Geology, geochemistry, fluid inclusion and genesis of the Arabshah magnetite-apatite mineralization, SE Takab

The Arabshah Fe mineralization is the only known magnetite-apatite mineralization at the Takab–Takht-e-Soleyman–Angouran subzone in southeast of Takab. The oldest rock units in the mineralization area include sedimentary succession of the Qom Formation that was intruded by the Pliocene Ayoub Ansar volcanic dome. Magnetite- apatite mineralization at the Arabshah occurs as vein-veinlets with E-W stright within the Ayoub Ansar dacitic dome. Brecciated zones containing narrow magnetite vein- veinlets occur at footwall and hanging wall of the main vein. Hydrothermal alterations include sodic-calcic, silicification and argillic. Magnetite is the only ore mineral in this mineralization which is accompanied with apatite, clinopyroxene, albite and quartz as gangue minerals. Mineralization textures in the Arabshah deposit include vein-veinlet, brecciated, disseminated, and replacement. REEs concentration within apatite crystals are more than 1%, and demonstrate LREE enrichment with high LREE/HREE ratio and distinctive negative Eu anomalies which is indicative for Kiruna- type iron ores. The result of fluid inclusion studies indicates the presence of two-phase and poly-phase inclusions include LV, VL, LVH, LVS and LVHS fluid inclusions with homogenization between 230-550 °C. The salinity of halite bearing poly-phase fluid vary between 35-60 wt.% NaCl equiv. Fluid inclusion data indicates that Arabshah magnetite-apatite mineralization originated from magmatic fluids. Evidences like mineral assemblages, hydrothermal alteration, ore structure and textures, geochemical characteristics and fluid inclusion data, indicate that the Arabshah magnetite-apatite mineralization can be classified as Kiruna-type iron ores.