Whole rock geochemistry, molybdenite Re-Os geochronology, stable isotope and fluid inclusion investigations of the Siah-Kamar deposit, western Alborz-Azarbayjan: New constrains on the porphyry Mo deposit in Iran

Abstract The Siah-Kamar porphyry Mo deposit, located in the western Alborz-Azarbayjan magmatic belt, is the first and largest Mo deposit in the Iran. This deposit is mainly hosted by an I-type, shoshonitic quartz monzonite to monzonite intrusion and also extends in the surrounding lower to middle Eocene volcanic rocks. The geochemical features of the Siah-Kamar intrusion show enrichment in large-ion lithophile elements (LILE) and light rare earth elements (LREE), and significant negative anomalies of Nb, Ta and Ti analogues to the magmas derived from metasomatized sub-continental mantle. Porphyry molybdenum mineralization is associated with potassic, sericitic, argillic, and propylitic alteration zones. Mineralization occurs in disseminated form, in veins/veinlets and in hydrothermal breccias. The main ore minerals comprise molybdenite, chalcopyrite and bornite. The Microthermometric analyses at Siah-Kamar deposit showed that the halite-bearing inclusions contain high salinity (30.9–60.7 wt% NaCl eq.) with homogenization temperature ranging from 226 °C to 397 °C. The homogenization temperature of two phase liquid-rich inclusions range between 224 °C and 375 °C. The salinity of this type inclusions range from 0.6 to 7.5 wt% NaCl equivalent. The two-phase vapor-rich fluid inclusions homogenized at 270 °C to 397 °C. The salinity of this type fluid inclusions lie within the range of 0.6 to 4.24 wt% NaCl equivalent. Coexisting two phase V-rich and L-rich fluid inclusions in quartz associated with molybdenite provide evidence for boiling at 270 °C to 400 °C. The δ 18 O water values of quartz in the molybdenite-bearing veins vary from +2.16 to +4.05‰, suggesting a magmatic origin for the ore-forming fluids. Re-Os isotopic dating of molybdenite indicated a mineralization age of 41.9 ± 3.6 Ma. The Re concentration in molybdenite suggests incorporation of mantle derived melt with crustal materials. The late Eocene magmatism along the western Alborz-Azarbayjan magmatic zone resulted from the Neo-Tethys subduction beneath the Iranian plateau. The Siah-Kamar monzonitic intrusion hosting the Mo deposit, could be considered as an example among the late Eocene intrusions within the western Alborz-Azarbayjan magmatic zone for any further exploration in this zone.