Au-bearing magnetite mineralizaion in Kashmar (alteration, mineralization, geochemistry, geochemistry and fluid inclusions); and Tectono-magmatism of northeast of Iran

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

• Alireza Almasi ¹
• Mohammad Hassan Karimpour ¹
• Keiko Hattori ²
• Jose Francisco Santos ³
• Khosrow Ebrahimi Nasrabadi ¹
• Behnam Rahimi ¹

¹ Ferdowsi University of Mashhad

² Ottawa

³ Aveiro

10.22067/econg.v8i2.54151

Abstract

Introduction
The study area is located in the central part of the Khaf- Kashmar- Bardaskan volcano-plotunic belt (briefly KKBB). Several IOCG deposits such as Tanourjeh Au-bearing magnetite deposit and Kuh-e-Zar Specularite-rich Au deposit have been explored in KKBB. Geology, alteration, mineralization, geochemistry and fluid inclusion results in Kashmar suggest the IOCG type Au-bearing magnetite mineralization. These IOCG deposits at KKBB form at an active continental arc related to SSZ-type Sabzevar oceanic subduction.

Materials and methods
Use of Landsat 7+, IRS and Aster satellites.
Petrography and alteration Studies in 150 thin sections of volcanic and intrusive rocks.
Sampling of ore-bearing quartz vein and mineralography.
Preparation of 28 geochemistry samples by the chip composite method of ore-bearing quartz vein and analyzing them in the ACME laboratory by Aqua Regia 1DX1.
Fluid inclusions studies of 14 samples of quartz and barite related to the ore minerals of ore-bearing quartz vein by THM600 stage of Linkam company.

Results
Magmatic events in Kashmar occur at Paleocene-Eocene and include: (1) old mafic - intermediate volcano-plutonic series; (2) felsic volcanic and granitoids; and (3) parallel swarm dykes which are youngest (Almasi et al., 2016). Geochemically, Kashmar rocks are metaluminous to highly peraluminous and Tholeitic to calc-alkaline and shoshonitic in composition (Almasi et al., 2016). The field characteristics, together with isotope and geochemical analyses show that all rock types are essentially co-magmatic and post-collisional I-type (Almasi et al., 2016). Alteration of Kashmar is described in two ways: (1) intense ellipsoidal-linear Argillic-Sillicification and low sericitic with Silica caps and with medium widespread and propylitic alterations in triple regions, next to Dorouneh fault; and (2) Medium Hematite-Carbonate-Chlorite-Silicification alterations in Kamarmard heights. In parts of near the Doruneh fault, sometimes fractures of rocks are filled with tourmaline (Dumortierite type) and iron oxides.
Kashmar surface mineralization is described in the ore-bearing quartz veins. Principal mineralization textures are layered, comb and Brecciation. The most important types of veins are those containing Chalcopyrite - Quartz veins, Specularite-rich veins – Quartz-Galena veins accompany with hydrothermal Breccias. Barren barite veins also exist in the region. The Chalcopyrite - Quartz veins occur on the main fracture zone and next to the Argillic alterations and silica cap in three regions (Bahariyeh, Uch Palang and Sarsefidal). Hydrothermal Breccias, Spicularite- rich veins, Quartz - Galena and barite veins occurred within Hematite- Carbonate-Chlorite-Silicification alterations in the Kamarmard area. Geochemistry of veins indicates anomalies of gold, copper, lead and zinc in them. Most enrichments of gold are accompanied with copper, lead and zinc and they occurs in hydrothermal Breccias and then specularite- rich veins. Gold values up to about 15 ppm and Cu, Pb and Zn each to > 1%.
Temperature – salinity studies of fluid inclusions of ore-bearing Quartz veins in Kashmar show the fluid temperature and salinity values in all veins are close together. Temperatures are moderate to relatively high and between 245° C and 530 ° C and salinities are relatively low to moderate and between 14 to 18 (wt% NaCl). Maximum and minimum of temperatures and salinities are related to fluid inclusions of hydrothermal Breccias and Quartz-Galena vein. Co-existence between two-phase liquid-vapor rich fluids and single-phase gas fluids in the veins indicate that conditions were close to boiling, and maybe a little boiling occurred, which strengthened with brecciaing of rock and view rare CO2-bearing fluid inclusion in veins on the Kamarmard peak. Non-existence of vuggy Quartz in silica caps in the region shows this issue. The frequency of oxide minerals (Specularite, Barite), H2O-NaCl-CaCl2 system, and the low amounts of sulfide minerals in Kashmar, all represent the oxidized conditions of hydrothermal fluid and the impact of CO2-bearing chloride complex in transport, non-interference of meteoric waters and precipitation of metallic elements with reducing of temperature.

Discussion
Most important IOCG deposits of south America (Candelaria, Mantoverde and Raul Condstable) have Au-bearing massive magnetite bodies accompanied with Potassium (actinolite, biotite and K-feldspar) alterations with high temperatures (500-700 O C) and salinities (>40%wt NaCl) at deepest parts (Sillitoe, 2003). At the upper levels, there are magnetite changes to hematite (Specular) and the possibility of coarse calcite (± silver mineralisation). Hematite zone may display hydrothermal/tectonic brecciation. The hematite-rich veins tend to contain sericite and/or chlorite, with or without K-feldspar or albite, and to possess alteration haloes characterized by these same minerals. Both the magnetite- and specular hematite-rich IOCG veins contain chalcopyrite and generally subordinate Pyrite (Fuller et al., 1965).

References
Almasi, A., Karimpour, M.H., Ebrahimi Nasrabadi, Kh., Rahimi, B. and KlÖtzli, U, 2016. Geology and geochemistry of sub-volcanic and plutonic bodies of Kashmar (North of Lut Block). Iranian Journal of Crystallography and Mineralogy, 24 (3): 539-556. (in Persian)
Fuller, R.C., Corvala´n, J., Klohn, C., Klohn, E. and Levi, B., 1965. Geologı´a y yacimientos metalı´feros de Chile. Instituto de Investigaciones Geolo´ gicas, Santiago, 305 pp.
Sillitoe, R.H., 2003. Iron oxide-copper-gold deposits: An Andean view. Mineralium Deposita, 38(7): 787–812.

Keywords

• Alteration
• Vein mineralization
• fluid inclusions
• IOCG
• Kashmar

20.1001.1.20087306.1395.8.2.16.7

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