Mineralogy and geochemistry of Neyestanak bentonite deposit, northwest of Naeen, Isfehan province

Neyestanak bentonite deposit is located in northwest of Naeen, Isfehan province. This deposit is an alteration product of Oligocene tuff breccias. Mineralogical considerations of this deposit show that montmorillonite, kaolinite, and quartz are the principal minerals which are accompanied by lesser amounts of anorthite, calcite, chlorite, illite, albite, dolomite, microcline, orthoclase, sanidine, and halite. Mineral chemistry investigations testify to the similarity of this deposit with Wyoming-type bentonite deposits. Geochemical studies reveal that bentonitization of tuff breccias at Neyestanak is accompanied by depletion of Ba, Co, Zn, Y, Ni, Sr, Au, Ca, Fe, Mg, Mn, P, Ti, and Na, enrichment of Si, Th, As, Hf, Nb, and U, and leaching-fixation of K, Pb, Cs, Rb, Zr, and Cu. Geochemical analyses make clear that variation of Eu and Ce anomalies in this deposit were controlled by the degree of alteration of feldspars and oxidation potential of the environment, respectively. By considering the results obtained this study, it seems that factors such as differences in degree of alteration intensity of parent materials, physico-chemical conditions of the environment, adsorption, incorporation in crystal structure, access to complexing ligands, and differences in degree of resistance of the primary minerals against alteration played prominent role in mobilization, distribution, and concentration of elements in this deposit.