The geology and geochemistry of the senator antimony deposit ? Turkey

Abstract

The geology and geochemistry of the Senator antimony deposit in western Turkey is described. Mineralization in the Senator Mine area occurs within the Neogene, which comprises a sequence of siliceous and carbonatic rocks closely related to late Tertiary and early Quaternary volcanic activity. The Neogene rests unconformably on Permo-Carboniferous sediments. The mineralized orebodies take the form of fractured conical-shaped pipe-like zones or vents and are generally emplaced along the contact between the Neogene and the Palaeozoic. These mineralized vents seldom exceed 50 metres in diameter and 20 metres in depth. Mineralization is almost entirely constituted of oxides (stibiconite, scorodite, dussertite) with lesser amounts of amorphous sulphide (metastibnite). Quartz, barite, pyrophyllite, muscovite, cristobalite and a lead compound (composition Pb5O4SO4) are associated with the ore. The geochemistry of the Senator main orebody is characterized by the lack of correlation, random distribution and concentrations of Sb, As, Pb, Zn, Fe and Cu. It was also found that precious metal concentrations were insignificant. The comparison between the geochemistry of the Senator deposit and the precipitates from the Illica hot spring have shown a remarkable similarity in element assemblage and concentrations. Finally an idealized geological evolution and theory of mineralization for the Senator Mine ore are discussed.