Touzlar Epithermal Au-Ag (Cu) Deposit, Subvolcanic Intrusion-Related of Intra-Arc Extensional Setting, Northwest Mahneshan, Iran

The Touzlar epithermal gold deposit formed within the high-K calc-alkaline (shoshonitic) andesitic volcanic units in northwestern Iran. The volcanic complex is in fact a part of magmatism related to the Urumieh-Dokhtar Magmatic Belt crosscutting northeastern rim of the Sanandaj- Sirjan Metamorphic-Magmatic Zone. This magmatic system is composed of pyroclastics and lava flow sequences. The volcanic and subvolcanic rocks of the complex constitute a part of the volcano-sedimentary sequence of the Qom Formation, which formed in an extensional regime of basement uplifting and intra-continental basin. Zircon LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating shows age between 18.4±1.0 and 18.7±0.55 Ma (Lower Miocene) for the volcanism. The hydrothermal alteration types (propylitic, argillic, phyllic, sericitic, advanced argillic and silicification) and evolving mineralization in relation to brecciation and deposition of copper sulfides and sulfosalts imply that the mineralization at Touzlar is similar to that of high sulfidation deposits in volcanic settings. The gold mineralizationtextures in the Touzlar deposit appear as disseminated, open space filling, veins and veinlets. The main sulfide minerals are pyrite, chalcopyrite, bornite, as well as small amounts of enargite, chalcocite, covellite, digenite, tetrahedrite, galena and sphalerite. The gold in this mineralization occurs as freed from oxidized pyrite grains, also in quartz in hydrothermal breccias as well as solid solution in other minerals such as sulfides and sulfosalts. The main difference in the formation of Touzlar with high sulfidation deposits is in its setting. The formation setting for this mineralization confirms its genesis at low depth and pressure. The deposit formed at the shallow submarine environment of the Qom basin in relation to extensional tectonic regime, while high sulfidation epithermal deposits usually form in subaerial environments related to tensional settings. Structural, host rock type, alteration, paragenesis and Au-Ag (Cu) ore mineralization characteristics of the deposit suggest that Touzlar is most similar to subvolcanic intrusion-related epithermal (high sulfidation) gold deposits formed in intra-arc extensional settings.