Stream sediment geochemistry: optimum exploration method for copper mineralization in Chah Rostam area, South of Birjand
Subject Areas :S. Moradi 1 , Masoud Alipour-Asll 2 * , A. Akbarpour 3
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Keywords: South of Birjand, Chah Rostam, Stream sediment geochemistry, Copper mineralization.,
Abstract :
The Chah Rostam prospect area is located in Lut block and in the northwest of Nehbandan at the south of Birjand. Eocene-Oligocene volcanic and pyroclastic rock units with porphyritic andesite and andesite-basalt cover a major part of this area, which are crosscutting by the Late Eocene-Oligocene intrusive and sub-volcanic rocks with composition of porphyry granodiorite, monzodiorite, quartz diorite and dacitic dikes. Hydrothermal fluids related to the subvolcanic-intrusive bodies have played an important role in the copper mineralization and accompanied elements in this area. samples were taken from the -80 mesh of stream sediments, pulverized to -200 mesh size and analyzed for Au by fire assay and 22 elements using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) methods. Univariate and multivariate statistical analysis of the stream sediment geochemical data show Cu, Au, Zn, Pb, Mo, As, Sb, and Mn anomalies in the Chah Rostam area. Geochemical association of elements in the stream sediment samples indicates the possible occurrence of porphyry and epithermal copper mineralization (especially epithermal system) in this area. Litho-geochemical surveying based on the outcrops and drilling core samples in the stream sediment anomaly areas confirms the ability of the stream sediment geochemistry method to identify geochemical halos related to mineralization systems.