Implication of Geochemical Investigations on the Genetic Model of Sediment-Hosted Base Metal Deposits: An Example of Zn-Pb-(Ag-Ba) Deposits of the Irankuh Mining District

Authors

1 Department of Geology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

2 Department of Geological Engineering, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey

Abstract

     The Zn-Pb-(Ag-Ba) deposits of Irankuh Mining District is formed within a volcano-sedimentary sequence of Lower Cretaceous rocks formed in a back-ark basin setting along the syn-sedimentary normal faults. Based on the styles of sulfide mineralization, three sulfide ore-bearing facies including a stockwork, a  massive, and a bedded ore facies is detected which are characterized by silicification, dolomitization and to some extent sericitization alterations. Based on microscopic studies and some geochemical investigations such as EPMA and cathodoluminescence (CL), two stages of dolomitization can be distinguished: regional (diagenetic) and hydrothermal dolomitization. Based on EPMA and fluid inclusion studies, two main fluids were identified in the Irankuh Mining District: (1) high-temperature (85-260 ºC) hydrothermal fluid which based on the Th/U ratio of the host rocks is considered to be reduced and is originated from pore water and descending seawater, and (2): descending cool seawater with low values of Mn and Fe which regionally caused dolomitization of the host limestone. Hydrothermal fluids have two temperature-salinity domains as stockwork ore fluids have higher temperatures (120-260 ºC) and lower salinities (8.7-23.3%) whereas in the massive ore fluids have moderate temperature (85-180 ºC) and higher salinity (16.8-23.3%) due to mixing with seawater fluids. Geochemical studies such as fluid inclusion and occurrence of high and low grade sulfide mineralization with its own specific temperature-salinities in combination with geological data such as location of normal fault and associated ore-bearing facies, it could be able to identify high and low grade sulfide mineralization in the study area. The geochemical features of Irankuh ore deposits in combination with typical features of sediment-hosted Zn-Pb deposits in the world demonstrates that the Irankuh Mining District and its related ore deposits share many similarities with sub-seafloor replacement SEDEX-type deposits.
 

Keywords

References

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Advanced Applied Geology
Volume 7, Issue 1
April 2017
Pages 42-64

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