Geology and mineralogy study of the Oudarj Iron Deposit in Northern Rafsanjan, South of Iran

The Oudraj iron deposit is located about ۳۵ km north of Rafsanjan, Kerman Province, in the southwestern part of the ۱:۱۰۰,۰۰۰-scale Davaran geological map sheet. Structurally, the area belongs to the Posht Badam Block within the Central Iran structural zone and lies within the Central Iran microcontinent. The Dezou Series, which serves as the host rock of the deposit, is consistently characterized by the presence of gypsum. Depending on the locality, it also includes shale, siltstone, marl, intercalations of calcareous sandstone, dolomite, chert, and quartzite, with volcanic interbeds mainly composed of rhyolite and andesite. Iron mineralization, dominated by magnetite, is hosted within this unit. Volcanic rocks in the area are predominantly intermediate in composition, represented by andesite, andesitic tuff, and basic tuff, with rhyolite exposures observed in the southwestern and northwestern sectors. Intrusive bodies ranging from granite to granodiorite occur locally, particularly in the southeastern part of the study area. Hydrothermal alteration within the volcanic-sedimentary host rocks is mainly represented by epidote, chlorite, pyrite, and calcite. The dominant alteration style is propylitic, with localized development of argillic, silicic, and phyllic alteration. Mineralized bodies occur as veins, veinlets, laminations, and massive lenses within the Dezou Series, generally oriented NW-SE. The veins and veinlets are mineralogically simple, consisting mainly of magnetite, pyrite, hematite, albite, epidote, olivine, and specularite, with thicknesses ranging from ۱ to ۵۰ cm. Gangue minerals include gypsum, calcite, quartz, and anhydrite. Secondary copper minerals, such as malachite and locally azurite, occur adjacent to mining faces in the northwestern sector, reflecting the presence of copper in the mineralizing fluids. In addition, barite mineralization is recognized along the vein margins and at the contact between the volcanic-sedimentary unit and the massive dolomite of the Dezou Series.

کلیدواژه ها:

Mineralogy ، Oudarj Fe Deposit ، Magnetite Deposit ، Garnet Epidote Skarn