Investigation of Au-Bearing Listvenite Using Mineralogy, Geochemistry, Fluid Inclusion and Stable Isotopes (Oxygen, Carbon and Sulfur) in Ophiolite-Melange Zone of East Iran (Hangaran Area, South Birjand)

Monazzami Bagherzadeh, R.; Mirnejad, H.; Eshback, P.; Karimpour, M. H.

doi:10.22071/gsj.2013.53687

Document Type : Original Research Paper

Authors

¹ Ph.D. Student, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad; Geological Survey of Iran, Northeast Territory, Mashhad, Iran.

² Assistant Professor, Faculty of Geology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

³ Ph.D. Student, International Unit, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.

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

https://doi.org/10.22071/gsj.2013.53687

Abstract

Listvenites or ophiocarbonates are considered important for exploration of precious and base metlas particularly Au, Ag, Cu, As and Hg. ‏These rocks, which crop-out dominantly in ophiolite-mélange zones and in the vicinity of main faults and shear zones, have formed as the result of hydrous and carbonic alteration of ultramafic rocks. Listvenites occur extensively in eastern Iran. Based on petrography, Hangaran listvenites are grouped into three major types: 1. Carbonatic listvenite (type I), 2. Silicic listvenite (type II), and 3. Sulfie-bearing silicic listvenite with brecciated texture (type III). Gold contents of listvenites is generally low and the highest concentration (290 ppb) has been found in type III. Studies of mineral concentrates from stream sediments reveal the presence of gold, pyrite, chalcopyrite, cinnabar and native copper. Gold grains reach to a maximum sizes of 80 microns, and they are often associated with pyrite. Electron microprobe analyses on several sulfides and carbonates in Hangaran listvenites show that sulfide minerals are mainly pyrite, marcasite, bravoite and to a lesser amount chalcopyrite, and that many pyrite grains have been altered to marcasite. Important carbonated minerals are magnesite and dolomite. The presence of obiquitous bravoite zonation that results from alternations in Ni content indicates periodic changes in the physicochemical conditions of the hyrdorthemal solution. Petrographic studies and paragenetic sequence of minerals show that magnesite and dolomite formed prior to the mineralization stage, which was then followed by the formation of sulfides (mainly pyrite). Studies on the oxygen and carbone isotopes in 3 dolomite samples (δ¹⁸O_SMOW = 9.353- 9.982 ‰, δ¹³C_PDB =1.57- 1.67 ‰ ) show that oxygen and carbone can originate from oceanic waters, and that dolomite has formed due to the circulation of this water in ultramafic rocks and their subsequent alteration. Considering the variation in marcasite-pyrite paris from Hangaran silicic listvenite (δ³⁴S_CDT value 5.7-7.9 ‰ ), it seems that sulfur has originated from granitic rocks in south of the study area. Taking into accout the extentive outcrops of serpentinized ultramafic rocks and granite in the region can considered the source of Au, Ag and base elements such as Cu, Pb, Zn, Hg, As, Sb in related to granite masses, and Cr, Ni, Ti and Fe in related to serpentinized ultramafic rocks. Fluid inclusion studies on mineralized quartz in Hangaran listvenites show that the hydrothermal fluid affecting the host rocks was low salinity and had a maximum temperature of 280^ºC.

Keywords

20.1001.1.10237429.1392.22.88.16.4

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Scientific Quarterly Journal of Geosciences

Investigation of Au-Bearing Listvenite Using Mineralogy, Geochemistry, Fluid Inclusion and Stable Isotopes (Oxygen, Carbon and Sulfur) in Ophiolite-Melange Zone of East Iran (Hangaran Area, South Birjand)

References

References

Volume 22, Issue 88
December 2013
Pages 131-144

Investigation of Au-Bearing Listvenite Using Mineralogy, Geochemistry, Fluid Inclusion and Stable Isotopes (Oxygen, Carbon and Sulfur) in Ophiolite-Melange Zone of East Iran (Hangaran Area, South Birjand)

References

References

Volume 22, Issue 88December 2013Pages 131-144

Volume 22, Issue 88
December 2013
Pages 131-144