QE576 : Geology and petrogenesis of sub-volcanic intrusions in northern part of Toroud-Chah Shirin magmatic arc, (North of Central Iranian structural zone) with special reference to porphyry-epithermal systems
Thesis > Central Library of Shahrood University > Geosciences > PhD > 2024
Authors:
Abstarct: This study presents a comprehensive investigation of the geochemical characteristics of numerous subvolcanic intrusions within the eastern segment of the Toroud-Chah Shirin magmatic arc, located in northeastern Iran. The findings underscore the coexistence of typical adakites and Nb-enriched basalts, thereby providing novel insights into the magmatic evolution of the region. The geochemical characteristics indicate that the volcanic country rocks originated in a magmatic arc setting through 3–10% partial melting of lower continental crustal amphibolites. The adakitic rocks have resulted from 10 to 25% partial melting of garnet amphibolite. The εNd(t) values of these rocks range from 4.8 to 5.4, while their initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios (87Sr/86Sr)i vary between 0.7044 and 0.7054, reflecting the geochemical signature of slab-derived adakites. Zircon U-Pb dating has yielded subvolcanic porphyry crystallization ages ranging from 45.6 to 41.7 Ma. Geochemical evidence indicates that the dolerite dyke, which intersect the subvolcanic intrusions and their host rocks, exhibit a transitional character and result from 15–30% partial melting of spinel lherzolite. The geodynamic evolution and sustained presence of significant slab-derived melts (from 51 to 8 Ma) along the northern boundary of the Central Iranian Microcontinent necessitate elevated heat flow. It is inferred that the systematic alignment of numerous doleritic dykes across the TCSH magmatic arc indicates pronounced extensional tectonics in the overlying lithosphere. Consequently, asthenospheric upwelling has facilitated slab melting of the Sabzevar oceanic lithosphere, resulting in the prolonged formation of adakitic rocks and the generation of Nb-enriched basalts through the interaction of slab melts with the mantle.
In the prospective area, numerous mineralization systems have developed as a result of hydrothermal fluid activity. Within the igneous rocks of the argillic zones, the primary mineralogy has been altered significantly, leading to the widespread occurrence of silicic alteration, kaolinite, and secondary iron oxides. Mineralization in these zones is associated with breccia events and veins, with the highest concentration of sulfide mineralization observed in silica veins. The mineralization zones encompass silicic lithocaps and advanced argillic alteration characterized by pyrophyllite at the center and propylitic alteration at the margins. The predominant minerals identified include pyrite, chalcopyrite, anargite, magnetite, hematite, and goethite. The findings from the fluid inclusion studies indicate that the homogenization temperatures within these inclusions range from 160 to 362ºC, while the salinity varies between 2.24 and 9.08 wt.% NaCl equivalent. This zone exhibits significant similarities to high-sulfidation epithermal deposits (HS) and may be correlated at depth with porphyry copper-gold-molybdenum deposits. At the Kalate/Dasht deposit, mineralization has occurred through hydrothermal processes and the formation of vein-veinlet breccias along a fault structure with a near-vertical dip. This mineralization includes pyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, bornite, galena, barite, and quartz, alongside observed alterations of sericitic, silicic, and propylitic nature. Notably, gold is predominantly hosted within the chalcopyrite. The results from fluid inclusion studies in calcite and barite minerals reveal that the final homogenization temperatures range from 143.2 to 213.1ºC, with salinity varying between 3.06 and 7.73 wt.% NaCl equivalent. This deposit exhibits characteristics akin to intermediate sulfidation epithermal deposits (IS). In the Chah Musa deposit, mineralization has been identified in two primary forms: stockwork within the porphyry andesite subvolcanic intrusion and vein-veinlets along fault zones. The first group of veins (V1) comprises quartz (Qz), potassium feldspar (Kfs), chalcopyrite (Cpy), bornite (Bn), and magnetite (Mag); the second group (V2) consists of quartz (Qz) with variable potassium feldspar (Kfs) and gypsum/anhydrite (Gp/Anh), in addition to chalcopyrite (Cpy) and pyrite (Py); the third group (V3) contains quartz (Qz), pyrite (Py), and chalcopyrite (Cpy). The veins associated with the first and second groups exhibit potassic alteration, whereas those in the third group are characterized by phyllic alteration. Furthermore, mineralization lixnked to fault zones is associated with propylitic alteration, and the veins-veinlets of the fourth group (V4) comprise quartz (Qz), calcite (Cal), barite (Brt), adularia (Adu), bornite (Bn), sphalerite (Sph), galena (Gn), pyrite (Py), and chalcopyrite (Cpy). The homogenization temperatures of the fluid inclusions range from 120°C to 484.22°C for V2, 118°C to 365°C for V3, and 165°C to 239°C for V4. The salinity of the fluid inclusions varies between 3.06 wt.% and 13.07 wt.% NaCl equivalent (NaCl eq) for V2, 2.57 wt.% and 18.09 wt.% NaCl eq for V3, and 7.17 wt.% and 10.49 wt.% NaCl eq for V4. The characteristics of mineralization and hydrothermal alteration suggest the presence of a low sulfidation epithermal system (LS) that overlaps at depth with a porphyry copper system.
Keywords:
#Geochemical #Geochornology #Isotopic geochemical #Epithermal-copper porphyry #Lithocap #Alteration #Toroud-Chah Shirin. Keeping place: Central Library of Shahrood University
Visitor:
Visitor: