Geochemical approach to the genesis of the Buyukkizilcik (Afsin) barite deposit, SE Turkey

Nevin Konakci (1) & Ahmet Sasmaz (1)
(1) Firat University, Department of Geological Engineering 23119 Elazig Turkey Corresponding author e-mail: asasmaz@gmail.com

This study investigated the geochemistry, mineralogy, fluid inclusion, trace and rare earth element (REE) contents and Pb, O and S isotope results of the barites formed together with Pb-Zn deposits in the region. The Buyukkizilcik barite mineralization is located in the west part of Afsin, Turkey and it can be traced through 14 kilometers in NE-SW direction within the Yoncayolu and Cayderesi Formation. The thickness of these mineralized areas reaches 7-8 m, especially in the middle and eastern part of the ore zone. Mineralization is represented by barite-antimonite-fluorite in the western part, pyrite-chalcopyrite in the middle part and galena-sphalerite in the eastern part of the mineralized zone. Fluid inclusion studies indicate that these mineralizations are formed in the epithermal phase of hydrothermal period, with liquids having 4.5 to 2% NaCl salinity values and temperatures of 105 °C to 121 °C. The barite samples were collected from Buyukkizilcik mineralization area for analysis of major oxides, trace elements, and rare earth elements (REEs) using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). According to the results of the analysis, it is seen that total trace element contents change from 163 to 20458 ppm and ∑REE contents are between 4.31 and 14.4 ppm. The chondrite- normalized REE patterns of the studied barites exhibit trends decrease from LREE towards HREE and have negative Ce and negative Eu anomalies. The ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb; ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb isotope values of galena vary between 17.20 and 19.96%o; 14.1 and 16.2%; and 35.4 and 41.9%, respectively. These isotope results show that these mineralizations were originated from upper crust materials. The δ³⁴S values in Buyukkizilcik mineralizations range from 8.2 to 14.4‰. The barite mineralization was formed by hydrothermal activity and that the δ34S values indicate an epithermal phase. The δ¹⁸O values of barites are between 17.0 and 18.5‰ and these δ¹⁸O values show that the origin of the water displayed in the hydrothermal activity is magmatic and/or magmatic mixed with meteoric water. All results indicate that the barite mineralization was deposited as vein-type by hydrothermal solutions that are transported along fractures and fault zones within the Malatya Metamorphic complexes.

Buyukkizilcik, Barite, Hydrothermal, Fluid Inclusion, REE, Isotope Geochemistry.