Origin and Formational History of Some Pb-Zn Deposits from Alborz and Central Iran: Pb Isotope Constraints
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International Geology Review ISSN: 0020-6814 (Print) 1938-2839 (Online) Journal homepage: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/tigr20 Origin and formational history of some Pb-Zn deposits from Alborz and Central Iran: Pb isotope constraints Hassan Mirnejad, Antonio Simonetti & Fatemeh Molasalehi To cite this article: Hassan Mirnejad, Antonio Simonetti & Fatemeh Molasalehi (2015) Origin and formational history of some Pb-Zn deposits from Alborz and Central Iran: Pb isotope constraints, International Geology Review, 57:4, 463-471, DOI: 10.1080/00206814.2015.1013510 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00206814.2015.1013510 Published online: 19 Feb 2015. Submit your article to this journal Article views: 101 View related articles View Crossmark data Citing articles: 1 View citing articles Full Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=tigr20 Download by: [University of Notre Dame] Date: 15 September 2016, At: 06:01 International Geology Review, 2015 Vol. 57, No. 4, 463–471, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00206814.2015.1013510 Origin and formational history of some Pb-Zn deposits from Alborz and Central Iran: Pb isotope constraints Hassan Mirnejada*, Antonio Simonettib,c and Fatemeh Molasalehia aDepartment of Geology, Faculty of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran; bDepartment of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada; cDepartment of Civil Engineering & Geological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, USA (Received 29 September 2014; accepted 27 January 2015) Several Pb-Zn deposits and occurrences within Iran are hosted by Mesozoic–Tertiary-aged sedimentary and igneous rocks. This study reports new Pb isotope analyses for galena from 14 Pb-Zn deposits in the Alborz and Central Iran structural zones. In general, Pb isotope ratios are extremely variable with data plotting between the upper crustal and orogenic curves in a plumbotectonic diagram. The latter may be attributed to Pb inputs from crustal and mantle end-members. Most of the galena samples are characterized by high 207Pb/204Pb ratios, suggesting significant input of Pb from old continental crust or pelagic sediment. Pb isotope data also indicate that some of the deposits, which are hosted by sedimentary rocks in Central Iran and Alborz, have similar Pb isotopic compositions and hence suggest similar source regions. Most of the galenas yield Pb model ‘ages’ that vary between ~140 and ~250 Ma, indicating that mineralization resulted from the extraction of ore- bearing fluids from Upper Triassic–Lower Jurassic sequences. The similarity in Pb isotope ratios for the Pb-Zn deposits located within these zones suggests analogous crustal evolution histories. Our preferred interpretation is that Pb-Zn mineralization within the sedimentary and igneous rocks of the Central Iran and Alborz tectonic regions occurred following a Late Cretaceous–Tertiary accretionary stage of crustal thickening in Iran. Keywords: Pb isotopes; Pb-Zn deposits; Central Iran; Alborz; galena Introduction Pb isotope studies of ore deposits or metallogenic The Iranian Plate, a major segment of the Cimmerian micro- provinces have aided in estimating the initial Pb isotopic continent, had detached from northeastern Gondwana composition of the metallogenic source and in determining by the end of Permian and collided with the Turan Plate the ages of deposits or prospects (e.g. Gulson 1986). (part of Eurasia) towards the end of the Triassic (Şengör Particularly, galena (PbS) is the most suitable mineral for 1990; Stampfli et al. 1991; Saidi et al. 1997; Mirnejad et al. analysis of Pb isotope ratios of Pb-Zn deposits because it 2013). From the Early Jurassic to Senonian, the young Neo- contains abundant Pb but no U content, and thus its iso- Tethyan oceanic basin was reduced in extent by its subduc- topic composition has remained unchanged since the time tion under the Iranian continental plate and the final closure of its formation. In recent years, new studies on the Pb of the Neo-Tethys, marked by the collision between the isotopic compositions of Pb-Zn deposits from Iran have Iranian and Arabian plates, took place during the Neogene been conducted, including those of Anguran (Gilg et al. (Berberian et al. 1982; Shahabpour 2005; Ahmadi Khalaji 2006), Emarat (Ehya et al. 2010), Chahgaz (Mousivand et al. 2007). et al. 2011), and Shahmirzad (Bazargani-Guilani et al. The Iranian plateau is divided into several zones from 2011). Lancelot et al. (1997) reported Pb isotope ratios fi SW to NE (Figure 1): Zagros fold-thrust belt (ZFTB), of galena from ve Iranian Pb-Zn deposits and Mirnejad – Sanandaj–Sirjan metamorphic zone (SSMZ), Urumieh– et al. (2011) reported Pb isotopic compositions of 18 Zn Dokhtar volcanic belt (UDVB), Central Iran zone (CIZ), Pb deposits and occurrences within SSMZ and UDVB, as Alborz zone (AZ), Kopeh Dagh zone (KDZ), and Eastern well as a sole deposit in ZFTB. The results of duplicate Iran zone (EIZ) (Falcon 1967; Stöcklin 1968; Dewey et al. analyses by these authors on galena samples point to the 1973; Stöcklin and Nabavi 1973; Jackson and McKenzie homogeneity of Pb isotope ratios. Although the CIZ and 1984; Şengör 1984; Byrne et al. 1992; McCall 2002; AZ are important metallogenic provinces with reference to Blanc et al. 2003; Alavi 2004; Walker and Jackson the number of Pb-Zn mineral deposits in Iran (Ghazanfari 2004). A number of Pb-Zn deposits have been reported 1993), petrogenetic and geochronological information for from these structural zones, although the largest reserves these ore deposits is scarce. This study presents new Pb occur in the CIZ and AZ. isotopic compositions for 14 Pb-Zn deposits within the *Corresponding author. Email: [email protected] © 2015 Taylor & Francis 464 H. Mirnejad et al. Figure 1. (a) Location of different structural segments of Iran. (b) Sample location. Sample abbreviations and numbers corresponding to the deposits are listed in Table 1. Abbreviations: GKF, Great Kavir Fault; SSMZ, Sanandaj–Sirjan Metamorphic Zone; UDVB, Urumieh–Dokhtar Volcanic Belt; CIZ, Central Iran Zone; YB, Yazd Block; TB, Tabas Block; LB, Lut Block; AZ, Alborz Zone; ZFTB, Zagros Fold–Thrust Belt; EIZ, East Iran Zone. tectonic zones of AZ and CIZ, with the purpose of dis- rifting associated with the formation of the Palaeo-Tethys cussing the possible source of these metals in relation to (Berberian and King 1981; Şengör et al. 1988; Stampfli the tectonic history of the region. et al. 1991; Shafaii Moghadam and Stern 2014). With gradual cessation of compressional magmatic activities, a continental shelf developed on the broken continental Geological setting and mineralization crust around Permian to Late Triassic times. Between the The AZ tectonic region in northern Iran (Figure 1) was Late Triassic and Middle Jurassic, this shelf closed and affected by several successive tectonic events, from the resulted in the consumption of Palaeo-Tethys oceanic Late Triassic Eo-Cimmerian orogeny to a Late assemblage, faulting, thrusting, uplift, metamorphism, Cretaceous–Tertiary compressional event (Allen et al. and the formation of a foreland basin (Assereto 1966; 2003; Golonka 2004; Guest et al. 2006; Horton et al. Stampfli 1978). The sedimentation of new continental/ 2008; Zanchi et al. 2009). The tectonic style of the AZ epicontinental shelf sediments on areas that had been is dominated by thrust faults, giving rise to displacement deformed and metamorphosed during the Cimmerian oro- of the structural elements and the formation of duplex geny started in the Middle Jurassic–Upper Cretaceous, and systems, such as composite antiformal stacks (Vernant these sediments deposited in an unstable tectonic environ- et al. 2004). From the Precambrian to Palaeozoic, AZ ment during their formation (Alavi 1996). The Palaeocene was part of Gondwana, but the AZ then separated due to and Eocene stratigraphy is characterized by an irregular International Geology Review 465 distribution of andesitic and basaltic volcanic rocks, indi- were collected on several field trips. Table 1 lists their cating the proximity to an active volcanic margin descriptions and Figure 1b shows the sample locations. (Berberian 1983; Saidi 1995; Brunet et al. 2003). The Galena separates were carefully hand-picked to avoid folded and thrusted Palaeozoic to Mesozoic sedimentary inclusions from surrounding minerals. Between two and sequences in the AZ, which include middle Permian lime- three milligrammes of sample were dissolved using ultra- stone (Routeh formation), Lower–Middle Triassic dolo- pure (double-distilled) HCl. Pb isotope compositions were mite and limestone (Elika formation), Jurassic limestone analysed using a multi-collector inductively coupled (Dalichay and Lar formations), and Cretaceous limestone plasma mass spectrometer (MC-ICP-MS) instrument (Nu and dolomite, host a variety of Pb-Zn deposits. Previous Instruments Ltd, Wrexham, UK) within the Radiogenic studies suggest that most of the Pb-Zn deposits in the AZ Isotope Facility at the University of Alberta. Sample ali- are Mississippi Valley-type (MVT) occurrences, although quots were subsequently mixed and diluted with ~1.5 ml some are vein and skarn types which are related to Tertiary of a 2% HNO3 solution spiked with NIST SRM 997 magmatic activity (Bazargani-Guilani 1982; Nekouvaght Thallium standard (2.5 ppb), and aspirated (~100 µl min–1) Tak et al. 2009). A second group of AZ-related Pb-Zn into the ICP source using an ARIDUS micro-concentric