Geology, Mineralogy, and Fluid Inclusion Study of Polymetallic Veins in the Kalateh Klukh prospecting Area, Gonabad, Eastern Iran (Lut Block)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Gonabad Higher Education Complex, Gonabad, Iran

2 Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, University of Birjand, Birjand, Iran

Abstract

The Kalateh Klukh prospecting area, is located 25 kilometers northwest of Gonabad, in northern Lut Block, eastern Iran. The main lithological units in this area consist of extrusive igneous rocks with andesitic to trachyandesitic compositions, subvolcanic rocks with monzonitic to monzodioritic compositions, and pyroclastic rocks. Alteration in the area includes silicification, propylitic, and argillic alteration. Mineralization is vein-type and occurs primarily within the pyroclastic units. . Hypogene mineralogical complex includes pyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, and galena, while secondary minerals such as chalcocite, cerussite, covellite, chrysocolla, malachite, azurite, and goethite are mostly formed along regional faults and fractures within the pyroclastic units.Thermometry on primary fluid inclusions coeval with mineralization, hosted in quartz, revealed homogenization temperatures ranging from 210°C to 394°C, with an average of 306°C. The final ice-melting temperatures in fluid inclusions indicate salinity levels between 4.8 and 13.5 wt.% NaCl equivalent, with an average salinity of 9.5 wt.% NaCl. Results from the fluid inclusion studies suggest that hydrothermal fluids originated from deeper magmatic sources and, after mixing with meteoric water and experiencing boiling, led to the precipitation of minerals and the formation of hydrothermal vein-type deposits. Based on alteration characteristics, mineralization patterns, and fluid inclusion data, the Kalateh Klukh mineralized zone bears a close resemblance to vein-type copper deposits associated with porphyry copper systems.

Keywords


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