Recent research has shed light on the exploration criteria for three significant mineral deposits in Iran’s Zagros orogenic belt: Sari Gunay, Dalli, and Zarshuran. Conducted by Pouya Asadi Haroni from the Department of Mining Engineering at the University of Tehran, this study utilized a comprehensive approach, incorporating geological maps, remote sensing data, and various geochemical analyses to characterize these deposits and identify key exploration features.
The Sari Gunay deposit, known for its low sulfidation epithermal gold, is associated with an alkaline magma and has been dated to approximately 11 million years ago. This deposit showcases mineralization linked to elements such as arsenic, antimony, and mercury, with gold primarily occurring in altered fragmental rocks. In contrast, the Zarshuran deposit is a Carlin-type gold deposit formed around 14 million years ago, characterized by mineralization in black shales and limestone. Here, gold mineralization is concentrated in quartz veins and is associated with sulfide minerals.
Dalli represents a newly discovered porphyry copper-gold deposit, located in the western margin of the Urumieh-Dokhtar Magmatic Arc. This deposit stands out due to its rich reserves, boasting a proven reserve of 5 million tons of ore with an average grade of 0.65 grams per ton of gold and 0.5% copper. The Dalli deposit is characterized by intense alterations and mineralization associated with chalcopyrite and native gold.
Asadi highlighted the exploration potential of these deposits, stating, “Exploration criteria to search for similar deposits such as Sari Gunay and Zarshuran include alkaline Oligo-Miocene magmatism and original mineralization depth of more than 300 meters.” This insight is crucial for mining companies and investors looking to explore and develop new mineral resources in the region.
The findings of this research not only enhance the understanding of mineralization processes in the Zagros belt but also present commercial opportunities for the mining sector. With the identification of specific exploration criteria, companies can better target their efforts, potentially leading to new discoveries and increased production of valuable metals like gold and copper.
This study was published in the Journal of Economic Geology, contributing valuable knowledge to the field of economic geology and the exploration of mineral resources in Iran.
