Mineralization study of titanium in Kahnouj ophiolitic complex based on petrological, mineralogical and geochemical data, south of Kerman province

The Kahnouj ophiolitic complex, in south of Kerman Province emplaced as a horst structure between two major north-south trending fault zones of Jiroft and Sabzevaran. The ophiolite is incomplete and is composed mainly of layered gabbros, isotropic gabbros, sheeted dykes, plagiogranites as well as pillow lavas associated with radiolarites and pelagic limestones. Ilmenite is the predominant Ti-bearing mineral often occurred as interstitial with amphibole following plagioclase, olivine and clinopyroxene crystallization. The formation of considerable gabbro masses accompanied by crystallization of large amounts of plagioclase and clinopyroxene leads to the differentiation of Ti-Fe-rich melts at ferrogabbro formation as major ilmenite host rock. Decrease in compatible elements such as Mg and Cr and continuous increase in incompatible elements (e. g. Mn, Na and Ti) from the lower towards the upper parts of the ophiolitic complex indicate that the ophiolitic rocks crystallized from Ti-rich tholeiitic magma during fractional crystallization.