Petrology, geochemistry and ore potential of the Samen granitoid (SW Malayer, Hamedan)

The Samen granitoid is located along the northwestern part of the Sanandaj- Sirjan Zone in the Southwestern of Malayer. Based on mineralogical and geochemical characteristics, five main facies have been recognized in the Samen granitoid which included granodiorite, monzogranite, syenogranite, alkali-feldspar granite and quartz-monzonite. Granodiorite is the main facies of the pluton and is more wide spread than other facies. Geochemistry of major elements indicates that the Samen granitoid is metalomious (ACNK=0.75) to peralomious (ACNK=1.21) and is classified as volcanic arc granites (VAG) related to active continental margins and petrochemically belongs to calc alkaline with high K rock series. Depletion in Nb, Zr, Hf, Y, Ti and HREE and enrichment in K, Rb, Cs, Th and LREE is consistent with an arc setting related to the subduction of Neo-Tethyan oceanic crust beneath the Sanandaj-Sirjan zone. The pluton has been contaminated by interaction with upper crust. In the Samen district both calcic exoskarn (grossular-andradite/augite-diopside) and endoskarn (tremolite-actinolite/epidote) occur along the contacts between granitoid and marble. The present study indicates that geochemical characteristics of the granodiorite and quartz-monzonite Samen rocks are similar to the averages for Au-Cu- and Fe- skarns granitoids, whereas the geochemical characteristics of the monzogranite, syenogranite and alkali-feldspar granite are similar to averages for Sn- and Mo-skarn granitoids. Based on oxidizing conditions and magma evolution, the Samen granitoid is characterized by relatively unevolved to moderately evolved and oxidized suites, as in most Au-Cu core metal associations globally.