Geochemical exploration in granitoid rocks of the Javan Sheikh area, Ahar, Northwest Iran

Abstract

The Javan Sheikh area is located north of Ahar city in northwest Iran (Fig. 1). The Ahar district is well known in Iran for its ancient and modern copper and base metals mining. Within this district are the giant Sungun porphyry copper and the Mazraeh skarn copper deposits. This district lies within the Alborz-Azarbaijan zone of the Alpine-Himalayan orogen. The Javan Sheikh area is one part of the Ahar mineralized area within the copper belt of Iran and forms part of this global orogen. The geology of Javan Sheikh area is relatively poorly understood. Until recently the area was not explored in detail. Few geological studies have been carried out in this area due to a lack of regional geochemical exploration. No systematic petrological and geochemical investigations were performed during the previous regional exploration. In recent years, a regional stream-sediment geochemical exploration program was carried out in the Ahar district as well as in the Javan Sheikh area, and a copper anomaly was discovered. The aim of our project has been to develop a regional exploration strategy for copper in these magmatic rocks. The following results are based on petrography, petrology and lithogeochemical explorations of igneous rocks of this area. The main objectives of this paper are to document the occurrence of copper mineralization in this region. Also our research provides detailed information on the geology, petrology and geochemistry of this area. This information may provide the basis for future detailed exploration, mining-geology and feasibility studies in the Javan Sheikh area.