Gold and trace elements distribution in pyrite from the Senjedeh gold deposit Muteh mining district, according to EPMA results

Muteh district is located in the central part of Sanandaj- Sirjan Zone. It consists of two active mines, including the Chah Khatoon and Senjedeh open pits. Exposed rock units in the area underwent greenschist to lower amphibolite metamorphism. They consist of deformed and metamorphosed volcano-sedimentary and acidic volcanic rocks. Gold mineralization is hosted in metamorphic rocks and pyrite is the most important Au-hosting mineral in the Muteh minig district; therefore, pyrite from the Senjedeh gold deposit was investigated using a combination of ore microscopy, including back-scattered imaging (BSE), and electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) with the aim to investigate gold and trace elements (Se, As, Pb, Bi, Sb, Co, Ag, Te, Zn, Cu, Ni) distribution. Based on our studies, there are two generations of pyrite: medium-grained, anhedral and deformed of first generation of pyrite that is characterized by abundance of microfractures, contains high level of gold ( up to 810 ppm) and coarse grained, euhedral of second generation of pyrite, contains low- medium level of gold (bdl- 110 ppm). Results of this study show that there are no systematic differences between the trace element compositions of two generations of pyrite. According to BSE, visible gold is widespread and present as irregular grains of native gold mostly along grain boundaries or filling microfractures of first generation of pyrite. Element mapping indicates that Co is incorporated in pyrite crystal lattice and shows compositional zoning in pyrite grains. Ultramafic, and to a lesser extent, mafic rocks are typically strongly enriched in Co; in contrast, felsic rocks usually contain low Co concentrations. Therefore, high Co concentrations should be a good indicator of a high proportion of mafic to ultramafic over felsic rocks in the fluid source area. Co concentrations in pyrite ,possibly linked to mafic/ultramafic metamorphic rocks, provide further evidence for the orogenic gold deposit affinity.