Geochemistry and genesis of sulphide ore deposits in Sharosh Village, Qandil Series, Kurdistan Region, NE Iraq
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ORIGINAL PAPER
Geochemistry and genesis of sulphide ore deposits in Sharosh Village, Qandil Series, Kurdistan Region, NE Iraq Tola A. Mirza 1 & Stavros P. Kalaitzidis 2 & Sarkhel H. Mohammed 1 & Saman Gh. Rashid 3 & Xenia Petrou 2
Received: 27 December 2016 / Accepted: 20 September 2017 / Published online: 2 October 2017 # Saudi Society for Geosciences 2017
Abstract The low-grade base metal sulphide Cu–Zn–Pb and Fe mineralization of Qandil Series develop in shear zones that occur in formations of the north-western part of the Zagros Orogen. This sulphide mineralization occurs either as quartz vein type or disseminated type associated with metamorphic rocks (marbles and phyllites). This study aims to characterize these sulphide-rich ores by means of their mineralogical and geochemical features, including also the features of the corresponded host formations and those of marbles (calcitic and dolomitic) and phyllites. Petrographical data indicate the presence of Cu, Zn, Pb and Fe sulphides in hydrothermal quartz (±calcite) veins of different generations. Geochemical data of surface samples indicate enrichment of Cu and Fe in shear zones with low concentrations in Zn and Pb. The REE data indicate that the genesis of these sulphide ores took place in a hydrothermal system and was generally attributed to high temperature (> 250 °C).The mineralization seems to be faultcontrolled, which is favoured by the significant tectonic deformation of the area.
Keywords Qandil Series . Sharosh . Quartz vein . Hydrothermal . Zagros
* Tola A. Mirza [email protected]
Introduction The Sharosh sulphide mineralization is situated in NE Iraq close to the Iranian borders about 64 km from Sangaser area and in an elevation ranging between + 1400 and + 1525 m, a.s.l (Fig. 1a). The rock formations of the studied area belong to the Qandil Thrust Blocks, which is endowed with a wide variety of mineral resources, some of which occur in considerable quantities and with excellent qualities (Mustafa 2015), e.g. medium scale quarries of marble are operating for the last 20 years. The first systematic study in the area was conducted by Al-Bassam (1977) and Al-Bassam and Akif (1977), who reported sulphide mineralizations in the Qandil Thrust Blocks and more specifically in the Marabastas area; however, no exploitation took place till today. Mineral exploration activities have been limited in Qandil Thrust Block particularly due to the prolonged Iraqi-Iranian war, which ended in 1988. Nowadays, exploration activities are also limited because the region falls on the Iraqi-Iranian borders and still represents a dangerous area as several minefields are located in the surroundings, despite the fact that an international supported effort is under progress to clean these fields. In the present paper, the geological, petrographical and geochemical data of the sulphide mineralizations in the Sharosh area are investigated in order to understand the genetic type of the deposit. Geological setting
1
Geology Department, University of Sulaimani, Sulay
