Document Type : Original Research Paper

Authors

1 Ph.D. Student, Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

2 Professor, Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

3 Associate Professor, Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

4 Assistant Professor, Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

Abstract

The Hired gold prospect area is located in the Southern Khorasan province and 140 Km south of the Birjand city. The Acidic to mafic intrusive bodies with gabbro to granite composition have intruded into the Tertiary volcano-sedimentary sequences. Based on magnetic susceptibility, the intrusives are divided into two categories: magnetite (oxidized) and ilmenite (reduced) series. The important alterations recognized on land surface and bore holes consist of: 1) quartz-tourmaline-sericite alteration, 2) carbonation alteration, 3) skarnization, and 4) propylitic alteration. Au and accompany elements mineralization (W, Sn, Bi, As, Sb, Pb, Zn, Ag) have formed as replacement, disseminate, vein-veinlet, massive, breccias, and skarn related to reduced granitic-granodioritic intrusive bodies and with different distance as compared with the bodies. Geological, mineralization, petrographical, mineralogical and alteration studies of the Hired gold deposit and comparison with the characteristics of different types of gold mineralization in the world indicate that this deposit has the most similarity with reduced intrusion-related gold systems (RIRGS). Since In this system, the most of gold reserve is accompanied with sulfide minerals and they form in roof of the reduced granitoid stocks and adjacent hornfels rocks, The IP- RS geophysical methods on reduced granitoid intrusive body and near regions was executed with the aim of recognition of hidden parts. Combination of geophysics data (IP, RS) with geological, alteration, and mineralization studies shows well development mineralization in the east of intrusive body and the country rocks. In this relation, 6 anomalous regions has been defined with Chargeability up to 30 mv/v that on the whole, they  can be divided into two groups: 1) anomaly with high induced polarization and low specific resistivity resulting from presence of much metallic sulfurs as disseminate, veinlet, and massive accompanied with high sericitic alteration, 2) anomaly with high induced polarization and medium-high specific resistivity resulting from presence of much metallic sulfurs as disseminate and very high carbonation-silicic alteration.

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