Mineralogy, alteration, fluid inclusion and stable isotopes studies of the Sharifabad -Bardeskan copper deposit, NE Iran

The Sharifabad-Bardeskan copper mineralization is located in northeast of Bardeskan and south section of Sabzevar Zone. Mineralization occurs as vein in the pyroxene andesite, tuff, sandstone and conglomerate of Eocene age, which bearing local sericite - carbonate and silicic alterations and regional propylitic alteration. Mineralization occurs as open space filling, disseminated, veinlets and consists of chalcocite pyrite, chalcopyrite, malachite, azurite with calcite and quartz as gangue minerals. Fluid inclusion studies in calcite show the evidence of mixing trend during the ore formation occurred at a wide range of temperature 200to 437 °C and varying salinity between 0.1 to 9.2 wt.% NaCl equivalent. The stable isotope composition of δ34S fall in a range of -23 to -24.3‰ could be considered as biogenetic sulfur from bacterial sulfate reduction. The δ13C values of calcite vary between -3.4 to -24.5‰ suggest a major contribution of marine carbonates associated igneous carbonates. Copper and sulfide rich hydrothermal fluid has flowed upward through the local faults and permeable interbeds within the Eocene volcanic sequence and formed the mineralized veins. Based on the mineralization, alteration, fluid inclusion and stable isotopes, Sharifabad mineralization is similar to those manto type deposits in Chile.