Document Type : Original Research Paper

Authors

1 M. Sc. Student, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Department of Economic Geology, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

2 Associate Professor, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Department of Economic Geology , Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

3 Assistant Professor, School of Geosciences, Shahrood University of Technology, Shahrood, Iran

4 Professor, Institute of Geochemistry, Chines Academy of Sciences, Guizhou, China

Abstract

Copper mineralization in Nudeh Cu deposit and Frezy, Garab, Kalateh lala (Nieran) and Chun occurrences, located in southwest of Sabzevar hosted by a Upper Cretaceous volcano-sedimentary sequence formed in a rift environment. The main is host rock of the Nudeh Cu sulfide deposit includes alkali olivine basalt flow and subordinate tuffaceous silty sandstone. Host rock of the Ferizy and Garab occurrences is andesite flow. The rock forming mineral of Kalateh lala (Nieran) and Chun occurrences is tuffaceous silty sandstone. Sulfide mineralization in the Nudeh deposit and occurrences within an Upper Cretaceous volcano-sedimentary sequence occurs as sheet-like &tabular shape within three ore horizons. Based on nature of sulfide mineralization, mineralogy and textures of sulfide minerals, the Nudeh deposit can be divided into three different ore facies. Based on their situation towards the vent of mineralizing fluid, these facies include: A) Vein-veinlets facies (Stringer zone) includes sulfide veins and silica that form as a scissors of host rocks under the massive ore facies. Vein-veinlets and replacement textures formed main features of this facies. B) Massive ore facies that forms the thicker part of generally massive higher grade ores in west of the deposit and includes sulfide mineralization with heterogeneous nature and stratabound, limited in the alkali olivine basalt flow. C) Bedded ore facies which is thinner than the massive ore facies and is characterized by layered and banded apparent and low grade ore. The rock forming mineral of this facies is tuffaceous silty sandstone. This facies occurs as laminated and banded sulfides contemporaneous with the host rocks layering at eastern part of the deposit. Mineralogy of Nudeh deposit includes chalcopyrite, pyrite, bornite, sphalerite, boulangerite and magnetite wall rock alterations are dominated by silicification, chloritization, sericitization and epidotization. The most important characteristics of mineralization at the Nudeh deposit such as tectonic setting, host rocks, mineralogy, metal content as well as wall rock alterations, show similarities with volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposits. Accordingly, Nudeh Cu deposit is regarded as a Besshi - or pelitic mafic VMS deposit.

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