Geology and Origin of the Dohneh Copper Mineralization, Northeast of Zanjan

زمین شناسی اقتصادی

Article 7, Volume 11, Issue 3 - Serial Number 22, 2019, Pages 497-524   

Document Type: Research Article

DOI: 10.22067/econg.v11i3.71939

Authors

Masoumeh Mohammadi¹; Ghasem Nabatian^{* 1}; Maryam Honarmand²; Mohammad Ebrahimi¹

¹University of Zanjan

²Institute for Advanced Studies in Basic Sciences (IASBS)

Abstract

Introduction
The Dohneh copper deposit is located northeast of Zanjan within the Tarom subzone and the western Alborz-Azarbayjan magmatic belt. There are several reports of copper mineralization in the Tarom region such as the Aliabad Mousavi-Khanchay Cu deposit (Saeedi, 2015),the Lolan Cu-Au deposit (Zamanian et al., 2016), the Mari Cu deposit (Hosseinzadeh et al., 2016) and the Gheshlagh Cu deposit (Abbaspour, 2017) which make this subzone  an important metallogenic zone in Iran. Prior to the present research, there was no detailed study done on the Dohneh Cu deposit. Thus, the aim of this research is to present detailed characteristics of geology, mineralogy and geochemistry of the host rock as well as the origin of Cu mineralization in the Dohneh area. The results of this study can be considered as an exploratory pattern in the Tarom-Hashtjin metallogenic belt in terms of time and space.
 
Materials and methods
Petrographic and mineralogical features of the Dohneh Cu mineralization and host volcanic rocks were determined by studying 52 thin and thin-polished sections. Major and trace element compositions of six volcanic samples (the host of mineralization) were determined by the Iran Mineral Processing Research Center and Zarazma Company using XRF and ICP-MS methods, respectively. Furthermore, four samples were selected for electron microprobe and scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis in the Iran Mineral Processing Research Center, Karaj.
 
Results and Discussion
The main rock units in the Dohneh area include Eocene tuffs and basalts which are related to the Kordkand member of the Karaj Formation. The tuff unit displays basic composition and is comprised of plagioclase, pyroxene, minor olivine and opaque minerals. There are also some basaltic fragments within the tuff unit. The Dohneh volcanic lavas can be divided into two lava flows varying in texture and mineralogy. The amygdaloidal basalt shows porphyritic and amygdaloidal textures and contains plagioclase, clinopyroxene, orthopyroxene, olivine and opaque minerals. The secondary minerals are carbonate, serpentine, epidote, chlorite, zeolite (filling the cavities), sericite and iron oxide. The second lava flow in the Dohneh area is the porphyritic basalt which shows specified porphyry texture which consists of pyroxene phenocrysts enveloped within the fine-grained matrix including plagioclase, olivine and pyroxene. The geochemical features of the Dohneh basaltic lavas show calc-alkaline nature with enrichment in LILE and LREE and depletion in HFSE and HREE. The Dohneh samples show negative anomaly of Nb, Ta and Ti in primitive mantle normalized spider diagrams. This geochemical evidence together with trace element data suggest that the Dohneh lavas have formed through partial melting of metasomatized lithospheric mantle. The status of the Dohneh samples in the tectonic discrimination diagrams shows subduction related magmatism analogous to those reported from the Tarom and Qazvin areas (Nabatian et al. 2014; Asiabanha and Foden, 2012).
The Cu mineralization occurred in both amygdaloidal and porphyritic basalt lavas. According to e mineralography studies, the Dohneh deposit includes native copper, native silver, cuprite, malachite and azurite minerals. The minerals occur in the forms of vein-veinlet, open space filling, replacement and residual. The major alteration minerals in the Dohneh deposit include carbonate, chlorite, zeolite, and serpentinite and minor epidote, which have formed as replacement, vein-veinlet and open space filling in the host rocks.
The field and microscopic observations, whole rock chemistry and mineral chemistry data from the Dohneh deposit suggest that the mineralization fluids and hot saline aqueous fluids have been generated during the late diagenesis and burial metamorphism in the volcanic sequence. During the ascending of fluids through the fractures and faults, the copper metal leached out of silicate minerals and turned into an elemental Cu2+ which is soluble in the fluid. Then, through the injection of mineralized fluids into the fractures and empty spaces of host rocks which was associated with decreasing pressure, copper and native silver minerals associated with zeolite formed at the end of the diagenetic stage, and in particular in the burial metamorphic phase. Moreover, during the circulation of fluids in the host rock, secondary minerals have formed. Consequently, mineralization of zeolite and part of copper mineralization occurred during burial metamorphism. In the final stages of mineralization and during the supergene and meteoric waters affected the minerals and caused formation of secondary minerals. In the final stages of mineralization and during the supergene and weathering activities secondary minerals have been generated.  According to this study and comparing the characteristics of the Dohneh deposit to Michigan copper type deposits, it can be stated that the characteristics of the Dohneh copper deposit  is the most similar to those of the Michigan copper deposits.
 
References
­Abbaspour, N., 2017. Petrography and geochemistry of Gheshlagh Cu deposit and its host rocks, north of Zanjan. M.Sc. thesis, Zanjan University, Zanjan, Iran, 76 pp.
­Asiabanha, A. and Foden, J., 2012. Post-collisional transition from an extensional volcanosedimentary Basin to a continental arc in the Alborz Ranges, N-Iran. Lithos, 148(1): 98–111.
Hosseinzadeh, M., Maghfouri, S., Maiid, M. and Farid Asl., V., 2016. Introduction of copper Mari copper deposit as a tropical cantaloupe in the Tarom zone, Northwest of Iran. Iranian Journal of Geology, 10(38): 17‌–‌37. (in Persian with English abstract) ­
Nabatian, Gh., Ghaderi, M., Neubauer, F., Honarmand, M., Lui, X., Dong, Y., Jiang, S-Y and Bernroider, M., 2014. Petrogenesis of Tarom high-potassic granitoids in the Alborz-Azarbaijan belt, Iran: Geo-chemical, U-Pb zircon and Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic constraints. Lithos, 184–187(1): 324–345.
Saeedi, A., 2015. Investigation of copper mineralization in the Aliabad Mousavi-Khanchay ore occurrence, east of Zanjan, using by lithological, mineralogy and chemical data. M.Sc. thesis, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran, 180 pp.
­Zamanian, H., Rahmani, Sh., JanNessari, M., Zarei Sahamyeh, R. and Borna, B., 2016. Ore-genests study of The Cu-Au vein-type deposit in The Taron- Granitoid (North Zanjan) based on mineralogical, geochemical and fluid inclusion evidences. Scientific Quarterly Journal, Geosciences, 25(98): 255–‌282.

Keywords

Keywords: Cu mineralization; Michigan Type; western Alborz-Azarbayejan zone; Tarom Subzone; Dohneh; Zanjan

References

Abbaspour, N., 2017. Petrography and geochemistry of Gheshlagh Cu deposit and its host rocks, north of Zanjan. M.Sc. thesis, Zanjan University, Zanjan, Iran, 76 pp.

Amini, B., 2000. Tarom Geology Map with a scale of 1/100000, review and standard from the Hirayama et al map. Geological Survey of Iran.

Alavi, M., 1991. Sedimentary and structural characteristics of the Paleo- Ththys remnants in northeastern Iran. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 103(8): 983–992.

Asiabanha, A. and Foden, J., 2012. Post-collisional transition from an extensional volcanosedimentary Basin to a continental arc in the Alborz Ranges, N-Iran. Lithos, 148(1): 98–111.

Aldanmaz, E., Pearce J.A., Thirlwall, M.F. and Mitchell, J.G., 2000. Petrogenetic evolution of late Cenozoic, post-collision volcanism in western Anatolia, Turkey. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 102(1–2): 67–95.

Aghanabati, A., 2005. Geology of Iran, Geological Survey of Iran, Tehran, Iran, 586 pp. (in Persian)

Behzadi, M., 1995. An economic geology study of the Geblehbolagh copper mineralization in the Tarom-Sofla area, Zanjan province. M.Sc. thesis, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran, 320 pp.

Bornhorst, T.J. and Barron, R.J., 2011. Copper deposits of the western Upper Peninsula of Michigan. In: J.D. Miller, G.J. Hudak, C. Wittkop and P.I. McLaughlin, (Editors), Geological Society of America Field Guide. America, 24, pp. 83–99.

Brewer, T.S., Daly, J.S. and Ahal, K., 1998. Contrasting magmatic arcs in the Palaeoproterozoic Of the south western Baltic Shield. Precambrian Research, 92(3): 297–315.

Brown, A.C., 1971. Zoning in the White Pine copper deposit, Ontonagon County, Michigan. Economic Geology, 66(4): 543–573.

Cabral, A.R. and Beaudoin, G., 2007. Volcanic red-bed copper mineralization related to submarine basalt alteration, Mont Alexandre, Quebec Appalachians, Canada. Mineralium Deposita, 42(8): 901–912.

Cho, M., Maruyama, S. and Liou, J.G., 1985. Phase equilibria and mineral parageneses of metabasites in low-grade metamorphism. Mineralogical Magazine, 49(3): 321–333.

Condie, K.C., 2005. High field strength element ratios in Archean basalts: a window to Evolving sources of mantle plumes? Lithos, 79(3–4): 491–504.

Coombs, D.S., Ellis, A.D., Fyfe, W.S. and Taylor, A.M., 1959. The zeolite facies with comments on the interpretation of hydrothermal syntheses. Geochimca et Cosmochimca Acta, 17(1–2): 53–107.

Cornwall, H.R., 1956. A summary of ideas on the orgin of native copper deposit. Economic Geology, 51(7): 615–631.

Cox, K.G., Bell, J.D. and Pankhurst, R.J., 1979. The interpretation of igneous Rocks. George Allen & Unwin, London, 450 pp.

Dostal, J., Church, B.N., Reynolds, P.H. and Hopkinson, L., 2001. Eocene volcanism in the Buck Creek basin, Central British Columbia (Canada): transition from arc to extensional volcanism. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 170(1–3): 149–170.

Fan, W.M., Guo, F., Wang, Y.J. and Lin, G., 2003. Late Mesozoic calc-alkaline volcanism of post-orogenic extention in the northern Da Hinggan Mountains, northeastern China. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 121(1): 115–135.

Fayzi, M., Ebrahimi, M., Kouhestani, H. and Mokhtari, M.A.A., 2017. Geology, mineralizayion and geochemistry of Agh-Kand copper occurrence (north of Zanjan- tarom-Hashtchin belt). Journal of Economic Geology, 8(2): 507–524. (in Persian with extended English abstract)

Geng, H., Sun, M., Yuan, Ch., Xiao, W., Xiao, W., Zhao, G., Zhang, L., Wong, K. and Wu, F., 2009. Geochemical, Sr-Nd and Zircon U-Pb-Hf isotopic studies of Late- Subduction. Chemical Geology, 266(3–4): 364–398.

Ghasemi Siani, M., Mehrabi, B. and Azizi, H., 2017. Mineralogy, geochemistry and alteration of minerals in the veins of Goluje epithermal deposit, north of Zanjan. Iranian Journal of Geology, 11(42): 1–25. (in Persian with English abstract)

Guilbert, J.M. and Park, C.F., 2007. The Geology of Ore Deposits. Waveland Press, Long Grove, Uniated State of America, 985 pp.

Guilbert, J.M. and Park, J.C.F., 1986. The Geology of Ore Deposits. Freeman, New york, 985 pp.

Haghnazar, Sh., Malakotian, S. and Allahyari, Kh., 2015. Tectono- magmatic setting of cretaceous pillow basalts in the north part of the Alborz mountains in east of guilan province (north of Iran): Apart of ophiolite sequence or intra- continental rift? Geosciences, 24(94): 171–182.

Harangi, S. and Lenkey, L., 2007, Genesis of the Neogene to Quaternary volcanism in the Carpathian-Pannonian region: Role of subduction, extension, and mantle plume. In: L. Beccaluva, G. Bianchini and M. Wilson, (Editors), Cenozoic Volcanism in the Mediterranean Area. Geological Society of America, GSA Special Papers, V. 418, Uniated State of America, pp. 67–92.

Hastie, A.R., Kerr, A.C., Pearce, J.A. and Mitchell, S.F., 2007. Classificatin of altered volcanic Island arc rocks using immobile trace elements; development of the Th-Co discrimination diagram. Journal of Petrology, 48(12): 2341–2357.

Hirayama, K., Samimi, M., Zahedi, M. and Hushmand Zadeh, A., 1966. Geology of Tarom district, western part (Zanjan area north-west Iran). Geological Survey of Iran, Tehran, Report 8, 40 pp.

Hosseinzadeh, M., Maghfouri, S., Maiid, M. and Farid Asl., V., 2016. Introduction of copper Mari copper deposit as a tropical cantaloupe in the Tarom zone, Northwest of Iran. Iranian Journal of Geology, 10(38): 17–37. (in Persian with English abstract) ‌

Kamber, A.E., Kenneth, D.C., Michael, C.B. and Graeme, D.M., 2002. Fluid-mobile trace element constraints on the role of slab melting and implications for Archaean crustal growth models. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 144(1): 38–56.

Kampunzu, A.B., Tombale, A.R., Zhai, M., Bagai, Z., Majaule, T. and Modisi, M.P., 2003. Major and trace element geochemistry of plutonic rocks from Francistown, NE Botswana: vidence for a Neoarchaean continental active margin in the Zimbawe craton. Lithos, 71(2–4): 431–460.

Kirkham, R.V., 1996. Volcanic redbed copper. In: O.R. Eckstrand, W.D. Sinclair and R.I. Thorpe (Editors), Geology of Canadian Mineral Deposit Types, Geological Survey of Canada, Canada, pp. 241–252.

Kojima, S., Astudillo, J., Rojo, J., Trista, D. and Hayashi, K., 2003. Ore mineralogy, fluid inclusion, and stable isotopic characteristics of stratiform copper deposits in the coastal Cordillera of northern Chile. Mineralium Deposita, 38(2): 208–216.

Kuster, D. and Harms, U., 1998. Post-collisional potassic granitoids from the southern and northwestern parts of the Late Neoproterozoic East African Orogen: a review. Lithos, 45(1–4): 177–195.

Le March, F., Villemant, B. and Calas, G., 1987. Trace element distibution coefficients in alkaline series. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 51(5): 1071–1081.

Machado, A., Lima, E.F., Chemale, F.Jr., Morata D., Oteiza, O., Almeida, D.P.M., Figueiredo, A.M.G., Alexandre, F.M. and Urrutia J.L., 2005. Geochemistry constraints of Mesozoic-Cenozoic calk-alkalin Mmagmatism in the south Shetland arc Antarctica. Journal of South American Earth Sciences. 18(3–4): 407–425.

McDonough, W.F. and Sun, S.S., 1995. The composition of the Earth. Chemical Geology, 120(3–4): 223–253.

Meschede, M., 1986. A method of discrimination between types of Mid-Ocean- Ridge basalt and continental tholeiites With the Nb- Zr- Y diagram. Chemical Geology, 56(3–4): 207–218.

Moradi, M., 2012. Genesis of Cu-Pb in AbbasAbad deposit, Tarom Sofla, Qazvin province. M.Sc. thesis, Sistan and Baluchestan University, Sistan and Baluchestan, Iran, 250 pp.

Mousavi Motlagh, H., Ebrahimi, M. and Yasemi, K., 2009. Study of andesitic type copper in the Dohneh-Tarom area, northeast Zanjan. 17th Symposium of Crystallography and Mineralogy of Iran, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran. (in Persian with extended English abstract)

Nabatian, Gh., 2008. Mineralogy, Geochemistry and Genesis of the Sorkhe Dizaj iron oxide- apatite Deposit, Southeast of Zanjan. M.Sc. thesis, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran, 218 pp.

Nabatian, Gh., 2012. Geology, Geochemistry and evolution of iron oxide- apatite deposits in the belt Tarom volcano-plutonic belt, Western Alborz. Ph.D. thesis, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran, 358 pp.

Nabatian, Gh., Ghaderi, M., Corfu, F., Neubauer, F., Bernroider, M., Prokofiev, V. and Honarmand, M., 2014a. Geology, alteration, age and origin of iron oxide–apatite deposits in Upper Eocene quartz monzonite, Zanjan district, NW Iran. Mineralium Deposita, 49(2): 217–234.

Nabatian, Gh., Ghaderi, M., Neubauer, F., Honarmand, M., Lui, X., Dong, Y., Jiang, S-Y and Bernroider, M., 2014b. Petrogenesis of Tarom high-potassic granitoids in the Alborz-Azarbaijan belt, Iran: Geo-chemical, U-Pb zircon and Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic constraints. Lithos, 184–187(1): 324–345.

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

Nabatian, G., Yong Jiang, Sh., Honarmand, M. and Neubauer, F., 2016. Zircon U–Pb ages, geochemical and Sr–Nd–Pb–Hf isotopic constraints on petrogenesis of the Tarom-Olya pluton, Alborz magmatic belt, NW Iran. Lithos, 244(1): 43–58.

Nagudi, B., Koeberl, C. and Kurat, G., 2003. Petrography and geochemistry of the Singo granite, Uganda, and implications for its origin. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 36(1–2): 73–87.

Nezafati, N., Momenzadeh, M. and Pernicka, E., 2006. Darhand copper occurrence: An example of Michigan-type native copper deposits in central Iran. In: J. Mao and F.P. Bierlein (Editors), Mineral Deposit Research: Meeting the Global Challenge, Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, pp. 165–166.

Pearce, J.A., 1982. Trace element characteristics of lavas from destructive plate boundaries. In: R.S. Thorpe (Editor), Orogenic andesites and related rocks, John Wiley and Sons, Chichester, England, pp. 528–548.

Pearce, J.A., 1983. Role of sub-continental lithosphers in magma genesis at active continental margines. In: C.J. Hawkes worth and M.L. Nurry, (Editors), continental Basalts and Mantle xenoliths. Shiva, Nantwith, pp. 230–249.

Pearce, J.A., 1996. A user’s guide to basalt discrimination diagrams. In: D.A. Wyman (Editor), Trace element Geochemistry of Volcanic Rocks: Applications for Massive Sulphide Exploration. Geological Association of Canada, Canada, pp. 79–113.

Pearce, J.A., 2008. Geochemical fingerprinting of oceanic basalts with applications to ophiolite classification and the search for Archean oceanic crust. Lithos, 100(1–4): 14–48.

Pearce, J.A. and Cann, J.R., 1973. Tectonic setting of basic volcanic rocks determined using trace element analyses, Earth Planet. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 19(2): 290–300.

Ramirez, L.E., Palacios, C., Townley, B., Parada, M.A., Sial, A.N., Fernandez-Turiel, J.L., Gimeno, D., Garcia-Valles, M. and Lehmann, B., 2006. The Mantos Blancos copper deposit: An upper Jurassic breccia-style hydrothermal system in the coastal range of northern Chile. Mineralium Deposita, 41(3): 246–258.

Rollinson, H.R., 1993. Using geochemical data: evalution, Presentation and interpretation. Longman, UK, 352 pp.

Rosemeyer, T., 2011. News from the Keweenaw, Recent Mineral Finds in Michigan’s Copper Country. Part 4, Rocks and Minerals, 86(3): 206–227.

Saeedi, A., 2015. Investigation of copper mineralization in the Aliabad Mousavi-Khanchay ore occurrence, east of Zanjan, using by lithological, mineralogy and chemical data. M.Sc. thesis, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran, 180 pp.

Salehi, L., Rasa, E., Alirezaei, S. and Kazemi Mehrnia, A., 2014. The Madan Bozorg, volcanic-hosted copper deposit, East Shahroud: an example of Manto type copper deposits in Iran. Scientific Qaurterly Journal, Geosciences, 25(98): 93–104.

Sato, T., 1984. Manto-type copper deposits in Chile - A review. Bulletin of the Geological Survey of Japan, 35(11): 565–582.

Saunders, A.D., Storey, M., Kent, R.W. and Norry, M.J. 1992. Consequences of plume–lithosphere interactions. In: B.C. Storey, T. Alabaster and R.J. Pankhurst (Editors), Magmatism and the Causes of Continental Break-up. Geological Society of London Publications, Special Publication 68, London, 41–60 pp.

Shang, G.K., Satir, M., Sieble, W., Nasifa, E.N., Taubuld, H., Liegeoise, J.P. and Tchoua, F.M., 2004. Geochemistry, Rb-Sr and Sm-Nd systematic: case of the sangmelima region, Ntem Complex, Southern Cameroon African. Earth Science, 40(1–2): 61–79.

Sillitoe, R.H., 1977. Metallic mineralization affiliated to sub-aerial volcanism. A review. In: I.G. Gass (Editor), Volcanic Processes in Ore Genesis, Geological Society of London, London, pp. 99–116.

Tashi, M., Musivand, F. and Ghasemi, H., 2016. Occurrence of native copper mineralization within the volcanic host rocks of the Garmabe Paein Cu-Ag volcanogenic massive sulfide deposit, southeast of Shahrood. Scientific Qurterly Journal, Geosciences, 10(40): 89–105.

‌Verma, S.P., Guevara, M. and Agrawal, S., 2006. Discriminating four tectonic settings: five new geochemical diagrams for basic and ultrabasic volcanic rocks based on log-ratio transformation of major-element data. Journal of Earth System Science, 115(5): 485–528.

Vetrin, V.R. and Rodionov, N.V., 2008. Sm-Nd systematics and petrology of postorogenic granitoids in the northern Baltic Shield. Geochemistry International, 46(11): 1090–1106.

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

Wilson, N.M., 1989. Igneous Petrogenesis: A Global Tectonic Aproach. Unwin Hyman, London, 466 pp.

Zamanian, H., Rahmani, Sh., JanNessari, M., Zarei Sahamyeh, R. and Borna, B., 2016. Ore-genests study of The Cu-Au vein-type deposit in The Taron- Granitoid (North Zanjan) based on mineralogical, geochemical and fluid inclusion evidences. Scientific Quarterly Journal, Geosciences, 25(98): 255–282.

Zanjani, F., 2017. Petrographic and geochemical studies of Eocene zeolite rocks of Karaj Formation in northern Zanjan with an attitude to the ability to remove some heavy metals from water by its zeolites, M.Sc. Thesis University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran, 120 pp.