Origin and physicochemical nature of the ore-forming fluids of the Fathabad Cu deposit, SE Torbat-e-Heydarieh, Khorasan Razavi

The Fatehabad Cu deposit is located in the Khorasan Razavi province, 35 km SE of the Torbat-e Heydariyeh and in the Khaf-Kashmar-Bardaskan metal belt. The vein and veinlet mineralization consist of chalcopyrite, pyrite, magnetite, chalcocite, bornite, covellite, malachite and iron oxides associated with siliceous-sericite, argillite and propylitic alteration in the volcanic rocks formed parallel to the sub-faults that branch off from the Dorouneh fault. The similar pattern of REE and trace elements in the mineralized veins and associated volcanic rocks suggests an magmatic-hydrothermal origin of the ore elements. In the vein system of Fathabad district, quartz, pyrite, chalcopyrite, and magnetite veins with propylitic alteration in the early stage of mineralization, quartz, pyrite, chalcopyrite and magnetite veins with sericite alteration in the main stage of mineralization and quartz, pyrite and chalcopyrite veins were identified along with argillic and iron oxide alterations. Calcite veins along with sericite and iron oxide alterations were also identified in the late stage of mineralization. The enrichment of trace, LREEs/HREEs ratio, positive Eu anomalyand negative Ce anomaly, indicate reducing conditions and a high pH of the mineralized fluids. Fluid inclusion studies with low salinity (13.9 to 4.74 wt% NaCl eqv.) and low temperature (111 to 192 oC) indicate dilution and mixing of the sulfur- and element-rich magmatic-hydrothermal fluid with meteoric water, leading leaching and precipitation of trace, rare and copper elements. The δ34S isotopes values (-1.58 to -2.86‰) in the chalcopyrite minerals indicate the magmatic origin of sulfur. The geology, geochemistry, and fluid inclusions evidences indicate that the Fathabad Cu deposit is belong to epithermal style mineral systems.