Document Type : Original Research Paper

Authors

1 Ph.D. Student, Department of Economic Geology, School of Basic Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

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

3 Assistant Professor, Faculty of Geology, College of Science, Tehran University, Tehran, Iran

4 Researcher, Marine Geology Division, Geological Survey of Spain (IGME), Madrid, Spain

Abstract

The Ab-Bagh Zn-Pb deposit is located at the southeastern part of the Malayer-Esfahan metallogenic belt. This deposit is hosted by Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous sedimentary sequence. Zinc and lead mineralization occurred within two horizons. The ore horizon 1 is hosted by Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous black shale and siltstone. The ore body displays a wedge-like shape and is located close to syn-sedimentary fault. The ore horizon 2 occurs in lower Cretaceous carbonates and includes massive ore,concordant with the host rock layering; Syn-sedimentary faults, half-graben basins and related anoxic environments, had an important role in formation of SEDEX-type Zn-Pb mineralization in the Ab-Bagh and deposition of sulfides. Sedimentary debris flows and syn-sedimentary braccia within host rocks of the Ab-Bagh deposit suggests activity of normal faulting simultaneously with sedimentation of host rock and consequently development of half- graben structures. Formation of half-graben structures is one of the most important factors of redox condition of ore forming environment. This structures led to development of deeper zones within the basin, where anoxic condition were occurred. Trace and rare earth elements geochemistry of host rocks, size of pyrite framboids and presence of organic matter in the host rocks, represent anoxic to euxinic paleo-redox condition of this basin, which is caused by microbial activities and depth of the basin,associated with normal syn-sedimentary fault. Comparison of syn-sedimentary normal faulting and anoxic formation environment of the Ab-Bagh deposit with other SEDEX deposit of Iran, indicates similarity of their formational environment.

Keywords

Agard, P., Omrani, J., Jolivet, L. and Mouthereau, F., 2005- Convergence history across Zagros, Iran: Constraints from collisional and earlier deformation. International Journal of Earth Sciences, 94: 401–419.
Alavi, M., 1991- Tectonic map of the Middle East: Tehran. Geological Survey of Iran, scale 1:5,000,000.
Arvin, M., Pan, Y., Dargahi, S., Malekizadeh, A. and Babaei, A., 2007- Petrochemistry of the Siah–Kouh granitoid stock southwest of Kerman, Iran: Implications for initiation of Neotethys subduction. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, 30: 474–489.
Betts, P. G. and Lister, G. S., 2002- Geodynamically indicated targeting strategy for shale-hosted massive sulfide Pb–Zn–Ag mineralization in the Western Fold Belt, Mt Isa terrane. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, 49: 985–1010
Betts, P. G., Giles, D. and Lister, G. S., 2003- Tectonic environment of shale-hosted massive sulfide Pb-Zn-Ag deposits of Proterozoic northeastern Australia: Economic Geology, 98: 557-576.
Bond, D. P. G., and Wignall, P. B., 2010- Pyrite framboid study of marine Permo- Triassic boundary sections: A complex anoxic event and its relationship to contemporaneous mass extinction: Geological Society of America Bulletin, 122: 1265–1279.
Calvert, S. E. and Pedersen, T. F., 1993- Geochemistry of recent oxic and anoxic marine sediments: implications for the geological record. Marine Geology, 113: 67–88.
Cooke, D. R., Bull, S. W., Large, R. R. and McGoldrick, P. J., 2000- The importance of oxidized brines for the formation of Australian Proterozoic stratiform sediment-hosted Pb-Zn (Sedex) deposits. Economic Geology, 95: 1–18.
Crusius, J., Calvert, S., Pedersen, T. and Sage, D., 1996- Rhenium and molybdenum enrichments in sediments as indicators of oxic, suboxic and sulfidic conditions of deposition. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 145: 65–78.
Dunster, J. N. and McConachie, B. A., 1998- Tectono-sedimentary setting of the Lady Loretta Formation: Synrift, sag or passive margin?. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, 45: 89-92.
Gerlach, S., 1994- Oxygen conditions improve when the salinity in the Baltic Sea decreases. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 28: 134-438.
Ghasemi, A. and Talbot, C. J., 2005- a new tectonic scenario for the Sanandaj-Sirjan Zone (Iran): Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, 26: 683–693.
Goldberg, T., Strauss, H., Guo, Q. and Liu, C., 2007- reconstructing marine redox conditions for the early Cambrian Yangtze Platform: Evidence from biogenic sulphur and organic carbon isotopes. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 254: 175-193.
Goodfellow, W. D. and Lydon, J. W., 2007- Sedimentary-exhalative (Sedex) deposits, In: Goodfellow, W.D., (eds.), Mineral deposits of Canada: A synthesis of major deposit types, district metallogeny, the evolution of geological provinces, and exploration methods. Geological Association of Canada, Mineral Deposits Division, Special Publication 5, p. 163–183.
Goodfellow, W. D. and Rhodes, D., 1990- Geological setting, geochemistry and origin of the Tom stratiform Zn-Pb-Ag-barite deposits, in Abbott, J.G., and Turner, R.J.W., (eds.), Mineral deposits of the northern Canadian Cordillera: Ottawa, International Association on the Genesis of Ore Deposits, Eighth Symposium, Field Trip 14 Guidebook, p. 177–244.
Goodfellow, W. D., 1984- Geochemistry of rocks hosting the Howards Pass (XY) strata-bound Zn-Pb deposit, Selwyn Basin, Yukon Territory, Canada: Proceedings of the Sixth Quadrennial IAGOD Symposium: Stuttgart, Germany, E. Schweizerbart’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung (Nagele u. Obermiller), p. 91-112.
Goodfellow, W. D., 2004- Geology, genesis and exploration of SEDEX deposits, with emphasis on the Selwyn basin, Canada, in Deb, M., Goodfellow, W.D., (eds.), Sediment-hosted lead-zinc sulphide deposits: Attributes and models of some major deposits of India, Australia and Canada. Delhi, India, Narosa Publishing House, p. 24–99.
Goodfellow,W. D., 2007- Base metal metallogeny of the Selwyn Basin, Canada, In: Goodfellow,W.D., (eds.), Mineral Deposits of Canada: A Synthesis of Major Deposit-Types, District Metallogeny, the Evolution of Geological Provinces, and Exploration Methods. Geological Association of Canada, Mineral Deposits Division, Special Publication No. 5, p. 553-579.
Hallberg, R. O., 1974- Paleoredox conditions in the Eastern Gotland Basin during the recent centuries. Merentutkimuslait. Julk./Havsforskningsinstitutets Skrift, 238: 3-16.
Hoffman, D. L., Algeo, T. J., Maynard, J. B., Joachimski, M. M., Hower, J. C. and Jaminski, J., 1998- Regional stratigraphic variation in bottom water anoxia in offshore core shales of Upper Pennsylvanian cyclothems from Eastern Midcontinent Shelf (Kansas), U.S.A. in: Schieber, J., Zimmerle, W., Sethi, P., (eds.), Shales and mudstones I. E Schweizerbart’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, Stuttgart, p 243-269.
Jones, B. and Manning, D. A. C., 1994- Comparison of geochemical indices used for the interpretation of paleoredox conditions in ancient mudstone. Chemical Geology, 111: 111-129.
Kelley, K. D., Dumoulin, J. A. and Jennings, S., 2004- The Anarraaq Zn-Pb- Ag and barite deposit, northern Alaska: Evidence for replacement of carbonate by barite and sulfides. Economic Geology, 99: 1577–1591.
Khalaji, A. A., Esmaeily, D., Valizadeh, M. V. and Rahimpour, H., 2007- Petrology and geochemistry of the granitoid complex of Boroujerd, Sanandaj–Sirjan zone, western Iran: Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, 29: 859–877.
Large D. E., 1980- Geological Parameters associated with sediment-hosted, submarine exhalative Pb-Zn deposits - An Empirical Model for Mineral Exploration. Geologisches Jahrbuch, 40: 59-129.
Large, R. R., Bull, S. W. and Winefield, P. R., 2001- Carbon and oxygen isotope halo in carbonates related to the McArthur River (HYC) Zn-Pb-Ag deposit: Implications for sedimentation, ore genesis, and mineral exploration. Economic Geology, 96: 1567–1593.
Large, R. R., Bull, S. W., McGoldrick, P. J., Walters, S., Derrick, G. M. and Carr, G. R., 2005- Stratiform and strata-bound Zn-Pb-Ag deposits in Proterozoic sedimentary basins, northern Australia. Society of Economic Geologists, 100th Anniversary Volume: 561–607.
Large, R. R., McGoldrick, P., Bull, S. and Cooke, D., 2004- Proterozoic startiform sediment-hosted zinc-lead-silver deposits of northern Australia, in: Deb, M. and Goodfellow, W.D., (eds.), Sediment-hosted lead-zinc sulphide deposits: Attributes and models of some major deposits of India, Australia and Canada. Narosa publishing house, Delhi, India, p. 1-24.
Leach, D. L., Sangster, D. F., Kelley, K. D., Large, R. R., Garven, G., Allen, C. R., Gutzmer, J. and Walters, S., 2005- Sediment-hosted lead-zinc deposits: A global perspective. Economic Geology, 100th Anniversary Volume: 561–607.
Lindsay, J. F., 2001- Basin dynamics and mineralization, McArthur Basin, northern Australia. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, 48: 703-720.
Logan, R. G., Murray, W. J. and Williams, N., 1990- HYC silver-lead-zinc deposit, McArthur River: Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy Monograph, 14: 907-911.
Lydon, J. W., 1996- Sedimentary exhalative sulphides (SEDEX), in Eckstrand, O.R., Sinclair, W.D., Thorpe, R.I., (eds.), Geology of Canadian Mineral Deposit Types, Geology of Canada, No. 8, Geological Survey of Canada (also Geological Society of America, The Geology of North America P-1), 130-152.
Lyons, T. W., Gellatly, A. M., McGoldrick, P. J. and Kah, L. C., 2006- Proterozoic sedimentary exhalative (SEDEX) deposits and links to evolving global ocean chemistry. In: Kesler, S.E., Ohmoto, H., (eds.), Evolution of Early Earth’s Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, and Biosphere-Constraints from Ore Deposits. Geological Society of America Memoir. 198: 169–184.
Maghfouri, S., Hoseinzadeh, M. R., Rajabi, A., Azimzadeh, A. M. and Choulet, F., 2015- Geology and origin of mineralization in the Mehdiabad Zn-Pb-Ba (Cu) deposit, Yazd Block, Central Iran. 13th SGA Biennial Meeting 2015. Proceedings, Volume 5.
McClay, K. R. and Bidwell, G. E., 1986- Geology of the Tom deposit, MacMillan Pass, Yukon. The Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 11-1004.
McGoldrick, P. J., 1999- Northern Australian SEDEX deposits: microbial oases in Proterozoic seas. In: Mineral deposits: processes to processing. Proceedings of the 5th Biennial SGA Meeting and the 10th Quadrennial IAGOD Symposium, London 2: 885–888.
Mohajjel, M. and Fergusson, C. L., 2014- Jurassic to Cenozoic tectonic of the Zagros orogeny in northwestern Iran. J. international geology review. 56: 263-287.
Mohajjel, M., Fergusson, C. L. and Sahandi, M. R., 2003- Cretaceous–Tertiary convergence and continental collision, Sanandaj–Sirjan Zone, western Iran. J. Asian Earth Science. 21: 397–412.
Momenzadeh, M., 1976- Stratabound lead–zinc ores in the lower Cretaceous and Jurassic sediments in the Malayer–Esfahan district (west Central Iran): lithology, metal content, zonation and genesis [Unpublished Ph.D. thesis]. Heidelberg, University of Heidelberg, 300 p.
Movahednia, M., Rastad, E., Rajabi, A. and Choulet, F., 2015- The Ab-Bagh Stratiform and Stratabound Zn-Pb Deposit, Sanandaj-Sirjan Zone, Iran. 13th SGA Biennial Meeting 2015. Proceedings, Volume 5.
Movahednia, M., Rastad, E., Rajabi, A. and Choulet, F., 2017- Rare earth elements geochemistry of hydrothermal gangue calcites of Ab-Bagh Sedimentary-exhalative (SEDEX-type) Zn-Pb deposit, Sanandaj-Sirjan zone, Iran. TRIGGER ("Trans-disciplinary Research on Iranian Geology, Geodynamics, Earthquakes and Resources") conference, Volume 1.
Mueller, A. G., 2008- The Rammelsberg shale-hosted Cu-Zn-Pb sulfide and barite deposit, Germany: Linking SEDEX and Kuroko-type massive sulfides - Slide presentation and explanatory notes. Name of internet website.
Piper, D. Z., and Calvert, S. E., 2009- A marine biogeochemical perspective on black shale deposition. Earth-Sci. Rev. 95, 63–96.
Raiswell, R. and Berner, R. A., 1985- Pyrite formation in euxinic and semi-euxinic sediments. American Journal of Science, 285: 710–724.
Rajabi, A., Rastad, E. and Canet, C., 2012- Metallogeny of Cretaceous carbonate-hosted Zn–Pb deposits of Iran: geotectonic setting and data integration for future mineral exploration. International Geology Review, 54: 1649-1672.
Rajabi, A., Rastad, E., Canet, C. and Alfonso, P., 2015- The early Cambrian Chahmir shale hosted Zn–Pb deposit, Central Iran: an example of vent-proximal SEDEX mineralization. Mineralum Deposita, 50: 571–590.
Rastad, E., 1981- Geological, mineralogical, and facies investigations on the Lower Cretaceous stratabound Zn–Pb–(Ba– Cu) deposits of the Iran Kouh Mountain Range, Esfahan, west Central Iran [Unpublished Ph.D. thesis]: Heidelberg, University of Heidelberg, 334 p.
Sáez, R., Moreno, C., González, F. and Almodóvar, G. R., 2011- Black shales and massive sulfide deposits: causal or casual relationships? Insights from Rammelsberg, Tharsis, and Draa Sfar. Mineralum Deposita, 46: 585–614.
Spinks, S. C., Schmid, S., Pagés, A. and Bluett, J., 2016- Evidence for SEDEX-style mineralization in the 1.7 Ga Tawallah Group, McArthur Basin, Australia, Ore Geology Reviews, 76: 122-139.
Tucker, M. E., 1994- Sedimentary petrology (an introduction to the origin of sedimentary rocks).2Ed, Blackwell Scientific Publication, London. 252p.
Turner, R. J. W., 1990- Jason stratiform Zn-Pb-barite deposit, Selwyn Basin, Canada (NTS 105-O-1): geological setting, hydrothermal facies and genesis. In: Abbott JG, Turner RJW (eds) Mineral deposits of the northern Canadian Cordillera. International Association on the Genesis of Ore Deposits, Field Trip Guidebook, 14: 137–175.
Wignall, P. B. and Newton, R., 1998- Pyrite framboid diameter as a measure of oxygen-deficiency in ancient mudrocks. American Journal of Science, 298: 537–552.
Wignall, P. B., Newton, R. and Brookfield, M. E., 2005- Pyrite framboid evidence for oxygen-poor deposition during the Permian–Triassic crisis in Kashmir: Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 216: 183–188.
Wilkin, R. T. and Barnes, H. L., 1997- Formation processes of framboidal pyrite. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 61: 323–339.
Wilkin, R. T., Barnes, H. L. and Brantley, S. L., 1996- The size distribution of framboidal pyrite in modern sediments: an indicator of redox conditions. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 60: 3897–3912.
Wilkinson, J. J., 2014- Sediment-hosted zinc-lead mineralization: processes and perspectives. In: Treatise on Geochemistry (2nd ed.), Elsevier, pp. 219–248
Wilkinson, J. J., Eyre, S. L. and Boyce A. J., 2005- Ore-forming processes in Irish-type carbonate-hosted Zn-Pb deposits: Evidence from mineralogy, chemistry and isotopic composition of sulfides at the Lisheen Mine. Economic Geology, 100: 63–86.
Xu, G., Hannah, J. L., Bingen, B., Georgiev, S., and Stein, H. J., 2012- Digestion methods for trace element measurements in shales: Paleoredox proxies examined. Chemical Geology. 324-325: 132–147.
Yarmohammadi, A., Rastad, E. and Rajabi, A., 2016- Geochemistry, fluid inclusion study and genesis of the sediment-hosted Zn-Pb (± Ag ± Cu) deposits of the Tiran basin, NW of Esfahan, Iran. Journal of Mineralogy and Geochemistry, 193: 183-203.
Ziegler, P. A., 1990- Geological atlas of western and central Europe (2nd edition). Shell International Petroleum Maatschappij B