Petrography, mineralogy, alteration zones and geochemical exploration in Golcheshmeh Area, East of Iran

Abstract

The study area is located about 220 km southwest of Mashhad and 80 km south of Neyshabur, at 54° 42' 15" to 54° 43' 40" longitude. Initially, remote sensing is carried out based on the SAM method and it denotes propylitic, carbonitization, silicification and argillic alterations. This area comprises of outcrops of Paleocen-Eocene volcanics. Golcheshmeh area also shows copper mineralization at surface such as malachite, chrysocolla and chalcocite. The copper minerals are seen as filling voids and thin veinlets in association with volcanic rocks in the study area. In some parts of the district, the movement of copper solutions is controlled by linear structures and fault zones, and the amount of solutions’ penetration-which differs from a few centimeters to several meters - in the host rocks is dependent on the wall rock composition, texture and the volume of the solutions. Based on the analysis, 80% of the samples show more than 1% copper.

Keywords


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