Structural control in the generation of iron and uranium in the Bakherz mountain area, east of Sangan mine, Razavi Khorasan province

Bakherz Mountain is situated in the northeast of Sangan city, at the eastern end of the Darone fault. Iron in this area has been extensively formed under the influence of granitoid masses from the upper Eocene to the lower Oligocene within the metamorphosed sedimentary unit in the form of skarn and hydrothermal deposits. Structural investigation of veins, fractures, movement mechanisms of faults, and displacement of units indicates two types of compressive tectonic regimes along N070 and N350 directions. The initial stage of mineralization occurred in the northeast-southwest direction in the Ferezeneh fault zone (N040). In the northern and middle parts of this fault, two shear-tensile zones were created, leading to the rise of iron-bearing fluids and hydrothermal iron mineralization in the northern part (Ferezeneh mine) and skarn-type iron mineralization in the middle part (Madan-Joe). Subsequently, the intersection of the Ferezeneh and Som-Ahani faults (N300) resulted in the creation of a shear-tensile zone and the ascent of iron-bearing fluids, leading to skarn-thermal iron mineralization in the Som-Ahani mine. Lastly, in the southern part of the Ferezeneh fault, uranium has been deposited in a fault zone approximately 2 km in length, within the Skarn unit. Changes in the geo-structural regime and the creation of suitable spaces in the shear-tensile zones have facilitated the flow of fluids, skarn formation, and the deposition of iron and uranium in separate phases and different directions. Structural studies will aid in the optimal extraction of mineral reserves and the identification of new resources.