Effect of Structural Controllers on Ore Mineral Deposits of Cheshmeh Khouri Area (Northwest of Birjand)

Cheshmeh Khouri is an area which mainly comprises a zone of parallel, en-echelon faults along which metallic and non-metallic mineralization is observed. Structural controllers are important factors in the formation of the structural elements of the area such as dykes, faults, joints, folds, and particularly mineral veins. Three types of dykes are observed: E-W trending wedge-shaped dikes, NW-SE trending folded dikes, and ring dikes, which are all kinematically controlled by structural movements of the area. A regional sinistral shear-compression (transpression) regime across the fault sets of the area has given rise to a large-scale counterclockwise rotation of andesitic blocks, developing a bookshelf structure over the area. Rotation of these blocks has provided open spaces for injection of ore-bearing hydrothermal solutions, which caused widespread alterations. Block rotation has also caused formation of dextral shear zones along the faults, which eventually controlled mineralization through the joint and minor fracture networks associated with these shear zones. Formation of mineral veins affected by the dextral shear zones of the bookshelf structure in the area, and defining the structural complexities and sequential elements as well as mineralization phase led to present a laboratory model which showed a good consistency with the results derived others studies.