Abstract
Porphyry Cu ± Mo ± Au deposits are centered within a distinctive arrangement of alteration assemblages, including sodic-calcic, potassic, propylitic, chlorite-sericite with early and late sericitic, and finally, near-surface advanced argillic alterations. Here we discussed the linkage between feldspar-destructive processes and hypogene sulfide mineralization in the porphyry systems. Also, the chemical composition of white mica in the phyllically altered rocks of weakly mineralized/barren and fertile porphyries was discriminated. Following the new genetic models of porphyry copper systems, it is evident that the mechanism lying in sulfide mineralization could explain the tight association between sulfide mineralization and phyllic alteration. Moreover, under acidic pH conditions during feldspar-destructive processes, the feldspars of mineralized areas are more sensitive to hydrolysis processes, owing to the higher alumina contents (~ higher anorthite %) in their compositions. Combining the mineralization mechanisms of PCDs, which highlights the significant contribution of calcic feldspars in the sulfide precipitation, it is proven that there are much more feldspar-destructive processes in the mineralized zones. These may show that probable geochemical clues for the discovering of highly mineralized porphyry systems have lied in the composition of feldspar remnants and/or products of feldspar-destructive processes. Comparing the white mica composition of weakly mineralized/barren and mineralized porphyry systems indicate they consistently show ideal tschermak’s type substitution. However, weakly mineralized systems exhibit relatively higher contents of Al/Fe + Mg (apfu) and Si + Al (apfu) contents than that of mineralized porphyry systems.
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This research was made possible by a grant (No: SCU.EG1400.38600) from the office of vice-chancellor for research and technology, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz. We acknowledge their support. Many thanks also to three anonymous journal reviewers for constructive criticisms that greatly contributed to the improvement of manuscript.
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This research was made possible by a Grant (No: SCU.EG1400.38600) from the office of vice-chancellor for research and technology, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz.
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All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by M.R. The first draft of the manuscript was written by M.R. and A.Z. commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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Rezaei, M., Zarasvandi, A. Combined Feldspar-Destructive Processes and Hypogene Sulfide Mineralization in the Porphyry Copper Systems: Potentials for Geochemical Signals of Ore Discovering. Iran J Sci Technol Trans Sci 46, 1413–1424 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40995-022-01350-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40995-022-01350-1