The nature of hydrothermal fluids in the Kahang porphyry copper deposit (Northeast of Isfahan) based on mineralography, fluid inclusion and stable isotopic data

The Kahang Cu- Mo deposit is situated approximately 73 Km northeast of Isfahan. Asadi (2007) identified a geological reserve of 40 Mt (proven reserve) grading at 0.53 Cu, 0.02 Mo and estimated reserve of 120 Mt. All the rock types in the region have been subjected to hydrothermal solutions which gave rise to three different alteration facies. The dacite and rhyodacite volcanic rocks and granitic- granodioritic stocks have experienced phyllic alteration. Disseminated and stockwork siliceous veins are the major styles of mineralization in this zone. Intermediate argillitic alteration developed on a part of dacitic and rhyodacitic rocks whereas andesite and basaltic-andesite plus related pyroclastic rocks have been subjected to propyllitic alteration. This paper presents the results of geological and mineralogical studies carried out in the Kahang area. This preliminary information is integrated with additional data on ore mineralogy, fluid inclusions and stable isotopes in view of understanding the genesis of the Cu- Mo deposit and the nature of the fluids involved in ore formation.
A total of 18 polished thin sections were prepared at the University of Isfahan for optical study. Fluid inclusions study was carried out on 8 double polished quartz thin sections (stockworks containing ore mineralization from phyllic zone). H – O stable isotope analysis was performed on 4 quartz samples from siliceous stockworks (from phyllic altered zone) and one vein epidote sample (from propyllitic zone). All isotopic analyses were performed at the University of Oregan, Oregan, USA.
In the investigated mineralization area, the hypogene zone is characterized by the presence of pyrite, chalcopyrite, bornite and magnetite. Hematite, goethite, jarosite, malachite and azurite are the predominant minerals of supergene zone. The major textures of the primary sulfides are disseminated, vein and veinlet. Pyrite is the most common hypogene sulfide mineral and chalcopyrite is the predominant Cu- sulfide in the Kahang mineralized area. Primary magnetite grains having irregular boundaries formed in association with phyllic –potassic altered zones (Afshooni et al., 2014). Chalcocite and covellite as secondary copper minerals in the enriched supergene zone replaced the chalcopyrite.
Thermometric studies on fluid inclusions conducted on quartz veins was related to the phyllic zone. Almost all studied fluid inclusions were homogenized to the liquid phase. Hydrothermal solutions with salinity over 26% wt equivalent NaCl, comparable with those of the other porphyry deposits (Morales Ruano et al., 2002; Hezarkhani, 2006; Hezarkhani, 2009) were responsible for the formation of the Kahang porphyry copper deposit. Homogenization temperatures of 200-450°C and 500-550°C were obtained from heating- cooling experiments on the two and multi phase fluid inclusions. The presence of gas riched fluid inclusions together with those of liquid riched and multiphase different salinities in the quartz veins as well as the occurrence of hydrothermal breccias are indicative of boiling fluids.
In the Kahang porphyry Cu- deposit, the oxidation zone is characterized by hematite, goethite, jarosite, malachite, and azurite; the supergene zone is identified by chalcocite, chalcopyrite and coevllite; and chalcopyrite, pyrite and magnetite are the mineral assemblage of the hypogene zone. The volcanic as well as the plutonic rocks of the area have been hydrothermally altered which gave rise to the formation of propyllitic, intermediate argillic and mineralized phyllic zones. Fluid inclusion study on quartz veins revealed salinity over 26% wt equivalent NaCl and homogenization temperature of 200-450°C and 500-550°C. The presence of gas riched fluid inclusions together with those of liquid riched and multiphase different salinities in the quartz veins as well as the occurrence of hydrothermal breccias are indicative of boiling event, owing to the pressure reduction in the faulted zones and mineralized hydrothermal breccias and/or increase of hydrostatic pressure compared to the lithostatic pressure. This may be caused by the instability of the copper complex accompanied by precipitation of copper. The decrease of temperature and the diluted mineralized fluids could be the cause of precipitation of copper due to mixing with the meteoric water. Stable isotope study supports the mixing of magmatic and meteoric waters in the peripheral zones of ore deposit (phyllic and propyllitic zones).