Mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of the Chah-Shur clay deposit, Southeast of Isfahan, Iran

Subject Areas : Mineralogy

Mahnaz Khodami ¹ , Afsaneh Kamali Shervedani ²

1 - Department of Geology, Yazd University, Iran
2 - Department Of Natural Resources, Shahrekord University, Iran

Received: 2017-01-01 Accepted : 2017-10-04 Published : 2018-10-01

Keywords: Kaolinite, Mixed type Clay deposit, Chah-Shur, Urumieh-Dokhtar, Iran,

Abstract :

The Chah-Shur clay deposit is located in 150 km southeast of Isfahan. Eocene igneous rocks and Quaternary deposits cover the area. Eocene volcanic rocks include andesite and tuff. The rocks belong to magmatic activities of Urumieh-Dokhtar magmatic belt. Alteration of the vitric and lithic tuff units has produced the clay deposit. Based on the petrographic studies the main minerals in tuff units are plagioclase, K-feldspar and quartz. The major phases in clay deposit are kaolinite, illite, montmorillonite, quartz, albite and orthoclase. Also, muscovite, chlorite and hematite are as minor phases. The mineralogical studies show an intermediate alteration. The clay deposits can be formed by supergene or hypogene processes; while the combination of both of them can result in the formation of mixed type clay. The geochemical data of Chah-Shur clay deposit show scattering between hypogene and supergene types. The abundance of Fe2O3+TiO2 vs Cr+Nb and Zr vs TiO2, as well asSr+Ba vs Ce+Y+La suggest mixed and hypogene types. On the other hand, P2O5 and SO3 plot shows the supergene and mixed types. The results obtained from mineralogical and geochemical studies indicate that the genesis of the Chah-Shur clay deposit can be considered mixed type.

References:

1. Alavi M (1994) Tectonics of Zagros orogenic belt of Iran, new data and interpretation, Tectonophysics 229: 211–238.


2. Amidi M, Nabavi MH (1972) The Geological map of the Naein 1,250000, Geological Survey of Iran.


3. -Benea M, Gorea M (2004) Mineralogy and technological properties of some kaolin types used in ceramic industry, Studia UBB Geologia 49: 33-39.


4. Cravero F, Marfil SA, Maiza PJ (2010) Statistical analysis of geochemical data, a tool for discriminating between kaolin deposits of hypogene and supergene origin, Patagonia, Argentina, Clay Minerals 45: 183-196.


5. Dill HG, Bosse HR, Henning H, Fricke A, Ahrendt H (1997) Mineralogical and chemical variations in hypogene and supergene kaolin deposits in a mobile fold belt in the central Andes of northwestern Peru, Mineralium Deposita 32: 149-163.


6. Dill HG, Bosse HR (2000) Mineralogical and chemical studies of volcanic-related argillaceous industrial minerals in the central American Cordillera western El Salvador, Economic Geology 95: 517-538.


7. Dominguez E, Iglesias C, Dondi M (2008) The geology and mineralogy of a range of kaolin's from the Santa Cruz and Chubut Provinces, Patagonia (Argentina), Clay Sciences 40:124-142.


8. Dominguez E, Iglesias C, Dondi M (2010) Genesis of the La Espingarda kaolin deposit, implications for epithermal deposit exploration in Patagonia, Applied Clay Sciences 47:290-302.


9. Ece OI, Schroeder PA, Smilley MJ, Wampler JM (2008) Acid-sulphate hydrothermal alteration of andesitic tuffs and genesis of halloysite and alunite deposits in the Biga Peninsula, Turkey, Clay Minerals 43: 281-315.


10. Evans MA (1993) Ore geology and industrial minerals, an introduction, Blackwell Science Ltd and Blackwell Publishing Company.


11. Fernández-Caliani JC, Galán E, Aparicio P, Miras A, Márquez MG (2010) Origin and geochemical evolution of the Nuevo Montecastelo kaolin deposit (Galicia, NW Spain), Applied Clay Sciences 49: 91–97.


12. Ghadimian A, Khodami M (2015) Mineralogy, geochemistry and genesis of the Garak Baghi kaolin deposit in the northwest of Saveh, Iran, Arabian journal of Geosciences 8:3019–3030.


13. Khodami M, Noghreyan M, Davoudian AR (2010) Geochemical constraints on the genesis of the volcanic rocks in the southeast of Isfahan Area, Iran, Arabian Journal of Geosciences 3:257-266.


14. Marfil S, Maiza P (2012) Geochemistry of hydrothermal alteration in volcanic rocks, in D. Panagiotaras (Ed.) Geochemistry - earth's system processes, Intech book and journal,28-39.


15. Mohajjel M, Fergusson CL, Sahandi MR (2003) Cretaceous-Tertiary convergence and continental collision, Sanandaj-Sirjan zone, western Iran, Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 21:397–41.


16. Mutakyaha MKD, Ikingura JR, Mruima AH (2000) Geology and geochemistry of bauxite deposits in Lushoto district, Usambara Vill Maric, Quebe, Canada, Geochimica Et Cosmochimica Acta 64:1917-1932.


17. Nesbitt HW, Young GM (1982) Early Proterozoic climates and past plate motions inferred from major element chemistry of Lutites, Nature 299:715–717.


18. Njoya A, Nkoumbou C, Grosbois C, Njopwouo N, Njoya D, Courtin-Nomade A, Yvon J, Martin F (2006) Genesis of Mayouom kaolin deposit (western Cameroon), Applied clay sciences 32:125-124.


19. Nyakairu GWA, Koebrel C, Kurzwiel H (2001) The Buwambo kaolin deposit in central Uganda; mineralogical and chemical composition, Geochemical Journal 35:245-256.


20. Pirajno F (1992) Hydrothermal mineral deposits, Springer-Verlag.


21. Sayin SA (2007) Origin of kaolin deposits: evidence from the HisarcÝk (Emet-K. tahya) deposits, western Turkey, Turkish Journal of Earth sciences 16:77-96.


22. Taylor SR, McLennan SH (1985) The continental crust: Its composition and evolution, Blackwell, Oxford, UK.