The Shahrestanak Zn-Pb deposit, southeastern Qom: Considerations on ore mineralization, geochemistry of stable isotopes, and distribution of rare earth elements

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran

2 Departement of Geology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran

3 Department of Mining Engineering, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract

The Shahrestanak Zn-Pb deposit, as a part of Urmia-Dokhtar magmatic arc, is located about 50 km southeast of Qom City. Intrusion of monzodiorite to quartzdiorite igneous masses of Miocene age into Eocene volcano-sedimentary sequences (mainly andesi-basalt) has been the main factor in the development of carbonatic, silicic, and chloritic alterations along with the occurrence of Zn-Pb ore mineralization in the form of veins and breccia in the Shahrestank area. Petrographic and mineralographic observations show that sphalerite, galena, pyrite, tennantite, cerusite, planetrite, hydrozincite, hematite, and limonite are accompanied by ganque minerals such as calcite, barite and quartz. Dominant textures in ores include disseminated, vein, stockwork, replacement, and remnant. Although the distribution pattern of rare earth elements (REE) normalized to chondrite in andesi-basalts with monominerals, such as galena, sphalerite, and calcite, of ores are somewhat different, however, the close ratio of Y/Ho values ​​between them indicates that the leaching of metals from andesi-basalt host rocks have played an important role in the formation and development of this deposit. The occurrence of positive anomaly of Eu and Ce in galena (Eu/Eu* = 2.18-2.83 and Ce/Ce* = 1.35-1.54) and sphalerite (Eu/Eu* = 1.92-2.28 and Ce/Ce* = 1.36-1.63) indicates the reduction nature of ore-forming fluids. The δ34S isotope values ​​in galena and sphalerite samples show the range of changes from -3 to +1‰ and -2 to +0.9‰ respectively, which indicates the magmatic origin of these two sulphide minerals. Plotting the values ​​of δ18O against δ13C in calcite samples shows the mixing of magmatic solutions with meteoric solutions during the evolution and development of this deposit. Combining the results obtained from field observations, mineralogy, structure and texture, type of hydrothermal alterations, REE geochemistry, and stable isotope show that the mineralization occurred in the Shahrestanak area is very similar to intermediate sulfidation epithermal ore deposits.

Keywords

References

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History

  • Receive Date: 27 September 2024
  • Revise Date: 02 August 2025
  • Accept Date: 27 November 2024

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