Document Type : Original Research Paper
Authors
1 Ph.D. candidate in Economic geology, Shahid Beheshti University
2 Faculty of Earth Sciences, University of Shahid Beheshti, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
The Kharestan-Bidester area, northwest of the Taftan volcano, is covered by a series of Plio-Quaternary lava flows and pyroclastic materials. The area is marked by extensive silicic and argillic alterations. The silicic zones, distinguished by vuggy texture, are bordered by advanced-intermediate argillic alterations. They occur as linear features across faults and fractures, as well as massive bodies of variable sizes, and are comparable, at regional scale, to lithocaps developed in the upper parts of the porphyry systems. The silicic-argillic zones are mineralized with gold at variable grades. Gold occurs mostly as submicroscopic particles of electrum and native gold. Pyrite, variably oxidized at surface and shallow levels, is the main metallic mineral, associated with trace sulfosalts, tetrahedrite and enargite. Minor malachite staining locally occurs in the ore zones. The geologic setting, hydrothermal alteration, ore mineralogy and texture/structure allow the Kharestan-Bidester to be compared with high-sulfidation epithermal systems.
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