Mineralization, Mineralogy, Structure, Texture and Genesis of Ortasu Pb-Zn Deposit, NW Zanjan

زمین شناسی اقتصادی

Article 1, Volume 11, Issue 3 - Serial Number 22, 2019, Pages 359-386   

Document Type: Research Article

DOI: 10.22067/econg.v11i3.68921

Authors

Arsham Haghighi Bardineh; Ghasem Nabatian^* ; Hossien Kouhestani; Amir Morteza Azimzadeh; Afshin Zohdi

University of Zanjan

Abstract

Introduction
According to Hitzman et al. (2005) and Hayes et al. (2015), the sediment-hosted copper deposits (SHC) are stratiform disseminated to veinlet copper mineralization within the reduced black shale, sandstone, and carbonate rocks. These deposits have formed during the middle-late Paleoproterozoic (e.g., Udokan, Russia: Volodin et al. 1994, Yinmin, South China: Zhao et al. 2013) to Tertiary (e.g., Corocoro, Bolivia: Flint 1989). The SHC deposits, frequently labeled as “stratiform” or “stratabound” and/or “diagenetic” deposits have been subdivided into three types (Cox 1986, Cox et al. 2003, Hitzman et al. 2005): 1- reduced-facies (RF), 2- Redbed (RB) and 3- Revett (RV).
There are several SHC deposits in the Zanjan region hosted by the Upper Red Formation. The Chehrabad, Cherlangoush, Ghezeljeh, Halab, Ortasou and Sarikand deposits are the most important ones and are well-developed in this district. These deposits consist predominantly of bedding-parallel replacement and disseminated Cu-Pb-Zn sulfides, roughly concordant with stratification. The average Cu and Pb values of these deposits are ~3 and 2 wt.%, respectively. These deposits are small but they are actively mined at present.
The aim of this work is to expand knowledge on the geological framework, mineralization features, geochemistry and genesis of the Ortasu Pb-Zn deposit. The study of the Ortasu deposit can be used as an exploration model for similar deposits in the Zanjan district and other places.
 
Materials and methods
Detailed field studies have been done at different scales in the Ortasou area. Polished thin and thin sections from mineralized zones and host rocks were studied by conventional petrographic and mineralogic methods at the University of Zanjan. Furthermore, a total of six samples from mineralized host rocks were analyzed by ICP-MS for major and trace elements and Rare Earth Elements (REE) at Lab West Co., Australia.
 
Results and Discussion
The Ortasu Pb-Zn deposit is located in the northwest of Zanjan and Central Iran zone. The outcrop formations in this region involve Lower Red, Qom and Upper Red Formations from which the Upper Red Formation hosts the mineralized zones. In this region, the Upper Red Formation consists of alternation of red to brown and grey to greenish marl associated with interbedded sandstone sequences. Based on petrographic studies, composition of the mineralized host rocks are litharenite which consist of sedimentary, metamorphic and igneous fragments, quartz and feldspar. In the Ortasu Pb-Zn deposit, mineralization has occurred within two horizons of reduced-grey sandstone with about five to six m thickness and about 100 m length. These horizons contain both red oxidized zone and bleached zone with a mineralized reduced subzone which is located within the bleached zone.
The red oxidized zone consists of red marl and sandstone layers containing iron oxides which is located adjacent to the reduced horizons. The red color of this zone is caused by the presence of iron oxides around the grains. The oxidized pyrite crystals are the main important minerals in this zone. The bleached zone is part of sandstone sequences whose color has changed by the alteration processes. Grey and green colors in the bleached zone have occurred due to the presence of organic materials and diagenetic pyrites. The mineralization subzone has occurred within the organic materials-bearing bleached zones. Plant debris, plant fossils, diagenetic pyrites and permeability of host rock have the main important role for Pb-Zn mineralization.
Galena, sphalerite, pyrite and chalcopyrite are the main important minerals in the Ortasu Pb-Zn deposit in some parts.  They have been replaced by secondary minerals such as cerussite, chalcocite, covellite and iron oxides due to the supergene and weathering processes. The most important textures in this deposit are disseminated and cemented textures. It should be mentioned that the laminated-like, framboidal pyrite, replacement and relict textures are also observed in this deposit.
The presence of fining-upward sequences is due to the sediment cycles of channels, layered structures, abundant organic materials in paleochannels and debris of plant fossil all of which indicate that the Ortasu Pb-Zn deposit is formed in a continental to tidal environment. Geochemical studies show that the sandstones were deposited in an active continental margin. These sandstones originated from felsic magmatic rock and were deposited in an arid climate condition.
According to host rock, geometry, structure and texture, and mineralogy it can be concluded that the Ortasu Pb-Zn deposit has more similarity with the distal parts of Redbed type of sediment-hosted copper deposits.
 
Acknowledgements
All logistical supports during field studies came from the University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran.
 
References
Cox, D.P., 1986. Descriptive model of sediment-hosted Cu. In: D.P. Cox and D.A. Singer (Editors), Mineral deposit models. U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin. Canada, Pp. 101–104.
Cox, D.P., Lindsey, D.A., Singer, D.A., Moring, B.C. and Diggles, M.F., 2003. Sediment-hosted copper deposits of the world-deposit models and database. U.S. Geological Survey, Canada, open-file report 03-107, 53 pp.
Flint, S.S., 1989. Sediment-hosted stratabound copper deposits of the Central Andes. In: R.W. Boyle, A.C. Brown, C.W. Jefferson, E.C., Jowett and R.V. Kirkham (Editors), Sediment-hosted stratiform copper deposits. Geological Association of Canada, Special Paper, Canada. pp. 371–400.
Hayes, T.S., Cox, D.P., Piatak, N.M. and Seal, R.R., 2015. Sediment-hosted stratabound copper deposit model. U.S. Geological Survey, Canada, Scientific Investigations Report 2010-5070-M, 147 pp.
Hitzman, M., Kirkham, R., Broughton, D., Thorson, J. and Selley, D., 2005. The sediment-hosted stratiform copper ore system. In: J.W. Hedenquist, J.F.H. Thompson, R.J. Goldfarb and J.P. Richards (Editors), One Hundredth Anniversary volume of Economic Geology. Society of Economic Geologists, Colorado, pp. 609–612.
Volodin, R.N., Chechetkin, V.S., Bogdanov, Y.V., Narkelyun, L.F. and Trubachev, A.I., 1994. The Udokan cupriferous sandstones deposit (eastern Siberia). Geology of Ore Deposits, 36(1): 1–25.
Zhao, X.F., Zhou, M.F., Li, J.W. and Qi, L., 2013. Late Paleoproterozoic sedimentary rock-hosted stratiform copper deposits in South China: their possible link to the supercontinent cycle. Mineralium Deposita, 48(1): 129–136.

Keywords

Upper Red Formation; Sediment-hosted copper deposit; Redbed type; Ortasu; Zanjan; Central Iran

References

Amini, A., 2001. Red colouring of the upper red formation in central part of its basin, central zone, Iran. Journal of Sciences, Islamic Republic of Iran, 12(2): 145–156.

Ballato, P., Cifelli, F., Heidarzadeh, G., Ghassemi, M.R., Wickert, A., Hassanzadeh, J., Dupont-Nivet, G., Balling, P., Sudo, M., Zeilinger, G., Schmitt, A., Mattei, M. and Strecker, M., 2016. Tectono-sedimentary evolution of the northern Iranian Plateau: insights from middle–late Miocene foreland basin deposits. Basin Research, 29(12):417–446.

Bhatia, M.R., 1983. Plate tectonics and geochemical composition of sandstone. The Journal of Geology, 91(6): 611–627.

Bhatia, M.R., 1985. Plate tectonics and geochemical composition of sandstone, a reply. The Journal of Geology, 93(1): 85–87.

Bigdeli, Z., Ebarhimi, M, Nabatian, Gh. and Mokhtari, M.A.A., 2013. Mineralogy, structure and textures mineral in sedimentary copper ore deposition of Chehr-Abad, Northwest of Zanjan. 21th Congress of Crystallography and Mineralography of Iran, Zahedan University, Zahedan, Iran. (in Persian with English abstract)

Blatt, H., Middleton, G. and Murray, R., 1980. Origin of sedimentary rocks. Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, 782 pp.

Brown, A.C., 1997. World-class sediment-hosted stratiform copper deposits: characteristics, genetic concepts and metallotects. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, 44(3):317–328.

Brown, A.C., 1984. Alternative sources of metals for stratiform copper deposits. Precambrian Research, 25(1–3): 61–74.

Brown, A.C., 2003. Redbeds: Source of metals for sediment-hosted stratiform copper, sandstone copper, sandstone lead, sandstone uranium vanadium deposits. In: D.R. Lentz (Editor), Geochemistry of sediments and sedimentary rocks: evolutionary considerations to mineral deposit forming environments. Geological Association of Canada, GeoText, Canada, pp. 121–133.

Cox, D.P., 1986. Descriptive model of sediment-hosted Cu. In: D.P. Cox and D.A. Singer (Editors), Mineral deposit models. U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin. Canada, Pp. 101–104.

Cox, D.P., Lindsey D.A, Singer D.A. and Diggles, M.F., 2007. Sediment-hosted copper deposits of the world: deposit models and database. U.S. Geological Survey, Canada, Open-file report 03-107, 50 pp.

Cox, D.P., Lindsey, D.A., Singer, D.A., Moring, B.C. and Diggles, M.F., 2003. Sediment-hosted copper deposits of the world-deposit models and database. U.S. Geological Survey, Canada, open-file report 03-107, 53 pp.

Das, B.K., AL-Mikhlafi, A.S. and Kaur, P., 2006. Geochemistry of Mansar Lake sediments, Jammu, India: Implication for source-area weathering, provenance, and tectonic setting. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, 26(6): 649–668.

Durieux, C.G. and Brown, A.C., 2007. Geological context, mineralization, and timing of the Juramento sediment-hosted stratiform copper-silver deposit, Salta district, northwestern Argentina. Mineralium Deposita, 42(8): 879–899.

Ebrahimi, M., Kouhestani, H. and Shahidi, E., 2015. Investigation of type and origin of iron in the Mesgar occurrence, south of Zanjan, using by petrology, mineralogy and geochemistry data. Journal of Economic Geology, 7(1): 111–127. (in Persian with English abstract)

Ebrahimi, M. and Mousavi Motlagh, S.H., 2012. Study of sedimentary Copper deposition in Halab region, Southwest of Zanjan. 4th Congress of Economic Geology of Iran, Birjand University, Birjand, Iran. (in Persian with English abstract)

Etemad-Saeed, N., Hosseini-Barzi, M. and Armstrong-Altrin, J.S., 2011. Petrography and geochemistry of clastic sedimentary rocks as evidences for provenance of the Lower Cambrian Lalun Formation, Posht-e-badam block, Central Iran. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 61(2): 142‌–159.

Flint, S.S., 1989. Sediment-hosted stratabound copper deposits of the Central Andes. In: R.W. Boyle, A.C. Brown, C.W. Jefferson, E.C., Jowett and R.V. Kirkham (Editors), Sediment-hosted stratiform copper deposits. Geological Association of Canada, Special Paper, Canada. pp. 371–400.

Folk, R.L., 1980. Petrology of sedimentary Rocks. Austin, Texas, Hemphill, 159 pp.

Garlick, W.S., 1989. Mineralization controls and source of metal in the Lufillian Fold belt, Shaba (Zaire), Zambia and Angola- A discussion. Economic Geology, 84(4): 966–968.

Ghasemlou, A., Kouhestani, H., Mokhtari, M.A.A. and Zohdi, A., 2016. Geological characteristic and mineralization of Hamzelou copper ore deposit, Northwest of Zanjan. 35th Symposium of Geosciences, Geological Survey of Iran, Tehran, Iran. (in Persian with English abstract)

Ghasemlou, A., Kouhestani, H., Mokhtari, M.A.A. and Zohdi, A., 2017. Stratigraphy and petrographical composition of the Upper Red Formation sandstone in Hamzelou Cu deposit, Northwest of Zanjan. 3th Congress Sedimentology of Iran, Tehran, Iran. (in Persian with English abstract)

Guest, B., Horton, B.K., Axen, G.I., Hassanzadeh, J. and McIntosh, W.C., 2007. Middle to late Cenozoic basin evolution in the western Alborz Mountains: Implications for the onset of collisional deformation in northern Iran. Tectonics, 25(6): 1–26.

Guilbert, J. and Park, Ch., 1997. The Geology of Ore deposits, W.H. Freeman and Company Publication, New York, 985 pp.

Haghighi, A., 2017. Geology, mineralogy, geochemistry and genesis of Ortasou Pb-Zn deposit, NW Zanjan. M.Sc. thesis, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran. 142 pp. (in Persian with English abstract)

Haghighi, A., Nabatian, Gh., Kouhestani, H., Azimzadeh, A.M. and Zohdi, A., 2016a. Geochemistry of the main oxides hosted Ortasu Pb-Zn deposite, Northwest Zanjan. 8th Congress of Economic Geology of Iran, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran. (in Persian with English abstract)

Haghighi, A., Nabatian, Gh., Kouhestani, H., Azimzadeh, A.M. and Zohdi, A., 2016b. Mineralization, structure and texture and mineralogy of Ortasu Pb- Zn deposite, northwest of Zanjan. 8th Congress of Economic Geology of Iran, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran. (in Persian with English abstract)

Hayashi, K., Fujisawa, H., Holland, H. and Ohmoto, H., 1997. Geochemistry of 1.9 Ga sedimentary rocks from northeastern Labrador, Canada. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 61(19): 4115–4137.

Hayes, T.S., Cox, D.P., Piatak, N.M. and Seal, R.R., 2015. Sediment-hosted stratabound copper deposit model. U.S. Geological Survey, Canada, Scientific Investigations Report 2010-5070-M, 147 pp. http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sir20105070M.

Herron, M., 1988. Geochemical classification of terrigenous sands and shales from core or log data. Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, 58(5): 820–829.

Hitzman, M., Kirkham, R., Broughton, D., Thorson, J. and Selley, D., 2005. The sediment-hosted stratiform copper ore system. In: J.W. Hedenquist, J.F.H. Thompson, R.J. Goldfarb and J.P. Richards (Editors), One Hundredth Anniversary volume of Economic Geology. Society of Economic Geologists, Colorado, pp. 609–612.

Jamalipour, S., 2015. Mineralogy and geochemistary of host rock and Pb ore in the Chaerlanghoosh deposit. M.Sc. Thesis, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran. 125 pp. (in Persian with extended English abstract)

Jowett, E.C., 1989. Effects of continental rifting on location and genesis of stratiform copper–silver deposits. In: R.W. Boyle, A.C. Brown, C.W. Jefferson, E.C. Jowett and R.V. Kirkham (Editors), Sediment-hosted stratiform copper deposits. Geological Association of Canada, Special Paper, Canada, pp. 53–66.

Jowett, E.C., Rydzewski, A. and Jowett, R.J., 1987. The Kupferschiefer Cu-Ag ore deposits in Poland: a reappraisal of the evidence of their origin and presentation of a new genetic model. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, 24(10): 2016–2037.

Karami, M., Ebrahmi, M. and Kouhestani, H., 2016. Loulak-Abad occurrence, NW Zanjan: metamotphosed and deformed type of volcano-sedimentary deposit in the Central Iranian Zone. Journal of Economic Geology, 8(1): 93–115. (in Persian with English abstract)

Khodabandeh, A.A., Faridi, M., Amini-Azar, R. and Emami, M.H., 1998. Geologic map of Miyaneh, scale 1:100000. Geological Survey of Iran.

Lotfi, M., 2001. Geologic map of Mahneshan, scale 1:1000008. Geological Survey of Iran, Iran.

Love, L.G. and Brockley, H., 1973. Peripheral radial texture in framboids of poly-framboidal pyrite. Fortschritte der Mcneralogie, 50(3): 264–269.

MacIntyre, T.J., 2005. Fault- controlled hydrocarbon- related bleaching and sediment- hosted copper mineralization of the Jurassic Wingate sandstone at the Cashin Mine, Montrose County, Colorado. M.Sc. Thesis, Colorado School of Mines, Colorado, Unated State, 360 pp.

Mahdavi, A., Rastad, A. and Hosseini Barzy, M., 2007. Mineralogy, structure and textures of ore-bearing horizons of Markesheh sedimentary copper ore deposition (Redbed type) in Northwest of Ravar. 26th Symposium of Geosciences, Geological Survey of Iran, Tehran, Iran. (in Persian with English abstract)

Mahdavi, A., Rastad, A. and Hosseini Barzy, M., 2010. Mineralogy, structure and texture and genesis of sedimentary diagenetic Cu Markeshe, Redbed type, in the Garedu Red Formation, Jurassic, south of Iran Central. Scientific Quarterly Journal, Geociences, 21(81): 81–92. (in Persian with English abstract)

Maravelis, A., Konstantopoulos, P., Pantopoulos, G. and Zelilidis, A., 2007. North Aegean sedimentary basin evolution during the late Eocene to early Oligocene based on sedimentological studies on Lemnos Island (NE Greece). Geologica Carpathica, 58(5): 455–464.

Momenzadeh, M., 2002. Sediment hosted copper potential in Iran. Zaryaban Exploration Company, requested by Rio Tinto Exploration Company, Tehran, 33 pp.

Moussavi Harami, R., 1998. Sedimentology. Behnashr Company, Mashhad, 474 pp. (in Persian)

Nabatian, Gh., Ghaderi, M., Rashid-Nejad Omran, N. and Daliran, F., 2010. Geochemistry and origin of Sorkheh-Dizaj iron oxide- apatite deposit, SE Zanjan. Journal of Economic Geology, 1(1): 19–46. (in Persian with English abstract)

Nakamura, N., 1974. Determination of REE, Ba, Fe, Mg, Na, and K in carbonaceous and ordinary Chondrites. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 38(5): 757–775.

Oszczepalski, S., 1991. Origin of the Kupferschiefer polymetallic mineralization in Poland. Mineralium Deposita, 34(5–6): 599–613.

Panahzadeh, M., 2010. Studing economic geology of copper-bearing sedimentary layers in Chehregan village, Tasuj, East Azarbaijan province. M.Sc. Thesis, Tabriz University, Tabriz, Iran, 225 pp. (in Persian with extended English abstract)

Pettijohn, F.J., Potter, P.E. and Siever, R., 1987. Sand and sandstones. Springer-Verlog, New York, 553 pp.

Rahimi, R., Rasa, A. and Mokhtari, M.A.A., 2016. Mineralogy and formation of Copper in Ghezeljeh region. M.Sc. Thesis, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran, 196 pp. (in Persian English abstract)

Rajabzadeh, A., Kouhestani, H., Mokhtari, M.A.A. and Zohdi, A., 2016. Mineralization, structure and textures and mineralography of Chehrabad Cu-Pb-Zn deposit, Northwest of Zanjan. 35th Symposium of Geosciences, Geological Survey of Iran, Tehran, Iran. (in Persian with English abstract)

Rajabzadeh, A., Kouhestani, H., Mokhtari, M.A.A. and Zohdi, A., 2017. Provenance and tectonic setting of sandstone host rocks at Chehrabad deposit, Upper Red Formation, Northwest of Zanjan. 3th Congress Sedimentology of Iran, Tehran, Iran. (in Persian with English abstract)

Rollinson, H.R., 1993. Using geochemical data: Evaluation, presentation, interpretation. Taylor Francis Ltd, United Kingdom, 352p.

Roser, B. and Korsch, R., 1988. Provenance signatures of sandstone- mudstone suites determined using discriminant function analysis of major element data. Chemical Geology, 67(1–2): 119–139.

Salehi, T., Ghaderi, M. and Rashid-Nejad Omran, N., 2011. Mineralogy and geochemistry of Rear Earth Elements in the Gomish-Tappeh Zn-Pb-Cu (Ag) deposit, SW Zanjan. Journal of Economic Geology, 2(2): 235–254. (in Persian with English abstract)

Sangster, D.F. 1996. Sandstone-Pb. In: D.V. Lefebure and T. Hõy (Editors), Metallic Deposits, British Columbia Ministry of Employment and Investment, Geological Survey of Canada, Canada, Open File 13, pp. 17–19.

Shakouri, N., Nabatian, Gh., Kouhestani, H. and Zohdi, A., 2016. Mineralization, structure and textures and mineralography of Sari Kand Pb-Zn deposit, Northwest of Zanjan. 35th Symposium of Geosciences, Geological Survey of Iran, Tehran, Iran. (in Persian with English abstract)

Singer, D.A., 1995. World-class base and precious metal deposits: a quantitative analysis. Economic Geology, 90(1): 88–104.

Taylor, S.R. and McLennan, S.M., 1995. The geochemical evolution of the continental crust. Reviews of Geophysics, 33(2): 241–265.

Thorson, J.P., 2005. Lisbon valley sediment-hosted copper deposits and Paradox basin fluids trip (guidebook series), V. 37. Society of Economic Geologists Colorado, 47 pp.

Whitney, D.L. and Evans, B.W., 2010. Abbreviations for names of rock-forming minerals. American Mineralogist, 95(1): 185–187.

Woodward, K.H., Kaufman, W.H., Schumacher, O.L. and Talbott, L.W., 1974. Strata-bound copper deposits in Triassic sandstone of Sierra Nacimiento, New Mexico. Economic Geology, 69(1): 108–120.

Volodin, R.N., Chechetkin, V.S., Bogdanov, Y.V., Narkelyun, L.F. and Trubachev, A.I., 1994. The Udokan cupriferous sandstones deposit (eastern Siberia). Geology of Ore Deposits, 36(1): 1–25.

Yilmaz, H.Q., yman, T., Sonme, F.N., Arehart, G.B. and Billor, Z., 2010. Intermediate Sulfidation epithermal gold- base metal deposits in Tertiary Subaerial Volcainc rocks, Sahinli /Tespitb Dere (Lapseki/ Western Turkey). Ore Geology Reviews, 37(3): 236–258.

Zhao, X.F., Zhou, M.F., Li, J.W. and Qi, L., 2013. Late Paleoproterozoic sedimentary rock-hosted stratiform copper deposits in South China: their possible link to the supercontinent cycle. Mineralium Deposita, 48(1): 129–136.