Advanced Applied Geology

Advanced Applied Geology

Ore deposition processes in the Qamishlu lead deposit, southwest of Isfahan, Iran: Insights from geological, structural-textural, and sulfur isotope evidence

Authors
1 Department of Advanced Materials and renewable energy, Iranian research organization for science and technology, Tehran,Iran
2 Department of Geology, Faculty of Earth Science, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
Abstract
The Qamishlu lead deposit is one of the lead-zinc deposits in the Isfahan-Malayer metallogenic belt, located within the Sanandaj-Sirjan metamorphic zone. Mineralization occurs within the massive limestone along fault surfaces, shear zones, or at the boundaries between limestone and other Cretaceous units. The ore structure appears as veins, veinlets, crystal clusters. The ore texture is characterized by coarse grained alternating of ore and gangue mineral deposition. The mineralogy and paragenetic sequence of the Qamishlu deposit are simple, consisting of pyrite, sphalerite, tetrahedrite, main-stage galena, barite, and late-stage galena. The main alteration types in the Qamishlu deposit are included dolomitization, silicification, and calcitization of the host rock. Analysis of δ³4S values in sulfide minerals (galena and pyrite) from the Qamishlu deposit shows a narrow, positive range of +4‰ to +9‰, while the δ³4S values for barite range from +22‰ to +24‰. The positive δ³4S values in sulfide minerals, along with mineralogical evidence such as simultaneous and alternation deposition of coarse grained sulfide-sulfate minerals (galena and barite), suggest a slow thermochemical sulfate reduction (TSR) process for producing reduced sulfur. Evidences e.g. alternation and simultaneous deposition of barite and galena, the association of mineralization with NE-SW trending faults, and the low variations in sulfur isotopes within ore and gangue minerals, Sufficient open space, fluid-rock reaction of ore-bearing fluids with carbonate host rocks and thermal sulfate reduction, altered the physicochemical conditions of the metal-carrying fluid, ultimately leading to the deposition of epigenetic sulfide mineralization (MVT).
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