Abstract
Zinc nonsulfides are well represented in the Middle East, with occurrences in Turkey, Iran, and Yemen. Their genesis can be constrained by using carbon and oxygen isotope systematics applied to carbonate minerals. The δ13C ratios of smithsonite and hydrozincite in Iran and Turkey are comprised in the typical interval of supergene Zn carbonates (−0.4 and −7.1‰ V-PDB). The oxygen isotope geochemistry is more complex. Oxygen isotope compositions of smithsonite of the Hakkari deposit (Turkey) (δ18O from 24.2 to 25.6‰ V-SMOW) point to precipitation temperatures between ~4 and ~18 °C, corresponding to a normal weathering environment at these latitudes, whereas δ18O of smithsonite from other Middle East deposits (Angouran in Iran, Jabali in Yemen) point to the precipitation from low- to medium-temperature hydrothermal fluids. The C–O isotopic compositions of hydrozincite from the Mehdi Abad, Irankuh, and Chah-Talkh deposits can be only partially compared with those of smithsonite, because the oxygen isotopes fractionation equation for hydrozincite-water is not known. A comparison between the geochemical characteristics of all Zn-nonsulfide ores in the Middle East indicates that, even though several mineral deposits are derived from supergene weathering processes, other ones have been deposited from fluids associated with magmatic activity (Angouran, Iran) or with hydrothermal systems (Jabali, Yemen). This suggests that it is not possible to apply a common interpretative model to the genesis of all nonsulfide deposits in the Middle East.
Highlights
Various types of mineral deposits occur in the Middle East, all genetically related to the development of the “Tethyan Metallogenic Belt” and scattered from eastern Turkey to southeastern Irankuh nonsulfides (Iran), as well as in the Arabian Peninsula [1]
A comparison between the geochemical characteristics of all Zn-nonsulfide ores in the Middle East indicates that, even though several mineral deposits are derived from supergene weathering processes, other ones have been deposited from fluids associated with magmatic activity (Angouran, Iran) or with hydrothermal systems (Jabali, Yemen)
Various types of mineral deposits occur in the Middle East, all genetically related to the development of the “Tethyan Metallogenic Belt” and scattered from eastern Turkey to southeastern Iran, as well as in the Arabian Peninsula [1]
Summary
Various types of mineral deposits occur in the Middle East, all genetically related to the development of the “Tethyan Metallogenic Belt” and scattered from eastern Turkey to southeastern Iran, as well as in the Arabian Peninsula [1]. When mineralogical and petrographic studies alone are not waters sufficient to reveal their the oxidation of sulfide-bearing ores, under the influence of meteoric in a weathering supergene or hypogene origin, stable isotope data of carbonate minerals contained within nonsulfide regime [11,14]. Alone are not sufficient to reveal their deposits yield informationand on the mineralization on the origin and evolution supergene or hypogene origin, stable isotope data of carbonate minerals contained within nonsulfide of ore-forming fluids, on the mechanisms of ore deposition, and on wall-rock alteration patterns [15]. Deposits where C–O stable isotope data have been published
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