Geochemistry of kaolin occurrence in the Abolhasani-Zereshkouh area, southeast of Damghan, NE Iran

The kaolin occurrence in the Abolhasani-Zereshkouh area (south of Shahroud, northeast of Iran) is a product of alteration of Eocene andesitic rocks. With attention to mineralogical studies, kaolinite, quartz, chlorite, montmorillonite, illite, rutile, calcite, orthoclase, albite, vermiculite, palygorskite, jarosite, and hematite are the mineral assemblege of this alteration occurrence. Calculations of mass balance of elements with assuming Zr as monitor immobile element show that elements such as Si, Fe, Mg, Na, K, Ti, Cr, Ba, Be, Co, Cs, Rb, Sn, U, V, W, Ni and REE were partially depleted and elements such as Hf, Zn and Cd enriched during the kaolinitization processes of andesitic rocks. Other elements including Al, Ca, P, Mn, Ga, Nb, Sr, Ta, Th, Y, Cu, Pb and Tl were undergone both leaching and fixation processes. The mass decrease of Si, Fe, K, Rb, Cs and Ba reveals destruction of plagioclase and hornblende by highly acidic hydrothermal fluids. The presence of two abnormal decreasing and increasing trends for the elements Al, Ga, P, Nb, Ta, and Y can be attributed to the low pH of the altering fluids, the high water-to-rock ratio and the abundance of complexing legands.