Mineral chemical investigation on sulfide mineralization of the Istala deposit,Gümüşhane,NE-Turkey

The mineralogy of the Istala deposit, Gümüşhane, northeastern Turkey, was studied in detail, and a geochemical investigation was carried out using electron probe micro-analysis (EPMA). Sphalerite, galena, chalcopyrite and pyrite are the major sulfide minerals found in the Istala deposit, with minor amounts of bornite, idaite, tetrahedrite–tennantite, anilite, yarrowite, mckinstryite, covellite and chalcocite. In addition to these, barite and a small quantity of quartz occur as gangue minerals. Based on the textural relations and mineral assemblages, five different stages of crystallization have been recognized. Mineral paragenesis of the first four stages has been found to be similar, whereas clear enrichment has been observed in the modal abundance of the copper sulfide mineral assemblage at the fifth-stage ore formation. Whole-rock geochemical analyses of the Istala ore show an enrichment of Ag content up to 3328 ppm. Optical observations and EPMA study indicated that abundant silver mineralization was found in the Istala ore, especially during the later-stage ore deposition. Repetition to the presence of native silver in the samples, a significant amount of silver was incorporated in bornite, idaite, tetrahedrite–tennantite, anilite, yarrowite, mckinstryite, covellite and chalcocite, whereas a trace amount of silver has been detected in sphalerite, galena, chalcopyrite and pyrite. The homogenization temperatures (T_h) of the primary fluid inclusions were measured between 98 and 284 °C, with frequency peaks around 140 °C, 190 °C and 240 °C. All data obtained support the theory that later stage copper-rich sulfides, formed under the low temperature conditions, are responsible for the large amounts of silver content in the Istala mine.     

Environmental impact of Gümüşhane City,Turkey, waste area in terms of heavy metal pollution

China has become the biggest CO₂ emitter in the world. In China, economic development in different regions is not the same. Thus, it is necessary to study the regional decoupling relationship between energy-related CO₂ emission and economic development. Considering the regional difference of economic development, energy consumption and CO₂ emission, provincial regions in China are divided into seven economic bands. The Tapio decoupling method is adopted to calculate the decoupling index in the seven regions over the study period 1996–2013. Furthermore, the WCDM is developed to study the driving factors governing the decoupling state. The result showed that decoupling development differed in each economic band; North-East and North-West, showed a better trend and a worse one, respectively, than the others. Economic factor showed a stable trend of negative effect, and energy intensity factor was the crucial factor to accelerate the process of CO₂ emission decoupling. Only in Yangtze River delta, economic band had structural factor shown a positive effect during the research period, and emission efficiency factor was not stable and showed a negative effect in most years in every region.     

Investigation of the quality and physical-geochemical characteristics of the drinking water in Gümüşhane (Turkey) city central

The physical (turbidity, color, smell, taste, pH, and conductivity) and geochemical properties (Ca, Mg, Na, Fe, Mn, Al, K, Cl^?, HCO₃ ^?, SO₄ ^2?, Fe, Cu, Co, Ni, Zn, Cd, Pb, and Cr) of the drinking water in Gümü?hane city center were determined. This city center constitutes the study area. The pH levels of the water samples ranged from 6.3 to 8.2, and their conductivities ranged between 240 and 900 μS. These findings were concordant with the drinking water standards of the Turkey Standard Institute and the World Health Organization. The hardness of the water samples in the study area was between 18.1 and 115.1 °Fr. These samples were classified as extremely hard, hard, and quite hard. In addition, an assessment using the criteria for Inland Surface Water Classification indicated that considering certain parameters (pH levels, amount of Na, SO₄ ^2?, Fe, Mn, Al, Co, Ni, Cu, and Cr), the samples belonged to class I (high quality) water. When Cl^? amount and conductivity were considered, the samples belonged to the first and second classes (less polluted) of water. The water in the study area was generally classified as carbonated and sulfated (Ca + Mg > Na + K) water classes. This water contained more weak acids than strong acids (HCO₃ ^? + CO₃ ^2? > Cl^? + SO₄ ^2?). The pH levels (6.3–8.2) of the water in the study area were unrelated to the varying concentrations of metals in the water. Elements such as Fe, Ni, Cd, Pb, Zn, and Cu increase in the water through the water–rock interaction in the area in which water rises or through the mixture of water with either mine or industrial wastes. In addition, several water samples belonged to an acceptable water class for drinking and usage.     

K-Ar dating,whole-rock and Sr-Nd isotope geochemistry of calc-alkaline volcanic rocks around the Gümüşhane area: implications for post-collisional volcanism in the Eastern Pontides,Northeast Turkey

Volcanic rocks from the Gümü?hane area in the southern part of the Eastern Pontides (NE Turkey) consist mainly of andesitic lava flows associated with tuffs, and rare basaltic dykes. The K-Ar whole-rock dating of these rocks range from 37.62?±?3.33 Ma (Middle Eocene) to 30.02?±?2.84 Ma (Early Oligocene) for the andesitic lava flows, but are 15.80?±?1.71 Ma (Middle Miocene) for the basaltic dykes. Petrochemically, the volcanic rocks are dominantly medium-K calc-alkaline in composition and show enrichment of large ion lithophile elements, as well as depletion of high field strength elements, thus revealing that volcanic rocks evolved from a parental magmas derived from an enriched mantle source. Chondrite-normalized rare-earth element patterns of the volcanic rocks are concave upwards with low- to-medium enrichment (La_CN/Lu_CN?=?3.39 to 12.56), thereby revealing clinopyroxene- and hornblende-dominated fractionations for andesitic-basaltic rocks and tuffs, respectively. The volcanic rocks have low initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios (0.70464 to 0.70494) and εNd_(i) values (+1.11 to +3.08), with Nd-model ages (T_DM) of 0.68 to 1.02 Ga, suggesting an enriched lithospheric mantle source of Proterozoic age. Trace element and isotopic data, as well as the modelling results, show that fractional crystallization and minor assimilation played an important role in the evolution of the volcanic rocks studied. The Eocene to Miocene volcanism in the region has resulted from lithospheric delamination and the associated convective thinning of the mantle, which led to the partial melting of the subduction-metasomatized lithospheric mantle.     

Lithostratigraphy,facies, and deposition environment of the lower Jurassic Ammonitico Rosso type sediments (ARTS) in the Gümüşhane area,NE Turkey: Implications for the opening of the northern branch of the Neo-Tethys Ocean

Ammonitico Rosso type sediments (ARTS) form the bottom level of the ?enköy Formation in the Gümü?hane area. The formation accumulated in the rift-related basins triggered by extensional tectonic regimes in the Early Jurassic times. Six different sections were studied in this area in order to interpret the lithostratigraphy, facies, and deposition environments of the ARTS. Two basic lithofacies were distinguished, nodular-marly and nodular-calcareous. These facies provide useful information regarding depositional conditions in the area and environmental energy. These factors were mainly related to the relative sea-level that in turn was controlled by tectonic and eustasy conditions. In addition, seven different types of microfacies were recognized and described as a result of the detailed analysis of the sections. The results of the analysis show that these sediments in the Gümü?hane area were developed in transgressive phases/events. These sediments share characteristics with other peri-Mediterranean regions and sea-level curves, and show a similarity to the major transgressive pulse during the Pliensbachian stage. Deposition of ARTS was controlled by syn-depositional extensional movements, leading to their accumulation on top of tilted blocks, slopes and horsts in an open marine environment. The ARTS were developed during the rifting of the continental margins pointing up the phases of the Tethys opening. Neptunian dykes verifying this opening developed at different levels of the ARTS and were filled with overlying sediments. These results support the hypothesis that the ARTS were formed in tectonically active environments where extensional tectonic movements were continuously improved during the deposition of the ARTS.     

Sedimentology and facies analysis of Miocene mixed siliciclastic–carbonate deposits of the Dam Formation in Al Lidam area,eastern Saudi Arabia

The Burdigalian mixed siliciclastic–carbonate deposits of the Dam Formation are well-exposed in Al Lidam area, in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia. They represent a shallow part of the Arabian plate continental margin. The Dam Formation is correlatable to the Miocene reservoirs in both Iran and Iraq. Therefore, studying the Dam Formation lithologic heterogeneity in a small distance with high resolution could help in further work related to pattern prediction of the Miocene reservoir properties. High-resolution sedimentological investigation was carried out through six outcrops. The facies parameters (lithology, sedimentary structures, main fossils, paleocurrent patterns and geometries of the sedimentary bodies) were described. The results revealed 15 lithofacies that have been further grouped into 7 lithofacies associations 5 of which are carbonates and include (1) interbedded dolostone and evaporates, (2) microbialite buildup, (3) ooid-dominated grainstones, (4) burrowed skeletal peloidal wackestone–packstone and (5) mollusc-dominated wackestone–packstone. The remaining two associations are of siliciclastics and include (6) intertidal siliciclastics and (7) wave-dominated siliciclastics. These lithofacies were interpreted to reflect deposition in a mixed siliciclastic–carbonate ramp system that includes subtidal, shoreface, intertidal, foreshore, supratidal and estuarine deposits in a shallowing-upward succession. Each one of these lithofacies association has distinct geometry and architecture pattern. Oolites and heterozoan lithofacies occur as sheets and show great continuity along the strike direction. Oolites pass laterally in the dip direction into more skeletal- and peloid-dominated zones, whereas heterozoan lithofacies stay continuous in the dip directions and change from siliciclastic to carbonate heterozones. In contrast, microbialite lithofacies lack continuous beds and occur as localised bioherms and biostroms. Channelised lithofacies are restricted laterally into isolated channel bodies and vertically in the contact boundary between siliciclastic and carbonate lithofacies, whereas the interbedded dolostone and evaporite lithofacies form distinct, relatively thick continuous layers. With continuous exposures in both strike (1.2 km) and dip (0.15 km) directions, the outcrops in the Al Lidam area provide unique opportunity to study the heterogeneity among lithofacies of the mixed siliciclastic–carbonate system of the Dam Formation. Such study may provide insights to predict occurrence and distribution of lithofacies bodies in their equivalent reservoirs which are important for reservoir characterisation.     

Biostratigraphy and facies analysis of the Upper Cretaceous–Danian? platform carbonate succession in the Kuyucak area,western Central Taurides,S Turkey

The Upper Cretaceous succession outcropping in the Anamas–Akseki Autochton, consists of approximately 500 m thick purely platform carbonate sediments. It begins with Cenomanian limestones intercalated with limestone breccias (Unit-1) containing mainly Pseudorhapydionina dubia, Pseudonummoloculina heimi, Spiroloculina cretacea (Assemblage I) and unconformably overlies the Lower Cretaceous (Barremian–Aptian) limestones with Vercorsella laurentii, Praechrysalidina infracretacea and Salpingoporella hasi. The Cenomanian limestones include foraminiferal packstone–wackestone, peloidal packstone–wackestone and mudstone microfacies deposited in restricted platform conditions. The Cenomanian succession is truncated by an unconformity characterised by locale bauxite deposits. Immediately above the unconformable surface, dolomitic limestones and rudistid limestones (Unit-2) are assigned to the upper Campanian based on the benthic foraminiferal assemblage (Assemblage II) comprising mainly Murciella gr. cuvillieri, Pseudocyclammina sphaeroidea, Accordiella conica, Scandonea samnitica and Fleuryana adriatica (smaller-sized populations). The upper Campanian limestones composed of dominantly foraminiferal-microbial packstone–wackestone microfacies deposited in shallow water environment with low energy, restricted circulation. The following limestones of the Unit-2 is characterised by sporadic intercalation of “open shelf” Orbitoides, Omphalocyclus, Siderolites assemblage (Assemblage III), assigned to the Maastrichtian, in addition to pre-existing “restricted platform” species. In the upper part of this biozone, the Rhapydionina liburnica/Fleuryana adriatica concurrent range subzone (Assemblage IIIb) is distinguished by the presence of Valvulina aff. triangularis, Loftusia minor as well as the nominal species. The Maastrichtian limestones with sporadically open marine influence consist of bioclastic (rudist-bearing) packstone–floatstone, foraminiferal packstone–wackestone with rudist fragments and peloidal/intraclastic packstone–wackestone microfacies deposited in shallow subtidal–subtidal (lagoonal) environments. The Upper Cretaceous succession passes upwardly into 70 m thick limestones and clayey limestones (Unit-3) which do not contain rudists and pre-existing foraminiferal assemblage with one exception Valvulina aff. triangularis. Variable amounts of ostracoda, discorbids, miliolids, dasycladacean algae and Stomatorbina sp. (Assemblage IV) occur into mud-rich microfacies suggesting restricted conditions with low water energy. A probable Danian age is proposed for the Unit-3 based on the occurrence of Valvulina aff. triangularis and Stomatorbina sp. which were previously recorded from Danian of peri-Tethyan platforms.