Investigation on the Geochemical Distribution of REE and Heavy Metals in Western Part of Jalal-Abad Iron Ore Deposit, Zarand, SE of Iran

Abdollah Yazdi^1*, Sajad Ziaaldini², Rahim Dabiri³

¹Department of Geology, Kahnooj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kerman, Iran.
²Department of Geology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
³Department of Geology, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran.

DOI: 10.4236/oje.2015.59038                

Abstract

The Jalal-Abad iron ore deposit, with a reserve of more than 200 Mt ore, is located in NW of Zarand region, southeastern Iran. The ore deposit occurs in the form of an elongated lens-shaped body incorporated in a folded structure of Rizu volcano-sedimentary unit. Mineralization occurred mainly in siltstones, acidic volcanic rocks and dolomitized limestones. The ore minerals include magnetite, hematite, pyrite, chalcopyrite, goethite, malachite and azurite. Chloritization and silicification are the two most widespread alteration types in the Jalal-Abad area. Cu and Ti are among the associated elements with iron in the ore samples. In comparison, the concentrations of Cu, Ti and REE are relatively low in the samples analyzed. The combined concentrations of Ce, La and Y show that geochemical background values for most areas have been measured. The Pearson correlation coefficient values and the results of cluster and principal component analyses indicate a strong correlation between REE, La, Ce, and Y with Sr in the same geochemical group suggesting a common source for these elements. A close association between Cu and Cl with metasomatic host rock and among Pb, Zn and Ba with carbonate host rocks is observed.

Keywords

REE, Heavy Metals, Iron Ore Deposit, Jalal-Abad, Zarand

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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