Mianaj iron occurrence, southwest of Zanjan: Metamorphosed and deformed volcano-sedimentary type of mineralization in Sanandaj- Sirjan zone

Mianaj Fe ore occurrence is located in the Takab-Angouran-Takht-e-Soleyman metallogenic zone, 100 km southwest of Zanjan. In this area, Fe mineralization occurs as lens-shaped bodies parallel to the foliation of schist and rhyolitic meta-tuff units (equal to Kahar Formation). Based on mineralography, ore mineral is magnetite, and quartz present as gangue mineral at Mianaj. The ore minerals show disseminated, laminated, banded, massive, vein-veinlet and replacement textures. Three stages of mineralization can be distinguished at Mianaj. The first stage is recognized as stratiform and stratabound lenses, laminated and disseminated crystals of magnetite parallet to the foliation of host rocks. Stage-2 mineralization is recognized by folding of ore bands, σ microfabric and boudinage of magnetite crystals, quartz pressure shadows and surrounding of foliation around magnetite crystals, and recrystallization of quartz and magnetite crystals. Stage-3 is recognized by quartz vein-veinlets that cut previous mineralization stages. Chondrite-nonmineralized REE pattern of host rocks and the mineralized samples indicate that mineralized samples are depleted in REE. This signature indicates mobility of REE by Cl and F-rich oxidized fluids during mineralization processes. Characteristics of Mianaj occurrence are comparable with metamorphosed and deformed volcano-sedimentary type of iron deposits.