Geochemistry and geochronology of the volcano-plutonic rocks associated with the Glojeh epithermal gold mineralization, NW Iran

Abstract

Eocene to Oligocene volcano-plutonic rocks are widespread throughout NW Iran. The Tarom-Hashtjin metallogenic province is one of the most promising epithermal-porphyry ore mineralized districts in NW Iran. The Glojeh gold deposit, located in the center of this province, is a typical high to intermediate sulfidation epithermal system, spatially and temporally associated with a granite intrusion and associated high-K calc-alkaline to shoshonitic volcano-plutonic rocks. The intrusive complexes of the Glojeh district are characterized by: SiO2 contents of 60.9 to 70.7 wt.%, K2O+Na2O of 7.60 to 8.92 wt.%, and K2O/Na2O ratios of 0.9 to 1.8. They are enriched in light rare earth elements (LREEs), and large ion lithophile elements (LILEs), depleted in high field strength elements (HFSEs), and have weak negative Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu∗= 0.5 to 0.9). 40Ar/39Ar geochronology applied to biotite and feldspar, separated from two intrusives (Goljin and Varmarziar), and two feldspar aliquots separated from hydrothermal veins at North Glojeh and South Glojeh, was carried out to constrain magmatic and hydrothermal events. Plagioclase (± sericite), from North Glojeh and South Glojeh produced ages (42.20±0.34 Ma, and 42.56±1.47 Ma respectively) that overlap with the age of the Goljin intrusion (41.87±1.58 Ma). Geochemical data for the volcano-plutonic rocks in the Glojeh district, that have87Sr/86Sr isotopic compositions that range from 0.706344 to 0.708331, suggest an origin involving partial melting of a depleted mantle source during Neo-Tethyan subduction.