Investigations on the Qahr-Abad fluorite deposit southeastSaqqez, Kurdistan province, based on REE data

The Qahr-abad fluorite deposit is located ~58 km southeast of Saqqez city, Kurdistan province. This deposit is developed as scatter lenses, veins, and veinlets (stockwork structure) within carbonate rocks. Violet, green and colorless fluorites are recognized. Quartz, dolomite, calcite and barite are gangues. REE geochemistry of the depositshows that the REE content of the fluorites lies between 20.18 and 48.38 ppm. The relatively higher concentration of LREEs in violet and colorless fluorites suggests that they formed at the first stages of mineralization. Calculation of Eu anomalies indicates that the fluorites formed in an alkaline to neutral and to some extent oxidizing conditions because the Eu anomaly cover a narrow range around 1. Negative Ceanomaly also confirms the oxidizing conditions for mineralizing fluids. Finally, by the studies of REE geochemistry it can be concluded that the Qahr-Abad fluorite deposit is a product of hydrothermal activity of epithermal type and the mineralizing fluids were of magmatic or a basin fossil fluids origin.Magmatic activities in this district, can explain the hydrothermal nature for the deposit.