Geology, mineralization, geochemistry and fluid inclusion studies in Kimia copper mineralization, northwest of Bardeskan, Razavi Khorasan Province

The Kimia copper area is located in the Eocene volcano-sedimentary complex northwest of Bardskan in Razavi Khorasan Province. The geology of the area includes volcanic rocks with andesite-basalt composition, conglomerate with andesite fragments, nummulitic limestone and tuffaceous sandstone. Mineralization is found in andesite and conglomerate units as well as at the border between these units in the form of vein-veinlets, disseminated, replacement and open space filling. Primary minerals are chalcocite, pyrite, and secondary minerals are malachite, caveolite, and iron oxide. The faults in this region are formed in two directions, northeast-southwest and northwest-southeast, with a slope of 45 degrees. The main veins in this zone are calcite-quartz-pyrite, calcite-chalcocite and calcite-barite-pyrite. Alterations related to veins are siliceous and carbonate and are related to igneous, propylitic, carbonate and chloritic units. The amount of copper element ranges between 6950 and 47935 ppm and other elements have low values. Based on fluid inclusion study, the minimum formation temperature ranges between 228 and 368 °C and the salinity is between 10.4 and 16.9 percent. Based on the evidence of the host rock, structure, textures and existing alterations, copper mineralization in Kimia area is Manto type.