Document Type : Original Research Paper

Authors

1 Earth Sciences Department, Technical Engineering faculty, Mahallat Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mahallat, Iran

2 Soil Conservation and Watershed Management Research Department, Lorestan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Khoram Abad, Iran

3 Department of Geology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran

Abstract

The Barzavand copper deposit with Oligocene age located in 30 Km northeast of Zefreh along a tension fault with W-E trend and developed within basaltic lava with stratabound form. Alterations mainly include: pyritization, propylitization, zeolitization, silicification, saussuritization and uralitization of basaltic lava. Furthermore geochemical studies in Barzavand show enrichment of SiO2, Al2O3, K2O, Na2O, P2O5, TiO2, ∑REE, Ag, As, Ba, Be, Bi, Cd, Cs, Cu, Li, Mo, Nb, Pb, Rb, Sb, Se, Sn, Sr, Ta, Tl, Te, Th, U, W, Y, Zn and Zr, enrichment- depletion of CaO, Fe2O3, MnO, Hf, Sc and V and depletion of S, Ni, Cr, MgO and Co during alteration. The positive correlation between (La/Lu)N, (La/Yb)N, (La/Sm)N and (La/Y)N and CaO (r= 0.70 to 0.96) indicate propylitization of host rock basalt and increase in pH of fluid responsible for mineralization that play important role in differentiation of lanthanides in study area. Ore minerals include chalcopyrite, bornite, covellite, azurite, malachite, hematite, goethite and pyrite. Copper is transported by means of chloride complexes into oxidized brines water related to late diagenesis stage and precipitated by substitution within pyrites formed during the volcanism process. It seems that the Barzavand copper deposit has submarine volcanism, early and late diagenesis, burial metamorphism and weathering stages during its evolution. According to alteration properties, mineralogy and the whole rock geochemistry, the Barzavand copper deposit is most similar to Manto type copper deposits. 

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