankuh mountain range, south of Esfahan. Sulphides in this ore have a relatively simple mineralogy including sphalerite, galena, tetrahedrite, pyrite and to a lesser extent, chalcopyrite, marcasite and bornite. Gangue minerals are predominantly dolomite, quartz and barite. Based on zoning in the sulphide mineralization, texture and structure and location of ore facies relative to syn-sedimentary normal faults, theses ore facies are classified as vein-veinlet, laminated and massive. Dolomitic-silicic alteration is among the major processes concomitant with sulphide mineralization. The greatest degrees of alteration and related ore mineralization occur at the vicinity of the normal faults and decrease away from it. Geochemical studies indicate that the ore-bearing fluids were of oxidized composition, which were reduced once reaching favorable host rocks and consequently deposited sulphide minerals. Minor and trace element studies in the various sulfide ore facies demonstrate that the ore-bearing fluid in all the ore facies has a similar composition. Textures such as framboidal pyrite, contemporaneous folding of organic matter along with sulphide lamination in the laminated ore facies, and diagenetic structures such as load casts in the host siltstone indicate that sulphide mineralization has occurred in the sedimentary-diagenetic stage. However, sulphide mineralization in the regional dolomite is considered to have occurred in a shallow diagenetic environment because of replacement of regional dolomite by hydrothermal dolomite. Based on features of ore mineralization such as the extensional tectonic setting, siltstone and carbonate host rocks, and occurrence of various sulphide facies such as vein-veinlet, laminated and massive, the Tappehsorkh deposit is very similar to Sedex-type deposits.
A. Rajabi; E. Rastad; N. Rshidnejad Omran; R. Mohammadi Niaei
Abstract
Chahmir Zn-Pb deposit is one of several sediment-hosted Zn-Pb deposits (e.g., Koushk, Zarigan, Dareh Dehu & Cheshmeh Firuzeh) located in southeast of Bafq basin hosted within a Early Cambrian volcano-sedimentary sequence, simultaneous with global Cambrian ocean anoxic event, forming in a rift environment. ...
Read More
Chahmir Zn-Pb deposit is one of several sediment-hosted Zn-Pb deposits (e.g., Koushk, Zarigan, Dareh Dehu & Cheshmeh Firuzeh) located in southeast of Bafq basin hosted within a Early Cambrian volcano-sedimentary sequence, simultaneous with global Cambrian ocean anoxic event, forming in a rift environment. The host rock units of the Chahmir Zn-Pb deposit includes organic-rich black siltstones with intercalations of tuff and silty tuff overlain by green carbonaceous tuffs. Based on nature of sulfide mineralization, mineralogy and textures of sulfide minerals, the Chahmir deposit can be divided into four different facies. Based on their situation towards the vent of mineralization fluid, these facies include: 1) A massive ore facies (Vent Complex) forms the thicker part of generally massive higher grade ores in east of the deposit. This facies includes two subfacies: the sulfide-silica-carbonate subfacies in center of massive ore and sulfide-carbonate subfacies around it. Sulfide minerals are observed as massive, replacement, vein-veinlets and brecciated colloform textures. 2) Vein-veinlets facies (Feeder Zone) includes sulfide veins and silica that form as a scissors of host rocks under the massive ore facies. Vein-veinlets and replacement textures form main features of this facies. 3) Bedded ore facies which is thinner than the massive ore facies and is characterized by layered and banded feature and low grade ore. This facies occurs as stratiform laminated and banded sulfides contemporaneous with the formation of the host rocks. 4) Distal facies is formed at west of the deposit which is actually a sedimentary equivalent of bedded ore facies. Main characteristics of this facies are presence of disseminated pyrite, banded chert and barite. The most important characteristics of mineralization at the Chahmir deposit such as tectonic setting, host rocks, mineralogy, diffrent facies, show similarities to siltstone and shale hosted Zn-Pb Sedex type deposits. Accordingly, Chahmir is regarded as a Selwyn-Type (Vent Proximal) SEDEX deposit.
