Petrography, depositional environment and Cu mineralization in redbeds, North of Torbat- Heydarieh (Kadkan sedimentary basin)

Copper mineralization in the Kadkan sedimentary basin occurs as stratiform and lenticular shape and it seems to be redbed type sediment-hosted copper deposits. Mineralization is mainly dispersed and confined to the red sandstone- marl units with thick interbeds of Eocene-Oligocene conglomerate and includes primary ore minerals: chalcopyrite¡ pyrite and chalcocite and secondary ore minerals: covellite¡ malachite and azurite. By considering the obtained results¡ control of mineralization in these sandstones is in relation with alteration of feldspars¡ concentration of clays and organic matter. Sandstones are medium to thick in thickness¡ bright red to dark gray in color and are classified as arkose¡ lithic arkose and iron bearing fine-grained submature feldspatic litharenite that were deposited in a river-dominated deltaic environment and active margin. The potential of sediment-hosted copper mineralization decreases in the redbeds from east to west (Kadkan) of the region. The results indicate that the copper mineralization in the study area is redbed type sediment-hosted copper.