JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC GEOLOGY
Year:2013 | Volume:4 | Issue:2|Papers Count:10

One of the most intensive occurrences of magmatism in Iran was in the middle Jurassic period. Among the granitoid intrusions in this period as discrete bodies or complexes can be pointed to Aligoodarz, Alvand, Astaneh, Boroujerd, Malayer, and Chah-Dozdan in the Sanandaj-Sirjan zone, Shir-kuh and Ayrakan in the Central Iran zone, Shah-kuh, Sorkh-kuh and Kalateh-Ahani in the Lut Block. These granitoids are mostly peraluminous and belong to high-K calc-alkaline series. CaO/Na2O ratios (0.12 to 8.37) mostly suggest a clay-free source for formation of the intrusive rocks magma. Chondrite-normalized Rare Earth Elements (REEs) diagram do not display high enrichment of Light Rare Earth Elements (LREEs) than Heavy Rare Earth Elements (HREEs) and general pattern is relatively flat. In addition, diagram shows Eu negative anomaly, which can be attributed to indicate reducing conditions in formation of magma and/or magma derived from plagioclase depth as source. The lower continental crust-normalized spider diagram indicates enrichment in LILE (Rb, Cs, and K) and LREE (La and Ce) and depletion in Ba, Nb, Ta, Sr, and Ti. Initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios are 0.70609 to 0.71938 and initial eNd values are negative (from -6.51 to -1.1) indicating that magma derived from continental crust. Geochemical and isotopic evidence of the intrusive rocks shows continental crust origin (S-type granitoid) and due to continental collision. Geological findings such as stop in sedimentation, regional metamorphism, ophiolite displacement, and continental collision-related mineralization confirm continental collision between Iranian and Arabian plates in the Middle Jurassic period.

Hyperion hyper spectral data contains a very rich source of information from the Earth surface that collects 242 narrow contiguous spectral bands. Achieving this source of rich information is subject to the performance of suitable image processing methods on raw satellite data. Satellite image processing methods can be classified into two categories of statistical-based and spectral-based. In the statistical-based methods, processing principle is based on the distribution pattern of pixels' DN values around mean, mode and median in DN value histogram of each band. However, in the spectral-based methods, the analysis is performed based on the spectral properties of the materials under question. In this study, we investigated both image processing methods and validated the results with field and laboratory data. Field and laboratory studies included the investigation of field samples, laboratory spectroradiometry, XRD analysis and thin section studies of the rock samples. SAM and PCA image processing methods performed on Hyperion images of the argillic zone in Masahim volcanic crater as spectral and statistical-based methods, respectively. The MTMF method also was surveyed as a composite method in addition to the use of reference spectrum using statistical principles. Confusion matrix prepared for the results of the three methods illustrated producer accuracy of 74.58% for SAM, 25.42% for PCA and 61% for MTMF results. Therefore, use of spectral-based methods on hyper spectral image processing is considered as a suitable way for ground surface remote sensing studies using hyper spectral Hyperion images.

Mineralization occurred by intrusion of granodioritic stock of middle Miocene in volcano–sedimenrary rocks in Sarcheshmeh of early Tertiary age. This research is based on samples of new drilled boreholes and benches of 2500 m elevation. Based on mineralogy and crosscutting relationships, at least four groups of veinlets pertaining to four stages of mineralization were recognized. Sulfur isotope studies in the Sarcheshmeh porphyry copper deposit were conducted on pyrite, chalcopyrite, molybdenite and anhydrites of four groups of veinlets. The d34S values in the sulfides and sulfates range from -2.2 to 1.27‰ and from 10.2 to 14.5‰, respectively. The average d34S value in the sulfides is 1‰ and that for the sulfates is about 13‰. Considering these results, it can be concluded that the sulfides made up of a fluid that its sulfur has a magmatic origin. Also, fluid inclusions of different veinlet groups were studied, showing high temperature, high salinity and the occurrence of boiling in the mineralizing fluids. Moreover, these studies indicate presence of three types of fluids including magmatic, meteoritic and mixture of these two fluids in alteration and mineralizion processes.

Kalchouyeh area in southwest of Naein is located in the Urumieh-Dokhtar volcano-plutonic belt.Mineralization occurred mainly as disseminations and veinlets hosted by trachy-andesite and pyroxene andesites. For mineralogy, alteration, fluid inclusion and geochemical studies, the two major mineralized zones: A (larger vein) from the north-northwest and B (smaller vein) from the east-southeast of the area were sampled. Alteration studies revealed that the main alteration assemblages are silicification and propylitic. The ore minerals are chalcopyrite, galena, pyrite, bornite, chalcocite, covellite, goethite, malachite, azurite, cerussite and cuprite with quartz, calcite and barite as the main gangues. Fluid inclusion studies demonstrated that salinity and homogenization temperatures were 0.38-4.23 and 0.166-9.188 wt% NaCl and 175-252oC and 250-324oC at the A and B veins, respectively. Rare Earth Element (REE) plots show negative slopes that is one of the features for calc-alkaline magmas. La/Y is higher than 1 showing that mineralizing fluids were neutral to basic. According to the data, direction of ore-bearing fluids movement was determined to be from east-southeast toward north-northwest (from B to A veins), approximate site of mineralization center is located adjacent to smaller vein and the mineralization is epithermal in type.

In order to assess the potential of copper mineralization and its associated elements in Soltan Meydan basaltic formation situated in the north of Shahrud, the method of stream sediment and heavy mineral has been used. To achieve this aim, totally 68 samples of sediments (-80 mesh in particle size) and 6 samples of heavy minerals (-20 mesh in particle size) have been collected in an optimized network of sampling. Stream sediment samples have been analyzed in for Cu, Pb, Zn, Co, Mn, Fe and Ni. Statistical processing of geochemical data resulted in identifying of elements with anomaly values, discrimination between anomalous and background values, and also assigning the inter-element relationships. Among the elements, Cu and Ni show first and second order anomalies in the samples. Results show that Fe, Pb, and Zn are associated together and also indicate positive correlation with Co and Mn, strongly (r≥0.5). The study of heavy mineral samples indicates the presence of magnetite, hematite, goethite, limonite, pyrite, oxidized pyrite, ocher, barite, apatite, rutile, zircon, nigrine, anatase, sphene, leucoxene, gold and ferromagnesian silicates. Statistical processing of heavy mineral data shows the association of Au, Ti, and Fe-oxides. The results of geochemical data processing and their integration with results of distribution pattern of fractures indicates good correlation between geochemical anomalies and highly fractured regions, as a result promising area for Cu and Ti mineralization has been identified and suggested for performing of further exploration.

Metagabbro, metadiabase and metabasalt of the Chah Palang and Me'raji mountains associated with Lower Paleozoic metamorphites are situated in the south of Arousan. Metabasites of these areas are relatively similar in terms of mineralogy and geochemical characteristics. Rock-forming minerals of the Me'raji metabasites are feldspar, amphibole, biotite, sphene, epidote, chlorite±calcite. Metagabbro and metadiabase of the Chah Palang area are similar to the Me'raji metabasites in mineralogy and geochemistry. Volcanic rocks are overlain by metagabbros and consist of plagioclase, biotite, sphene, sanidine, chlorite, epidote and iron oxides. The rigid dykes, which are found in the volcanic units are associated with metagabbros and mineralogically are similar to the metavolcanics. Amphibolitic dykes are composed of amphibole, plagioclase and biotite with preferred orientation. Metabasites show limited range of differentiation. Me'raji metabasites are basalt and trachy-basalt in composition, whereas the Chah Palang ones present basalt and trachy-basalt composition. Similar to metabasites of the other parts of Iran, the studied basic rocks demonstrate alkaline to transitional chemical characteristic and are formed in an extensional environment by low-degree partial melting of a garnet-spinel peridotite. Metamorphic episodes have changed the studied rocks to amphibolite and green schist, but the primitive igneous textures are preserved.

Keybarkuh area is located 70 km southwest of Khaf, Khorasan Razavi province. The study area is situated in northeastern Lut block. The rock units in the area are Paleozoic metamorphic rocks and Cretaceous to Tertiary subvolcanic intrusions intruded as dike, stock and batholith, their composition varies from granite to diorite. Based on magnetic susceptibility, the intrusive rocks are divided into oxidant and reduced series. In this study, the oxidant intrusions are discussed. These intrusions are mostly high-K to shoshonitic and also meta-aluminous type. Their magma formed in subduction magmatic arc and they belong to I-type granitoid series. Enrichment of Large Ion Lithophile Elements (LILE) such as Rb, Cs, K, Ba, and Th relative to High Field Stength Elements (HFSE) such as Nb, Zr, and Ti supported the idea. Enrichment of Light Rare Earth Elements (LREE) and depletion of Heavy Rare Earth Elements (HREE) are also typical of subduction magmatism. Negative anomalies of Eu/Eu* can be attributed to the presence of residual plagioclase in a mantle source and contamination of magma by reduced continental crust. The amount of Nb>11 ppm, lower ratio of Zr/Nb<2, the initial 87Sr/86Sr isotope ratio (>0.706), initial 143Nd/144Nd (>0.512) and eNd (<-3.5) indicate that magma contaminated by reduced continental crust. Hornblende biotite granodiorite porphyry dated using U-Pb zircon geochronology at 43.44 Ma (Middle Eocene). Based on calculated TDM, magma derived from ancient slab with 820 Ma age in the Keybarkuh area, was affected by the highest continental crust contamination during its ascent.

The role of some ring structures in the distribution of porphyry copper deposits in south Kerman porphyry copper belt is discussed. In the study area, ring structures are circular or elliptical shaped features which are partly recognized on satellite images. In this study, Landsat multispectral images were used to identify ring structures in the area. The rudimentary identification stages of the circles were mainly based on their circular characteristics on the images. These structures match with the regional tectonic features and can be seen mainly in two types, namely, large-magnitude and small scale circles. The associated mineralization in the study area is mainly porphyry Cu and vein type base metal sulfide deposits. There is a sensible relationship between the large circles and mineralization. These circles have encompassed almost entire Cu deposits and prospects in south part of Kerman porphyry copper belt. The small circles seem to be external traces of (porphyritic) intrusive bodies that appear on surface as small circles. Formation of the large circular structures do not appear to be related to the external processes and there is no clear indication of how they came into existence but, their arrangement around the edges of a positive residual anomaly area shows the probable role of this anomaly in their formation. This matter is also recognized on the generalized crustal thickness map of the region in which an up doming of the upper mantle is observed. This study can improve our collective knowledge for copper exploration in this region.

The Dalir phosphate horizon is located ~57 km southwest of Chalous, Mazandaran province. The horizon developed as stratiform within upper shale of Soltanieh Formation (late Neoproterozoic-early Cambrian). According to mineralogical data, the major minerals of the phosphate horizon are calcite, fluorapatite, dolomite, quartz, pyrite, muscovite, and illite. Microscopic evidence such as existence of the fabric similar to grumeuse fabric indicates a vital role for diagenetic processes and dynamic pressures in the evolution of the horizon. The distribution pattern of Rare Earth Elements (REEs) normalized to PAAS reveals weak fractionation of Light REEs from Heavy REEs and negative Ce anomaly during phosphatization. Incorporation of the obtained results from mineralogical and geochemical studies suggests that the behavior and distribution of REEs were affected by the function of factors such as diagenesis, preferential sorption, presence and decomposition of organic matter, oxidation-reduction potential, and function of pore-waters. Further geochemical considerations show that fluorapatite, xenotime, muscovite, Mn-oxides and illite are the potential hosts for REEs.

The presence of Cr (VI) in groundwater resources is governed by pH and Eh of water and its compounds are generally soluble and have more toxicicity and mobility in oxidizing environments. In this article, the Cr concentration in ophiolite units, in sediments, and in groundwater resources, and also its potential to contaminate the environment have been investigated in southeast of Birjand. During sampling, 17 water samples (2 rain water samples and 15 groundwater samples), and 8 sediment samples were collected. The concentrations of cations (major cations and Cr) and anions in water samples were measured at Ottawa University, Canada using IC and ICP-AES methods, respectively. Cr concentrations of sediments were measured using XRF, and concentrations of Cr in collected Selective Sequential Extraction (SSE) fractions were measured using Atomic Absorption (AA) at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran. The average Cr concentrations in sediments and water resources are 627 and 0.026 ppm, respectively. According to the pH of sediments and Eh-pH of water samples, the Cr in water resources is as Cr (VI). Furthermore, the results of SSE show that the majority of Cr was found with residual matter, attached to the iron and manganese oxides, bound to carbonates, organic matter, and the soluble fractions, respectively. The hydro geochemical properties of water resources show that the average values of EC, TDS and pH are 509 mg/l, 1045 ms/cm and 8.1, respectively, and the concentrations of Cl-, Na+, Mg2+ and SO42- ions are higher than the levels of WHO and Iran National Standard (1053). According to the WQI classification, while 20 percent of the water resources have excellent quality, 53 percent show good quality and 20 percent of water resources are poor in quality.