JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC GEOLOGY
Year:2011 | Volume:3 | Issue:1|Papers Count:8

West directed subduction zones show common characteristics, such as low structural elevation, deep trench, steep slab and a conjugate back-arc basin that are opposite to those of the east directed subduction zones. The tectonomagmatic and metallogenic setting of the Lut Block is still a matter of debate and several hypotheses have been put forward. Despite some authors denying the influence of the operation of Benioff planes, the majority propose that it occurred beneath the Afghan Block, while others consider that oceanic lithosphere was dragged under the Lut Block. Cu-Au porphyry deposits seem to occur in an island arc geotectonic setting during the middle Eocene while Mo-bearing deposits are coincident with the crustal thickening during Oligocene. We introduce new trace element and isotope geochemical data for granitoids and structural evidences testifying the two-sided asymmetric subduction beneath both Afghan and Lut Blocks, with different rates of consumption of oceanic lithosphere.

The Mandan and Deh-Now bauxite deposits are located 40 km northeast of Dehdasht in Kohgiloye and Boyer-Ahmad province in the Zagros simply folded belt. The deposits were formed in the oldest rocks of the area of late Cretaceous age. The bauxite horizon is situated between Sarvak and Ilam formations. The aim of this study is to determine the mineralogy and texture relations of the deposits in order to determine the environment and status of bauxite mineralization. In this way, samples were selected from these bauxite deposits for mineralogical studies based on microscopic and XRD techniques. The bauxite horizon in the Mandan deposit consists of white, gray, black, pisolitic, red and yellow bauxites. The sequence was repeated in the Deh-Now without black and gray bauxites. Mineralogy is similar in all bauxitic layers and the main textures are pisolitic-ooide, ooide-spheroid, pisolitic, pelitomorphic and pseoudomorphic. Bohmite, diaspore, kaolinite and calcite are the most important minerals in both bauxitic layers of the Mandan and Deh-Now deposits. Due to bohmite mineralization in the study area, erosional and intense weathering environment in the Touronian-Cenomanian could be suggested for the deposition of bauxite in these deposits. Existence of interclasts in the pisolites and ooides indicate that these bauxites were transformed from the primary in situ environment to karstic sedimentary basin as authigenic origin. These studies indicate that there are two mineralized facies with different environmental status: (1) oxidation facies with bohmite, diaspore, kaolinite and hematite minerals and (2) reduced facies with pyrite, diaspore and chlorite mineralization. The lack of reduced condition at the Deh-Now deposit shows that the deposit formed only in oxidation status.

Bibi Maryam granitoid body with about 5 Km2 has intruded into ophiolite melange complex in sistan suture zone, in east of Iran. Thermal effects of this body on the host rocks show that this activity occurred after emplacement of ophiolite melange. This intrusive body with general northwest–southeast trend is mainly tonalite-quartz diorite but there is a minor unit as dykes of granodiorite in the northwest side. Main texture in tonalite-quartz diorite is granular and in granodiorite part, granular, myrmekitic and graphic are popular. Quartz, plagioclase (oligoclase-andesin) and biotite are the main minerals and the minors are amphibol, apatite, zircon and opaque in the main body. Quartz, sodium plagioclase and alkali feldspar are the main minerals and the minors are garnet, apatite and opaque minerals in granodiorite unit. Bibi Maryam granitoid is magmatic arc type and has plotted in calc-alkaline, metaluminous to peraluminous field.High ratio of LREE/HREE, Sr/Y (average is 38.7), and SiO2 amount(average is 69.48) with absent of Eu negative anomaly show these rocks are very similar to high SiO2 adakites. High ratio of Sr/Y can be interpreted of high depth melting in plagioclase unstability and garnet stability field. The source of this magma can be an eclogite or garnet amphibolites which derived of sub ducted metamorphosed oceanic plate in east of Iran. Dating on zircon grains in the main body (tonalite-quartzdiorite) with zircon uranium–lead shows this magmatic event has occurred at 71.5±0.6 Ma (maestrichtian). Based on this dating, the emplacement of host ophiolite melange should occurred before maestrichtian.

The study area is located in the south of Kerman province and in the Esphandoghe-Dolatabad zone. Numerous chromite ores were found in the area that has been explored by surface outcrops. With respect to the previous exploration-exploitation works and the absence of the pilot layer, the best option was the boreholes' drilling was the best choice in order to complete the detailed information. For the detail-exploration and ore evaluation, the exploratory boreholes and profiles designed after the exploration surveying, geology and the primary sampling. Exploratory boreholes are based on surface information and the present trenches on the hanging wall of the chromite veins are also designed in such a way that each borehole cut across the chromite vein in the depth of 15 meters. Based on previous results from the drilled holes, drilling results and with respect to the geological characteristic of the area, the exploration method of the mine for the first year has been selected on the open pit method and for the next years, cut and fill underground method. This deposit is having high economic values based on concluded results.

Eastern Iran has great potential for porphyry copper deposits, as a result of its past subduction zone tectonic setting that lead to extensive alkaline to calc-alkaline magmatic activity in Tertiary time. Maherabad is the first porphyry Cu-Au prospecting area which is discovered in eastern Iran. This is related to a succession of monzonitic to dioritic porphyries stocks that were emplaced within volcanic rocks. Monzonitic porphyries have basic role in mineralization. Hydrothermal alteration zones are well developed including potassic, sericitic-potassic, quartz-sericite-carbonate-pyrite, quartz-carbonate-pyrite, silicified-propylitic, propylitic, carbonate and silicified zones. Mineralization occurs as Disseminated, stock work and hydrothermal breccia. Based on early stage of exploration, Cu is between 179- 6830 ppm (ave. 3200 ppm) and Au is up to 1000 ppb (ave. 570 ppb). This prospect is gold- rich porphyry copper deposit. Laser-ablation U-Pb dating of two samples from ore-related intrusive rocks indicate that these two monzonitic porphyries crystallized at 39.0±0.8 Ma to 38.2±0.8 Ma, within a short time span of less than ca. 1 Ma during the middle Eocene. This provides the first precise ages for metallogenic episode of porphyry-type mineralization. Also, the initial 87Sr/86Sr and (143Nd/144Nd)i was recalculated to an age of 39 Ma. Initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios for monzonitic rocks are 0.7047-0.7048. The (143Nd/144Nd)i isotope composition are 0.512694-0.512713. Initial e Nd isotope values 1.45-1.81. Based on isotopic data the magma had originated beyond the continental crust. The study will be used for tectonic-magmatic setting and evolution of eastern Iran.

The Iranian East Magmatic Assemblage (IEMA) in the Central Lut region, hosted porphyry and vein-type polymetallic mineralization. The GaleChah-Shurab mining district is located in NW of the IEMA. Volcanic and sub volcanic bodies in the area are composed of calc-alkaline porphyry quartz-latite, porphyry dacite and rhyodacite and hornblende-biotite andesite, equivalent to I-type granite. They emplaced in Tertiary and intruded the Jurassic shale, siltstone and limestone basement (Shemshak Fm). The faults, joints and fractures, are the main controls on the mineralization, in forms of disseminated, vein, veinlet and minor stock work and brecciation type mineralization of Pb, Zn, Cu, Sb and trace elements. Vein and veinlet of Pb+Zn±Cu±Sb in the Gale-Chah abandoned mine accompanied by carbonate and silicic alterations in association with galena, sphalerite, pyrite, chalcopyrite, bournonite and tetrahedrite as the hypogene ore minerals and their supergene products including cerussite, covellite, digenite and second-generation colloidal pyrite. The Pb+Zn+Cu+Sb mineralization associated with sericitic and silicic alterations in the Shurab abandoned mine, is composed of two types of mineralization, veinlet and brecciation vein in the porphyry dacite boundaries with Jurassic shale and sandstones, and the disseminated and disseminated-veinlet mineralization which is hosted by the altered porphyry dacite and rhyodacite intrusive rocks. The mineral assemblages are galena, sphalerite, stibnite, As-bearing pyrite, chalcopyrite and tetrahedrite-tennantite complex hypogene-sulfide ore as a hypogene ore, and malachite, covellite, cerussite and melancoitic pyrite as a sulfide-oxide supergene ore. The Pb+Zn+Sb±As±Ag polymetallic occurrence is associated with sericitic, carbonate and chloritic alteration assemblage in the Chupan occurrence, in two forms, I) vein, veinlet-stock work (30m depth) confined to fault structures and II) disseminated-replacement (below 70m) mainly hosted in rhyodacite and porphyry dacite rocks. The hypogene minerals are galena, sphalerite, stibnite, pyrite, realgar-orpiment, arsenopyrite, and chalcopyrite with extensive occurrence of oxide-sulfide supergene products, such as Mn-oxide, hematite, malachite and colloidal pyrite. Fluid inclusion study show that disseminated veinlet Cu and disseminated-replacement polymetallic mineralization at the Shurab and Chupan deposits, respectively occurred in the high temperature, salinity and depth compared to vein-veinlet Pb and Zn mineralization of Gale-chah deposit. It seems that the mineralization is related to hydrothermal fluid evolution affected by mixing with cold and low salinity meteoric water.

The study area is a part of Cenozoic magmatic belt of Central Iran, which is located in the West of Yazd porovince. Contact metamorphism and skarn occurred in conglomerate part of Sngestan Formation. The Oligocene intrusion bodies of Ali-Abad-Darreh Zereshk are leucocerate and have the chemical composition of granite to granodiorite with calc-alkaline affinity from volcanic arc geological setting. The main mineral assemblage of skarn in order of imprtance is as follow: Garnet+epidote+quartz+calcite + pyrite+iron oxides. Brown garnets are the skarn characteristic mineral. EPMA analysis has shown that the chemical composition with garnet belong to andradite-grossular solid-solution (And 65, Gross 30) with more andradite component. The high permeability and presence of carbonate pebbles in conglomerate are two important factors for fluid flow and genesis of garnets. Distinct oscillatory zoning in garnets is resulted from the change of fO2 in fluids. The evolution of Ali-Abad skarn is took place in the range of 380 to 530 oC, 0.5 Kbar pressure and high fO2. Also close association of this skarn with Ali-Abad intrusive with Cu-porphyry mineralization shows that this skarn is a Cu-porphyry type skarn.