Petrogenesis of Granitoids, U-Pb zircon geochronology, Sr-Nd Petrogenesis of granitoids, U-Pb zircon geochronology, Sr-Nd isotopic characteristics, and important occurrence of Tertiary mineralization within the Lut block, eastern Iran

Abstract

Tertiary intrusive granitoids within the Lut block in the Khorasan Razavi and South Khorasan provinces are mainly sub-volcanic with porphyry texture and their composition varies from granite to diorite but monzonite is dominant. With the exception of Hired, these are classified as belonging to the magnetite-series of I-type granitoids. Chemically, these rocks are meta-aluminous. Those with mineralization are K-rich and those without mineralization such as Najmabad are Na-rich. All intrusive rocks plot in the field of calc-alkaline to adakite except Najmabad that plot in the adakite field. Based on low content of Nb (30), low initial 87Sr/86Sr (17 ppm), low ratio of Zr/Nb (0.707) and low initial εNd value (-3), magmas in the Kaybar-Kuh were more contaminated in the continental crust. Based on depletion in HREE and high ratio of (La/Yb)N (17-23), magma in Najmabad originated in the deep region in which garnet was present. Based on REE pattern and ration of Eu/Eu* (0.8-1), intrusive rocks within Maherabad, Khoopik, Chah-Shaljami, Kuh Shah and Dehsalm are calc-alkaline and their magma formed in an oxidant condition whereas Kaybar Kuh magma with low ratio of Eu/Eu* (<0.8) was contaminated in the continental crust under reduced conditions. The age of these granitoids is between Middle Eocene and Lower Oligocene. Kaybar-Kuh (43.3 Ma) is situated in the north and Chah-Shaljami (33.3 Ma) in the south. The initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios decrease from north (0.7077) to south (0.7047) as the age decreases. εNd of Maherabad, Khoopik, Dehsalm, and Chah-Shaljami granitoids is between +0.5 and +2.49 and the initial 87Sr/86Sr ratio is less than 0.7055. The age of the source rock (TDM, which was calculated based on Sm-Nd isotopes) indicates that these magma originated from oceanic crust with different ages. Kaybar-Kuh originated from the oldest oceanic crust (840 Ma) and was contaminated more in continental crust, but Najmabad originated from a younger oceanic crust (360 Ma) with minor contamination. Dehsalm and Chah-Shaljami magma which had some differences with Maherabad and Khoopik, originated from oceanic crust of 200 Ma. The period between 42 and 33 Ma (Middle Eocene to Lower Oligocene) is the most important stage of mineralization in eastern Iran especially in South Khorasan. Some of the major systems, which are identified so far are: porphyry Cu-Au, reduced intrusive related Au, high sulfidation Au, Fe- skarn, Pb-Zn-Sb vein and IOCG deposits. Granitoid rocks formed between 42 and 33 Ma within the Lut block and northern area has great potential for exploring porphyry Cu-Au, IOCG, Fe, Pb-Zn, Au etc.

Keywords

• lut block
• tertiary
• mineralization
• geochronology
• radiogenic isotope
• petrogenesis