Investigation of flora types in Khajeh-jamali ophiolites area of Neyriz - Iran for exploration of chromite by biogeochemical method

Surveying the uptake of metal substances by plants has a very important role in mineral exploration, but biogeochemical exploration has not been paid much attention in Iran. The aim of current study was surveying vegetative species of Khajeh-jamali mineral area to evaluate the probability of biogeochemical exploration of chromite and to evaluate the uptake of Iron, Copper, Lead and Nickel in the floral plants providing biological absorption coefficient (BAC). Also it aimed to evaluate the reliability of comparing metal uptake of the plants with control groups as an assisting method of exploration. The area is located on the Zagros thrust zone belong to the Alps ophiolitic band. Rock units of this area are mainly composed of rocks Neyriz ophiolite assemblage, which are mostly of Harzburgite and Dunite types with chromite as the major mineral. The concentrations of metal substances in this area are assessed in previous studies.To study six substances of Chrome, Nickel, Iron, Cupper, Lead, and Zinc, in five herbal species including Amygdalus carduchorum ,Pistacia atlantica, Ebenus stellata, Asragalus sp. and Rheum ribes, twenty five samples (5 each species) were collected in the study area and five samples (one for each species) were collected an area outside of the region as control. The samples were analyzed by ICP-OES method. The resultant data was statistically analyzed using One-way Anova and T-test. BAC was in “low” or “very low” range for all the five plant species. The results showed that Rheum Ribes could be useful in Nickle exploration and Ebenus stellata for Lead exploration. This study suggests future biogeochemical investigations of areas with flora having undefined or low BAC to consider comparison of plants’ substance uptake with controls as an assisting method.