Geology, alteration, mineralogy, texture and geochemistry studies in Ghoochi gold prospect, eastern Bajestan, Lut Block

The Ghoochi area is a part of volcanic-plutonic zone of the Lut block and is located in eastern Bajestan city in the Razavi Khorasan Province. The geology of the area includes Jurassic metamorphic (slate and metasandstone), Early Cretaceous sedimentary (limstone, conglomerate and sandstone) and Late Cretaceous subvolcanic (pyroxene diorite porphyry) rocks. Mineralization is formed along faults with northwest-southeast and east-west trends in the reduced pyroxene diorite porphyry host rock (Late Cretaceous). Hypogene minerals are pyrite, sphalerite, galena, pyrrhotite, arsenopyrite, chalcopyrite, calcite and quartz with lesser amounts of chlorite. Mineralization is seen along with the structures and textures of vein-veinlet, open space filling, disseminated, replacement and exsolution. Main alterations consist of propylitic-sericitic, sericitic-carbonate-silicification and carbonate-silicification±chlorite. Maximum geochemical anomalies observed include for gold with 2639 ppb, arsenic 11065 ppm, lead 45400 ppm, zinc 19400 ppm, silver 12 ppm, and copper 725 ppm. Based on geology, alteration, mineralogy, texture and geochemistical studies, Ghoochi area can be probably classified in reduced-intrusion related gold systems (RIRGS).