An approach to the origin of the Nineh Lead-Zinc deposit, the north of Mahallat, Markazi Province; insight from mineralogical, fluid inclusion and stable isotope (C-O-S) studies

Nineh Pb-Zn deposit is located in the east of the Markazi province, in the Middle to Upper Jurassic rock units of the Malayer-Esfahan  metallogenic belt. Stratified and epigenetic mineralization, in the form of veins, replacement and open spaces filling, including the main minerals of galena, sphalerite and barite accompanied by dolomite and siliceous alterations are observed. The microthermometry results of fluid inclusions in calcite and barite, display mean homogenization temperature of about 168.6°C and 127.3°C, and a mean salinity of 5.7 and 13.9 wt. % NaCl equiv., respectively, which indicates slight difference in their formation conditions. The homogenization temperature versus salinity diagram suggests a basinal brine fluid mineralizer and mixing and cooling processes for the mineralization. The values of δ34S in galena and sphalerite (7.5‰ to 21.5‰) of this deposit are similar to the values of δ34S in the upper Mississippi deposits, indicating the supply of sulfur during the process of thermochemical reduction of sulfate. The values of δ18OSMOW (-9.2 to -11.2‰) and δ13CPDB (0.1 to 0.5‰) of the calcite veins indicate a multi-origin of oxygen, and the origin of carbon from dissolved and remobilized marine carbonates. According to the evidence obtained during this study, the Nineh deposit can be classified as the Mississippi Valley type deposits, which was formed during the orogeny processes and the movement of basinal brine  fluids.