Advanced Applied Geology

Advanced Applied Geology

Origin of Mineralization and Hydrothermal Fluid Evolution in the Qaleh Zargar Copper Deposit: Evidence from Fluid Inclusion Microthermometry and Stable S and O Isotopes, Central Lut Block (Central Iran)

Authors
Morteza Esform 1
Hasan Zamanian 2
Alireza Zarasvandi 3
Alireza Almasi 1
1 Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran
2 Faculty of Geology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
3 Geology Department, Faculty of Earth Science, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran
10.22055/aag.2025.49852.2519
Abstract
The Qaleh Zargar area is located in the eastern half of the Central Iranian microcontinent, in the central part of the Lut Block. The exposed volcanic rocks the area include basalt, basaltic andesite, andesite, trachyandesite, trachydacite, dacite, rhyodacite, rhyolite–ignimbrite, tuff, and lithic tuff. Mineralization in the area comprises oxide minerals (such as cuprite, and iron oxides and hydroxides including magnetite, hematite, limonite, and goethite), copper and lead carbonates (azurite, malachite, and cerussite), copper and lead sulfides (chalcopyrite, covellite, chalcocite, and galena). A positive Pb anomaly in the northeastern part the area suggests either magma contamination with crustal material or mantle metasomatism. Fluid inclusions indicate low salinity hydrothermal fluids, ranging from 3.55 to 7.31 wt.% NaCl equivalent, and homogenization temperatures between 136°C and 192°C, pointing to fluid mixing processes during ore formation. Mineralization mainly occurs in vein-type structures associated with fault zones. The δ³⁴S values of hydrothermal fluids containing H₂S range from –6.9‰ to –2.6‰, indicating a magmatic origin for the sulfur. Sulfur the Qaleh Zargar copper vein system likely originates either from leaching of primary sulfide minerals in the host volcanic rocks or directly from magmatic hydrothermal fluids. Oxygen isotope data from hydrothermal fluids associated with mineralized samples fall within the range of values typical for basaltic rocks, meteoric waters, and sedimentary rocks. Overall, based on field observations, petrography, alteration and mineralogical studies, fluid inclusion microthermometry, and stable isotope analyses of sulfur and oxygen, the ore-forming system in the Qaleh Zargar area can be classified as a vein-type hydrothermal system.
Keywords
Qaleh Zargar
Fluid inclusion Microthermometry
Istable Isotopes
Hydrothermal Fluid Evolution
Central Lut
Subjects
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Advanced Applied Geology
Volume 15, Issue 4
Autumn 2026
Pages 145-169