The Sarcheshmeh porphyry copper deposit,Kerman, Iran: A mineralogical analysis of the igneous rocks and alteration zones including halogen element systematics related to Cu mineralization processes

The giant Sarcheshmeh porphyry Copper deposit is located 65 km southwest of Kerman City, southeastern Iran. Numerous Miocene porphyry stocks and dykes intruded thick sequences of Upper Cretaceous sedimentary and Eocene volcanic rocks. Hypogene and supergene porphyry Cu mineralization occurs within the granodioritic porphyry and host rock sequence, which was extensively altered to a dominantly potassic, phyllic, and argillic assemblage with interstitial to distal propylitic types.Biotite-bearing assemblages occur as both primary phenocrysts and secondary replacements showing variable size, colour, and shape. Fluorine contents (0.22 to 1.33 wt.%) and X_Mg (0.54 to 0.71) in biotites from the potassic and phyllic zones are higher than those of non-mineralized granitoids (F = 0.09 to 0.56 wt.%, X_Mg = 0.43 to 0.54), whereas their Cl contents (Cl = 0.05 to 0.24 wt.%) are lower than those of the non-mineralized granitoids (Cl = .0.11 to 0.45). The biotites from the phyllic zone have higher log (fH₂O/fHF) and log (fH₂O/fHCl) values than those of the potassic zone, as well as the granitoid and andesitic dykes. The log (fHF/fHCl) values determined for the granitoid, potassic and phyllic zones are similar, though more negative than those of the andesitic dykes. The log (fHF/fHCl) values have a similar range for biotite from the granitoid, and potassic and phyllic zones. The halogen fugacity ratios established for fluids associated with the Sarcheshmeh deposit from their F and Cl contents in biotite show that the granitoid, potassic zone and phyllic zone are increasingly affected by meteoric waters. The fluids that circulated in the phyllic zone are predominantly of meteoric origin, possibly overprinting original phyllic zone halogen contents.The Cl intercept values of biotite in the granitoid, and phyllic and potassic are similar to other ore-forming systems and tend to be more Cl-rich than Cl-intercept values of biotites in common igneous rocks. Calculated F/Cl intercept values for biotite in the granitoid and potassic zone are also consistent with many other porphyry copper forming systems.     

The Miduk porphyry Cu deposit,Kerman, Iran: A geochemical analysis of the potassic zone including halogen element systematics related to Cu mineralization processes

Miduk hypogene and supergene porphyry Cu–Mo mineralization occurs within the Miocene porphyritic quartz–diorite and host Eocene plagioclase–hornblende phyric andesitic pyroclastic and flow sequence. Both the host rocks were extensively altered by hydrothermal fluids to dominantly potassic, phyllic, and argillic with interstitial to distal propylitic types.     

Recycling of orogenic arc crust triggers porphyry Cu mineralization in Kerman Cenozoic arc rocks,southeastern Iran

Pre-collisional Eocene–Oligocene arc diorites, quartzdiorites, granodiorites, and volcanic equivalents in the Kerman arc segment in central Iran lack porphyry Cu mineralization and ore deposits, whereas collisional middle-late Miocene adakite-like porphyritic granodiorites without volcanic equivalents host some of the world’s largest Cu ore deposits. Petrological and structural constraints suggest a direct link between orogenic arc crust evolution and the presence of a fertile metallogenic environment. Ore-hosting Kuh Panj porphyry intrusions exhibit high Sr (>400 ppm), low Y (<12 ppm) contents, significant REE fractionation (La/Yb > 20), no negative Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu^* ≥ 1), and relatively non-radiogenic Sr isotope signatures (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr = 0.7042–0.7047), relative to Eocene–Oligocene granitoids (mainly Sr < 400 ppm; Y > 12; La/Yb < 15; Eu/Eu^* < 1; ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr = 0.7053–0.7068). Trace element modeling indicates peridotite melting for the barren Eocene–Oligocene intrusions and a hydrous garnet-bearing amphibolite source for middle-late Miocene ore-hosting intrusions. The presence of garnet implies collisional arc crustal thickening by shortening and basaltic underplating from about 30–35 to 40–45 km or 12 kbar. The changes in residual mineralogy in the source of Eocene to Miocene rocks in the Kerman arc segment reflect probing of a thickening arc crust by recycling melting of the arc crustal keel. Underplating of Cu and sulfur-rich melts from fertile peridotite generated a fertile metallogenic reservoir at or near the crust–mantle boundary, and dehydration melting under oxidizing conditions produced syn- and post-collisional ore-hosting intrusions, while the lack of post-collisional volcanism prevented the venting of volatiles to the atmosphere from sulfur-rich and oxidized adakitic magmas. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Geochemical behavior and speciation modeling of rare earth elements in acid drainages at Sarcheshmeh porphyry copper deposit,Kerman Province,Iran

Acid mine drainage is a major source of water pollution in the Sarcheshmeh porphyry copper mine area. The concentrations of heavy metals and rare earth elements (REEs) in the host rocks, natural waters and acid mine drainage (AMD) associated with mining and tailing impoundments are determined. Contrary to the solid samples, AMDs and impacted stream waters are enriched in middle rare earth elements (MREEs) and heavy rare earth elements (HREEs) relative to light rare earth elements (LREEs). This behavior suggests that REE probably fractionate during sulfide oxidation and acid generation and subsequent transport, so that MREE and HREE are preferentially enriched. Speciation modeling predict that the dominant dissolved REE inorganic species are Ln³⁺, Ln(SO₄)₂⁻, LnSO₄⁺, LnHCO₃²⁺, Ln(CO₃)₂⁻ and LnCO₃⁺. Compared to natural waters, Sarcheshmeh AMD is enriched in REEs and SO₄²⁻. High concentrations of SO₄²⁻ lead to the formation of stable LnSO₄⁺, thereby resulting in higher concentrations of REEs in AMD samples. The model indicates that LnSO₄⁺ is the dissolved form of REE in acid waters, while carbonate and dicarbonate complexes are the most abundant dissolved REE species in alkaline waters. The speciation calculations indicate that other factors besides complexation of the REE's, such as release of MREE from dissolution and/or desorption processes in soluble salts and poorly crystalline iron oxyhydroxy sulfates as well as dissolution of host rock MREE-bearing minerals control the dissolved REE concentrations and, hence, the MREE-enriched patterns of acid mine waters.     

Hydrothermal fluid geochemistry at the Chah-Firuzeh porphyry copper deposit,Iran: Evidence from fluid inclusions

The Chah-Firuzeh porphyry copper deposit is located in 35 km north of Shahre Babak (Kerman province). It is associated with granodioriteic intrusive of Miocene age which intruded Eocene volcanosedimentary rocks. Copper mineralization was accompanied by both potassic and phyllic alteration. Field observations and petrographic studies demonstrate that the emplacement of Chah-Firuzeh pluton took place in several intrusive pulses, each with associated hydrothermal ore fluid formation that was also associated with hydrostatic pressure increasing respect to that of lithostatic pressure (and fracturing development-relative boiling) by circulated fluid. Copper is concentrated as a very early hydrothermal mineralized phase in the evolution of the hydrothermal system. Early hydrothermal alteration produced a potassic assemblage (orthoclase–biotite) in the central deep part of the stock. Alteration ore fluids could be classify into two groups of liquid-reach, containing solid phases, high temperature (390 to 500 °C) high salinity (more than 60 wt.% NaCl equiv.) and gas-rich, high temperature (311 to 570 °C), no solid phase and with low salinities. These magmatic source fluids illustrate sever boiling process and also are the responsible for the both potassic alteration, quartz group I and II veins and chalcopyrite deposition. Propylitic alteration occurred by the liquid-rich, low temperature (241 to 390 °C) and Ca-rich fluid with meteoric origin. Continuous decreasing temperature let the meteoric water diffusion into the system, mixed with magmatic fluids and descending the salinities down to the 1 wt.% NaCl equiv. and leaching the Cu from vein groups II and III by sever thermodynamic anarchies from potassic to the phyllic alteration zones. Phyllic alteration and copper leaching resulted from the inflow of oxidized and acidic meteoric waters with decreasing temperature of the system followed by the incursion of this fluid into and its convection in upper part of the system. A late episode of boiling occurred in the apical the phyllic zone, and was associated with significant copper deposition. Based on the field observation on sharp alteration and related mineralization, it is possible to conclude that all these procedures have been controlled by local faults that could be active even before the pluton injection. These faults and the new form ones (which have been formed after injection), could crash the hosted rocks, and act as physical dams to restrict and limit the mineralization in special strikes and zones within the Cah-Firuzeh ore deposit.     

The geochemistry of gossans associated with Sarcheshmeh porphyry copper deposit,Rafsanjan, Kerman,Iran: Implications for exploration and the environment

The Sarcheshmeh copper deposit is one of the world's largest Oligo-Miocene porphyry copper deposits in a continental arc setting with a well developed supergene sulfide zone, covered mainly by a hematitic gossan. Supergene oxidation and leaching, have developed a chalcocite enrichment blanket averaging 1.99% Cu, more than twice that of hypogene zone (0.89% Cu). The mature gossans overlying the Sarcheshmeh porphyry copper ores contain abundant hematite with variable amounts of goethite and jarosite, whereas immature gossans consist of iron-oxides, malachite, azurite and chrysocolla. In mature gossans, Au, Mo and Ag give significant anomalies much higher than the background concentrations. However, Cu has been leached in mature gossans and gives values close or even less than the normal or crustal content (< 36.7 ppm). Immature gossans are enriched in Cu (160.3 ppm), Zn (826.7 ppm), and Pb (88.6 ppm). Jarosite- and goethite-bearing gossans may have developed over the pyritic shell of most Iranian porphyry copper deposits with pyrite–chalcopyrite ratios greater than 10 and therefore, do not necessarily indicate a promising sulfide-enriched ore (Kader and Ijo). Hematite-bearing gossans overlying nonreactive alteration halos with pyrite–chalcopyrite ratios about 1.5 and quartz stringers have significant supergene sulfide ores (Sarcheshmeh and Miduk). The copper grade in supergene sulfide zone of Sarcheshmeh copper deposit ranges from 0.78% in propylitized rocks to 3.4% in sericitized volcanic rocks, corresponding to the increasing chalcopyrite–pyrite or chalcocite–pyrite ratios from 0.3 to 3, respectively. Immature gossans with dominant malachite and chrysocolla associated with jarosite and goethite give the most weakly developed enrichment zone, as at God-e-Kolvari. The average anomalous values of Au (59.6 ppb), Mo (42.5 ppm) and Ag (2.6 ppm) in mature gossans associated with the Sarcheshmeh copper mine may be a criterion that provides a significant exploration target for regional metallogenic blind porphyry ore districts in central Iranian volcano–plutonic continental arc settings. Drilling for new porphyry ores should be targeted where hematitic gossans are well developed. The ongoing gossan formation may result in natural acidic rock drainage (ARD).     

新疆延东斑岩铜矿床火山机构、容矿岩石及热液蚀变

延东斑岩铜矿床位于新疆东天山晚古生代大南湖岛弧中。延东矿区出露地层是石炭纪企鹅山组火山-沉积岩,我们研究提出延东矿区出露的火山-沉积岩以及浅成侵入岩为石炭纪火山喷发-岩浆侵入产物,并将其划分成两个旋回五个岩相:第一旋回包括溢流相(玄武岩和安山岩)、爆发相(集块角砾熔岩)和爆发-沉积相(凝灰岩);第二旋回包括次火山相(闪长玢岩和闪长岩)和浅成侵入相(斜长花岗斑岩)。容矿岩石是次火山相的闪长玢岩和闪长岩以及浅成侵入相的斜长花岗斑岩。闪长玢岩发育中性斑岩蚀变系统,包括内部的绢云母-绿泥石蚀变带和绿泥石-绢云母蚀变带和外围的青磐岩化带,其中绢云母-绿泥石蚀变带控制本区部分富矿体的形成和分布;斜长花岗斑岩发育酸性斑岩蚀变系统,从中心向外依次为黄铁绢英岩化带、强绢云母化带和弱绢云母化带,黄铁绢英岩化带控制本区部分富矿体的形成和分布。这两个蚀变系统以钾硅酸盐化蚀变不发育和绢云母化广泛发育为特点。     

Contributions of trans-magmatic fluid in the formation of porphyry copper deposits: A case study from the Baoshan deposit,South China

The classical mechanism “source-transport-storage” of the formation of porphyry copper deposit has been advanced in recent studies, as the “source” is not the main factor for the mineralization in some Cu deposits, and the metallogeny may be affected by other variables factors during the magma-fluid transportation or storage. We recommend the essential role of trans-magmatic fluid in the ore-forming process, this fluid is released from the melting of the sedimentary overlying the subducted plate with high water and volatiles concentrations and high oxygen fugacity. The Baoshan granodioritic cryptoexplosion breccia representing the influence of hydrothermal events as well as the unaltered Baoshan granodiorite porphyry are conducted by LA-MC-ICP-MS analysis, to identify the contribution of trans-magmatic fluid. In case of the ε_Nd(t) of whole rock do not increase with the MgO increasing and SiO₂ decreasing, the large variations of zircons ε_Hf(t) values in Baoshan granodiorite porphyry (BGP, ?14.24 to ?6.38) and Baoshan granodioritic crypto-explosion breccia (BGCB, ?25.24 to ?6.62) were considered to be the interaction of partial melting of ancient mafic lower crust and Neoproterozoic juvenile crust. However, the copper mineralization requires high oxygen fugacity and a large amount of water, according to the tectonic settings of Baoshan, we recommend that it is the trans-magmatic fluid trapping and concentrating Cu from the whole pluton during the upwelling driven by magma convection. The initial magma was stalled by the ductile-brittle transition at shallow depths of upper-crust. The trans-magmatic fluid leads to the pressure increases at the top of the initial magma, then the overlying rock is ruptured and cryptoexplosion produced. Moreover, after the cryptoexplosion, the sudden reduction of circumference temperature and pressure leads to the decrease in the oxygen fugacity of the ore-forming system, which will change the valence state of sulfur from S⁶⁺ to S^2?. Finally, sulfur precipitates with chalcophile elements like copper in the metallogenic system and forms porphyry copper deposits with the low Sr/Y ratio. This study highlights the use of trans-magmatic fluid and ductile-brittle transition in the formation of the Baoshan porphyry copper deposits.     

Geology and mineralization of the Pulang supergiant porphyry copper deposit (5.11 Mt) in Shangri-la,Yunnan Province,China: A review

The porphyry copper belt in the Geza island arc in southwestern China is the only Indosinian porphyry copper metallogenic belt that has been discovered and evaluated so far. The Pulang porphyry copper deposit (also referred to as the Pulang deposit) in this area has proven copper reserves of 5.11×10⁶ t. This deposit has been exploited on a large scale using advanced mining methods, exhibiting substantial economic benefit. Based on many research results of previous researchers and the authors’ team, this study proposed the following key insights. (1) The Geza island arc was once regarded as an immature island arc with only andesites and quartz diorite porphyrites occurring. This understanding was overturned in this study. Acidic endmember components such as quartz monzonite porphyries and quartz monzonite porphyries have been identified in the Geza island arc, and the mineralization is mainly related to the magmatism of quartz monzonite porphyries. (2) Complete porphyry orebodies and large vein orebodies have developed in the Pulang deposit. Main orebody KT1 occurs in the transition area between the potassium silicate alteration zone of quartz monzonite porphyries and the sericite-quartz alteration zone. Most of them have developed in the potassium silicate alteration zone. The main orebody occurs as large lenses at the top of the hanging wall of rock bodies, with an engineering-controlled length of 1920 m and thickness of 32.5‒630.29 m (average: 187.07 m). It has a copper grade of 0.21%‒1.56% (average: 0.42%) and proven copper resources of 5.11×10⁶ t, which are associated with 113 t of gold, 1459 t of silver, and 170×10³ t of molybdenum. (3) Many studies on diagenetic and metallogenic chronology, isotopes, and fluid inclusions have been carried out for the Pulang deposit, including K-Ar/Ar-Ar dating of monominerals (e.g., potassium feldspars, biotites, and amphiboles), zircon U-Pb dating, and molybdenite Re-Os dating. The results show that the porphyries in the Pulang deposit are composite plutons and can be classified into pre-mineralization quartz diorite porphyrites, quartz monzonite porphyries formed during the mineralization, and post-mineralization granite porphyries, which were formed at 223±3.7 Ma, 218±4 Ma, and 207±3.9 Ma, respectively. The metallogenic age of the Pulang deposit is 213‒216 Ma. (4) The petrogeochemical characteristics show that the Pulang deposit has the characteristics of volcanic arc granites. The calculation results of trace element contents in zircons show that quartz monzonite porphyries and granite porphyries have higher oxygen fugacity. The isotopic tracing results show that the diagenetic and metallogenic materials were derived from mixed crust- and mantle-derived magmas.©2022 China Geology Editorial Office.     

斑岩铜矿围岩蚀变绿帘石的光谱特征——以德兴铜矿富家坞矿区为例

斑岩型矿床具有十分广泛和明显的热液蚀变带,青磐岩化通常位于中心钾化带外侧,可分为三个亚带,绿帘石是青磐岩化带最重要的蚀变矿物之一,但目前对青磐岩化带内各亚带之中的绿帘石的特征研究较为薄弱。近年来,短波红外光谱技术(SWIR)已经广泛应用于热液蚀变矿物的识别,但由于短波红外光谱通过识别特定的基团进而识别含此基团的矿物,难以识别斑岩中部分关键蚀变矿物,如钾长石、钠长石和硬石膏。X射线衍射技术(XRD)能识别大部分蚀变矿物,可对红外光谱技术在斑岩矿床中的应用进行补充。本文以江西省德兴地区富家坞矿区为研究对象,提出应用SWIR和XRD分析辅助蚀变填图。富家坞矿区发育了十分广泛的绿帘石化,根据其共生矿物组合及空间分布,划分了三种绿帘石类型。第Ⅰ类:矿物组合为绿帘石-钠长石-石英-方解石,绿帘石和钠长石以脉状形式产出于钾化花岗闪长斑岩体内,穿切钾长石斑晶;第Ⅱ类:矿物组合为绿帘石±绿泥石-石英-方解石,绿帘石和绿泥石以集合体形式交代早期岩体内黑云母、斜长石的方式产出,并保留有原生矿物晶型,伴有方解石、石英等矿物;第Ⅲ类绿帘石共生矿物主要为石英、方解石、沸石等,含少量高岭石,主要呈不规则脉状,分布于蚀变花岗闪长斑岩外侧。通过对以上三类绿帘石进行系统SWIR和XRD分析,发现类型Ⅰ绿帘石大部分表现出较大的Fe-OH吸收峰位值(Pos2252 2255),类型Ⅱ和类型Ⅲ绿帘石大部分表现为较小的Fe-OH吸收峰位值(Pos2252 2255)。XRD结果显示绿帘石晶体特征更为明显,特征衍射峰位值{■13}晶面表现出相对集中的特征,但是次峰{022}晶面表现出一定的差异性,且绿帘石{022}晶面2. 40?衍射峰半高宽(FWHM-2)与绿帘石Dep2334/Dep2252值呈现负相关的关系。故本文认为绿帘石的次峰{022}晶面2. 40?衍射峰值及其半高宽(FWHM-2)可以作为讨论斑岩矿床围岩蚀变矿物绿帘石的结晶度的主要参数。三种绿帘石结晶指数的差异可能是热液流体演化过程中温度降低和距离岩体中心的远近造成的。     

中亚构造域多期叠加斑岩铜矿化:以阿尔泰东南缘哈腊苏铜矿床地质、地球化学和成岩成矿时代研究为例

新疆青河县新近发现哈腊苏铜矿床,正在进行的勘探证实具有大型铜储量前景。它位于阿尔泰东南缘,靠近额尔齐斯构造变形带。这个区域经历了古生代中期的洋-陆俯冲、古生代晚期的陆-陆碰撞以及其后的陆内活化等地质过程。铜成矿与哪种地质地质过程有关受人关注,矿床成因也存在斑岩型、热液脉型和火山岩型等不同认识。哈腊苏铜矿区主要出露中泥盆统基性火山岩(含苦橄岩)及侵入其中的不同时期含铜蚀变斑岩体,包括花岗闪长斑岩、斑状花岗岩、石英二长斑岩和石英闪长斑岩等,斑岩SiO_2质量分数为57.24%～65.45%,其中花岗闪长斑岩δ~(18)O_(V-SMOW)=7.9‰～8.6‰,ε_(Nd)(t)=7.3～8.5(接近于MORB值),(~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr)_t=0.70383～0.70410(接近原始地幔值),暗示岩浆起源于地幔或下地壳。矿区含铜蚀变斑岩全岩矿化(Cu 0.2%),矿体(Cu 0.3%以上)呈透镜状和不规则分枝脉状,产状与斑岩体相仿,95%以上矿体产于斑岩体内。围岩蚀变从矿体到斑岩再到基性火山岩围岩,发育钾长石黑云母化、黑云母绿泥石化、青磐岩化的分带,后期脉状线型钾长石化叠加于早期面状弥散型钾硅酸盐蚀变之上。没有次生硫化物富集现象,原生铜矿石出现细脉浸染型和脉状叠加型两种自然类型,前者以"黄铁矿+黄铜矿+辉钼矿"为典型金属矿物组合,后者呈在前者背景上的"石英+黄铁矿+黄铜矿"脉状叠加矿化。相对于前者,后者Cu、Au品位明显偏高(分别达到Cu 2.21%、Au 0.83 g/t)、微量和稀土元素总量降低,微量元素蛛网图和REE配分曲线更为平缓,Eu正异常更加显著。基性火山喷发、幔源岩浆侵入和多期矿化叠加是哈腊苏铜成矿的关键,早期斑岩型铜成矿基础上的后期构造热液矿化叠加显著。细脉浸染型铜矿石中共生黄铁矿-黄铜矿的硫同位素温度计指示斑岩型铜成矿温度为420～560℃。铜矿石硫化物δ~(34)S_(V-CDT)主体范围为-1‰～-4‰,矿石硫源自幔源斑岩体(有地层硫酸盐还原硫少量混入);黄铁矿~(206)Pb/~(204)Pb=18.052～18.461,~(207)Pb/~(204)Pb=15.501～15.606,~(208)Pb/~(204)Pb=37.813～39.335,与矿床所在区域喀拉通克岩浆Cu-Ni硫化物接近,成矿金属主体来自幔源斑岩;脉状矿化叠加型铜矿石中含铜硫化物石英脉晶出母液(δ~(18)O_(V-SMOW)=6.4‰～10.2‰,δD_(V-SMOW)=-89‰～-80‰)具有岩浆水的O、H同位素组成特点。通过成岩、成矿和热液蚀变的年代学研究获得:(1)含铜蚀变的斑状花岗岩(381.6±2.5)Ma和花岗闪长斑岩(371.8±9.6)Ma的U-Pb谐和年龄、细脉浸染型铜矿石中辉钼矿(376.9±2.2)Ma的Re-Os等时线年龄,是洋-陆俯冲期斑岩成岩成矿的年龄记录;(2)含铜蚀变石英二长斑岩(265.6±3.7)Ma的U-Pb谐和年龄和脉状叠加型铜矿石中钾长石(269.2±3.2)Ma的Ar-Ar坪年龄,是陆-陆碰撞晚期斑岩铜矿化蚀变的年龄记录;(3)含铜蚀变石英闪长斑岩(215.8±4.6)Ma的U-Pb谐和年龄和脉状叠加型铜矿石中钾长石(198.2±2.3)～(206.4±2.7)Ma的Ar-Ar坪年龄,是陆内构造岩浆活化期的年龄记录。多期构造-岩浆-热液矿化叠加作用是哈腊苏铜成矿的显著特征。该研究为认识中亚构造域斑岩铜矿床的多期叠加成矿作用特征积累了新资料。