Investigation of Spectral and Geochemical Characteristics of Chlorite in the Alteration Zones of the Vanakan Volcanogenic Massive Sulfide Deposit, Northeastern Semnan

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research

10.22128/ijcm.2025.3001.0

Abstract

The Vanakan volcanogenic Massive Sulfide (VMS) deposit is located approximately 23 kilometers northeast of Semnan. The spectral and chemical characteristics of chlorite in the central and marginal alteration zones were investigated to evaluate parameters such as crystallite size and the Fe/(Fe+Mg) ratio using X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS), and Microscopic Observations. The results of this study showed that chlorites from the proximal zone had an average Fe/(Fe+Mg) ratio of 0.56 and an average crystallite size of 25.17 nm, whereas chlorites from the distal zone exhibited a higher Fe/(Fe+Mg) ratio of 0.63 and larger crystallite sizes averaging 28.5 nm. Additionally, elevated concentrations of Zn and Mn in some proximal samples were confirmed as geochemical indicators of proximity to mineralization centers. The findings of this study indicate that the spectral and chemical characteristics of chlorite can serve as an effective tool for vectoring alteration and exploring hidden VMS systems.

 

Keywords

Iranian Journal of Crystallography and Mineralogy

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 06 September 2025

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History

  • Receive Date: 27 July 2025
  • Revise Date: 27 August 2025
  • Accept Date: 06 September 2025

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