Alteration, mineralization, geochemistry and fluid inclusion study of the Firouzeh mine, NW Neyshabour

• Main Authors: Alireza Ghiasvand, Mohammad Hassan Karimpour, Azadeh Malekzadeh Shafaroudi, Mohammad Reza Haidarian Shahri
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: Persian
• Published: Ferdowsi University of Mashhad 2019
• Subjects: Mineralization; Geochemical exploration; Fluid inclusions; IOCG; Neyshabour Firouzeh mine; Geology; QE1-996.5; Canada; Kiruna
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.22067/econg.v10i2.62579; https://doaj.org/article/acd5a9aa28f349efb402f889f3dfa58d

The Firouzeh mine is located in the Northwest of Neyshabour in the Khorasan Razavi province, Northeast of Iran, and eastern side of the Quchan-Sabzevar Cenozoic magmatic arc. Widespread magmatic activity in the Quchan-Sabzevar arc, is spatially and temporally associated with several types of mineralizations such as IOCG, Cu-Au porphyry and Kiruna types (Ghiasvand et al., 2016; Karimpour et al., 2011; Fatehi, 2014; Zarei et al., 2016). The aim of this investigation is to provide an understanding of the geology, alteration, mineralization, geochemistry, fluids evolution and genesis of the Firouzeh mine. Materials and methods Two hundred and fifty thin and polished sections were prepared for microscopic study. Twenty-nine samples were analyzed by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) method at the laboratory of Zar Azma company, Tehran, Iran. Twenty-one samples were analyzed by the X-ray Diffraction (XRD) method at the laboratory of Kansaran Binalood company, Tehran, Iran. Sixty samples were selected for 55-elemental analysis by composition of ICP-AES (Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy) and ICP-MS (Inductively coupled plasma Mass Spectrometry). Moreover, Sixty samples were selected for Au analysis by Aqua Regia Digestion at the SGS Laboratories, Canada. Six doubly polished sections of quartz mineralization were prepared for microthermometric analysis. Homogenization and last ice-melting temperatures were measured using a Linkam THMSG 600 combined heating and freezing stage at the Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. Result The Firouzeh mine contains various Middle-Eocene subvolcanic rocks as dykes which have intruded into Paleocene-Eocene volcanic rocks. Important altrations consist of silicified, argillic and carbonate among which silicified is the most extensive. Primary minerals are magnetite, specularite, pyrite, chalcopyrite and bornite and secondary minerals are hematite, alunite, covellite, turquoise and limonite. Mineralization has occurred in the cracks and fractures at the surface and in tunnels, ...