Economic Geology
Mohammad Ali Rajabzadeh; Mohammad Amini
Abstract
This is the first report on the presence of podiform chromititeLenses associated with the Marivan ophiolite. These ore deposits with granular massive fabric are hosted by dunite and harzburgite occurred in south Marivan city. Chemistry of chromian spinel in the chromite Lenses indicated that Cr# for ...
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This is the first report on the presence of podiform chromititeLenses associated with the Marivan ophiolite. These ore deposits with granular massive fabric are hosted by dunite and harzburgite occurred in south Marivan city. Chemistry of chromian spinel in the chromite Lenses indicated that Cr# for two ore occurrences is high (0.85) with very low TiO2, but for the other ore occurrence is lower (0.67) with higher TiO2 (0.05). The finding shows that the chromite ore Lenses and consequently their host ophiolite were developed in two different geotectonical settings. Geochemical data indicated that some of the studied ore deposits occurred during the opening of oceanic crust in a Mid Oceanic Ridge setting from a tholeiitic magma while the others were fractionated form a boninitic melt in a Supra Subduction Zone. Formation of these ore Lenses and the host rocks occurred in response to the very fast divergence and then convergence of Neo-Tethys oceanic crust. A wide range of gabbros including coarse-grained gabbro, melagabbro and microgabbro host ilmenite, magnetite and titanite in three regions at the northwest of Kamyaran (Yakhtekhan village), the east of Sarvabad (Mianeh village) and the south of Marivan (Dragashikhan-Vyseh villages). Ilmenite is found in all the three regions, but magnetite and titanite are only found in the east of Sarvabad. Plagioclase (andesine-labradorite) and diopside, the main rock-forming minerals with minor augite, olivine and amphibole are the minerals of the host rocks. The chemical composition of the ilmenites showed that the average concentration of TiO2 increases from Kamyaran (43.19 wt.%) to Sarvabad (46.09 wt.%) and then to Marivan (47.42 wt.%). These minerals occur as interstitial fine to medium grains (up to 1.5 mm) and often in the amoeboid, anhedral and to a lesser extent as subhedral forms. Based on textural and mineral chemistry evidence, mineralization of titanium occurred as the result of magma oxidation. The oxidation of magma resulted in the formation of iron-titanium immiscible liquid droplets, following the plagioclase crystallization.
Economic Geology
Kolsoum Fani Chenar; Mansour Ghorbani; Reza Kohansal; Jamshid Lotfian
Abstract
Ali abad chromites mines (north east of Forumad) are as a part of chromites assemblage dependent on ophiolite Sabzevar that are located in NW Sabzevar city. Chromitites deposits in these mines have been located as irregular lenses and layered or banded along with pods of dunite in depleted harzburgite. ...
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Ali abad chromites mines (north east of Forumad) are as a part of chromites assemblage dependent on ophiolite Sabzevar that are located in NW Sabzevar city. Chromitites deposits in these mines have been located as irregular lenses and layered or banded along with pods of dunite in depleted harzburgite. In attention to mineralogy observation, incongruent melting of orthopyroxenes and exsolution lamellae of clinopyroene in the orthopyroxenes, indicate that these rocks were originally formed at mantle pressures and temperatures conditions. Mineralography study on the textures and structures of Ali abad chromites indicate two types main textures that are primary and secondary. The primary textures and structures include massive and disseminated or separated grain. The milonitic, brecciated and tensional textures are from secondary types in chromites. On the basis of geochemical results the structural formula are calculated as the chromite minerals [(Mg,Fe2+)O (Cr,Al,Fe3+)2O3].These studies represent height percent Cr2O3 chromite mineral in disseminated texture than massive textures. Geochemical study on the chromitite area, site them in height Cr types and associated to podiform type that are originated from a parent melt with boninitic character resulting from high degree of partial melting of mantle peridotite in Supra Subduction Zone (SSZ).
Petrology
Ayoub Veisinia; Mohammad Ebrahimi; Bahman Rahibzadeh; rasoul Esmaeili
Abstract
Kamyaran ophiolitic complex located in the northeast Zagros orogeny along the crush zone between Arabian-Iranian plates. This complex outcropped between the Harsin ophiolites in southeast and Sarwabad ophiolite in northwest. Field observation reveal the fact that the Garmab Ophiolite in the northeast ...
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Kamyaran ophiolitic complex located in the northeast Zagros orogeny along the crush zone between Arabian-Iranian plates. This complex outcropped between the Harsin ophiolites in southeast and Sarwabad ophiolite in northwest. Field observation reveal the fact that the Garmab Ophiolite in the northeast of Kamyaran is a tectonic mélange including peridotites and gabbros cut by microgabbroic dikes. Olivine, clinopyroxene and orthopyroxene with chromian spinel made the peridotites minerals with mesh and porphyroclastic fabrics and Gabbros include plagioclase, clinopyroxene and minor amphibole with intergranular, pegmatoidic and interstitial texture. According to the geochemical results, gabbros have tholeiitic to calk-alkaline nature and show the MORB to island arc characteristics. According to the geochemical and geotectonic results, Garmab peridotites plotted to the abyssal peridotites area that represent from the residual mantle spinel lherzolite after extraction of 15–20% partial melting. The break-off of Neo-Tethyan slab and subduction of this slab branch beneath the oceanic lithosphere during cretaceous led to cessation of the Neo-Tethyan subduction beneath the Sanandaj-Sirjan block, and forming arc-back arc basin (second step of subduction) and related rocks in the Kamyaran ophiolite. Presence of tholeiitic to calc-alkaline magmatism is in response to the slab retreat in the Eurasian continental margin.
Petrology
Azad karimi; ali ahmadi; Monireh Kheirkhah; Abdolreza Partabian
Abstract
The peridotites from Marivan-Kamyaran ophiolite suite (MKO), outer Zagros ophiolite belt, western Iran, are studied for the petrological and geochemical characteristics. Both mantle and crustal peridotites are present in the Marivan-Kamyaran ophiolitic sequence. Extensive compositional variations in ...
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The peridotites from Marivan-Kamyaran ophiolite suite (MKO), outer Zagros ophiolite belt, western Iran, are studied for the petrological and geochemical characteristics. Both mantle and crustal peridotites are present in the Marivan-Kamyaran ophiolitic sequence. Extensive compositional variations in MgO, Al2O3, Cr, Ni and Al2O3 / SiO2, combined with the abyssal (MOR) and supra-subduction zone (SSZ) nature of the peridotites, are indicative of variant degrees of depletion of the mantle peridotites. Various degrees of depletion are consistent with a wide range of partial melting percentages (10-15%) obtained from non-modal backward partial melting models. The enrichment in HFSE such as Hf, Ti, Ta and Th indicates melt-rock interaction in the mantle peridotites; while, the enrichment in U and LIL elements such as Cs, Rb, Pb is most probably related to the fluid-rock interaction. It is suggested here that MOR nature of a part of the mantle peridotites in the region has been changed to SSZ characteristics in later stages through processes such as melt-rock interaction. It is likely that, similar to other occurrences of outer Zagros ophiolite belt, mantle peridotites from MKO with MOR and SSZ characteristics had been originated in MOR setting, before their composition were modified in a SSZ environment.
Petrology
gholamreza ghadami; Mohammad Poosti
Abstract
The studied area is located in the north of Rudan city, Groom mountain, in the contact area of the Zagros and Makran zones and some part of Kahnuj-Rudan-Minab ophiolite belt. The studied ultramafic rocks include lherzolite and harzburgite, matrix minerals contains olivine, orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene ...
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The studied area is located in the north of Rudan city, Groom mountain, in the contact area of the Zagros and Makran zones and some part of Kahnuj-Rudan-Minab ophiolite belt. The studied ultramafic rocks include lherzolite and harzburgite, matrix minerals contains olivine, orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene and chromian spinel which is a minor mineral. Based on the geochemical data, the amount of CaO, MgO, TiO2 and V, these rocks belong to non serpentinized orogenic ophiolites. According to microprobe data, the high amounts of Mg#(91.15-93.24) in the lherzolite olivines are indicated that these olivines had refractory and restite, also lherzolite clinopyroxenes are also of the diopside quality, but spinels have poor chromian. Detailed microprobe studies on the spinel of these rocks, ndicated of the high amounts of Mg#(71-77) and Al2O3(52.98 to 46.31Wt%) ) and low Cr#(14-22). Cr/Al proporation of in chromian spinels of lherzolites are equal to 0.19 and amount of Fe3+ in the lherzolite spinels is very low (
Petrology
Sima Peighambari; Mahdieh Mohammadi; Hamid Ahmadipour
Abstract
Podiform chromitite bodies of various sizes associated with dunite envelopes found at several localities in the Ab-bid ultramafic massif in the southeast of the outer Zagros ophiolite belt. The chromitites occur as layered and lenticular bodies and veins which show different magmatic textures such as ...
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Podiform chromitite bodies of various sizes associated with dunite envelopes found at several localities in the Ab-bid ultramafic massif in the southeast of the outer Zagros ophiolite belt. The chromitites occur as layered and lenticular bodies and veins which show different magmatic textures such as massive, disseminated, and banded features. The Ab-Bid chromitites display a variation in Cr# from 65.36 to 58.43. The Al2O3 and TiO2 contents of chromites range from 18.03% to 22.58 % and 0.20 % to 0.39 %, respectively. The Al2O3, TiO2 and FeO/MgO values, calculated for parental melts of Ab-Bid chromitites, are within the range of melts which are similar to tholeiitic melts. Structural features such as sharp contacts between chromitites and their dunite envelope with host harzburgites, no correlation between chromitite size and dunite thickness, and various textures may be related to magmatic-metasomatic processes through interconnected dunitic channels. The mineralogical and chemical compositions of the chromitites as well as calculated parental melt compositions of Ab-Bid chromitites are consistent with the idea that the Ab-Bid massif was part of mantle section of an ophiolite from a suprasubduction zone. Harzburgites was influenced by hydrous partial melts; variable melt/rock interaction caused the formation of dunitic channels and allowed the chromitite parental melt to percolate through them. Middle partial melting degrees and other mineral chemistry of chromites could be representative of back-arc oceanic spreading environments. Therefore, Ab-Bid harzburgites are parts of mantle wedge above the subducting Neo-Tethys oceanic plate which is under a probably Upper Triassic-Cretaceous back-arc spreading centre.
N Shirdashtzadeh; G Torabi; R Samadi
Abstract
Some dark green fragments of amphibolites are found within skarns at the south of Nain Ophiolite at the northeast of Nain city. They are similar to ortho-amphibolites (metamorphosed basic rocks) of this ophiolite in hand specimen, but mineralogically they are composed of amphibole (magnesio-hornblende, ...
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Some dark green fragments of amphibolites are found within skarns at the south of Nain Ophiolite at the northeast of Nain city. They are similar to ortho-amphibolites (metamorphosed basic rocks) of this ophiolite in hand specimen, but mineralogically they are composed of amphibole (magnesio-hornblende, Mg#>0.95), clinopyroxene (diopside, Mg#~0.61), garnet (grossular – andradite, with Grs~63-87 And~12-35), quartz, and minor amount of calcite and wollastonite. Accessory minerals are including chlorite and prehnite, mostly filling the fractures. Field studies, petrography and mineral chemistry indicate that amphibolitic fragments mineralogically differ from the skarns and ortho-amphibolites of this ophiolite; so they can be considered as olistoliths with sedimentary origin (calcic marls of sea floor), turned into amphibolitic rocks (para-amphibolite) during the regional metamorphism at amphibolite - granulite facies and low oxygen fugacity.
M Mohammadi; H Ahmadipour; A Moradian
Abstract
Ab-Bid ultramafic complex in the north of Hormozgan province is a part of Hadji-Abad-Esphandagheh ophiolitic belt. Harzburgite forms more than 90 volume percent of the complex and lherzolite, dunite, pyroxenite and chromitite are the other lithologies. The harzburgites occur as massive non-layered outcrops ...
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Ab-Bid ultramafic complex in the north of Hormozgan province is a part of Hadji-Abad-Esphandagheh ophiolitic belt. Harzburgite forms more than 90 volume percent of the complex and lherzolite, dunite, pyroxenite and chromitite are the other lithologies. The harzburgites occur as massive non-layered outcrops with oriented minerals. Textures such as orientation and elongation of crystals, recrystallization, clinopyroxene exsolution lamellae in orthopyroxenes and different generations of minerals in these rocks show that they have been formed in the upper mantle and then emplaced in the crust. Mineral chemistry data indicate that the Ab-Bid harzburgites formed in an environment similar to those considered for MORB peridotites and they have experienced about 15 % partial melting. Then, they affected by mantle metasomatism and were enriched in incompatible elements. Olivine-spinel thermometry in these harzburgites shows equilibrium temperatures of 1000-1200 ºC and suggests that they have been equilibrated in spinel peridotite field. Chemical evidence and tectonic setting of the studied harzburgites show that these rocks are similar to the abyssal peridotites and probably formed in a back arc basin environment. Ab-Bid harzburgites probably were part of mantle wedge over the Neotethys subducted slab in a back arc basin environment.
R Kohansal; M Ghorbani; S.M Pourmoafi; M Khalatbari Jafari; J Omrani; S Zolfaghari; S Soleimani
Abstract
Abstract The Forumadophiolitic rocks as a part of Iran marginal microcontinentophiolites have been situated in the western part of Sabzevarophiolite. Field study shows extrusive sequence in this area with Late Cretaceous in age. This sequence has included basaltic pillow lavas with radiolarian chert ...
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Abstract The Forumadophiolitic rocks as a part of Iran marginal microcontinentophiolites have been situated in the western part of Sabzevarophiolite. Field study shows extrusive sequence in this area with Late Cretaceous in age. This sequence has included basaltic pillow lavas with radiolarian chert related to Late Turonian-Santonian, in contrast to Coniacian- Late Campanian age, when this sequence has composed of basaltic pillow lavas in lower - middle part and various tuffs in upper part. Sheet flows, hyaloclasticbreccias and pelagic limestone are intercalations between lavas and tuffs.Abundantly, pillow lavas with phyric texture are most predominant feature contrast with sheet flows. Whereas enrichment of LILE and depletion of some HFSE (Nb, Ta) exhibit subduction environment (island arcs) for pillow lavas of Forumad, and different enrichment in LREE to HREE displays unhomogenous mantle in the generation of them; the presence of two magmatic nature in lavas (tholeiitic and calc-alkaline), their positions in tectonomagmatic diagrams and clear enrichment of Th element in Late Turonian –Santonian lavas which are generally exhibition of ophiolitic extrusive sequence in Forumad area have been generated in a supra-subduction environment and back-arc basin.
M. Khalatbari Jafari; H. Sepehr
Abstract
The south Dehshir tectonized Ophiolite located at the extreme northern part of Sharbabak-Dehshir Ophiolite belt comprise of mantle peridotite and crustal sequence. The mantle peridotites are well serpentinized and consist of cpx- bearing harzburgite and lherzolite, cross cut by isolated diabasic dikes. ...
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The south Dehshir tectonized Ophiolite located at the extreme northern part of Sharbabak-Dehshir Ophiolite belt comprise of mantle peridotite and crustal sequence. The mantle peridotites are well serpentinized and consist of cpx- bearing harzburgite and lherzolite, cross cut by isolated diabasic dikes. There is no layered gabbro in the crustal sequence and that comprise of high level isotrope gabbro with cumulative character which gradually change to diabase sheeted dike complex on top of the sequence intruded by wherlitic intrusion, quartz diorite, pegmatite gabbro and plagiogranite- tronjemite. The volcanic sequence of this association consist of alternation of chert, radiolarite, pelagic limestone have Upper Cretaceous microfaunas at base and hyaloclastic breccia, hyaloclastite, tuff and pillow lava on top the sequence. The sheeted dike complex oriented in N- S direction with couples of inclinations toward either the east or the west. Listvenite and rodingite are the sporadic metasomatic rocks that expose inside the tectonized assemblage. A few dislocated amphibolites and calc-silicate blocks are tectonically exposed. Base of chemical analyses the crustal sequence show variety in composition and have tholeitic to calc-alkaline trends. In the tectonomagmatic diagrams, these rocks are often placed in the regions associated with the volcanic arcs and in some occasions they are plotted in the oceanic basin regions. The primitive mantle-normalized spider diagrams show depletion of Nb in most of analysis and depletion of Zr and Ti in some of them which indicating a supra- subduction origin. These types of patterns located in different levels and characterized by enrichment of LILE, might be related to diversity in mantle source and different degree of partial melting. The behavior of elements in different diagrams and comparation with the different tectonic setting, show that they tend located far from MORB type and near by the Arc type. The values of the elements such as Ba, Th, Nb, Yb, indicate the influence of the fluids releaved from the subducted slab on the mantle wedge. These geochemical characters and the expose of wherlitic intrusions and the small intrusions of quartz diorite-quartze monzodiorite indicate that the South Dehshir tectonized Ophiolite display a consistent sequence of events during their formation and evolution, includes birth, youth and maturity stages which is a natural consequence of the Supra- subduction zones. It seam that the Dehshir Ophiolite formed in a forearc basin with a distance from margin could be interpret with the downgoing of Neo-Tehytis in Late Cretaceous.
M. Khalatbari Jafari; H. Sepehr
Abstract
The Kahduiyeh tectonized Ophiolite exposed at the extreme northern part of Dehshir-Baft Ophiolite belt in the southern margin of centeral Iran microcontinent, comprise of mantle peridotites and crustal sequence. The serpentinized peridotites have cpx- bearing harzhburgite and lherzholite compositions ...
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The Kahduiyeh tectonized Ophiolite exposed at the extreme northern part of Dehshir-Baft Ophiolite belt in the southern margin of centeral Iran microcontinent, comprise of mantle peridotites and crustal sequence. The serpentinized peridotites have cpx- bearing harzhburgite and lherzholite compositions which cross cut by diabase isolated dikes. The plutonic part of crustal sequence consist isotropic gabbro, diabase sheeted dike complex, intruded by wherlitic intrusion, quartz diorite, pegmatite gabbro and plagiogranite-tronjemite. The volcanic sequence consist of the intercalation of the chert and radiolarite, pelagic limestone have the Upper Cretaceous micro faunas at base of sequence and hyaloclasic braccia, hyaloclastite, sheet flow, tuff and pillow lave on top of the sequence. Study of chemical analysis indicating a supra-subduction origin and enrichments for REE, Rb, Ba and Th might be affecting of slab-derived fluids. It seem that Kahduiyeh tectonized Ophiolite display a consistent sequence of events during their formation and evolution, includes birth, youth and maturity stages which is a natural consequence of ophiolite formation in the Supra-subduction zones.
A. Imamalipour
Abstract
The Khoy ophiolite complex in northwest Iran hosts several podiform chromitite bodies. The chromitite deposits of Aland area in this ophiolite have lenticular, tabular and irregular vein shapes and emplaced in depleted mantle hurzburgite. Chromitites have different textures including disseminated, massive, ...
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The Khoy ophiolite complex in northwest Iran hosts several podiform chromitite bodies. The chromitite deposits of Aland area in this ophiolite have lenticular, tabular and irregular vein shapes and emplaced in depleted mantle hurzburgite. Chromitites have different textures including disseminated, massive, nodular, banded and cataclastic textures. The ore bodies are surrounded by dunitic envelopes of variable thickness. Mineral chemistry of chromite grains indicate that they are recognized by #Cr [Cr/(Cr+Al)] values range between 0.66 and 0.88, #Mg [Mg/( Mg +Fe+2)] values range between 0.42 and 0.66. Cr2O3, Al2O3 and MgO values range between 45.89 and 54.95 %, 8.53-17.18 % and 8.38-14.29% respectively. There is a negative correlation among #Cr and #Mg of chromites, typical of podiform chromitites. The composition of chromites including #Cr, #Mg, their contents of Cr2O3, Al2O3, Fe2O3, MgO and TiO2 and also correlation coefficients between different components of them have conformity with total composition of podiform chromitites. Compositions of chromites in Aland area correspond to Cr-rich chromites with #Cr>0.6 and Al2O3<25%. Their lower content of TiO2 accompanied with their compositional location in TiO2 vs. Cr/(Cr+Al) and TiO2 vs. Al2O3 diagrams may reflect the crystallization of chromites from boninitic magmas in supra-subduction geotectonic setting. The bulk rock analyses of chromitites indicate that their Cr2O3 values have widespread range, 19-51.6 wt %. Compositional variations in their Cr2O3, Al2O3, Fe2O3, SiO2 and MgO components are reflections of their textural characteristics.
H.R. Vatanpour; A. Khakzad; M. Ghaderi
Abstract
Sabzevar ophiolitic belt is located in the northwest of Iran, north of Sabzevar. The current study is carried out for the first time in Iran with an exploration approach in the western part of the belt. Study of Platinum Group Elements (PGE) is of high importance for determining the genesis and economic ...
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Sabzevar ophiolitic belt is located in the northwest of Iran, north of Sabzevar. The current study is carried out for the first time in Iran with an exploration approach in the western part of the belt. Study of Platinum Group Elements (PGE) is of high importance for determining the genesis and economic evaluation of chromite deposits specifically in ophiolitic complexes. Chondrite-normalized PGE patterns of the chromitites related to ophiolites have a negative slope suggesting that during initial stages of magma crystallization, chromite preferentially removed compatible PGE from the magma. These patterns in the Sabzevar chromitites imply that these rocks are related to ophiolitic complexes (Alpine type). Chromite ore bodies which exhibit a relatively high incompatible/compatible element (Pd/Ir, Cu/Ni) ratios are derived from a more evolved magma with a lower fractional melting degree and do not seem to be of economic importance; this ratio in Al-rich chromites is higher than that of Cr-rich type. Pd/Ir ratio in Sabzevar chromitites on the average is less than 1, similar to many important chromite ore bodies related to ophiolitic complexes throughout the world. This ratio being low, as well as high chromium number (Cr/Cr+Al>0.60) suggests that this complex can be considered to contain a significant potential for economic and metallurgical chromite. Furthermore, the complex does not contain chromitites of uniform composition in chalcophile elements. PGE patterns of peridotites in the study area also show that these units in upper parts of the Gaft area are similar to ultramafic cumulates of oceanic crust, while in lower parts of Faroumad area related to mantle sequences.
