vartan simmonds

The Niaz Cu prospect is located 25 km west of Meshkinshahr, east of the Qaradagh metallogenic zone. The intrusion Oligo-Miocene magmatic bodies into the Paleocene-Eocene rock units has led to alteration and mineralization. The rock units of this area include batholiths Ι and ΙΙ (Khanbaz granodiorite and Khankandi granodiorite), Niaz quartz-monzonite/ quartz-monzodiorite and ore-bearing rhyodacite breccia.

In this research, the geological features, alteration, mineralization and physicochemical conditions of mineralizing fluids have been studied. In this regard, sampling from altered, mineralized zones and drilling cores were carried out and 23 samples were analyzed by XRF and 18 samples by ICP-OES methods and microthermometric measurements were performed on 8 doubly-polished thin sections.

The intrusive units have high-K calc-alkaline to shoshonitic nature, and the geochemical characteristics of their trace elements indicate similarities with subduction-related magmas. The negative anomaly of Ti and Nb in these rocks can be due to the magmatism related to the subduction processes, as well as the stability of the phases containing these elements during partial melting or their separation during the differentiation process. The enrichment of Pb, La, K, U, and Th elements and the depletion of Sr, Ti, and Nb can be attributed to crustal contamination. Hypogene alterations at Niaz include potassic, phyllic, propylitic and intermediate argillic types. Mineralization has occurred during early, middle, and late stages. Based on the mineralogy and paragenetic sequence, at least five types of veins/veinlets can be distinguished in Niaz deposit. Group A veinlets contain quartz+pyrite+chalcopyrite+magnetite, group B veins are also present in the potassic and phyllic alteration zones, veinlets of group C are mainly formed in the middle stage of mineralization, group D veins are mostly observed in the phyllic alteration zone, which are formed in the middle and later stages of hydrothermal activities and group E veins are almost devoid of sulfide minerals and mainly contain bright-color minerals (quartz and/or calcite)±tourmaline and are mostly present in the propylitic alteration zone. Studies on fluid inclusions (FIs) within the quartz veinlets showed that there are four types of FIs at room temperature, (1) mono-phase vapor, (2) liquid-rich 2-phase, (3) vapor-rich 2-phase, and (4) multi-phase solid containing daughter solid phases. The ranges of FIs are about 280-360°C in the potassic, 280-360°C and 280-300°C in phyllic and 170-330°C in propylitic alteration zones.

The petrology and petrogenesis of magmatic host rocks, mineralogy, hydrothermal alteration in the Niaz area testify to a porphyry-type Cu mineralization. The main sulfide mineralization includes vein-type pyrite, molybdenite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite and galena. Fluid inclusion microthermometry results show a Th range of 170-360 °C and salinity values of 0.2-60 wt%NaCl equiv., corresponding to the ranges of porphyry Cu deposits. Boiling and simple colling of ore-bearing fluids were the main processes for ore precipitation.

The Sarikhanloo area is located within the Qaradagh metallogenic zone in northwest Meshgin Shahr. Igneous rocks cropped out in this area include successions of Paleocene-Eocene pyroclastic rocks (tuff and andesitic-dacitic lavas with intercalations of ignimbrite) and basaltic andesite lava flows. Igneous rocks show high-K calc-alkaline to shoshonitic nature and are mainly metaluminous, formed in a post-collisional uplift tectonic setting. Hydrothermal activities in this area brought about formation of vast silicic veins and caps, along with silicic, propylitic, phyllic (non-pervasive) and intermediate argillic alterations around the veins, as well as intermediate to advanced argillic alteration halos at the margins of silicic caps. Ore minerals in the silicic veins includes pyrite, arsenopyrite and Fe-oxides, accompanied by minor malachite, formed during four mineralization stages. Fluid inclusion studies indicate that the homogenization temperature of fluid inclusions ranges from 175 to 355 °C, considering the low pressure of fluid inclusions (≤ 0-40 bars), can signify the fluid temperature at the time of entrapment. The estimated salinity values are between 0.2 and 3 wt% NaCleq.

In recent years, the water level of Lake Urmia has been increasingly reduced and a huge amount of sediment and salt has remained in its bed. Due to the geology around the lake as well as the effluents and sewage that have entered the lake, harmful elements have entered the lake water. With the regression of the lake, the complex contaminants in the water have been transferred to the sediments and salts of the lake bed, which in case of possible conversion of these sediments and salts containing hazardous elements into fine dust, will affect the surrounding areas. In this study, the content of heavy harmful metals (As, Cr, Ni, Cu, Pb, Zn, Co, Mn, V, Cd and Hg) and radioactive materials (Th and U) in sediments and salts of Lake Urmia were evaluated. . The purpose of this study is to identify and study the source of contamination of harmful elements in sediments and residual salts in the dried bed of the semi-eastern part and between the passage of Lake Urmia.

To investigate, sampling of sediments and surface salts of the lake was done from the eastern and middle part of the lake and the samples were geochemically evaluated and statistically analyzed.

Comparison of the results of the obtained concentrations with the average crust showed that the elements As, Cu, Ni, Co, Hg, Cd, Th and U in the region are more than the average crust.

The studied elements were examined by statistical evaluations such as correlation coefficient, cluster analysis and factor analysis. The results of all three methods were consistent with each other. According to these results, the origin of U and Hg elements is geology and the origin of other human elements. The main sources of human pollution are from urban and industrial effluents and sewage in the areas around the lake.

Mn-bearing veins of Jonub -ESehchangi are located 200 km southwest of Birjand, Southern Khorasan province (east of Iran). These veins are hosted by andesitic rocks of Eocene to Oligocene ages. Ore minerals identified by XRD method and mineralographic studies and are Pyrolusite, cryptomelane, psilomelane, hollandite, hematite and goethite, displaying colloform and open-space filling textures. Gypsum, halite, barite, carbonate and silica are the gangue minerals. Alteration zones, specifically argillic alteration zone, are developed along the vein within the andesitic wall rocks. Based on the mineralogical and geochemical data, the primary manganese minerals were Mn oxides and hydroxides, which have gradually been converted to psilomelane and hollandite, and finally pyrolusite. The average grade of Mn within the veins is 38.61%. Considering the average Mn/Fe ratio (about 48.55) in the Mn-bearing veins, as well as the positive correlation of Sr, U and Ba with Mn mineralization in this area show hydrothermal origin.

The Beshgaz manganese-bearing veins are located in ~45 km northeast of Birdjand, South-Khorasan, and east of Iran. These veins with 0.1-1.5 m thickness and 4-7 m length are engulfed discordantly within Paleocene (Eocene-Oligocene) volcanic-pyroclastic rocks. The host of Mn-bearing veins are dacite to rhyo-dacite tuff, lapilli tuff with andesitic and andsi-basaltic fragments in shear zones. The Mn grade reaches up to 45% in the vein/veinlets. The major Mn ore minerals are pyrolusite, cryptomelane, and psilomelane. Ore minerals showing colloform and open-space filling textures. Amorphous silica is the principal gangue mineral in the Mn ores and the SiO2 content of these veins vary from 2.41 in Mn-bearing veins to 20.98 % in silicic zone. Based on mineralographic and geochemical data, the Mn ores were preliminarily precipitated as amorphous Mn-oxide and hydroxide gels, and gradually psilomelane and then pyrolusite were developed in expense of the primary amorphous minerals. The average ratio of Mn/Fe in Beshgaz manganese-bearing veins is 26.31 and positive correlation of manages with Ba, Sr, U, and Zn in Mn-bearing veins indicate that these veins have formed as epigenetic by hydrothermal fluids.